If I had a nickel for every time someone told me I should write a book about our lives in the hospitality industry, I’d be a wealthy woman.  Well, no, actually, I’d have about $1.35 in my pocket but you get my point.

Bill and Paige just completed their Camino pilgrimage.  They walked the entire 500 miles and lived to tell about it.  I knew as soon as they set off I would ask Paige for an interview.  Partly, because I knew she’d be honest about their pilgrimage and partly because I am so fascinated with the Camino.

Every now and then we’ll have guests stay with us because they are scouting out property; thinking of relocating to the Rogue Valley, Ashland specifically.  When asked how we like living here my response pretty much goes like this:  we very much enjoy Ashland because it is small enough to have a sense of community, but large enough that not everyone knows your business.

I recently wrote a poem (kind of) about my love of fall and I titled it Falling.  You can read it here, if you’d like.  Sometimes, words just aren’t necessary.  Here is a small sampling of what fall looks like in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon; it is a feast for your eyes.

There are days when I sit and stare at this computer screen and think, “What in the hell were you thinking – who would want to read what you have to say?”  Then there are days when I stare at this computer screen and think, “This blogging thing is the best gift I have ever given myself!” Yay me! A little neurotic?

Remember that iconic commercial? “Where’s the beef?”  Brilliant marketing on the part of Wendy’s Hamburgers.

And then there was the whole “Oprah – vs – The Beef People” debacle of 1998.  Not so brilliant for the beef industry.

We moved to Ashland in May of 2011, and after setting up camp in our 3-month rental house, we had several weeks to call our own before we took ownership of what is now our B&B.  After taking care of a few matters of business and scouting out our new town, we packed up our son’s car and drove it across country.

I recently wrote about my love of the fall season and all that it entails; such as my favorite cardigan sweater, candles and hot chocolate.  One of my other favorite things about fall, is that it lends itself to soup – soup weather!  One of our favorites is beef barley soup.  I make a big pot and we settle in with a steaming hot bowl of soup, a loaf of bread with some good cheese and a glass of wine, it doesn’t get much better.

There is something incredibly special about traveling Route 66; The American classic road trip.  I recently connected with someone on Twitter who said he has gone out and discovered something new along the Route over 200 times – very impressive I’d say.