A HOT update!!!

An anniversary of 42 years, visiting family and a brief health check kept me from my blog last week.

The landscaping this time of year is so beautiful. Everything is in bloom. I am hoping this HOT week in Wisconsin won't injure my plantings. I rise early to give them all TLC and to weed my vegetable garden. My assistant is pictured above. On the good side the weather makes me stay inside to complete projects. Making freezer jam has been a priority. I enjoy serving it to my guests in the morning. Guests can rent the entire home on a daily basis but breakfast is not included. I still like to have little treats for them to enjoy.

The businesses that met at the B & B this spring to network had our third meeting. A name was chosen, Networking Area Businesses (NAB). A great group of business owners with the same mission. I ordered our banner and we will be setting up at the Poynette 2009 Historic Home and Garden Tour/Arts and Crafts Fair on July 10-11. Hope to see you there....

Now the answer to the question of June 11:

Which of these was recorded by Fats Domino and then covered by Pat Boone?
"Ain't that a Shame"

Name the song with "A-wop bop a-loo bop a-lop bam boom"?

1. Good Golly Miss Molly

2. Be-Bop-a-Lula

3. Tutti Fruitti

More 50's Prices:

Quart of Milk: 21 cents

Loaf of Bread: 19 cents

Coffee Per Pound: 37 cents

Daughter & Husband Visit

What a perfect reason to miss my blogging!!! My daughter and her husband came for a visit and I took the week off. We had hours of visiting and catching up. Allot of time was spent in the B & B to see all my latest treasures. I hope to take some time off this summer to visit Colorado and their beautiful new home.

I attended the Columbia County Visitors Bureau meeting and the Columbia County Economic Development Corporation inventors meeting. There are many sources out there to make your business a success. It just takes time to learn about them and apply what is available for your business. I was overwhelmed at all the work and commitment the members have to promote tourism and Columbia County.

1950's Trivia Questions

Which of these was recorded by Fats Domino and then covered by Pat Boone?

1. April Love

2. Ain't That a Shame

3. I'm Walkin

The answer next week.....

How Much Did It Cost?

Coke--5 cents

Gallon of Gas--25 cents

Movie Ticket--50 cents

McDonald's Hamburger--15 cents

More next week.......

As I promised here is my no fail recipe for two Rhubarb Pies:

4 cups rhubarb, cut up

2 cups sugar

6 tablespoons flour

2 pinches of salt

3 eggs beaten

Topping

1 cup dark brown sugar

4 T flour

4 T butter

Mix the pie ingredients together and put in unbaked pie shell.

Mix the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the pie.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Memorable Memorial Day

Last weekend my 50's home was full. It is so much fun to visit and get to know my guests. All enjoyed the treasures I have acquired and was asked to give a brief tour. I was told they spent hours stepping back in time and enjoying the items remembered from their childhood. As they rented the home, they made their breakfast with the vintage appliances. I was asked to come in and get a peek of the yummy recipe in the oven. Here is the recipe they shared with me:

Finnish Oven Pancake

Mix: 4 large eggs, 2 cup milk, 1 cup flour, 1/2 c sugar

In a cast iron skillet/pot, melt 1/4 pound butter by setting in a 425 deg. oven.

Pour mixture into the melted butter and return to 425 deg. oven for 30 minutes. Serve with maple syrup or jam.

It looked and smelled great. An iron skillet is on my list of things to buy. Enjoy!! Isn't it fun to learn new things!!!

My time was spent in my gardens. I can be available for my guests and also concentrate on landscaping, etc. I have drawn up plans for my gazebo but have to decide on the size. I want it to be large enough for weddings, ice cream socials and vintage car shows but cozy for an evening get-together on the "prairie".

I harvested my rhubarb and made two great pies. Tune in next week for the easy recipe....

SPRING BUZZ and a Recipe for Peaches and Cream Cheesecake!

At last...green is back. I have been spending allot of time on landscaping, planting flowers and gardens. The tulips are in bloom and perennials are peeking out to check weather conditions.

Promoting tourism in Wisconsin and the Empire Prairie has been my focus. This is such a beautiful area filled with so many nice people. I have attended many meetings in the past week and obtained contacts to use to increase my knowledge of tourism and networking. Communication and sharing of ideas is priceless. The Columbia County Economic Development Corporation provided a treasure chest of information.

Our area Networking group will be meeting next week to brain storm on how we can pool our resources to increase interest in our local businesses.

