Virginia wines, microbrews, cider coming soon

Hello all -- The only feedback I got from the dogsitter blog was from my sister, not a huge dog lover but enough of a dog person to have two golden retrievers in residence. She noted that I invited non-dog people and reassured all our guests that every guest room is immaculate ... you'll never know a dog might have been there. Dogs are not allowed in all guest rooms, and honestly, we only host one dog a week, maybe two sometimes, many for just a night. So we've not gone to the dogs, and cat lovers are welcome (sans le chat). Tara and Carol where here a couple weeks ago with their horse, Tucker, though he booked into a vet school stall for three nights. We don't welcome parrots any more - once was enough.

Okay, here's the lowdown on cider. In Colonial times, hard apple cider was by far the most popular alcoholic beverage. There was an abundance of apple trees in the New World, and apparently it’s acceptable to consume it any time of the day. The fermentation process killed the bacteria, and it was often safer than the drinking water of the day. By the mid 1800s, cider was way more popular than beer. But when settlers moved West, they found it more difficult to grow apple trees. As people moved from the country into cities, it became impractical to transport cider from the farms to the people. And alas, the German immigrants founded large beer breweries, while cider production remained on the small farms. It’s reported that the Temperance movement convicted many a farmer to stop making and drinking apple cider, and production virtually halted with Prohibition. Now that microbreweries are having an impact on the drinking scene, apple cider is staging a comeback.

Clay Corner Inn will be stocking Virginia wines and microbrews by the 4th of July, and by the 15th of July, we’ll be carrying Foggy Ridge Apple Cider, made right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. All these fine drinks are part of new special packages, which you can find on our website under “special packages” or follow the link at the upper right below “Check Availability” on the Home page. We're excited that Virginia is home to many a fine winery, and Shooting Creek Microbrewery, wildly popular after opening less than a year ago, is just a hop over in Floyd County. We're even tossing a Clay Corner Inn embossed corkscrew/bottle opener in the mix, and a nice snack basket is available, too. Virginia law states that you may not bring alcoholic beverages on the property now that we have an ABC license, unless you consume only in your guest room. Otherwise, look over our packages and imagine your feet up by the pool, a cool brew, wine or cider and a salty 'n sweet snack at your fingertips. Take care, Joanne

Blog commitment and dogsitters

[Summer]

I admire those folks who go on TV or in magazines vowing to lose tons of weight, sort of a real accountability, going public like that. Well, here I am, blogging that I will blog a minimum of 3 times a month, almost weekly! Friends say this should be easy for me because I’m a writer. But it’s not – if it were, I would have been doing it regularly since February! [Additionally, it has taken me two hours to get this far and I cannot get the photos next to the people or format the paragraphs neatly. You can figure out who is who by the descriptions below. Read on.]

Today’s blog will introduce you to our dogsitters. Clay Corner Inn is a dog friendly property, and I am grateful to dog owners who are respectful of our white coverlets and property … in fact, many enjoy breakfast on the covered deck where the dogs can be with them. Since we operate with a full restaurant license, dogs are not permitted in the dining room or breakfast room.

Summer, 16, returns for her second summer on our staff. She can clean, bake, make crepes, serve breakfast, iron, water flowers and … dogsit! She is homeschooled and rides her Appaloosa named Paloosa as much as possible. She's sitting by our fireplace with a charming black labradoodle.

Andrew, 19, is a Blacksburg native, graduate of Dayspring Christian Academy and student at New River Community College. He is a tall lad, a film buff who enjoys movies and hopes to pursue a career in cinema. He is pictured with his own 5-year-old chocolate Labrador, Abby.

Paul is 11 and his availability dictates if one of our guests brings their little dogs. Their owners believe Paul’s youth and calm demeanor are reassuring to their small animals, which are often fearful of new people. It’s Paul’s first job, and he got it because his two older brothers were not available. The owners were skeptical that anyone could make friends and get the little dogs out of the room. Well, the first day Paul dogsat, he and the pups were sitting on the front lawn when the guests returned! They were elated. In his photo, Paul is “hard at work” with his fluffy friends.

Not a dog lover?? Fret not. We do not permit dogs ever in the Hokie Room or the New River Room, and it’s very rare that a dog enters the 402 guest house. We maintain immaculate standards in all our guest rooms. Oh, someone wrote a review on tripadvisor.com not long ago lamenting that there wasn’t enough grass on the B&B property for peeing her dog. Hey, our dog policy, included with confirmation and signed at check-in, is that one cannot pee or poop the dogs on the Clay Corner Inn grounds, so that was sort of a surprise to read!

