Arcadian Inn Breakfast Gazette

Arcadian Inn Blooms

2008-05-15T12:10:00.004-05:00

Hello to all of our friends, guests, and family!
May 15th, 2008 is a beautiful day full of sunshine, cool breezes and Blooms. Lamont came by and worked a couple of days on the gardens at the Arcadian Inn. Beautiful periwinkles, begonias, and geraniums everywhere!

Newest addition to the Arcadian Inn's services is our flower services. Karla Richards with Edmond Flower Shop has teamed with us to provided beautiful fresh flower bouquets at your request. I taught Karla and brother, Mike, in Sunday School many years ago. Karla now owns Edmond Flower Shop on Broadway in Downtown Edmond. Please go in and visit her, she has completely redecorated the shop and has excellent gift and design ideas. To order flowers, just go to our website and click on "Flowers Anyone?"

Aaron's Gate Country Getaways is rustling with fresh green leaves, the squirrels darting about. We have a family of bunnies that live in the meadow outside the barn. The cottages All have 42 inch LCD or Plasma TV's now! Three of them pick up the High Definition channels. What an amazing difference High-Def is. Also new to Aaron's Gate Country Getaways are the new Microfiber Silk Bathrobes. Slip into something more comfortable, a soft, luxurious robe with slippers and enjoy a midnight movie together.

Well, a my blog isn't right without a recipe. I saw this recipe in Southern Living. Of course, I did it my way. We get raves over these and lots of requests for the recipe.

Easy Three-Seed Pan Rolls Recipe

4 teaspoons fennel seeds
4 teaspoons poppy seeds
4 teaspoons sesame seeds
2 cans of refridgerator bread stick dough
1 egg white, beaten
Melted butter

Preparation

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Open cans and pull out rolls, keep rolled up (Should have 12 rolls). Dip the top of the dough rolls, 1 at a time, in egg white then in seed mixture. Arrange rolls, in a lightly greased 9x13-inch pan.

2. Bake according to directions until golden. Brush with melted butter.

Three-Seed French Bread: Substitute 1 (11-oz.) can refrigerated French bread dough for frozen bread dough rolls. Combine seeds in a shallow dish. Brush dough loaf with egg white. Roll top and sides of dough loaf in seeds. Place, seam side down, on a baking sheet. Cut and bake dough loaf according to package directions.

Yield

Makes 12 rolls

Blessings on all. We look forward to your visit soon.

Oklahoma Spring Weather

2008-03-03T14:52:00.005-06:00

We are having an Oklahoma weather event again today. The last 2 days were gorgeous except for that Wind Advisory! Last night the Tornado sirens blew but no damage, just circulation on Radar. Then today SNOW! Just enough to remind us this is Oklahoma and God is in control of the weather.

Just a few days ago, I stood watching as over one hundred Robins played in the cedar tree. The promise of Spring!

We are excited to Celebrate Spring and Easter this year. When the temperatures get warm enough for long enough, the Arcadian Inn is planning a paint job. Danyell & Christian will work on the gardens and make them bloom. Already the Bed & Breakfast inside is gleaming with springtime beauty.

This weekend we were honored to host Dr. Chris Bugg's staff. Dr. Bugg was recently named among the Top 10 Dentists in Oklahoma! Our guests are the Top Too!

Aaron's Gate Country Getaway was the perfect spot to watch the lightning show last night. A dip in your hot tub while the storms danced off and played for you in the Eastern Sky. Soon the trees will be blooming and the bunnies will be hopping around the cottages. Peter Cottontail lives near the Meadowlark Barn. He and his family play in the meadow in the evenings.

We recently had a family breakfast for Stephen's 21st Birthday. He requested Bread and Butter Pudding. This is our family's favorite breakfast. It takes a little extra time so we have to "plan" to have it.

