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.

A nice day-trip

We took a day trip yesterday. Breakfast in Clinton, then a stop at the overlook of the Sac & Osage rivers near Osceola, where we counted up to 20 boats at one time full of people trying to snag paddlefish. The picture shows the main Osage channel, the spur at the lower left is the Sac (all is part of Truman Lake)

From there, we gallivanted through the backroads to Stockton, largely rebuilt after the tornado a few years ago, and on to the Nathan Boone State Historic Site. Nathan was Daniel's youngest son and quite a pioneer in his own right. After a history lesson, we drove north though Fair Play where I took the window picture, then we went on to Smith's Restaurant in Collins for a late lunch - we split a tenderloin sandwich and still had enough to bring some of it home. Then it was on to Pomme de Terre river below the dam, looking for good pictures (& seeing geese).

Last stop was Scott's General Store in Iconium, near the H. Roe Bartle Boy Scout Camp, where we picked up some Nehi Orange. Only 299 miles.

Green grass is coming

Yes, the meadows are starting to green up, the trees are budding, and the creeks are mudding (not everything about Spring is 'nice'). We are fast approaching the second-best time of year (Autumn is best) to visit. Spring Breaks bring mid-week guests to Cedarcroft, which saves them a bit and also avoids the weekend rush.

We'll be raising rates by $10 in July, so now's the time to visit.

From the MO-KAN B&B conference

An excellent conference with lots of new ideas for the bed and breakfast. Today, we'll be working with Google Gadgets and Google Local to improve the kind of information we provide our guests. I am trying to figure out how to change our on-line availability program to reward guests who reserve well in advance - they're the ones who deserve the rewards, not those who wait until the last minute. Hotels routinely have the option of a 10% discount for reservations made 21 days or more in advance - paid up front and non-refundable - why can't B&Bs? I'm working on it!

Meanwhile, when I get home, it'll be straight to the woods with a chain saw - the guest woodpile is completely depleted. In cooler weather (or downright cold) our guests at Cedarcroft love the real fireplace.

Snow's over

We had about 5" of snow Saturday, but the roads are clear. The farm will look pretty for a while and it brought much-needed water for our meadows. The birds are thankful for the feeder in front of the Cottage on the Knoll.

For the next couple of days I'm at the MO-KAN Heartland Bed & Breakfast conference in Independence, MO. I hope to get some good information to make your stay better.