In any event, if your dog can vouch for you, we’d love for you at Clay Corner Inn. And if you're not crazy about dogs, come along anyway - the grass is green, the pool is aqua, our window boxes are red [geranium], white [geranium] and blue [lobelia], and Blacksburg is just a cool, little town! Joanne

April at the Inn

If loads of laundry counted on a resume I'd be featured in Forbes by now. April has brought the Inn back into furious activity. We've had some great guests this season--friendly, happy and in love with the place. Nice chats on the porch or around sips of coffee at breakfast.
It's pleasant to see the Inn undergo a spring transformation as well. The backyard has gone from bleak and scattered to full and green with that "cottage feel" of Southern Living. The patio furniture has remembered why is was created and looks quite cheerful surrounded by new leaves and sunshine.
Joanne, John and I have taken on our side job as curators and have hung new art in the place. There is something about original art that gives flavor to a place. Class.
New coffee mugs have arrived--butter yellow, in honor of spring.
Personally, I've been sketching piggies. P.W. the Pig and the Plate of Cookies, written by a friend. Sawaya is almost done with what could be fondly called THE BLOCK OF DEATH presented by VCOM. One more block to go before his 6 week summer break.
May is almost here, bringing the pool with it. Too bad Blacksburg is only warm enough for about 3 and half days to go swimming.

~Mary

Field Trip

On Tuesday I went on a field trip. (Tuesday's are always good for field trips) Joanne and I drove through the hills to visit a couple of fellow Innkeepers. I found the trip very inspirational--as one usually finds inspiration around others of their craft. The two Inns were vastly different, the one sleek and chic; the other full and vibrant. I entered, seeing them for the first time, as a guest would. In this way, I saw my job as guests see it. I live at a Bed and Breakfast, I serve toast and tea, and arrange flowers--my life is enchanted. In truth, Innkeepers are busy people. A carefree splash of a red Geranium potted along a weathered fence actually represents hours of labor. But it is good not to lose sight that through all the work and daily tasks, that I DO in fact have a charming job. I meet hundreds of new faces, hear their stories, and in a very tiny way I become part of their lives.

And I Find Myself an Innkeeper

Quite nearly a year ago my fiance said a brief farewell and deposited me and my collection of shoes at the Clay Corner Inn. I came from Greenville, SC, where I'd lived all my life and going to Walmart became a spontaneous social event. Now I was in a town where I had spent one brief day, gotten a whirlwind tour, and a crash course on the two 460's. And I was meeting my boss for the first time. I brought with me a degree in Studio Art, a lifetime experience of a loud and numerous family, and a big history of "customer service." I had never set foot in a B&B, and my baking resume included a few not-so-great batches of cookies. Joanne had her work cut out. Training began that night.
I come from the generation of disposable dinnerware and cheap everything. Our idea of ironing is hanging our shirts in the bathroom during a shower. Slowly, slowly, Joanne has dragged me back into the generation of "Anything worth doing is worth doing well." Basically, one can enter a room and see that Joanne has been there. If she could find a way to pair parsley with the welcome letter on the bed, she would.
I feel much more grounded now. I bake muffins and coffee cakes, I most always remember to get the newspaper out of the driveway, and only a few of my pillowcases find their way back to be "re-ironed." I am married now, so that half-of-brain that was off wedding planning is back in its proper place. And I have a new last name proudly printed on my business cards that is not possible for the average American to pronounce.
Joanne has taught me much--the value of quality; the value of providing our guests with top-notch service.
My husband is buried in Nuero-Anatomy and Pathology and all that stuff Medical School is made up of. We are newlyweds learning marriage. Newlyweds living in a home with 14 TV's. We have plans of returning to his native Kenya once school is finished. But for now, my concern is that your coffee cup stays full. For now, my days consist of Grease Lightning and dryer settings. For now, I find myself an innkeeper.

March in like a lion

March came with snow -- our first real snow in a couple years! It will melt and be gone in a few days -- and spring will begin in earnest. We won't serve green eggs and ham in March, but we'll honor the Irish with shamrocks and a touch o' green around the inn. Friday, March 20, you can catch the one-woman play "Homebody" by Tony Kushner, a British housewife obsessed with Afghanistan and fascinated by her encounter with an Afghan man. It takes the audience on a journey through the country's history and its capital city of Kabul - just a couple blocks away at Squires on campus. If you're any good with a light racquet and birdie, the 2nd annual badminton tournament takes place on Fri., Sat., and Sun. of the April 3-5 weekend -- good fun along with a good little workout and open to anyone, play singles or doubles - a couple blocks away at the War Memorial. Check out the website www.blacksburgforkandcork.com presenting the first food, wine and art event in town at the classy, new First & Main shopping area. It promises to be a really neat day, vendors and all. There's lots more going on, or nothing at all, depending on your idea of a getaway ... as long as there's a chill in the air, we'll keep the fireplace going and the hot chocolate basket stocked. I'm turning the one of those certainties of life: taxes -- if you're done, good for you; if not, you better get started, too! How is it that Dec. 25 takes its time arriving, and April 15 seems to come with lightnin' speed?? Stay warm, Joanne

21st century, blog entry #1

Hello World!
I thought I was in the 21st century with my palm device, a computer and cell phone ... but alas, blogging is coaxing me farther into the technology arena! So, here I am, veteran innkeeper and owner of Clay Corner Inn in Blacksburg, Va., serving up old-fashioned hospitality and blogging some thoughts and experiences in new-fashioned telecommunications mode. This is a test ... I'll be back soon - Joanne Anderson.