Derby Weekend

It's Thursday and the official beginning of Derby Weekend for the B&B. Our guests won't arrive until midnight but their rooms are ready. Waiting in each room is a Derby tote bag, Derby glasses, a Derby pin, a one-pound box of Louisville Cookies, a bouquet of red roses and a stocked refrigerator.

We're looking forward to meeting everyone!

psst - we'll be making Mint Juleps for you all weekend.

What's for breakfast 4.25.09?

This morning's guests chose from:

Banana pancakes
with homemade caramel sauce



OR
Migas
and Sweet Corn Cakes





OR
Hot Oatmeal
with brown sugar, dried fruit
and 12 grain toast

AND
choice of juices

AND
coffee, tea

A new front yard

Several weeks ago we went to the Home, Garden and Remodeling Show. While there we looked at new countertops, outdoor lighting and talked with a landscaper. You see, our front yard was just overgrown. The plants had outgrown their original spaces, and not in a good way, some plants had died and been replaced over the years, and it just looked like a hodgepodge. I had wanted to do a particular type of landscape when we moved n twelve years ago and let the landscaper talk me out of it. Well, not this time. So we went to a display at the Show and I asked,

"Can you do an edible landscape?"

Seriously, the guy looked at me like I'd just beamed down from Mars.

What's crazy about an edible landscape? Didn't Michelle Obama just dig up 1100 square feet of White House lawn for a kitchen garden? My philosophy is if you're going to plant it and take care of it, you should be able to eat it.

So, not being able to find anyone to design this for us, we just decided to take matters into our own hands and design it ourselves. It's not quite done yet, but it's close. Some plants we kept, some we moved.



The front line, which once was shrubs, is now alternating red Double Knock Out Roses (OK, so you can't eat those) and currants. Around the statue birdbath is rhubarb, and to the side are three half high blueberries. Behind the metal sculpture is a semi-drawf Bartlett pear.


The dwarf red maple is from the original landscape plan and we love that tree. It took a little damage from the ice storm, but has recovered and looks to be fine. A red Double Knock Out rose is on the corner. If you aren't familiar with Knock Out roses, they are the roses that are planted in the right of way at a lot of Metro intersections. In other words, they don't require much attention and bloom like crazy. Here's a closeup.


So, now I think we're going to add some Rosemary. And I'm looking everywhere for a gooseberry bush. Every nursery center seems to be sold out for the season. If you find a couple, let me know. And I want big plants.

"Kitty TV"

So, we've always referred to the dining room window as the "Kitty TV."
"Why", you ask?

Well there are all sorts of interesting things to look at out there.

Here, a squirrel is enjoying some leftover toast from a Gallery House breakfast. (12 grain toast)

Carrot Cake Waffles

This is another new recipe for us here at Gallery House. We figured that nearly everyone likes carrot cake, and most people like waffles , so why not Carrot Cake Waffles? These were served with a side of vanilla poached pears and real maple syrup.

"Guest approved."

Bye Nat and Maxine

Nat and Maxine had a fabulous time visiting friends in Louisville. It was hard to keep up with all the places they were going. I remember that one day was a "bourbon tour" thru Bardstown - the Bourbon Capital of the World - with a stop at Heaven Hill, Jim Beam and lunch at the Old Talbot Tavern. They enjoyed Mayan Cafe for dinner, and Maxine even let everyone talk her into trying the lima beans. Seriously if you're ever in Louisville, have dinner at the Mayan Cafe and get the lima beans. Even if you don't like vegetables, get the lima beans. And if you don't like lima beans, be sure to get the lima beans. Trust me.

Soon Maxine will be the proud new owner of this umbrella. She saw mine, and had to order one. And would you believe it - two days before they were scheduled to leave town, a catalog comes in and that marvelous umbrella was on sale. "Meant to be!"

Nat and Maxine even attended the Taste of Derby Festival. And evening of food and (ahem) beverages from all of Louisville's best. Gallery House participated with our Louisville Cookies which were quite a hit! Taste of Derby Festival is a fundraiser for Dare to Care. You should attend next year! It's a great event for a great cause.

"It's a small world"

Every innkeeper experiences the "small world" phenomena frequently. When the Maesrk Alabama was hijacked by Somali pirates we had a guest staying with us who was in Louisville to present a class in international law. He also co-presents with another attorney who is an expert on maritime law. The breakfast discussion included a lively discussion on international waters, the law of the sea and the sorry state of Somalia's government.

A week or so later we hosted a couple from Germany who were in the States to visit their daughter. Other guests asked where they were heading next on their travels around the country. The Germans responded, '"To Savannah" and the other couple responded, "That's where we live!" All at a breakfast table in Louisville, KY.

Cue music - "It's a small world after all . . . it's a small world after all, it's a small, small world."