Bread and Butter Pudding

1 loaf of french bread
real butter
3 eggs
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 ½ cup milk
1 cup Half & Half
1 tbsp. vanilla
Slice french bread in 1 inch slices, butter one side and place insmall single serving baking dishes, like single quiche dishes.
Mix milk and Half & Half together in a glass measuring cup, microwave on high 3 minutes until scalding.
Beat eggs, egg yolks, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Pour scalding milk mixture into eggs while beating on low.
Pour egg and milk mix evenly over bread in each dish, letting bread soak up the liquid and topping off the dish with rest of liquid. We like to sprinkle the tops with more granulated sugar to give a crunchy, sweet crust.
Place baking dishes in 9 x 13 inch baking pan, and pour water around dishes up about 1/2 way.
Bake in oven at 375° for 35-45 minutes. Tops will puff and crack. Remove from oven
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with a large spoonful of Strawberry Jam

Strawberry Jam...Inside a box of Sure-Gel pectin in the canning section you will find a recipe for strawberry freezer jam. We make up about 45 pounds of jam a year and store it in zip-lock freezer bags. Because it is frozen and the strawberries were never cook, the jam tastes like fresh strawberries. Oo-oo-om good!

From the Message:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best-
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes, Yes, Yes.

An Innkeeper's Idea of a Romantic Date

2008-01-27T12:15:00.000-06:00

Gary and I love to visit Lowes and Home Depot. It's a date for us. We dream, make plans, laugh and hold hands. Over 28 years Gary and I have built several homes, remodeled many others, and one-time moved into one that was already finished (Gerry, New York). But even that one, I was given the opportunity to pick out all of the wallpapers that would be installed before we moved in (thanks, Don!).

Last week on a very cold Oklahoma January weekend, we made our annual date for the Oklahoma City Home Show. We walked through all four buildings, looking for our favorite vendors, Gary at the Hearth Shop, Doug with Wholesale Spas, Kevin at the pool booth. We touch and feel new products, and dream of new projects.

2007 was a year of reflection. In January of '07, we were at the hospital when our dear friend, Val, passed away suddenly. Val and Dana were our double-date friends. We never made it to the home show together but we did talk to each other about our finds at the Home Show. We knew they would make a date of it too. We shared dreams of new houses and new home projects.

In 2007, Pastor Craig did a series, "30 Days to Live"
Wow, what an impact it had as we listened to people who had been given just weeks to live. It all came down to "fight for peace". Make peace with people, relationships are all that matters.
At the end of 2007 and as we look to 2008, we are reminded that life is about having dates, holding hands, loving friends and family.

Now is a good time to share about a gift I received this week at the Inn. My friend, Lin, sent me a a prayer shawl she crocheted herself as a hug. Yes, a hug from her, so everytime I wear it, it reminds me that she loves me. Pretty cool idea, huh?

Do you like my lion above? He's been on my desktop all week. Reminds us of Narnia's Aslan.

Hey, on a lighter note, Gary loved the Chili, the Oklahoma Beef Council was passing out at the Home Show. So this week, we made a big pot and shared it with Mark & Danyell & Christian. Here's the recipe.

Chili Beef Express
Makes 4 servings

1 pound 95% lean ground beef
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can (15-1/2 ounces) chilibeans in chili sauce, undrained, ( we use "Ranch Style Beans")
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chili-style chunky tomatoes, undrained
1 cup frozen corn

1. Brown ground in beef. Pour off drippings. Season with salt & pepper.
2. Stir in Beans, Tomatoes, and Corn. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 minutes.

Oh, and I'm supposed to say BEEF...it's what's for dinner!
Enjoy and give me a call if you like.

The Arcadian Inn is working through the cold winter. We have had a wonderful month of guests. Jason proposed this weekend. Eric celebrated his birthday. Bob and Ellen celebrated an anniversary. Sammye just got away to do some much needed work in peace and quiet. Becky and Stephen had a great time keeping the Magic at the Inn. Mark has worked very hard on the Oklahoma Bed and Breakfast Association website. And most important, Dama has joined us to be caretaker of Aaron's Gate Country Getaways!!!

Speaking of Aaron's Gate, Gary and Mark are almost finished with a the Cardinal Cottage, which will be our office and home. Gary has also been working on the cottages, adding 42 inch HDTVs to all of them. Some lucky guys are going to be able to watch the SuperBowl next Sunday in style!

Let me close with this great story I found on a blog late last night,
The Coal Basket Bible

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible.

