An interview with Rosemary and Hess Gates, innkeepers and owners of Twin Doors B&B

"Renovate and they will come"
In 2005, Rosemary and Hess Gates began the transformation of the 1900 country cape farmhouse in Sunapee Harbor to become Twin Doors Bed & Breakfast. They had spent many great times in the area and were thrilled when they purchased the property in 2003. They thought it was such an ideal location: in the Harbor, a 5 minute walk to all the great Summer waterfront activities and just a 10 minute drive to their favorite Winter recreation - skiing at Mt Sunapee. Their goal was to retain all of the property's original charm while providing modern comforts for future guests.

As Hess relates, "We were both working full-time when we started the renovation but it was a great experience. We were fortunate to find George Grant, a Sunapee resident with a real appreciation of older homes. The three of us made a good team, Rosemary had the vision and decorating flair (plus a barn full of collected furnishings), George had the construction expertise and Hess knew which end of a hammer to hold." In 2007, after two years of hard work, Twin Doors opened with four guestrooms with modern comforts including private bathrooms with Jacuzzis, individual room heat control, remote controlled ceiling fans, air conditioning, in room TV/DVD and wireless internet. As Rosemary notes, "Having experienced many B&Bs, we learned what really made a difference: guestrooms with two comfortable reading chairs, plenty of electrical outlets, plush bathrobes, ironed 400-count bed linens & plenty of pillows, bedside reading lamps, lots of soft towels and, of coarse, great hot breakfasts."

Now in their 4th year, Hess and Rosemary enthusiastically comment on how enjoyable Innkeeping is plus note they find it a rewarding lifestyle. Some of their favorite experiences are: Sharing their love of Lake Sunapee, Mt Sunapee and all the nearby activities and hearing great feedback from our guests, meeting interesting guests from all walks of life and from all over the world - skiers, hikers, business travelers, wedding guests, international guests plus many, many vacationers and sharing family updates with their many repeat guests - several have become "extended family" which they find so neat.

When asked about learning about being an Innkeeper, Rosemary relates their initial B&B experiences. Hess's business (software for Distribution & Manufacturing) involved extensive travel and when we went on vacations, Hess all but refused to stay in another big box Marriott or Hilton. She says, "That is when we started staying in B&Bs and most were fun (some even approaching the Bob Newhart TV show)."  Rosemary grew up in old houses and always loved old houses. Both would have loved to own an old house but with two sports active children it just never really fit. Well, now it has come full circle for both of them,  Rosemary has an old house and Hess stays every night in a B&B!

Both Rosemary and Hess commented on what fun their guests are. This makes the hard work more than worthwhile. A bonus form of entertainment (and certainly a surprise) has been some of the questions from prospective inquiring guests. They mention a few of the more memorable ones:
"I know you are a Bed and Breakfast but do you serve breakfast? "
"Do you have on-site parking and, if so, what is the cost per day? "
"Should I bring my own sheets and pillow? "
Hess asks caller, "How many in your party". Caller replies, "Eleven". Hess says, "We are awfully sorry but we just have 4 rooms and can only accommodate eight". Caller adds, "That is ok we will take two rooms". Hess hesitates, gathers himself and says, "I guess I wasn't clear. Our B&B only holds 8 guests total". The caller quickly replies, "That is ok , six are children. Hess is now really stumped and politely says,
"In Sunapee, we count children as people" Caller now says "Ohhh, that is too bad."

Twin Doors Bed and Breakfast
603-763-2236
49 High Street, Sunapee, NH
Romantic accommodations with four modern queen/king guestrooms plus ideal location - walk to Sunapee Harbor waterfront activities & 3 miles to award winning Mt Sunapee skiing & riding
http://www.twindoors.com

Crème Brulée New England Style from the Highland Lake Inn

Ingredients  

for 8 servings :

• 6 egg Yolks
• Vanilla Extract
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 3 cups of heavy cream
• 1 tea spoon of Harney’s loose Hot Cinnamon Tea leaves (or various other Harney Tea Leaves depending on your taste)
• Maple Syrup

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 F and put a rack in the middle of the oven
• Ad Tea Leaves into cream and heat over moderate heat until hot, not boiling.
• Strain tea leaves out of cream just before mixing with egg mixture.
• Whisk together yolks, sugar, Vanilla Extract, then poor cream slowly into egg mixture while constantly whisking.
• Pour into 8 ramekins.
• Place ramekins in a roasting pan and add boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of ramekins.
• Bake until custard begins to set, 30 to 35 minutes, transfer ramekins to a try and refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours.
• Just before serving poor Maple Syrup on top and decorate with one Raspberry. 