May is a very busy month with graduations and many family events. My Bed and Breakfast will be busy providing a warm and homey atmosphere to relax
and rest from the days celebrations.

I was host to the Poynette Chamber of Commerce meeting. We had a brief lunch followed by the plans for the summer months. I made a dessert I would like to share.

PEACHES AND CREAM CHEESECAKE

2 C graham cracker crumbs - 6 T melted butter - 1/4 C sugar
(mix and press into 9 x 13 pan/refrigerate)

4 - 8 oz pkgs cream cheese
3/4 C sugar
(blend w/electric mixer - add 3 oz pkg of peach jello and blend)

Chop 15 oz can of sliced peaches drained WELL and add to cream cheese mixture with spoon. Fold in WELL 8 oz carton of Cool whip. Add to crust and chill for 4 hours to set. I make this the night before. Very light and refreshing. Use brand names as the flavor is much better.

Tourism Gets A Boost in the Empire Prairie AND a Recipe for Strawberry Coffee Cake

I attended the ribbon cutting in Lodi on Monday morning for the Wisconsin Scenic Byway. I met some very nice people and of course distributed literature for the Bed & Breakfast. I had the option to continue on to Prairie du Chien, but my schedule was full. The speaker mentioned the "Travel Green Wisconsin" program. I was certified last year. I have brochures for the Lower Wisconsin River Road tour and can mail them to anyone interested.

The Networking group that I hosted earlier this month met in Poynette at the beautiful Victorian home of the owner of The Capri Gallery. I believe we all departed with lots of new sources and ideas to build our businesses. There will be meetings through the summer months.

I have a strawberry theme in my large 50's kitchen. The following recipe has had good reviews from my guests:

STRAWBERRY COFFEE CAKE

1/4 C vegetable oil
1 C sugar
2 beaten eggs
1 pt fresh strawberries, mashed
3 C self rising flour
1/2 t salt
3 T milk
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 t lemon flavoring
1/4 C granulated sugar
pecans, opt.

Beat vegetable oil and sugar together. Add eggs and strawberries and beat well. Add flour and salt to mixture with milk and lemon. Beat well and stir in the pecans. Line muffins tins with paper cups and fill each 2/3 full. Before baking, sprinkle with large crystal sugar. Bake in a 350 deg. oven approx. 20 minutes.

Update!

With the weather getting a little warmer, I have been spending my time working on the B & B gardens. I can't wait to see the tulips in bloom.

Last Wednesday the Poynette Press and the Deforest Times featured my B & B in a very nice article. The local general public was unaware of what I have to offer. I have received many delightful calls. You can read the article at http://www.deforesttimes.com/ .

I begin MATC classes this month to learn Adobe Photo Shop. I would like to provide a photo record for my guests of the special events that are held at the B & B.

State Highway 60 from Lodi to Prairie du Chien has been designated as a Scenic Byway. On Monday, April 27 there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:00. As I am a new member of the Lodi Chamber, I will be attending. Arlington is just 15 miles from Lodi on Highway 60 and hopefully a restful beginning to a lovely trip to Praire du Chien.

Also as a member of Poynette Chamber, I will be hosting the May meeting. I enjoy networking and meeting new people.

I have been going through the many 1950 cookbooks I have collected on my constant quest for 50's memorabilia. I will pass some on to you in the coming months

Some History Behind Prairie Splendor Farm Bed and Breakfast

The Currie family home, built in 1892, became rental property after my husbands parents passed. I decided to restore the home three years ago and open a bed & breakfast to provide income after I retired. I chose a 1950's theme because the home was remodeled in 1948. This was an era of innovation, promise, and family values. All of the guests comment on the decor that invokes memories of grandmas house or the home they grew up in. It is a themed bed & breakfast and each bedroom contains memorabilia of cars, clothing, music and cinema stars. Every book and magazine was published in the 1950's. The stove and refrigerator are vintage 1950 and work beautifully.

With help from so many people and many meetings, licences, permits, inspections, it is now a reality and ready for my guests to enjoy. Finding my treasures was the best part. Antique malls in a three state radius, flea markets, garage sales and Goodwill is where I found all the furnishings.

Now I am retired and have time to really enjoy the fruits of my labors. Advertising is now the biggest hurtle to promote my unique getaway.
Joining local Chambers and networking with the local businesses has been more rewarding than I anticipated. I now have the tools to direct my guests to any service that they require.

I have many more goals and I will post them soon.