Jack is cookin’ in the kitchen and when he is making biscuits at Bedford Landings, the flour is a-flying!  Jack went to Biscuit School at a Southern Season’s in Chapel Hill twice and says he learned some very basic things about making biscuits.  Instead of hockey pucks, come learn the trades secrets of making biscuits with Jack.

If the first class is fully enrolled, he will offer it again. The first date is Sunday February 8 at 2:00 pm. This Biscuits at Bedford Landings class will last 2 hours and cost $25 per person. We are going to only enroll 4 people in the first class to give personal attention and see how many will work in our space.  Those who attend will learn to make southern style biscuits and rich sausage gravy. Call 540-488-4600 to register or email karen@bedfordlandings.com. The second date is tentative on February 22 but if fully enrolled, we will definitely hold it. We will keep a waiting list if you call after 4 are enrolled.

One of our kitchen features you will see, if you enroll in Biscuits at Bedford Landings, is the dough hole.  What better way to clean up after making a mess then to scrape it all away!  He loves to show it off, but here is a sneak preview!

We are considering more classes for Fall and Spring.  What else would be of interest for small classes? (POLL WILL POP-UP!)

Bedford Landings is not just a summer destination but there are many things that make it a special place in the winter. Just think about this winter special relaxation image.

-A roaring hot fire while you warm yourself close by with a piping hot cup of tea, coffee or cocoa;

-Warming your whole body in the grand guest hot tub complete with comfy robes and towels nearby;

 But what makes it really a deal as a winter special at Bedford Landings? When you make a reservation, use with these words in the comment section of the reservations page, “I hear Bedford Landings is beautiful this time of year.” That alone will get you 10% off of your already winter special Bedford Landings room rate. If you call in a reservation, just say those words to get winter special pricing!

But there is more!

In February, you may enroll in a winter special at Bedford Landings biscuit class.  Jack will hold this at least once. If it goes well, he will offer it again. The first date is February 8 at 2:00 pm. This winter special Bedford Landings will last 2 hours and cost $25 per person. Attendees will learn to make southern style biscuits and rich sausage gravy. Call 540-488-4600 to register or email karen@bedfordlandings.com. For this class, the limit is 4 people. The second date is tentative on February 22 but if fully enrolled, we will definitely hold it. We will keep a waiting list.

Winter special Bedford Landings Valentines Day

We have rooms still available for a romantic get away for Valentines weekend. We will work with you to make it special!

So make your winter warm by coming to Bedford Landings!

 

 

Ho, Ho, Ho who wouldn’t know that Bedford Landings is “dressed” for the holidays! The first item of business was to “dress” the 8-foot wide, 33 feet tall fireplace! I tried a 24 inch wreath that was simply dwarfed. So I went to Southern Roots to ask Susie to try to make the largest wreath she could and she came up with what I will call the Winter-Fall-Holiday wreath. This spring I hope she will construct a Spring-Summer wreath. That way, I don’t need to get the 12-foot ladder out except twice a year to change it! I am so glad that I took this photo of Susie to show how large (48″) this wreath actually is!

Of course we had to get a tree that was equally scaled to a room with a 33-foot vaulted ceiling. We drove to Floyd and selected a live 12-foot Fraser Fur that was cut and wrapped. It only fell over once, crashing a lamp to the floor while we were trying to straighten it!

Throughout the house, we have added hints of holiday décor. We have decorated the Fourth Room in seasonal reds and holiday colors and put just a bit of the season in each of the other rooms.

Starting in November, our guests tasted a few new recipes. We experimented with pumpkin pancakes and cranberry muffins for the season which were well-received, but we also found out that some people really don’t like pumpkin. Who knew?! As for the Cranberry muffins, you need to put in far more sugar than the recipe calls for to counter the berry tartness. But they are festive!

We hosted our family (16 made it for lunch) in house for Thanksgiving (love the Fam!) and are hosting the Professional Women’s Resources holiday gathering on December 9^th with guest chef, Parker Lee, who will prepare Small Plates. The tables are set for this event occurring tomorrow. Afterwards, I can’t wait to share the photos of the food with readers!

I WILL blog again this month so watch for it! Share the link with others and know that we are getting ready to announce a Winter Escape deal for guests. We do have all rooms available for New Year’s Eve at this time and are accepting reservations.

