It’s a gorgeous day here. It’s already November, but it’s still sunny and 65 degrees during the day and a comfortable mid 50’s in the evening. Can we just take a minute to take it all in? When the days run into nights and it feels like life is just swirling by, it’s nice to just take in a good moment. We have had amazing customers, lots of new folks and a good handful of returning friends for October. I thought it was going to be overwhelming and I would have some crazy innkeeper stories to tell. But it has just been wonderful. Hope I didn’t just jinx myself.
We’ve had lots of anniversaries, birthdays and romance going on around here. We celebrated a new baby, and one of our longest employees joined the Grandma club. Kids got engaged, started high school or college and there have been lots of smiling faces. As I am writing, I see that this journal will be full of love, acts of kindness and not one story about how crazy life is as an Innkeeper.
Upcoming Cooking Classes
I’m super pumped about our upcoming cooking classes. We do them each year from November through March. It’s fun for me to incorporate something that I did for so many years at Williams-Sonoma. I love to cook, teach and most of all, eat. Each class is an intimate group of up to 8 people. I try to keep it light, but at the same time I want folks to go home more confident than when they came. Here is the schedule for November, December and January. We can do private classes as well. Gather 8 people, pick a theme and we will make it happen. If you are local and don’t need to stay the night, that’s fine too.
Holiday Happenings

Image Source: The Ark Encounter
So what is there to do around here in November and December? There are always the usual suspects like relaxing by the fire or celebrating an occasion with a loved one. Or, you could go to the the many spectacular outdoor holiday lights events in the area. The Cincinnati Zoo has been doing theirs forever, right next door at our fairgrounds they started doing a holiday display last year. But, my favorite of all is Christmas Time at The Ark and Creation Museum. Here are links to those 3 for you to check out.
ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter
Cincinnati Zoo Festival of LightsFor more information on what’s happening around the town here is a very comprehensive list.
Updated Menu: Winter Food & Drinks Coming Soon
We are almost ready to change our breakfast menu for all the winter feels. The pumpkin and apple craze will fade and we will move onto poached pears and gingerbread pancakes! The Gingerbread pancake recipe is on the website so you can enjoy them at home anytime. We’ll have them through mid-January at the B&B. The poached pear, is poached in port wine and cranberry juice, topped with a dollop of our homemade honey-vanilla yogurt and granola. It just starts your day off all warm and fuzzy.

We’re looking forward to another special Holiday season here. We will be decking out the dining room and kitchen. We’re looking forward to our own outdoor lights to warmly greet guests, hot cocoa, cookies and meeting new folks. We will keep the fire pit open for as long as folks want to enjoy it. Grab a blanket, smores kit, something to sip on and enjoy the peace, the nature and the great light show that our universe provides.
Many thanks & very grateful,
Jennifer