Enjoy the fun at Hartman Creek State Park’s annual ski, hike and snowshoe event this Saturday, January 25, from 5-8 p.m. The snow is GREAT!  Come enjoy the beauty of Hartman Creek State Park (just 3 miles down Rural Road) along a candlelit trail. Refreshments provided by the Friends of Hartman Creek. Event will be held at the park’s enclosed shelter on Hartman Lake. For more information call Hartman Creek 715-258-2372.

We just received this picture taken by Jim Robinson, grandson of the last Potts who owned and worked the farm that’s now the Crystal River Inn. When Jim was here last summer he walked the upper, short grass prairie and took this shot – how lovely! There is a field beside our prairie – what you see in the background. We are so pleased with how the coreopsis bloomed so much of the summer…

We look forward to continued development of the prairie next summer but for now are grateful to have this time for rest and renewal of the earth, blanketed by snow.

Here I am with my beautiful boa – a Christmas gift made by our guest, 7 year old, Beth. What a delight she is and her gift such a surprise! We look forward to her family’s yearly stays when they visit their mother/grandmother who lives at the King Veteran’s Home, just about one mile way.  Beth’s grandmother,  Betty, a veteran at King stayed with them in our Little House on the Prairie over the holidays. Such fun to have intergenerational family gatherings. We wish you all a very good New Year!

Last summer we attended “Prairie Days” sponsored by Prairie Enthusiasts  (http://www.theprairieenthusiasts.org/) and we got so enthused that we joined! Then last week we went to the local chapter Christmas party and got to meet lots of other prairie enthusiasts and everyone was so enthusiastic!  Actually we were impressed with their knowledge of and passion for all things that live in the prairie – native plants, animals, birds, amphibians, and insects.  All members at the meeting have land they’ve restored to prairie – some with many, many acres and some with decades of experience. They’re also enthusiastic about good food and there were wonderful dishes at the “pot luck” dinner we shared. We left that toasty warm gathering to go out into the snowy and cold but beautiful, moonlit winter night and as we drove home we recalled memories of a very stimulating and hopeful evening with new friends.

We’re grateful to Bill, our guest who stayed in the French Country Cottage this weekend and took this picture of the inn as he went for an early morning walk through our tranquil village.

Just past the inn to the east is the ever-flowing Crystal River.  All around are bare trees and snow-covered gardens – beautiful symbols of the cycle of life and metaphors of our own lives for us to reflect upon. It’s wintertime now and for this part of the earth to sleep and rejuvenate. . .

The Word for the Day is by Rumi who said,

“The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.”

We wish you well in all things.

We’re converts to Wisconsin organic flour! Robert made a remarkable find and we went right down to Lonesome Stone Milling in Lone Rock, Wisconsin, as we began our vacation last month. About an hour’s drive south is a small town (with a fabulous restaurant – but I digress) with a family owned stone mill. The miller gave us samples and I was so surprised to taste the difference between what they produce and grocery store flour. O My Goodness! Back at home I immediately made our whole wheat bread and it was SO delicious. There’s no going back. Robert put in an order so we’ll use only Lonesome Stone Milling flour for all our cooking and baking. By using these flours we support 4 family farms, 1 family-owned small business with 2 hard-working employees, 1 visionary investor and 1 small town! Check out their web site: www.lonesomestonemilling.com

My 100% whole wheat bread. Not a hint of bitterness – just pure wonderful! Our guests loved it.

Another reason we love our guests is their thoughtful creativity! We just received this beautiful tray with scrabble words all about our inn and we’re thrilled! What an amazing surprise in the mail! Holly sent this along with a home-made note card that was so beautiful. We’re touched and grateful. We have a special place in mind for the tray and now we just have to get it fixed up. Come and see it in person.

Scrabble Gift from Guest

Today was to be the warmest for the week so we got outside and put up the wreaths on the windows (with new bows!) and our favorite, the barn wreath with colored lights. Here it is about 4 p.m. I had to go out early evening and when I returned I just smiled at how lovely it is – a warm greeting for cold (nearly) winter evenings. We’d love to have you come and see it for yourself!