We decided to take in the 2024 solar eclipse in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  We made the reservations in December, know there would be a mad rush for the “band of totality.” It was a short 2-hour flight from Smith Mountain Lake. We were the third plane to arrive and the gas attendant filled our tank right away, knowing that he had the day ahead of him filling tanks.  Once we landed, we set up “camp” beside the airplane.  We had a rental car, but the excitement was imminent, so rather than checking into our overnight stay, we remained in place awaiting eclipse start time of 1:54 pm. 

Over the loud speaker, a disc jockey was asking solar system trivia questions and playing music with the SUN in them such as “Here come the Sun” and “Walking on Sunshine.” I never heard my all-time favorite, “You are My Sunshine!”

At least eight people stopped to admire Jack’s airplane and ask where we were from.  One little woman approached us and asked where we flew in from.  She said she just lived across the street and wanted to take our picture. Awww. We smiled!

It was a festive atmosphere and clear skies.  The jet trails were evident but so was the warmth of the sunshine!  Dressing in layers, we began peeling them off as the temperature rose.  I was so glad we didn’t have to stand in the food truck line since we had taken sandwiches and bottled water.

At 1:54 the slightest curve of the moon moved over the path of the sun. 

Little by little, the sun became covered.  I took a picture of my watch at 3:00. 

I don’t know why but the day just seemed eventful!  Using my solar filter over my camera lens, I snapped picture after picture, some blurry and some un-centered. At 3:09, the DJ started playing the theme song from “2001 a Space Odyssey.” It was perfect for the occasion.  Later he told me his wife made him promise not to play “It’s the End of the word as we know it!”

At totality, the temperature became cool and the shared experience of everyone at the airport was created.  We were one community sharing a Godly phenomenon. 

In the darkness, I wrapped a small blanket around my shoulders and enjoyed what looked like a brief sunset. Even the security lights on the airport were triggered by the darkness. In this three-minute lapse, we saw some stars and Venus!  I am telling you, I will never feel the power of the earth, the moon, and the sun in concert with humanity ever again!

You are my Sunshine!

During pollen season in Virginia, you may hear sneezes, coughing, sniffing, and grouchy complaints about itchy watery eyes and yellow pollen.  It makes one dread this beautiful  season…but Ahhh–choo!

What are you allergic to?  I am not even sure I know what bothers me, but I know if I am outside for too long doing spring planting, blowing pollen, or even a little touch up paint, I have to come inside after a bit.  My throat feels parched, and my eyes feel full – not sure of what but that’s my sensation!

According to Yale Medicine, in March and April it is the tree pollen and in June it is the grass pollen.  In the Fall it is ragweed, and in the winter, mold! They recommend wearing a hat outdoors and changing clothes and washing your hair to avoid pollen on your pillow!  As simple as it sounds, I had never thought about this.  But it may apply to the dog too! 

Some people swear by a humidifier, nasal sprays, steam and essential oils.  Adding Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Rosemary, and Sandalwood to a steam shower or neti-pot may help.   Ginger tea is said to help alleviate inflamed bronchial passages.

As much as I hate not opening the windows during the cool spring nights, I know it can lead to poor results. Replacing your ventilation system filters before and after the season is a consideration!

What about the Yellow Pollen?

The first time I saw the thick yellow pollen, it was tax season so I know that about mid April, the yellow powder becomes prolific! When I first experienced it, it looked as if a bomb had dropped.  Come to find out, the pine trees were mating (of sorts).  The best thing about pine pollen is that is is much larger (in size) than other tree pollen so that it cannot get up into the nasal passages as easily as smaller pollens. Blowing with the blower creates a huge cloud and after a rain, the pavement is just floating yellow dust!

So for the season, wait it out!  Wash the dog, change your clothes often and enjoy a nice lavender steam bath!  Carry on!

As innkeepers you can imagine that we have all sorts of great people visit and some who just don’t understand what a Bed & Breakfast is.  When people refer to us as an Air B & B, we stop and assure them that we are a REAL B & B.  In a real B & B, you meet the owners, who serve as hosts, concierges, chefs, housekeepers, maintenance staff, and psychologists! 

We don’t have many rules.  Mainly, they are; no glass in the hot tub (use plastic glasses) and don’t mess with the hot tub temperature. We conduct a little guest orientation upon arrival and tell them that they may go anywhere in the house except our room or the kitchen.  That’s about it!

