Hot, Humid and Happy

Well it has been hot and humid here in Maine which is a bit unusual since this type of weather usually doesn't last this long. Despite this weather, I have been happy -lots of guests fussing over me and long afternoons of being lazy under the pine tree on the patio. This is our busy time of year, beginning in July and through the end of October so Amy and Mark are in the thick of it but enjoying the new people passing through and the guests who return year after year. We just had a nice young couple return for their second anniversary after spending their honeymoon here! A nice sweet deal for returning guests is the 10% off Amy and Mark give them on the room rate. My patio has been busy with guests enjoying tea in the afternoons and sitting out in the evenings when it cools down to listen to the quietness and relax after dinner at one of Bath's great restaurants. Our B&B is truly a relaxing getaway whether you are staying for one night or for a week - a nice calm port in the middle of the vacation whirlwind.

Happy Anniversary

The three of us cannot believe it - it has been 5 years to the day since we opened the doors of the Benjamin F. Packard House Bed and Breakfast. From those frantic six weeks we had to get the place ready to open with buying furniture, bedding, decorating and planning to our first guests (I'll never forget them Amy let them bring their little dog in for the night) to updating bathrooms and other off season projects and finally to all the great guests who have graced our doorstep in the last five years - it has been wonderful. Besides the business, living in Bath has just enhanced the last 5 years. This is a fabulous "little city" to live in. Our neighbors and friends are great, the downtown is vibrant and there is always something happening. This weekend is the big Heritage Days Celebration with a craft fair, chowder/chili cook off, boat parade, carnival, live music and, my favorite, the 4th of July parade. Amy and Mark usually take me along and I am quite the hit with parade watchers - maybe someday they will actually ask me to be in the parade! Of course, there will be fireworks too - but I stay home for those. You could say I am not a fan of the fireworks. So Happy Anniversay to us and to all our past guests, our family and great friends who have supported us and helped make this all possible.

It is the waiting that is hardest

People ask all the time about what it is like to be an innkeeper. Amy and Mark tell them how it is a lifestyle not just a job and it is not for everyone. All three of us love it - meeting new people, hearing about other people's travels, telling people about Bath and what a cool little city we live in, and of course, all the attention I get. The hardest thing about innkeeping is the waiting... waiting for guests to arrive, waiting for guests to come down to breakfast (for me personally waiting until they are done with breakfast to see it any leftovers will make it in to my dish)and on nights when we are not full, waiting to see if we will get guests who have not booked ahead. Good thing we have a comfortable place to wait! Here I am sitting by the garden gate waiting for guests (or anyone else who stops by to say hello)!

Afternoon tea is served

At our B&B we try to do everything possible to make our guests feel welcomed and relaxed. Everyday at 4;30 p.m., tea is served for the guests. When the weather is warm and sunny, tea is served on the patio. Guests can relax on the comfy furniture and soak up the sun and the beauty of the gardens. Hot tea is served with a variety of ever changing goodies - maybe brownies today and Mexican wedding cookies or fresh herb scones and jam, local cheese with fresh fruit - whatever strikes Amy's fancy. If tea is not your thing, she will gladly get you a glass of lemonade or maybe a complimentary glass of wine to go with that local cheese. Most people do not take the time to stop, relax and treat themselves, but at the Benjamin F. Packard House we believe they should. So come for a stay and spoil yourself a little - you will be glad you did!

Perfect Day for Baking Bread

Today was chilly and rainy - I hate going outside in this kind of weather - but it was the perfect day for baking bread. Amy bakes all the bread that is served to our guests. She makes wonderful cinnamon bread which she slices thick and makes into french toast or an English muffin bread that she toasts and serves topped with ham, poached eggs and cheese and a classic wheat bread which goes great with the frittatas. She makes many different kinds and is always trying new ones or adapting old recipes but today she made my favorite - Italian bread. Being of Italian heritage, of course, I love this one. For Amy, who used to work in the Little Italy section of Erie, PA, it is a reminder of the smell of baking bread early in the mornings which filled the air and enticed her to buy bread for her breakfast. She has finally settled on a recipe that reminds her of that bread from Erie's Little Italy and our B&B was full of that delicious smell today. It is quite a long process with all that rising time but well worth the waiting. I took some pics throughout the day so you can see the product from beginning to end. Too bad I can't send a taste through the blog - it came out perfect!