Highland Lake Inn ~ 603-735-6426

32 Maple Street, Andover, NH

Completely restored 1767 Inn on a picturesque country lane lined with rustic stone walls,

and shady sugar

Website: http://www.highlandlakeinn.com

Announcing Writing Retreats at the Highland Lake Inn

Andover, NH – Pecco and Gail Beaufaÿs, proprietors of the Highland Lake Inn in Andover, NH, are pleased to announce their creative collaboration with writing coach Deborah McKew of Words in Play, to offer their guests a variety of writing retreats throughout the year.

“We are excited to work with Deb on these special events,” says Pecco. “She has a lot of experience in presenting writing workshops and weekend programs, and we have the perfect setting for them.” 

Upcoming retreats at the Highland Lake Inn include:

• Writing the Holiday Letter — November 5-7, 2010 The holidays are a good time to reconnect with family and friends. Many people choose to write a letter instead of sending impersonal Christmas or other holiday cards. In this workshop, participants will generate ideas, shape those ideas into a cohesive message, and frame that message around the holidays they celebrate.
• The Art of Writing Love Letters — February 11-13, 2011 What better time to rekindle this age-old tradition than in a romantic setting over Valentine’s weekend? In this retreat workshop, guests will explore love letters of the past to discover their joys  and secrets, as well as to glean guidelines of how to express one’s innermost longings. Putting pen to paper, we’ll craft our own love letters. “Be still my heart?” Never! Let us live, love, and write passionately!
• Cooking up a Storm: Recipe and Cookbook Writing — March 13-17, 2011 This event will be a real treat—literally! In this unique cooking and writing workshop, participants will learn how to translate favorite meals into accurate recipes, how to create a menu centered around a theme, how to develop new recipes and how to tell the story behind the dish. Guests don’t have to be chefs or writers to participate. Anyone interested in cooking or writing about cooking is welcome. 

The Highland Lake Inn, originally built as a gentleman’s farmhouse in 1767, is located in Andover, NH, on seven acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, which adjoin a 21-acre nature preserve. The Inn is ideally located for all four seasons of recreation and relaxation. With vistas of neighboring Highland Lake and Kearsarge Mountain, guests can enjoy all the best of what New Hampshire has to offer. The Inn is also located at the trail head of the Northern Rail Trail, a perfect place to snowmobile and cross-country ski in the winter months and walk and bike in the spring, summer and fall. Honoring Pecco’s European upbringing, the Highland Lake Inn serves its guests with Old World charm and hospitality.

Deb McKew, founder of Words in Play, offers writing classes, workshops, and travel programs. The focus of the workshops is on the creative process; students share their enthusiasm for writing and learn from each other in new ways. Deb McKew has a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University’s College of Communication and a teaching certificate from the Upper Valley Teacher Institute. She is a contributing editor to Kearsarge Magazine and an adjunct writing professor at Colby-Sawyer College. 

For more information please visit http://wordsinplay.net/retreats/lake-retreats/highland-lake-inn/

Mini Crabcakes from The Inn at Pleasant Lake

Appetizer

1 lb. lump crab meat

½ cup mayonnaise

1 egg

1 T sliced chives

dash of Tabasco

dash of salt

dash of sugar

dash black pepper

1 C bread crumbs

24 round crackers or croustades

white trufle oil

Combine mayonnaise, egg, chives, Tabasco, salt, pepper & sugar. Fold in crab meat and breadcrumbs. Mixture should not be too wet. Form into mini cakes the size of a quarter. Sear in a little vegetable oil until browned on both sides. Finish in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Place on cracker or croustade and drizzle with white truffle oil. Serve warm.

 

Inn at Pleasant Lake ~ 1-800-626-4907

Pleasant St., New London, NH

Relax in our elegant ten room inn overlooking Pleasant Lake and Mt. Kearsarge.  Gourmet Dining.

http://www.innatpleasantlake.com

 

Printable recipe @ http://www.nhcountryinns.com/ 

An interview with Marilyn Gordon innkeeper and co-owner of the Candlelite Inn

Marilyn says her favorite thing about owning a B&B is the people you meet. "We have met people from all over the world and throughout the US. We have had an Indian chief stay with us, a celebrity, and several chefs from the Boston area." They decided to become innkeepers for the lifestyle. "Running the B&B was our retirement. A slower pace than NJ. We both feel that this is the best job that either of us has ever had."

