Bed & Breakfast in Estes Park

Kettle Crock eggs topped with cheese and pine nuts

Previously I introduced you to Gene and Marilyn who were guests here for a week. They allowed me to experiment on them by willingly giving me feed back, on two separate occasions, on a new dish created in my kitchen. It’s the first full fledged recipe created out of my imagination. Previously I re-created dishes based on tried and true recipes, however, this time I was simply inspired by the cute cast iron kettles I bought and my husband’s love for my cheese enchiladas. See recipe page for pictures and directions.

Bringing home outdoor plants from the nursery to prepare for our first wedding of the new season.

My first thoughts this morning should have been: what I will make for breakfast, and my to-do list for the wedding we’re having tomorrow. Rather, I struggled to remember what it was I felt sad about the night before. It was 5:30 AM and my mind was in an emotional fog and I couldn’t remember why.

Snap dragons do great in Estes Park. I have been planting them around this tree for seven years with success. One or two get pulled up by elk, but they survive and the elk get a sore tummy. I’m convinced planting the same plants in the same spot each year conditions the elk’s eating behavior.

My heart sunk when it came back to me that my little old lady Maggie was laying at the foot of my bed sick. She wont be pawing my bed posts to wake me. I went to her and prayed she was alive. She lifted her head to let me rub under her chin, and stretched out her back legs. It was all normal, she was behaving like she normally did when I beat her to the wake up call.

The tag is for the snap dragons near the rear of the photo. The flowers in the foreground are Verbena. I LOVE this family of flower. I plant them in my window boxes at he top of my porch. Wind, rain, cold temperatures. They are heat tolerant thriving summer and into early fall with full Southern exposure. The flowers last for weeks but when the flower expires dead head them for new growth.

Magg’s head gets tired at times.

I think for a few minutes Maggie too forgot she had lost her ability to jump up at will. Maggie is a sight-hound so making eye contact is Magg’s M.O. Her bright brown eyes turn people’s hearts to soft gel. It was while looking into her eyes that I saw a slight flash. She was fully awake now and she now remembered.

She can eat alone but it’s hard on her neck.

Over the years many of our guests have kissed Maggie’s head, rubbed her ears, sent her Christmas cards and even gifts. She has friends all over the United States and world. Including; Germany, Holland, and Thailand.

We had a guest that was terrified of dogs. She had not touched one since she had been bitten in the face as a little girl. Maggie’s soft knowing eyes opened that lady’s heart up–healing an old wound. Our guest, from Thailand, held Maggie crying when she told us her story and triumph over a fear that paralyzed her at times.

Thank you from Maggie, and Eric and I, for sending your thoughts and well wishes.

Lissa, Eric, Me (Caprissa) and Paul. Maggie is the cute one in the center–getting hands on healing and love this morning, the day after her first seizure.

Here is an account of Tuesday’s events. It’s 8:20 Am, 10 minutes more and my B&B guests will be smiling up at me as I place a fresh bowl of fruit in front of them. The fruit is swimming in vanilla yogurt and granola. Just as I am checking the oven, my guest’s yell from the breakfast room. “Caprissa, Caprissa has your dog had seizures before?” ”

Should I call Eric”, says Lissa. I’m saying, “No he’s serving breakfast at the other B&B.”

It’s a family emergency what would you do? I’ll tell you what I did. I spent 60 seconds, or more minutes, panicking. My kind guest Lissa, held me by the shoulders as I gasped for air, tears streaming down my cheeks. My mind raced, ‘It’s a heart attack…what do I do…how do I stop it’. I scoop Maggie up, lay her on our down-filled 1886 sofa, which she sleeps on when we’re not watching, and ask my guests to hold her still. I search for the phone book, throw it down deciding to drive Maggie straight to the animal emergency hospital. A place I’ve taken her before to get her teeth brushed, rabies shots. Or, the time I called in in advance during a holiday. Maggie’s tooth was knocked out and wouldn’t quit bleeding. The place Maggie hates to visit.

Maggie and Me this morning in the back yard near our kitchen window. The guests were in side eating breakfast enjoying conversation and enjoying Eric’s “to-kill-a-mocking bird” dish.

The place was swamped, phones ringing, technicians zipping in and out. I stood still at the counter staring, patting Maggie. Suddenly: “CAN I PLEASE GET SOME HELP”. It was 15 minutes later when the doc was sending me home with pain pills. Says, “It’s just muscle pain, old age he reassures me”. He showed me her pink gum’s (this is good and proves it wasn’t a heart attack), her weak hind quarters. This proves she’s getting old.

Well, that was Tuesday. Wednesday after spending two hours at a fellow B&B owner’s home snapping photos of his newly decorated haven Eric and I pack Maggie in the car. It’s the final B&B association meeting of the season.

This is when IT happens. Last I’d seen Maggie she was napping in the cool mountain shade.

Now she’s jerking, head whaling around, eyes glazed and darting back and forth in her tiny fuzzy head.

I crawl into the back of our SUV, curl up with my sweet-pea and ask Eric to please hurry to the vet’s office. I wisper to her that I love her, that I’m sorry, that we’ll figure this out. And, the old stand by, it’s okay Maggie it’s going to be okay.