On a personal note,  Jack acquired a new 1953 Cessna 170B and is teaching bagpipe lessons at Bedford Landings. Karen has returned to playing racket ball and continues to work with Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech.

Life is good.  Feel it in the spirit of the season and rejoice!

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

With the changing of the leaves come changes in the season, the colors, the weather, clothing, people, and attitudes, We tend to make more comfort-type foods like soup and warm breads.  We build more fires and light more candles.  We drink hot chocolate and deep red wines.  We snuggle under the covers a little longer and dig out gloves and scarves.  At Bedford Landings we are making some changes too.  These are things that we had in mind all along, but with the season slowing down a bit, we are finding more time to attend to these things.

We installed the LED lighting in the Great Room.  They provide lights for the upper level as well as give a nice glow below.  Thanks again to the Koontz’s for their assistance with this.

 

Jack also installed the ceiling fans on the front porch and has built a firewood storage area under the deck by the guest hot tub.  I brought in the plants from outside just before we had Scott the Painter stain all the porches and decks. Then Charlie English (ProSiding) completed the Maple siding  on each side of the chimney.  Previously, the siding ended at the vent and it was painted around those small windows.

The sun direction has shifted and I can see every bird splatter and failed effort to clean the windows.  So next week we are having all of the windows washed inside and out.  I have also ordered shades for the breakfast room.  This time of year, the guests are blinded by the sunshine at breakfast, so we hope to remedy that soon!

Just last weekend, we visited with each grand child.  The oldest, Jaxon, was the inspiration for my new children’s book.  Entitled Cloudy with a Chance of Dreams, Jaxon seem pleased with the outcome and being featured in this book about a dog, a bike and an airplane.  Here he is reading it for the first time.  You can purchase them at Bedford Landings for $10 or online (Click on this link)

 

After a nice vacation, we are settled in for our Fall and Winter guests.  Since we cherish our family time, we probably won’t ever host B & B guests during Thanksgiving or Christmas. Instead  we block the rooms for our 3 adult children, my brother, his 2 adult children and an assortment of wives, husbands, partners and grandchildren.  All other times, including New Year’s Eve, are great times to come enjoy the fireplace and the cozy theatre room or hot tub this chilly winter.

We do have a few new test kitchen recipes including the one I will share today. Jack and I have tasted the Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal and soon our Fall guests will enjoy it…maybe tomorrow! Here it is for your enjoyment, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
2 cups of oats (quick oats are ok and long cooking oats just take longer to cook)

1 ¼ cup of almond milk (can use regular)
¾ cup of canned pumpkin
2 T. pumpkin pie spice
¼ cup brown sugar
pinch of salt

Stir together and microwave 2-3 minutes on high or cook on the oven Then, select from the following as stir-ins or toppings: Butterscotch chips, pecans or walnuts, white chocolate chips, or cool whip.  I probably will beat an egg white on high to fold in as well to make the oatmeal light and fluffy!

So as you change with the seasons and enjoy the Thanksgiving harvest, ponder these wise words and don’t forget those who chip in to prepare the feast!

Drink and be thankful to the host! What seems insignificant when you have it, is important when you need it.
Franz Grillparzer

Bedford Landings now featuring a new book!  Karen’s first children’s book is now available.  Cloudy with a Chance of Dreams is available on Amazon as well as to guests who stay at the B & B (selling for $10 at Bedford Landings). Many thanks to Jaxon and Jennifer, the inspiration for the artwork rendered by Lisa Binion.  This would make a wonderful Christmas gift for children from age 6-13.  Karen is willing to autograph!

We just returned from two exciting excursions.  We took a two-week holiday to Ireland and Scotland accompanied by my sister and brother-in- law.  The green and rocky mountainous landscape was amazing as were the old, old structures (and of course the pints and drams!).

 

 

 

This past Friday, we went to the screening for the new movie to be released soon called “Wish you Well.” We were  “extras” in the movie.  All told, I guess there was maybe 9.5 seconds combined showing our faces in the movie! But the movie is a beautiful story and the filming is very artistic and the (based on the David Baldacchi novel of the same name) story so sweet!

Now we are back, the leaves are beautiful, we have moved the thermostats from COOL to HEAT.  We have a fire ready to light and warm coffee or cocoa prepared!

We are ready to jump back into being hosts to our wonderful guests who walk through the doors of Bedford Landings!