But I Must Confess...I'm a Cheater!

This blog is supposed to be about my Pumpkin Pancakes but I am side tracked by this gorgeous photograph I took a few days ago.

This is our first Autumn in Portland. We are only here a few days a month but we have had the joy of experiencing all but one season here. Fall just happens to be my favorite of the four and I could hardly wait to take pictures of our walk to Pioneer Square so I could capture all the colors I had seen driving in. This one pretty much takes the cake!

We were discussing today as we were driving through the Willamette Valley as to why Vermont has all the glory of being "thee place" to see fall colors. Why didn't Oregon ever win that prize? Not sure if we will ever know but if you truly want to see our shades of fall, come to Oregon!

The rolling hills of green pastures and fields against the backdrop of heaven in shades of reds, yellows and oranges you swear you have never seen before will knock your socks off! Seriously though, we have been in awe every fall since we have moved here.

Now on to the "cheating" part of this blog. Yes, I confess...I am huge cheater! I have learned over the past 2-1/2 years that no matter how hard I try, I cannot get my pancake batter to taste better than Krusteaz! Their buttermilk pancake mix is the perfect beginning to MY pumpkin pancakes. All I add to the mix is the water it calls for, some pumpkin, a little cinnamon and some cloves and wow...those are good! I cook them on Ray's griddle in melted butter, pour some Trader Joe's pure maple syrup and a small hand full of toasted pecans and just a slight dusting of powdered sugar and they're good to go! Served with spicy chicken sausages again from Joe's, and we have a very awesome review on Trip Advisor and/or Bed and Breakfast.com. Heck, we even get rave reviews from people walking past the inn on their morning stroll. A few weeks ago, Steven was on the front porch and some little kid walking past the inn with his parents said, "hey...that's the place that makes those good pumpkin pancakes!" Steven thought that was hilarious and so did I. I still wonder how the kid knew that.

Well...needless to say, along with fall in Oregon we have the pumpkin pancakes, the pumpkin pecan bread, the Joe's pumpkin butter and those three very sweet pumpkins on the inns front porch and I get a little sad when it's all over because the season seems to go so quickly. Save for the winter, the dreams of white mornings, the empty trees so we can see our neighbor's kitchen windows and all the holidays just around the corner, we will keep warm and cozy and enjoy the rest of our Autumn...in Oregon!

Christmas in Albany, Oregon!

"Christmas Parlour Tour"
31st Annual Christmas Parlour Tour of Historic Homes

Churches, Museums and Library
Sunday, December 12, 2010
2pm – 7pm

The tour will feature several historic homes (listed on the ticket with a map), which have been lovingly restored and beautifully decorated for the holidays. Along with the homes on tour, guests will visit the Whitespires Church, The United Presbyterian Church, the Albany Regional Museum, the Monteith House Museum, the Carnegie Library, and Albany's Historic Carousel and Museum.

Marks Ridge Percherons will take guests through the Historic Monteith District Neighborhood tour and the vintage trolley will pick-up the rest of the stops on the tour. This tour is self-guided. Visitors can tour the homes in any order they like. Transportation is by your own vehicle or by horse drawn wagon and trolley.

Music, refreshments, horse-drawn wagon rides, and vintage trolley rides are all included in the $10 ticket price ($8 for seniors and groups of 10 or more). Children under 12 are admitted free with a paid adult.

Ticket sales begin at 1pm on tour day at: Albany Visitors Association, 250 Broadalbin Ave SW #110 in Historic Downtown Albany. Tour begins at Two Rivers Market, 800-526-2256 or (541) 928-0911 www.albanyvisitors.com


Every year for over 30 years, Albany, Oregon has celebrated it's historic homes, churches and buildings by inviting you inside. Join us as we "show-off" our vintage charm and invite you to see why we love it here so much. Boasting the most in number and most varied historic homes and buildings in the entire state of Oregon, Albany holds all it's sweet charm in our history, our homes and our hearts.

Come home for Christmas and come home to Albany as we invite you inside!

"I am an old house freak!"

