Spring cleaning behind the scenes

April 26, 2010 -- A top-o'-the-morning Monday to all! These photos may not seem real exciting, but spring is always both exciting and busy at Clay Corner Inn. That sidewalk section on the right with the new railing was "lifted" up three feet -- which cannot be done in a 1-2-3-lift manner. No, John and his twin brother, Harold, while on vacation here from Colorado, removed it brick by brick, brought in gravel and relaid each brick, cutting several to mesh neatly with the parking area, then more gravel. Ummm, hope you enjoyed your vacation, H!! If that wasn't enough, when another brother Chuck came down from Maryland, he spent some time in the crawl spaces under the twin houses and in the attic, checking out the ductwork and anything else that needed checking in those tight spots. These are the kind of brothers-in-law you want to feed well and be nice to -- maybe I should have let them win that progressive rummy card game. Then there's Peter and Jason power washing the house before they painted the covered deck roof. They get paid, and they're worth every dollar. I don't have a photo of James ... he's part time temporary, working his way through college (which always gets my favor), going home for the summer. He's already scraped and painted the garage doors and the garage itself where it peeled; he's taking care of the lawn until he leaves for the summer. For our part, Mary and I are washing windows, planting windowboxes and airing out everything we can. It's fun in that sort of instant gratification way ... and at night, the place sparkles with the pool lights, John's spotlights on the front door and flag and rope lights illuminating the deck - perfect spot for a late night glass of wine or a microbrew - and we're carrying Heineken and Corona beer, too. Have a great day! Come see us, here's 10% off to anyone who reads this and mentions "spring cleaning" blog when making a reservation through May 10, 2010. Joanne

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

April 20. 2010

We've a new "look" surrounding you as you eat stuffed french toast and cheese blintzes. Joanne discovered Cedric Rudisill, a local photographer, whose work is now hung liberally throughout the Main House of the Inn. The word "local" isn't exactly the right word for an artist that gained his experience serving 20 years in the Air Force's Combat Camera Squadron. As you might imagine, Cedric is pretty interesting to talk to. But as he doesn't come along with the french toast and cheese blintzes, you will have to settle for looking at his lovely pictures hanging around you.

Pictured here is the one above the coffee/tea station. It gives the aura of a Folgers-In-Your-Cup commercial with the cool tones and serene, frosty imagery. Stop by sometime and take a look... we'll even fix you up with a cup of coffee.

Mary Lekoshere
Resident Innkeeper

Guest laptop

April 13, 2010 - I thought I'd need to tell guests about the new guest laptop in the breakfast room, but not so. The first morning I rounded the corner, this young man, Bryan Carson, was right there online. He's a high school junior (which explains the telepathy between the new computer and him), staying at Clay Corner Inn with his dad, Bill Carson, visiting his sister, Coryn, a freshman communications major - and they are all from Chesapeake, VA.
An hour later, a guest couple was looking up something on somewhere they were headed. So, don't bother dragging in your laptop -- we've got you covered with our new Acer in the main house breakfast room. Joanne

Tulip magnolia

April 9, 2010 - I don't suppose one can [yet] send aroma across the Internet, but if you could get but a light waft of the fragrance of this tulip magnolia in full bloom, you would smile. Stepping outside the French doors of the main inn, or simply getting out of your car in the driveway, anywhere on the back decks of Clay Corner Inn, this tree is beautiful and fragrant. The petals form a cushion on the sidewalks and it looks like a tulip-magnolia-petal wonderland. The stunning flowers don't last, but the leaves will form a canopy over the little deck and sidewalk all summer long.
The cover is not off the pool yet, but we're filling it and cleaning it and getting it ready underneath. These tulip magnolia petals will fall into it if we remove the cover during this blooming week and could clog the filters. Besides, there's a freeze warning for tonight ... our freeze date is May 15, though we can usually have the windowboxes planted by the first of May, and there are potted pansies and geraniums out already. Well, tonight, they are huddled together on the covered deck for protection.
First Virginia Tech scrimmage is tomorrow, so there's some of that football excitement around town. Smithfield Plantation on the edge of Virginia Tech campus opened for the season last weekend, the international street fair is tomorrow and a second Fork & Cork food, wine and art festival is set for May 1st, noon to 6 p.m. Go to www.blacksburgpartnership.org for information on the event and tickets. Clay Corner Inn was a sponsor last year, and we had a great time. Take care, Joanne

Daffodils ... finally!

April 3, 2010 - The promise of spring in Blacksburg has given way to summer at Clay Corner Inn, skipping right into record-breaking temperatures in the high 80s. But, hey, we’re going to back up now and have a pleasant, warm spring. We have the daffodils to prove it, and the redbuds and white fluffy flowering trees – I need to find out their names, I want one – on Virginia Tech campus seemed to blossom overnight.

The Montgomery County Health Department inspector popped in the other day, and Clay Corner Inn passed with flying colors. No critical or non-critical violations. A perfect commercial kitchen under Mary’s watchful eye. Because of the harsh, long winter, it has just been a week that we’ve been able to get outside to rake, wash windows, spread mulch, begin power washing the houses and scrape for inevitable paint touch-ups. But outside we are, soon to open the pool and resurface the driveway.

On the inside, the fireplace still feels good on cool mornings, and we’ve added the amazing Republic of Tea flavors to our tea basket. Mary chooses the coffee beans … Java Roast or Costa Rican or Mill Mountain Blend … it’s all freshly ground in our kitchen and the perfect start to every morning! So plan your spring respite at Clay Corner Inn, where your traveling ends and our hospitality begins.

And, a special only for you who read this: April 15 is tax day, and if you mention “tax day” for an April 16 and 17, 2-night stay, we’ll give you $15 off your total bill. Take care, Joanne