If you build it, they will come!  That’s what we heard when we designed and built Bedford Landings Bed & Breakfast.  Many of our friends report, “We run a bed and breakfast too, but we don’t get paid for it!”  That is the sentiment of many families that surround Smith Mountain Lake (SML). Visitors come and go all summer long.  Many generations have grown up with the lake.

Since 1966, SML has been “full pond.”  Having once been farmland with hills and rallies, covering three counties, there is over 500 miles of shoreline with many beautiful homes enjoying lake front property.  People who visit the lake area enjoy boating, water sports, hanging out on the dock, and roasting marshmallows by a firepit!  Some visitors to our B & B ask, “What is there to do here?”  To which we respond, “It depends on what you are interested in.”  We can help you design a historical day, a shopping day, a wine tasting excursion, a boating day, a hiking day, or a sit inside and do-nothing day!  

This summer, we have enjoyed having our grandchildren visit.  Each morning they attended Vacation Bible School at Bethlehem United Methodist Church.  Each afternoon, we planned an excursion including water play in the yard, fishing, visiting Bridgewater to feed the carp while making a stop by the game room, floating down the Wasena river, and or course, boating on the lake.  

But if you still have Grands coming this summer, there is still time for Pirate Days (Yes, even the big kids dress up), a new event at the lake – a balloon festival and even Arts Camp for kids sponsored by the Smith Mountain Arts Council.  Every weekend, you can find live music somewhere around the lake!  There are several SML Facebook pages with events listed and the Chamber of Commerce maintains an events calendar for those organizations who submit to it. 

Summer at Smith Mountain Lake activities are wrapped in choices! Come stay with us at Bedford Landings and we will help you plan!

It’s been a little while sing I posted a blog.  Why?  It’s a full-time job to recover from surgery!  On March 3, I (Karen) had knee replacement surgery. Jack served as super caregiver and we were only closed for three days. I have been in physical therapy for three months!  Tough surgery, but it has not stopped us from welcoming guests and being active in the community.  At first, all I could do was stand at my walker and cut up fruit, then take a rest.  I gradually increased my stamina, then by May 24, I was on my own when Jack went to the Indy 500!  I can’t say I am 100% yet– but maybe 89% better!  The knee still gets stiff and even hot to touch when I stand too long but PT is essential and helps a great deal with flexibility and bending!  No pictures of that!!

Jack and I love to sing and sing in our church choir.  We also performed “Blessed” for our Easter Cantata with the Main Street Methodist Church choir in Bedford. This is a piece arranged by Joel Raney who was our conductor when we went to Carnegie Hall just 6 months ago.  

We have hosted Dan Miller, our guest organist who gave a concert on our new Rodgers Infinity 489 church organ. He wasn’t just our guest. He became a friend and especially my visiting grand daughter enjoyed his visit. Like another grand dad in the house!

SML Boomer Band

Also, as a singer in the SML Boomer Band, we presented three shows the past few months for charity and have more to come including a show at the Harvester for three charities who pooled resources in Rocky Mount.  Scroll down to August 3 and we are listed right between the Atlanta Rhythm Section and Everclear!

We have already helped raise funds for the Patmos Church missions program, the Friends of the SML State Park, and Kaleidoscope:The Gathering Place. Coming soon, we are performing for the Good Neighbor’s Program, Food for Kids and other groups.

You can find us on Facebook!

Jack and I also sing with the Lakeside Singers.  The concert is this weekend featuring the hits from many Broadway musicals.

Coming soon, we will host a Nashville Songwriter for the SML Songwriter’s Festival!

It’s a musical season for sure but we are still Innkeepers and enjoy meeting people from all walks of life!  You won’t regret staying with us and enjoying our pecan-encrusted bacon and hot Bedford Landings coffee blend.

Come stay and maybe we will bust out in song!!

Starting March 3, it has been a wicked three weeks, with Karen on a walker post total knee replacement surgery, it has been tough, but our guests have been graciously wonderful and understanding! Prior to surgery, Karen wrote a little poem in preparation for this surgery. Below is a photo prior to surgery showing how knock knee-ed she had become.