Anyone that really knows me knows that I am an old house freak! Just ask my friends Natalie and Barbara! They can attest to that fact. Heck, both of these friends at different times even sat with me in my car as we drove through the historic districts in my town in SoCal. I couldn't ever really get enough of it and depending on the time of day, you could see really well in to the living rooms of these old homes. I know that sounds creepy but only to those that have never done it. It's really pretty fun and the darker it gets outside the better you can see inside.

So, it's no wonder that I live in a 1908 Craftsman Bungalow that I can enjoy from the inside too! And, any chance I can get to tour a historic home is like heaven. Last Sunday, I got another chance to do just that.

Recently, I discovered that the sweet city of Brownsville, Oregon had a new B & B called "The Brownsville House B & B." We really need more B & B's in Linn County so this new addition was exciting news. A few email conversations later, I am in the living room of this B & B and getting ready for an "inn" tour! "How sweet" was all I could think while oogling everything I possibly could. An old farm style B & B sitting perched on a slight hill about an acre or so in size and surrounded by an orchard, chickens, one very small rooster and a dog and I was smitten! Cyndi, owner and innkeeper of this B & B has done a perfect job in making her home the perfect spot for her guests and if they book a room, they get the whole house!

Three guest rooms fit perfectly upstairs with a bathroom, laundry and breakfast down in the dining room in the morning. My only regret...I didn't bring my toothbrush and jammies. So inviting and it's no wonder she is busy and loves hosting our bicyclists. Both of our inn's are located on the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway and we have shared guests since she opened her inn in July.

Smiling and dreamy with that weird look I sometimes get when I am in love with where I am, we headed out to leave and I had to snap a few more pics. Another good excuse to head to Brownsville. Well...besides the Corner Cafe, Randy's Coffee, Bella Cuccina and our new friends at the B & B!

Thanks for the tour Cyndi!

An Oregon Art Studio and Gift Boutique!

An Oregon Art Studio and Gift Boutique!

Albany has two very gorgeous inn's and in one of those inns, artist's reside!

Edelweiss Manor B & B in the Willamette Valley is not only home to one of the most beautiful historic homes in Oregon, it's also home to the NW Artist Studio and Gift Boutique and A Touch of Class Day Spa!

Sitting pretty on a few acres of pristine gardens is a place just outside Albany, Oregon where you can escape the busy city and enjoy the country as you peruse through this wonderful event this weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 23rd from 11-5pm or on Sunday, Oct. 24th from 2pm-5pm, come and enjoy as this art studio opens up to showcase a "Trunk Showing," Vintage Clothing and Collections, Artists of the North West gifts and so much more!

The Open House is also located on the "Willamette River Country Trail" site! One of the newest trails to be added to the Oregon Country Trail system, Edelweiss Manor B & B is a perfect addition. For more info please go to www.atouchofclassspa.com or just go to 1708 Springhill Dr. NW this weekend to see the art, enjoy the gorgeous grounds, visit the beautiful historic home and see "Autumn" in the Willamette Valley!

A drive through the country with an awesome ending!

Slow Food, a Local Chef and an Oregon Experience!

Perusing this new book today got me reeling with excitement about the Pacific Northwest. It really doesn't take much to make that happen but seeing my inn along with our local restaurants, special places to see, shop and experience in Joan Tapper's new book is very cool!

Joan Tapper and photographer Nik Wheeler spent a few days at our inn a while back as they gathered infomation on their new venture. Only one in a series, this book focuses on the Pacific Northwest and all the wonderful things about "here!"

One item that really stood out in this read was the fact that a book on places to go to see the beauty of the region included food and drink as part of it's content. Food, drink, the experience of the "place" is all involving. How can it not be and especially here where all that goodness is the on the forefront of every visitor's mind. So, again...food becomes the topic!

Mentioning places to see and visit is proper when writing a book but mentioning to it's readers where to eat, well...you gotta assume that the author really loved the food. And, there is no better way to truly enjoy and learn about a region. Referring to the words "slow food," according to Wikipedia, they mean, "to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and promote farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristics of the local ecosystem," explains this particular area to a "t!" Enter...Matt Bennett, chef and owner of four restaurants in downtown Albany, Oregon. The epitomy of "slow food" in my book, Joan Tapper mentions two of his restaurants in hers.