Here are a few fun guest examples:

• There was the man who showed up without his girlfriend.  They had a fight but he decided to come anyway and just hike through his anger.  By breakfast the next morning, he was still angry, but in the night, she had called and wanted us to get a dozen roses for him and attach a special message from her.  While Jack started breakfast, I ran to Foodlion.  Their flowers are not great, but they are fresh. Driving swiftly home I came in the back way and quickly put the flowers into a vase.  The guest was finishing up breakfast and I told him there was a delivery for him.  He took one look at the message and bid us adieu.  He marched to the car and threw the flowers in the front seat and drove away.  We are still scratching our heads over that one!
• When people check in, we always ask them to use the guest refrigerator and microwave, not the main kitchen- for health reasons!  But people push their limits.  We have had people rifle around for champagne flutes (which we never use).  They have wine glasses provided in their room.  We have found left over pizza and other assorted leftovers in our main refrigerator.  We don’t try to be mean about it, but we just ask guests to NOT use the kitchen. 

• We try to accommodate special diets.  I mean we bend over backwards making things egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and meat-free!  All people must do is tell us what allergies or aversions they have.  Laughingly they may offer that they don’t like Brussel sprouts or Lima beans.  We haven’t ever served those!  But when we set a plated breakfast before the guest, we want it to look appetizing and special to them.  If we look over and someone if not touching the food, it sort of hurts our feelings.  All they had to do was tell us.  We are not short order cooks.  We plan our breakfasts based on food accommodations and the number of people we are serving.
• You may know we have a dog named Doolittle.  He is the friendliest dog you will ever meet!  Recently we had a teenager who was terrified (screeching in fear) of dogs.  Doolittle just didn’t understand being locked in our room away from people.  He is the official greeter when they arrive and the morning greeter as people descend the stairs. Once while checking in a guest, Doo was so excited that he was running around the living room. He is very fast. So fast, that the guest thought we had two dogs!

• We keep the hot tub at about 103 degrees.  For the temperature to adjust to cooler, it takes about an hour per degree.  We ask people not to touch the controls.  But we have found it the next day down to a cool 90.
• There was a very wealthy man that stayed with us who needed to talk about his divorce, his loneliness, and his life experiences.  He was sitting on the deck and had worked through a bottle of wine. Over a glass of wine, we listened.  Talking well past dinner, he asked where he might order a pizza to be delivered.  We are rather rural and nobody delivers to us.  I had a frozen pizza and offered to prepare it for him because, indeed he needed to soak up some of that wine in his belly.  Jack commented that he had never probably eaten “Frozen pizza!” It was all confidential but there were some juicy stories he told!

By and large (I mean 98.5% of the time) we love our guests!  We want them to come back too!

Don’t feel you need to be added to the “unusual story” list as you ponder making a reservation but feel free to share your stories when you do come! And visit Doolittle!

In exchange for a set of new tires, Melissa, the baker promised to share her secret recipe for coconut scones with the local Mechanic, Sid. Trying the recipe, Sid said that in no way did it resemble Melissa’s famous scones which sold out every day by 8:45. Sid confronted Melissa and she told him that he must have done something wrong. The next day Louis found Melissa dead on the floor of the bakery…murdered!

This is how it all begins…the rest of the evening is spent trying to solve the mystery. If you enjoy playing a fictional part and working to solve a mystery by interviewing others (who are also playing a part) then this is the exciting evening of winter fun at Smith Mountain Lake that you would like! Bedford Landings Bed & Breakfast is again hosting a Murder Mystery!

We need 35 people to make it fun.  There are 8 slots left open.  All you need to do is email Karen@bedfordlandings.com.

You will be invoiced for $35 for the fun evening which includes hot and cold appetizers. It is a BYOB event. Two days prior to the event, you will be emailed your character bio with which to become familiar.

Bedford Landings is located off White House Road near the state park and neat the SML Airport. Arrival time is 5:30 pm on Saturday March 2, 2024.

Contact us right away to reserve your space!

PS. The above is not this year’s story line so don’t work too hard on that solution!

Being a seasonal destination, we wait until our guests list has been significantly pared down to do maintenance.  I have blogged about this in the past with other maintenance projects. Recently, we finished many tasks with the help of the contractors listed below. We would give them all five stars!

Chinmeys Done Wright

Top Notch Lawn Care

Matress by Appointment at SML

Gus Wells Paving

We re-surfaced the blacktop for the driveway, had the chimney swept, painted the mailbox, replaced a mattress set, had a lawn company trim and mulch, and painted the front steps and boardwalk.  And, yes, it does feel good! The mulch will be fresh (and fresh smelling) for a few weeks. The boardwalk paint will not be chipped until someone drags their heavy luggage bumping it up the steps and the blacktop will look good for awhile!

Enjoy this little video of some of the work. It’s time for YOU to schedule your visit!