It's February!

Which means more trips to the woods to cut firewood. The ground is white again; the inch-and-a-half we got Friday night is still with us despite two bright sunny days. I saw 5 deer behind the house this morning, and the songbirds and turkeys have depleted our feed supply.

The Valentine's Special at the Cottage is taken, but we have plenty of other dates available this spring.

I know I posted since June!

Yes, I'm sure I posted since June. Must have done something wrong, though, because it (they) didn't take. Well, anyway, it's winter in Missouri. The snow cover that started shortly before Christmas is gone, the ground thawed and got muddy, and now is freezing again. That's good, because I need to cut more firewood - and it makes the trails passable.

Meanwhile, at the Cottage - we've posted our Valentine's Package. Valentine's Day is a Sunday, but for many that's a long weekend with President's Day on Monday. 2-day minimum (which is standard for a holiday weekend, anyway), and lots of extras that are normally priced separately. Take a look!

Wildflower season at Cedarcroft

With all the rain, the wildflowers are taking off. Along the lane to the Cottage on the Knoll you'll see the orange of Butterfly Milkweed, the white of Queen Anne's Lace and the purple of Purple Coneflower. If you look more closely, you'll see the tiny yellow blooms on the cool season grasses such as Eastern Gamma. Out in the meadows you'll see the white of Yarrow and certain milkweeds, the purple of Red Clover, the yellow of Coreopsis (OK, that's an escapee from the Cottage flower beds).

On the shady side of the Cottage, the Purple Coneflowers are starting to bloom. Just a few more days and the view from the Cottage porch will be a mass of coneflowers.

Fortunately, I've not found any instance of the one purple flower I don't want to see - musk thistle. Meanwhile, the trails are mowed, Bear Creek and its tributaries change every big rain and there's lots to do outdoors at Cedarcroft's Cottage on the Knoll.

Rain + Sun = Flowers

A lot of rain has fallen at the Cottage on the Knoll at Cedarcroft Farm, and the plants are happy. The coneflowers aren't ready yet, but the Cottage will have a bumper crop in from of the porch. Behind the Cottage the tickseed coreopsis are blooming in bright yellow - a few have even escaped into the meadow. The native warm season grasses along the Cottage lane are coming along and spreading nicely, and the day lilies will bloom before long. I expect I'll be able to mow the trails tomorrow, so guests will be able to explore the back 40 without wading through deep grass.

We thought we'd offer something special for those folks who are willing to commit themselves 30 days in advance, so we're offering them a 15% discount on stays. The discount begins with stays in July. Like the hotels, the discount is for firm reservations, prepaid 30 days in advance.

Come see us sometime soon!

Spring, maybe?

I say "maybe" because of the number of cold spells we've had in the last few weeks. However, the grass is growing, the daffodils are in full bloom, the peach tree by the Cottage is starting to bloom, and the mockingbirds are singing. Sandra planted 6 trees along the Cottage lane today, including redbuds and dogwoods; it will be a while before they're ready to put on a show.

I took some new pictures of the Cottage this evening. We changed the TV to a 32" LCD in November, and we've added some of our contest pictures on the walls (yes, they're for sale). I'll process them this evening and post them in t he next few days.

Our only available weekend in April will be the 24th & 25th, but weeknights are available. Come see us at Cottage on the Knoll at Cedarcroft Farm.

PAII Bed &Breakfast Conference

Today was the Association Leaders workshop. An excellent session, raised some questions and answered some. Tomorrow, I visit the vendors and head for home, ready to apply what I've picked up to enhance guest experience at Cedarcroft and to improve my state association. Trees are green in Atlanta, and I hope the cold weather is done back in Missouri!

Battlefield tour

While Sandra's at home watching the B&B and hoping not to shovel snow, I'm touring battlefields en route to Atlanta for the PAII conference. First stop was Franklin, TN, where Gen. Hood ruined his army. A very spiritual place for me, as my great-grandfather W.L.Truman was there. See his memoir. First picture (from bottom reading upward)is McGavock Cemetery where most of the Confederates who fell in that battle were buried. Second is of the Carter house, focus of much of the fighting.

Friday I visited Muefreesboro battlefield (Stones River to Yankees). The wrecked cannon was in an area called the "Slaughter Pen" - and you can see how odd & rugged that part of the battlefield was. Then I went to Chickamauga, but took no pictures.

Last stop was New Echota State Hist. Site (GA) - Cherokee Capitol until the removal, restored. Picture taken thru a wavy-glass window.

Today it's off to Allatoona & Kennesaw where Missouri Brigade was deeply involved.