Wow! We can’t believe summer has already ended and we are racing full speed into the fall temperatures and colors. There are still folks out every morning fishing, and the trails look amazing. Think we have a couple more weeks here to enjoy some spectacular color shows. If you go to Minnesota’s DNR’s web site, they have a Fall Color Update map, very cool. Worth checking out. And of course you could stay here while enjoying the northern trails.
Our first season was much busier than we expected, and so much fun too. We thoroughly enjoyed our morning visits and breakfasts with our Green Heron guests, our afternoon chats over wine, tea and nibbles, sending folks out on paddling adventures, shuttling vehicles for biking trips, and just knowing that everyone was enjoying the lake and beach and just having fun in general doing whatever it was that had brought them to Grand Rapids.
On the physical side we finished a bit more landscaping, got the tennis/ pickle ball court up and usable, (pickle ball is a lot more fun than I expected) and are setting our sites on the back now. Maybe the patio will be ready for breakfasts next summer. We also listened to guest suggestions and fine tuned a couple little things in the rooms.
In the kitchen the cinnamon rolls have reached perfection, the danish…not yet. Minnesota Wild Rice omelettes are still a hit and we’re adding Amish Baked Oatmeal and a couple more hearty breakfast casseroles to the menu for the cooler seasons. If you have a favorite, please send it my way. I love recipe browsing and experimenting, although Chris made me promise not to experiment on guests…Hot apple cider and hot cocoa are being served now too to help take the chill off.
On the admin. side, I’ve learned how to use my credit card reader much faster, and print out invoices so you can have a hard copy receipt if you like. We’ve set up a Green Heron Face Book page, joined TripAdvisor, the Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. This week we’re freshening up the web page and getting serious about putting pkgs. together. We are willing to work with anyone on building a personalized gift certificate package that will fit a special occasion you might want to treat someone with. Just call or e-mail and we’ll put it together.
We thank all our guests for trying out that “new place”. Chris and I hope you had wonderful stays, and look forward to hosting you again. Don’t forget, we’re open all year and winter is as much fun around here as summer!
Johnnie