Fast forward…10 minutes. I’m racing into the hospital with Maggie in my arms. My eyes glazed now too, but with tears and panic. The same desk attendent sees me and quickly ques her associate to help me.

I call out load, “It’s a seizure, it’s a seizure, where’s Dr. Fish”?

Racing down the hall, I call out for the doctor. Calling out my warning my voice getting loader. I’m angry, and scared. I no longer feel Maggie’s 37.10 pounds in my arms. She’s stiff. Her legs are whaling around. I felt sure of ONE thing. Doc needed to see poor stiff Maggie. Her eyes glazed and darting. I wanted HIM TO SEE HER and FIX it right this time.

Maggie the afternoon after her grand seizure. Her ball at her side. She now walks with a gait to the left, head turned the same way. The way she use to turn her head when she was trying hard to understand me.

I’m not sure how much time passed but it happened fast. Maggie was being held down aggressivly by the tech that saw her the day before. Dr. Briant, Maggie’s favorite teeth cleaning person, quickly checked Maggie’s vitals. I was barking out orders.

“Dr. Fish I want you to see her” says I. “Did you see how she’s jerking around, can you look at her”? I ask him. He tells me, that Dr. Briant will tend to Maggie. He tells me to please let Dr. Briant check her vitals. I see in his eyes that he’s sorry. Maybe sorry for the mistake, or sorry for Maggie’s condition. Either way I’m no longer upset with him.

Maggie is on the table her head weaving back and forth and up and down. I think she’s lost her sight.

If you know anything on the topic we would love to hear from you. As you can see she is bright eyed and a little confused but otherwise she doesn’t seem to have pain. She still loves to hear her favorite words: ball, walk, supper, and laundry…The last word might be dog code for, “Carpe diem”.

We spent the morning with Andrea and Michael who come each year to celebrate their anniversary. Congratulations on your 7th year! I’ve talked before about our very open conversations here at the B&B. Well, Andrea is great at opening doors to VERY intriguing topics. It was a given that Obama’s name came up as a topic of debate. Andrea please stay clear of the secret service we love you and want to see you again next year to discuss our new prez…or the anti-Christ theory which ever is applicable.

It’s really hard to get this man to keep a straight face when I’m taking his picture. Anyway! We are now closing our gate when we don’t have a guest staying with us. I would be curious to hear your thoughts on that. Please pick up those phones and dial the number at the bottom of your screens… Actually, please post it on our blog. We’re not a televised program.

After we locked our gate….we treated ourselves to a breakfast burritos at Kind Coffee here in Estes Park. In the summer we go for lunch and in the winters we’ll go at breakfast time.  Click this for the website which has plays music.

Can you see that? Try clicking it.

This innkeeper has had insomnia for 3 days. Here sits I in my office. To the right is the bedroom door and my kitchen counter. While at my desk I am 3 feet from my bed and 10 feet from my kitchen stove. Click photo for more about an innkeeper’s life from the inside-out. Read the rest of this entry »

Tea parties at Gilded Pine Meadows B&B are always an adventure for us. We spend about 2 hours setting up the room and setting the tables. I spend 4 or more hours prepping and cooking.

We hold about a dozen or so a year. As per request we’ve had birthday parties, employee parties and lady’s clubs. This however was the first time we accommodated a Grey hound…

BUS! The view from the front porch

The view outside our parlor window.

The parties last 2 or 3 hours.

Eric with ladies. The ladies invited Maggie in at end of party.

Ladies, scones, tea and…bus! Farewell tea ladies!

This party was for 21 ladies which is our max. After the party it takes us two or more hours to clean and reorganize the home. We first sit, eat scones and clotted cream, and guzzle iced water.

Mike and Kathy took a soak before breakfast.

Eric keeps the hot tub clean, fresh and ready to go. All you need to do is bring a suite, grab a fresh robe from your room, and SPLASH!

We bought our hot tub in Fort Collins and we love it. The tub has been an added bonus for our own enjoyment five years running.

If you are looking for a good hot tub brand or dealer, please drop us a note and we’ll get you the information.

Today I helped friends out at their vitamin shop, Leffler’s Vitamin Shoppe. Bill and Julie took a trip into Denver while I sold vitamins, minerals and herbs to health conscientious folk. I had such a good time. Vitamins and minerals is a fascinating topic of mine. Besides talking health I also watched snow fall from their store front window.

This photo was taken last month after a small sprinkling of weather.

Anyway, I was talking about vitamins and minerals. My health took an about face two years ago when I put myself on a vitamin regiment. My life style change occurred after I read the book I have posted on the home page of this blog. I also read John R. Lee’s other books. More energy, stable moods and, weight lose are a few of the advantages to my new habits.

I hope you are enjoying our new blog. We have a lot more to add to it, however, we are taking suggestions and encouragement from everyone. Please feel free to post ideas.

Guest often times ask us if our home is smoke free. We made a choice years ago to provide a healthy environment for all our guests to enjoy ♥