On Saturday, March 27, 2010, at 8:30 p.m. local time, I am taking part in Earth Hour—an event led by World Wildlife Fund in which millions of people around the world will unite by turning out their lights for one hour to make a bold statement of concern about our planet and climate change.
Earth Hour started three years ago in Sydney, Australia and is now the largest event of its kind in the world. Nearly one billion people from 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents participated last year and, with your help, Earth Hour 2010 can be even bigger.
During Earth Hour, international landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower and Great Pyramids have gone dark alongside the city skylines of Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv and more. To see it for yourself, check out this video: www.myearthhour.org/earth-hour-video.
But Earth Hour isn’t just for national landmarks and big cities—anyone can participate, whether it be individuals like you and me or schools, businesses, organizations, and our state and local governments. I hope you will join me for this amazing event and help send a message that the time for action on climate change is now. To sign up and start spreading the word, visit www. EarthHour.org.
Tonight it may be just you and me in the dark, but NEXT YEAR!!! Tonight we shut off our lights; NEXT YEAR OUR MESSAGE BECOMES STRONGER! By working together, each of us can make a positive impact in the fight against climate change. And for NEXT YEAR'S EARTH DAY let's have big bold plans in place ~ to make a difference.
Let's make a list of all the things we can do in the dark!!! Reporting live and in the dark from the Inn at Harbour Ridge.
. . . a candle light dinner party. . .
a candle light dessert tasting. . .
quiet time to think about how our world is changing. . .
a chance to look at the stars. . .
an opportunity to see darkness on the horizon.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Reviews Like This Make an Innkeeper's Day!
CUSTOMER SERVICE....satisfying the customer....we talked alot about that back when I was a Banker. Seems like these days it's hard to find. Pleasing the guest...that's what I'm all about as the innkeeper/owner of a bed and breakfast lodging property located at the Lake of the Ozarks. I want people to go "WOW!" when they walk in the front door of the Inn at Harbour Ridge or enter their guestroom or sit down at our breakfast table. I want my guests to be comfortable at the Inn and yes, I want them to let their hair down and play!
Sometimes it's difficult to please guests; much less pleasantly surprise them. That's my goal!
AND I know it can be hard to keep the 'WOW' factor in a relationship when the world is pulling me in so many directions it makes me dizzy (ier)....So Ron and I try to give our guests what we think they want in a bed and breakfast experience, and 'permission to play' and act goofy and romantic like in the old days....Often times, the stage we set works...wonders! Ron and I call it 'happy hearts.'
With the onslaught of Social Media, our guests can talk their experiences at the Inn at Harbour Ridge and even about us (!!) on Facebook, Twitter, Google Reviews...and probably some places I don't even know about! BedandBreakfast.com, BnBFinder.com, iLoveInns.com --- all major bed and breakfast directories that post reviews from B & B guests, as does Trip Advisor. Ron and I encourage you to check out our on-line reputation. I'd like to share this recent review from Trip Advisor with you; it's entitled "a relaxed and romantic getaway.”
Inn at Harbour Ridge Bed & Breakfast; Osage Beach, MO
Sue and Ron, the proprietors, welcomed us and made us feel at home. The home is beautiful. Our room was more than expected. Sue has several little touches left all over the house, from books and movies, to romantic games in the room. Our room looked out on the garden with lots of birdhouses. The back path leads to a gazebo with a waterfall and because the way the house is built on a slope, you are literally in the treetops. I have never slept in such a comfortable bed in my life! They layer the bed with feather beds and really nice sheets. You sink into it and the pillows are amazing as well. No shortage of pillows exist in the room, nor towels. They leave enough towels that you won't run short!Finally, breakfast is amazing. The food was fabulous and I need the recipe for the fruitini. We were served french toast and sausage, warm maple syrup, a "grape goulash", apple juice in a brandy decanter and homemade cheese cherry danish. Not to mention the coffee with a hint of cinnamon. The only bad thing was we couldn't stay longer. We will go back and next time, we will stay for several days. Thank you!
I guess you can tell this review made my day! In my management reply to this guest, I promised more information about the fruitini. Here's the secret ingredient ~ presentation. It's all in the presentation, my dear! Here at the Inn we serve our fruitinis in martini glasses, of course! This isn't the grape goulash recipe you enjoyed when you visited us, but another fun recipe your family will rave about! I think it's absolutely sinful!!!
Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on your dessert plate first. To build your fruitini, make mousse - white chocolate is my favorite but chocolate fudge is fun, too. (1 box instant pudding, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup heavy cream. Beat well and chill.) Stem and slice fresh strawberries and macerate (fancy word for soak) them overnight in a little powdered sugar and more Chambord or Grand Marnier. I like to add sliced bananans and sometimes blueberries, too. How about some pomegranate seeds too? Then add a dollap of the mousse on top. Enjoy! A beautiful fruit cup or dessert. Life is short so sometimes you should have dessert for breakfast! E-mail me and I'll send the grape goulash recipe.
Happy Hearts!
Sue
Sometimes it's difficult to please guests; much less pleasantly surprise them. That's my goal!
AND I know it can be hard to keep the 'WOW' factor in a relationship when the world is pulling me in so many directions it makes me dizzy (ier)....So Ron and I try to give our guests what we think they want in a bed and breakfast experience, and 'permission to play' and act goofy and romantic like in the old days....Often times, the stage we set works...wonders! Ron and I call it 'happy hearts.'
With the onslaught of Social Media, our guests can talk their experiences at the Inn at Harbour Ridge and even about us (!!) on Facebook, Twitter, Google Reviews...and probably some places I don't even know about! BedandBreakfast.com, BnBFinder.com, iLoveInns.com --- all major bed and breakfast directories that post reviews from B & B guests, as does Trip Advisor. Ron and I encourage you to check out our on-line reputation. I'd like to share this recent review from Trip Advisor with you; it's entitled "a relaxed and romantic getaway.”
Inn at Harbour Ridge Bed & Breakfast; Osage Beach, MO
Sue and Ron, the proprietors, welcomed us and made us feel at home. The home is beautiful. Our room was more than expected. Sue has several little touches left all over the house, from books and movies, to romantic games in the room. Our room looked out on the garden with lots of birdhouses. The back path leads to a gazebo with a waterfall and because the way the house is built on a slope, you are literally in the treetops. I have never slept in such a comfortable bed in my life! They layer the bed with feather beds and really nice sheets. You sink into it and the pillows are amazing as well. No shortage of pillows exist in the room, nor towels. They leave enough towels that you won't run short!Finally, breakfast is amazing. The food was fabulous and I need the recipe for the fruitini. We were served french toast and sausage, warm maple syrup, a "grape goulash", apple juice in a brandy decanter and homemade cheese cherry danish. Not to mention the coffee with a hint of cinnamon. The only bad thing was we couldn't stay longer. We will go back and next time, we will stay for several days. Thank you!
I guess you can tell this review made my day! In my management reply to this guest, I promised more information about the fruitini. Here's the secret ingredient ~ presentation. It's all in the presentation, my dear! Here at the Inn we serve our fruitinis in martini glasses, of course! This isn't the grape goulash recipe you enjoyed when you visited us, but another fun recipe your family will rave about! I think it's absolutely sinful!!!
Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on your dessert plate first. To build your fruitini, make mousse - white chocolate is my favorite but chocolate fudge is fun, too. (1 box instant pudding, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup heavy cream. Beat well and chill.) Stem and slice fresh strawberries and macerate (fancy word for soak) them overnight in a little powdered sugar and more Chambord or Grand Marnier. I like to add sliced bananans and sometimes blueberries, too. How about some pomegranate seeds too? Then add a dollap of the mousse on top. Enjoy! A beautiful fruit cup or dessert. Life is short so sometimes you should have dessert for breakfast! E-mail me and I'll send the grape goulash recipe.
Happy Hearts!
Sue
Sunday, March 7, 2010
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS!
Greetings from the South! Ron and I are in Austin, Texas for the Professional Association of International Innkeepers Conference. After arriving without a single hitch, we spent many, many minutes looking for Rudy's BBQ....the many wrong turns and turnabouts in this amazing city of one way streets were definitely worth the frustration....Our greeter announced us as 'rookies,' which triggered bells clanging and much shouting. The best part . . . was the sampling of all the meats AND creamed corn to die for!!!! We felt right at home since they also had St. Louis pork ribs on the menu...sliced smoked turkey, brisket and loin sold by the half pound,too. Here's about 6 slices of white bread ~ you build your own sandwich. Our 'fine china' was butcher paper! Help yourselves to iced down bottled beer/soda from an old fashioned trough used as a beer box. Pickles, onions and BBQ sauce ----ummmm good. What a funn place! Wish the Lake of the Ozarks had a Rudy's Country Store! We hope to share Rudy's with the other Missouri innkeepers as they arrive in Austin and we all hook up!Four days of intense workshops with four days of fun with innkeepers coming from near and far. We're proud to be Missouri innkeepers and members of PAII!
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