Before becoming B&B owners, Marilyn was in banking for 10 years and then took time off to raise 2 girls. She went back into banking for another 15 years after that. She worked mostly as a teller and a head teller and also as a customer service rep. Les was a machinist and now he has put his skill as a jack of all trades here into projects at the Inn. Marilyn finds the most challenging thing about running a B&B currently is giving value to their guests in this economic climate.

Les and Marilyn have been running the Inn for 18 years. They bought the inn through bank auction and it needed a great deal of repair at the time. There wasn't any furniture other then a few things that they brought with them, so they spent a lot of time going to auctions and barn sales which they said was lots of fun. Everything in the inn was bought in New Hampshire.

"Guests have said our breakfasts are one of the main reasons they come to stay at our B&B," Marilyn says. "We serve dessert for breakfast. Of course that's something you don't do at home. Many people have said when they walk into the Inn that it reminds them of their grandmother's house. Lot's of memories."

 

The Candlelite Inn mostly attracts the 40's, 50's & 60 year olds as guests. Marilyn likes to say that this area is for grown-ups. It's a little more laid back, quiet, relaxing and restful; but still a lot to do. Marilyn mentions that in the Lake Sunapee area there is the John Hay Estate, the cruise & dinner boats on Lake Sunapee, Mt Sunapee Resort, walking trails, covered bridges. There is something for everyone here, boating, biking, historical attractions and more.

Marilyn says in response to: What would you say to people who have never stayed in a bed and breakfast before? "They should definitely try it. Also to go to more than one. Each B&B is different; each innkeeper is different and each area is different." "We try to make our guest's stay here special with the little touches throughout the Inn - from the little knick knacks to the presentation of their breakfast. Also upon departure, I give them a little gift to take home as a remembrance of their stay with us." She mentions that her menus are seasonal but there are a few recipes she makes at the inn at the time, as they are particular guest favorites.

When asked what do you feel makes your B&B different from other B&Bs? Marilyn says, "I think that each innkeeper puts a little of themselves in their B&B. I enjoy cooking, so there is always some new recipe that I am trying out on my guests." She also thinks that B&B differ from hotels in that B&B's are a lot friendlier, you get to meet some great people who are also staying at the B&B and of course, the innkeepers know all the good spots to eat and see.

  

Candlelite Inn

888-812-5571
5 Greenhouse Lane,
Bradford, NH
This award winning, country Victorian Inn has all the grace and charm for that
perfect getaway.
http://www.candleliteinn.com

 

Psychic Medium Spiritual Weekend at The Inn at Pleasant Lake

Psychic Medium Spiritual Weekend Event Schedule 2010

The Inn at Pleasant Lake is hosting two internationally recognized Psychic Mediums, Joanne Gerber and Rita Berkowitz, from the Boston area. Join us for one or all of these special events.
Friday night is a Spirit Communication Circle for an opportunity to give and receive messages from loved ones passed. 

Saturday offers a Psychic Gallery Demonstration for an afternoon of Spirit Communication in a theater format.

 Sunday, a Two Part Group Workshop; Spirituality 101: “Understanding and Working with Universal Laws to Create Balance in Your Life.” (Rita Berkowitz) and Spirituality 102: “An Exploration of the Senses:  Learning the Language of Spirit through Mediumship” (Joanne Gerber ).  

Both daytime events include delicious culinary preparations by Chef Brian MacKenzie.
Individual readings are available by appointment on Thursday night and Friday. Appointments are limited, contact Joanne Gerber at www.joannegerber.com or Rita Berkowitz at www.thespiritartist.com.
Overnight accommodations include a full breakfast and afternoon tea. Our five course prix-fixe dinner is a wonderful addition to a weekend away. *(stay three nights are receive 50% off the third night).

 Psychic Medium Spiritual Weekend Event Schedule 2010

 

 

Sweetest Day

Sweetest Day is observed the 3rd Saturday in the month of October. It originated in Cleveland in 1922 by Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist and candy company employee, who wanted to bring happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. Over the years, Sweetest Day has evolved into a time to express romantic love and also to show appreciation to friends. For all who stay here at the Candlelite Inn that weekend, a box of homemade candy will be given to you, to show our appreciation.

 

Marilyn Gordon
Candlelite Inn
5 Greenhouse Lane
Bradford NH 03221
888-812-5571
www.candleliteinn.com
Elegant, yet warm & friendly