Pacific Northwest Cuisine is Matt's specialty and his restaurant, Sybaris in downtown Albany dazzles not only author's, photographer's and aspiring chef's, it attracts locals, guests staying at the inn a few blocks away, bicyclists, friend's and "slow food" lovers from all over the region. In a place that thrives on the entire meaning of "food" in all it's forms, shapes and tastes and living in some of the most fertile places in the universe, our food is as important to us as breathing! Local Farmer's Markets, our gardens growing in our communities, fresh delivered greens, eggs, milk and being able to watch our cows graze in real grass, our chickens peck at things chickens peck at and being careful to not abuse our waters so our fish can thrive, gives us the best food in the country!

Now, for the best combo meal? Toss in with this restaurant experience a nice ride through the countryside of any region in Oregon, a very nice Pinot Noir from our Willamette Valley, a bushel of pears from Hood River, some cheese from Southern Oregon, Joan and Nik's book and you are good to go!

Enjoy the read, the slow food and the slow ride through all of our regions!

Old Haunts, New Digs and the scariest place to be on Halloween!

Although we would never claim that any of our inns are haunted, we will claim that the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild membership inns are located in some the scariest places in Oregon!

Actually, our inns are pretty cool mostly because they are located in some of the best historic places in the state! For example, Jacksonville is the sweetest little town and if you love seeing all the fall colors, pumpkins sitting on stoops and enjoy the scent of fresh cider in the air, you really need to go there. And, they just happen to have one of Oregon's best cemetery tours. The Jacksonville Cemetery sits on a slight hill and is open for tours in mid October every year.

Portland has their "cemetery tours" as well! Check out this link...http://www.friendsoflonefircemetery.org/events.html or check out the Portland Ghost Tour at http://www.portlandwalkingtours.com/tours/beyond_bizarre.php. Or, have you ever ridden a haunted trolley around the town that boasts the most in number and most varied historic homes in the entire state of Oregon? We have and it's a blast and Albany is known for it's four historic districts, their nationally registered homes and buildings and yes...it's even known for its very cool "Trolley of Terror!" Not only do you ride the scariest ride around, it is hosted and guided by Oscar Hult the director of our Albany Downtown Association. Call the Albany Visitor's Assn. for your tickets at 541-928-0831!

A Main Street USA highest award winner, Albany is one of the best places to get scared to death in Oregon! A nice dinner downtown perhaps and a scary ride where the most haunted houses are pointed out. Listen while stories are told of ghost sightings and "hey day" activities that resulted in not so timely demises.

Come stay in one of our membership inns in the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon or Portland and we'll tell you a couple of ghost stories, put you on a doomed trolley or just send you out for a nice stroll through our local cemeteries. It's all very cool, very scary and a ton of Halloween fun in Oregon!

Boo!...did we scare ya?

The Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway!

The perfect ride, the perfect stop and the perfect meal!

A big thanks to ALL our bicyclist that leave our inn on your bicycling journey with huge smiles on your faces. We love you too!!!

After a breakfast of "Oven Fried Cottage Potatoes" topped with a poached egg and sided with a chicken and feta sausage...all served with fruit and our delicious "Truck Stop" coffee, this darling couple continued on to Eugene to end their journey with a train ride home back to Portland! This ride was a first time for them but a copy or repeat for us all summer long! I realize now that we should have kept track of how many bicyclist we had stay at our inn this year. I think we would have been amazed. And, the other amazement, most of them came from Portland! We LOVE you too! In love with Portland, our second home and in love with Oregon and love this innkeeping gig, it is exciting for us to show you "rose city" folks just how cool we are here!

A few blocks from First Avenue once you have dropped your bikes, showered and had your first glass of wine and it's downtown for dinner! Last night's choice was First Burger. Our guests chose it for themselves after being pointed in the right direction. The review..."delicious burger and a perfect way to fill up after that long ride!" Hmmm...we think so too and we are so glad you two got to taste why we love it here so much. Matt and Janel Bennett own four restaurants downtown so you are sure to hit at least one on your ride. Using local ingredients, pure and "real" food to prepare YOUR dinner, is as important to them as it is to us to make sure your stay in Albany is nothing less than perfection!

So, FYI...we're here for ya...all of us are! Can't wait to see you, show you around and point you to the best places to dine after that long ride and then we will make sure you are comfy and very well taken care of before hittin' the road again.

Ride Safe!