The poem…

I know I am not the only one; nor the first
To have this worry and trepidation; feeling cursed!
Others have decided and planned – how to be off the grid,
And determine who, when, and where –
But more importantly – who could be a good nurse?

Strengthening in advance
Collecting the equipment
Lab work and Pre-op appointments 
Baggy pants and button shirt shipments!

Is it genetics or overuse that leads to bad joints?
After cortisone quits working
The couplings continue to disappoint.

Something foreign to be implanted
Be it shoulder, ankle, hip, or knee
And weeks of rehab that follows
Before we can even drive free. Yikes!

But it’s happening. It is decided.
Soon will be the day!
There will be cuts, stitches, limping, and even tears, dare I say.
But once it is over, everyone says “it’s great!”
But until that time, I worry, and fret  – but have arisen to accept my fate.
Karen DeBord, Feb. 2025

Reflection
Now that there has been some time, I can advise others that the first two weeks are brutal, then the light starts to shine. I need to be bending my knee to 90 degrees soon and am probably at about 70 degrees. I am still using a walker for stability but hope to graduate to a cane next week.

As far as who makes a good “nurse,” Jack has been a top notch caregiver, fetching things, propping me, lifting my leg when I can’t and such. At first your leg feels as if it weighs literally, a ton! Now after three week, maybe only 200 pounds. Side sleeping is still out of the question and I must admit that I sleep in a chair for most of the night when I can no longer shift around comfortably in the bed any more.

But we have kept up. And we look forward to our Spring guests! Ask to see the scar!

Thank you to our family, friends, and guests who have stepped up, been understanding and cared enough to say so! On with the Physical Therapy so I can be singing with the SML Boomer Band this spring!

If you have set foot into Bedford Landings within the past four years, you know Dootlittle! 

He has an actual job description, you know!

Doolittle is ready for Spring!  Even though the groundhog saw his shadow, it is time to play outside, chase a ball, go for walks, and lose at least a pound.  He has put on .6 or a pound this winter.

Yesterday he posed so that we could share his picture in the Most Adorable Dog contest hosted by the Laker media group.  When it comes time to vote, you know who to vote for!  DOOLITTLE!

Which pose do you like best? 1, 2, 3?

It seems that January can be the longest month of the year.  Yes, there are 31 days but there are also 31 days in 7 other months!  Why does it seem so long?  Maybe it is the let down coming out of the Christmas holidays, or maybe it is the winter doldrums.  Maybe it is because we have to stay inside because of the cold.

Years ago, as a mom, I looked forward to snow days with the kids up to a certain point.  And the same is true today.  Snow is fun for about a day for me, then it is just inconvenient; lots of rescheduling and the house becomes a mess.  When I worked an 8-5 job, it was difficult to find childcare when schools were closed and working from home was not an option then, so I sympathize with working parents.  Even working from home, work is interrupted! With kids, there is always outdoor snow play which leads to a dryer running non-stop to dry all the wet play clothes.  With retired adults, there is always a good book, a jigsaw puzzle, enjoying the birds at the feeder, or baking in the kitchen.  What do you do?

Soon, it will be February, the shortest month!  Bedford Landings B & B is running a Valentine’s special.  Stay a minimum of two days and we will gift you a single red rose, chocolate covered strawberries, and either wine or champagne. It is your choice! We still have two rooms available for the romantic get away!

February leads to March which makes it feel as if it is nearly Spring!  So never fear!  Winter won’t be here forever!  Here’s a easy soup recipe I have made many times that never fails to please!  

Easy Jambalaya

Sauté these ingredients in 2 Tablespoons of butter
3/4 c. chopped onion
½ c. celery
¼ c. chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced

Stir in:
1 28 oz can chopped tomatoes, undrained
1 10 oz can beef broth
1 ¼ c. water
1 t. sugar
½ t. dried thyme
½ T. chili powder
1/3 t. black pepper
Add 1 c. uncooled long grain rice
Add one or all of the following – 2 cups cubed cooked ham or chicken, pound of sausage, or 1 ½ lb medium fresh shrimp. Let simmer so flavors blend. Enjoy! Get those crock pots cookin’!