Back in the swing

Jan and I are getting re-acquainted with the Inn--although some of the breakfast process that becomes automatic over time has needed a little de-rusting (like...which ingredient do we put in first?).

We departed in early December for a mission trip to Kenya, and returned on Christmas Eve. The down side was the weather in Virginia on our return. In Kenya days were 80-85 degrees and nights around 65. Perfect climate. At home, Lexington was still digging out from 20 inches of snow with temperatures in the teens. Merry Christmas, indeed. We are thankful that by now the snow is almost gone (except for plowed piles here and there). And we are inching into the 50s.

With one weekend in December already filled with Inn guests, booked before our plans were finalized, we left the place in the hands of Patrick, a 22-year old college student. Patrick had helped us in the summer of 2008, and so he knew how we operate things. Being off from college for the semester, he was happy to take charge here for one weekend. By remarks in our guest book, Patrick did a great job!

An interesting coincidence

Two days after we acquired the Inn in April of 2004, we had four rooms of guests - all friends on a vacation together. This weekend one of the couples returned for the first time in five and a half years and we had fun recalling our earliest hosting experience here.

What was interesting was that another couple also were visiting again for the first time in five and a half years, but they had come a few days before our arrival, staying with previous owners.

Two couples...who came originally within days of each other, and of our own arrival at the Inn in 2004...both return after these several years...on the same weekend!

Fun!

(I can't resist quoting the entry the second couple--from England--left in our guest book: "The best recommendation we can make is that we stayed here in 2004 and have enjoyed it even more this time round. Worth travelling ?,ooo miles.")

Just can't have too much publicity!

To our surprise and delight, in addition to the Budget Travel Magazine's article--and it's various spin-offs as in Google and Yahoo!--we have also received the attention of the Wall Street Journal, in today's Travel section. Lexington is featured--in what appears to be a totally new piece, and we are the one mentioned representative of the "lovely old bed and breakfasts" in town. How encouraging is that!

Thank you Wall Street Journal!

FROMMER'S selects our Inn!

How pleased we are to share the news that Frommer's BUDGET TRAVEL Magazine's October 2009 issue features Lexington, Virginia, in its article on the ten "Coolest Towns in America:" http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/09/04/AR2009090402162.html
And that the 1868 Magnolia House Inn was selected as the bed and breakfast of note! Our historic B&B caught the editor's eye as representative of the "Norman Rockwell" quaintness of this wonderful--and, yes, "Cool"--town in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Thank you Frommer's!

Old Man River

What a day it was for a dip in the Maury! Mid-eighties, almost cloudless sky, high water from weeks of good rainfall. The Goshen Pass--a stunning gorge where the Maury River makes its way between mountains in the Allegheny range just 20 miles from Lexington--is accessed by route 39 winding along the river. The trip is beautiful in itself. But park the car in a vacant one of dozens of pull-offs along the road, and clamber down to the water's edge to feel that you own the wilderness. Wade or swim to a boulder in the river and bask in the view and the sun and wonder if any problems exist in such an Eden!

General remarks

This is graduation time everywhere, but in little Lexington, there are actually three academic graduations. First comes the Washington and Lee Law School, next the Virginia Military Institute, and finally the W&L college graduation.

Last weekend we attended our first VMI graduation. Two firstclassmen whom we have known well in the past year invited us, and--what is more critical--gave us tickets to the event, held in Cameron Hall, the VMI sports arena. We had great seats and could see--without binoculars--not only the military pomp and circumstance, but especially the main speaker, General David Patraeus, who received a standing ovation as he entered the hall. His remarks were, of course, both clever and challenging. But in particular, this word of advice stands out, "If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!"

At the risk of seeming to boast...

We really appreciated this compliment from a guest. Peter and his wife from New York City stayed with us last night. This morning, after thanking us (and settling up!) and saying good bye, they carried their luggage out to the car. But then Peter returned to say this:

"I just had to come back to say, Beautiful house, beautiful room, fabulous breakfast. And you make it seem so effortless. But I know that when something this detailed seems effortless, it's because somebody is working really hard."

Bless you Peter! Way to make our day!