Don’t you love Fall?  The air is crisp and clear, the colors are popping, and we can wear sweaters! We have been so busy this fall, that our blogging has lacked. But we are back home at Bedford Landings now!  After a lovely vacation to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park, then attending (one of our) daughter’s wedding in Blowing Rock, NC; followed by a visit to an old home place (Emory, VA), then a family reunion in Nashville, TN, we are happy to be back home at Bedford Landings! We even took a few aerial shots of the colors but they are even more colorful now. You should really take it all in by air!

 

Back Home
Because the B & B is more of a seasonal business, we generally do home repairs and projects in the fall and winter. One of the first tasks we wanted to tackle (after 3 years of living in our house), was to finish the ceiling on the screened porch. There are probably lots of photos of the unfinished ceiling but I didn’t have one. Basically, it was the back of the floor to the star gazing deck above it. So I snapped a photo once we put on the waterproofing plastic before the final finish work. Jack did a wonderful job fitting and trimming to complete this and now I don’t have to remind him so much! That job is done. The list is getting shorter!

 

Barn Square

Last week, Jack and I had the pleasure of flying into the Virginia Highlands airport in Abingdon, VA to attend a Cooperative Extension retirement luncheon hosted at the Southwest Virginia 4-H Center. Some of my old (well not that old) co-workers were there and it was great fun getting reacquainted and remembering our years together when I was an Extension Agent in Wytheville, VA. While there, the Director of the center described a fund raising effort selling painted barn quilt squares. I was totally considering purchasing one but in the fun of chatting and finding a ride back to the airport, I forgot to inquire. However, I was inspired. I thought I would try my hand at painting one. It was harder than I thought in that the geometric patterns must be rather exact and not free handed! I may do more, but I did complete one and hung it on the hangar shed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home is where the Dog is!

Ever since our sweet Kramer died (this past February), coming home has been pretty quite. No friendly dog was there to greet us! We had been thinking about a dog and negotiating about what type of dog we would get.

Our B & B is not pet friendly. Why? We figure if people must travel with their pets, they want to sleep with their pets; and who wants to sleep in that bed next (even with clean bedding) after a dog has been in the bed? When we were researching starting a bed & breakfast, we located pet-friendly places and took Kramer with us to a few. There was generally one room designated as the room where pets were allowed. And why? Because, that’s where the other dogs had soiled the rug, and that’s where any subsequent dogs would sniff out the best place to go. Kramer was totally house broken but went straight to the scent and added his to it!

Our home is still relatively new and so we just made the decision- no pets with guests. But this is also our home and it was missing the patter of little feet! Petfinder.com is a great site to search out rescue pups by zip code. And look what I found! Yes, I know she is very similar looking to Kramer. She is smaller than Kramer and is a shih tzu- pug mix. She is perhaps 2-4 years old (according to one veterinarian). She was in foster care, having given birth to 6 puppies that all died. She has now been spayed and we are enjoying making her comfy with us! So welcome Bella, new princess of Bedford Landings!

 

Halloween Soup Recipe

Fall always makes me think of comfort foods-and soup is one of those. Yesterday, I made a crock-pot soup that was warm and yummy:

• Just pile this stuff in a crock pot for 4 hours—2 chicken breasts, a cup of wild rice, a cup of chopped celery, ½ cup of chopped carrot, half chopped onion, 4 cups chicken stock, rosemary, 2 garlic, sage, salt, pepper. Break apart the chicken once cooked, stir and enjoy.

I found another good recipe I plan to share on All Hallows Eve with friends. Here it is for your to enjoy!

Cheese Tortellini Soup

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 (10¾ ounce) cans of tomato soup

¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped or 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato paste

2 cups half-and-half

2 cups chicken stock

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoons Italian seasoning

½ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoons pepper

1 (9 ounce package) of cheese-filled tortellini

½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Sauté garlic with the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat until golden brown. Be sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get too brown or burnt. When the garlic is done, add tomato soup, tomatoes, half and half, chicken stock and spices, and bring to a simmer. Add tortellini and top with cheese.

Enjoy your Fall!

Coming soon…hunting season, Thanksgiving with the family, and Christmas with Mama.

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