His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?" The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said,"Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water." The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was"impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!" "So you think it is useless?" the old man said. "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different.

Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. "Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out." That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son. Take time to read a portion of God's word each day, and remind a friend by sharing this story.

A Mailing Ministry?

2007-11-26T14:43:00.001-06:00

Christmas of 2006 at The Arcadian Inn

Just looking back at Christmas Past.

I am preoccupied with thinking of my Christmas Card and letter. Of course, we are all decorated for the holiday. That begins the Sunday before Thanksgiving. All of the trees come out and every room is dressed for the holiday. My daughter-in-law, Danyell, oversees the decorating. She celebrates that week of putting JOY all over the inn. Then...

Danyell cooks a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner that we celebrate with Family, Friends, and our Staff Family here at the Inn. We tease her that she cooks too much but she says its her Alabama raisin' that causes her to cook so much. (Are we really complaining?)

Plus every cottage at Aaron's Gate Country Getaways is decorated with its own tree. I love the new chandelier ornaments on the French Hen. And the Copper Dove is so very Chic and Beautiful this Christmas with its makeover this year.

Mark, Danyell and I have been working on an update for Emerald Nights. I'm still working on a good picture but will put what I have on the website right now. I think it is absolutely glamorous! You should see it at night.

Tho't...I have received a couple of emails from friends suggesting I add
A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001
to our Christmas card list. Do you send cards out to your friends and family?

Many years ago I asked the Lord to give me the gift of a mailing ministry. A card or letter in the snail mail means so much and many times is held onto forever! One year in college, I was directing a student program and one of the guys was having a hard time with homesickness. Well, I remember how going to the mailbox was the hardest when you're homesick. So I mailed him a card of encouragement twice a week. One day I happened to be delivering packets and saw his dorm room. There were all my cards pinned to his bulletin board. He really did need them!

I encourage you to spend some time this year sending one or two or better all of your friends and family a Christmas Card with your love. And include that soldier to your list.

With that tho't, I'll leave you. Enjoy this week following a week of Thanksgiving and anticipating a month of joyous celebration of Christ's Birth, loving our family, friends, and associates.

Warmly,
The Lady of the House

Which Cup Did You Choose?

2007-07-23T13:35:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! This weekend we, The Arcadian Inn, were so honored to be voted #1 by the Oklahoman's Reader's Choice Awards for Best Bed & Breakfast. This is our 8th year to be voted #1. Every year is an honor that I hold highly in my heart. Gary and I enjoy working hard to prepare a wonderful getaway for you. Thank you for voting for us.

I like to collect coffee mugs when I travel. But it started back when I was in my twenties, working at the Dr's office. The only mugs we had to drink out of were pharmaceutical (Drug company) advertising mugs. They weren't pretty and you had to remember which mug you were drinking out of that day, "Librium" "Milk of Magnesia" "Dulcolax", you get the picture. So I went out and bought myself a beautiful red mug to make me happy and to be all mine.

Since then, I've collected mugs that make me happy. I have one from Paris when Gary took me there. And the one from my friend, Lin, so I can have coffee with her across the miles. And the one with the Pittsburg State University Gorilla to remind me to pray for my son, Stephen.

Below is one of those email forwards that you probably got too. But I thought this one was important. Please read and consider Which cup did you choose?

Coffee Cups

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got

together to visit their old university professor.
Conversation soon turned into complaints
about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to
the kitchen and returned with a large pot of
coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain,
plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking,
some expensive, some exquisite - telling them
to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand,
the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice
looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind
the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you

to want only the best for yourselves, that is the
source of your problems and stress. Be assured that
the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.
In most cases it is just more expensive and in some
cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really
wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously
went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing
each other's cups.

“Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs,
money and position in society are the cups. They
are just tools to hold and contain life, and the
type of cup we have does not define, nor change
the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by
concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy
the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups.......... Enjoy your coffee!

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make

the best of everything."

Oh, and by the way, we are getting new mugs for the Arcadian Inn. So if you are a collector, stop by.

Have a great day, go for the rich & delicious "Coffee" instead of the fancy cup.

Warmly,

The Lady of the House