WOW!! Where does the time go? It feels like a year since I've posted to the blog! Three months is a long time. So to update:
July and Tom Sawyer Days were great. In spite of massive amounts of water in the Mississippi, flood gates being in place, levees being closed to spectator traffic, and gas prices being utterly ridiculous, our July was excellent! We've only had one better. We survived the media spinning of flooding here, and are thankful for the brave and adventurous guests who crossed our threshold and stayed with us. We thank you and hope to see you again in the future. Another great thing about July was the emergence of our young hummingbirds. We counted at least 18 this year and they were as entertaining as ever.
August was our best in nine years. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all who chose us as their lodging while visiting our quaint little village. We worked really hard keeping up with cleaning, maintenance, and keeping flowers in a growth sequence in July & August. Impatiens and our tropical hibiscus have loved this weather. We didn't have great luck with certain other flowers this year. In spite of not having any saucers under pots (or needing any), the potted geraniums, petunias and superbells(mini petunias), just didn't like being unable to dry out at all in June, July & August. Some pots planted at the same time as others look sick, while others are still blooming nicely. It was a strange summer of buckets and buckets of rain. June and July were totally wet and only once in late August, was there a 5 day period without rain. The weather was cooler too. Don't get me wrong, I love not having scorching heat in July and August, but not having the heat also contributed to root rot in planters and mold growing on the clapboard of the house like never before. Yes, we saved water by not having to drench the plants, but made up for that savings when we had to clean and powerwash the house and porch ceiling twice! That's unheard of. Normally the powerwashing lasts for at least a year or TWO. We've also been doing some painting outside, since we once again are struggling to find an exterior painter. Oh, and we are about to get some roofing work done after having hail damage in May. No rest for the weary...
September is history, and it too has been a great month. It's in our top 4 in 9 years, and that included a nice little R&R mini vacation for Norm & me. We planned the trip in August and thoroughly enjoyed 4 days away from our daily work load. Norm even arranged for me to go FISHING!! I caught five, which is a bit of a small catch consdering my past history of the sport. But it was so much fun!! We rented a boat for the morning and had a blast on a beautiful mountain lake full of all the right kinds of fish. Getting used to my Shimano Baitcaster was a trip. But eventually I was back to form. A few "birdnests" and "short casts" later, and I was smooth as silk with a long cast and no backlash. I think Norm was amazed that I could drop the lure into a one foot target with tree limbs, stickups and rocks as obstacles. I caught 2 largemouth bass, a smallmouth bass, & 2 bluegill, one of which was huge!! Boy, a boat load of those would have produced quite the fish fry! Maybe we can return there someday for some lunker smallmouth and walleye fishing. Y-U-M-M-O, walleye my favorite to munch on! They also grow giant striper bass in that lake. Just the scenery was enjoyable, but catching my first fish since 1996 was a real treat. The cottages where we stayed, treated us to herds of Whitetail Deer, Silver fox, Hummingbirds, Indigo Buntings, Finches, Pileated Woodpeckers, Flickers, Blue Jays, Warblers, Wrens and various others. It was so relaxing and enjoyable. Our guests helped to make that trip possible and we thank you for assisting in our Rest and Recouperation so we'd be ready to hit the bricks hard in October.
Our leaves are beginning to show color. So if you're a "Leaf Peeper", give us a call or click on the link to make your reservation for our annually Superb Mississippi River Valley Autumn Colors. They are amazing. We have some openings early and late in October...2 middle weekends are full. Weekdays are always discounted, and we have some great availability then if you are able to travel between the weekends. Check our website for photos too. To Reserve...click here: http://www.webervations.com/magic-scripts/resbook.asp?memberid=jreagan722
We look forward to meeting you, and hosting our repeat guests once again. Happy Autumn!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, July 04, 2008
A Little Behind...
MAY: Ok, so let's catch up with May. Finally the warmer weather arrived. We had a nice bloom on the cherry tree in 2008! That means cherries for muffins! May was very busy for us. It began with the aforementioned pond project, which unfortunately was delayed with torrential downpours every few days. On May 3rd, we were able to move the pump from the pond to the baby pool, gently and carefully move the fish as we were transferring water, and then we removed the liner. That took about an hour. Then the work started. We began digging about 9am and finished about 4:30pm. We did take a few short breaks to rest the weary muscles. Norm said he felt like he was on the Chain Gang, but I wasn't holding a gun on him to make him keep working, honest. We laid the new liner and started to fill about 5:30pm. The pond volume increased by about 100%. When the fish were released into their new abode, it appeared that they were very happy with the vast improvement. Now they have about 1000 gallons and are loving it. So the pond was finished, with rocks placed by 5/5. Though much to our dismay, the waterfall is still a project in-the-works. As many know, Hannibal and the Mississippi River Valley were inundated with rain for much of May. That put the waterfall job on hold. It was one big mud hole for quite some time. We did get the liner laid, but found that it too was punctured, and are yet to have the new liner laid. The supply pile of "dirt" for building the banks of the waterfall, has been in the Mississippi MUD stage since it was removed as we dug the pond. Maybe next month it will be finished!
For Mother's Day, we had a wonderful visit with family. All the kids & families, nieces, nephews, & grandchild, were here along with Judy's brother. We had 17 guests in the house for about a week and it was a BLAST! We also were able to watch a massive hail storm on 5/13, with golf ball sized hail! There was an accumulation of over an inch of various sizes. It was amazing. Our Silverado had about 300 dings when all was said and done. Luckily, the rentals the family had driven here were parked out front under the trees and were undamaged. Tim & Kathy had left that morning and beat the storm heading south, before it hit. Oh to have that old Carriage house when we needed it.
Business was good in May and we thank all of our guests for choosing to stay with us.
JUNE: Like in May, the rains kept coming, and coming, and coming. We thought that gas prices and far too much water were going to cause us significant drop in occupancy, but that didn't happen. What a relief! June turned out well and ranks in our top 3 in 9 years. Again, thanks to all of our guests who decided to brave the flooding stories reported by the media and kept their reservations with us.
We were able to accomplish a couple other projects this month. Norm removed 4 bushes at the front door, which had seen better days. We placed our cobbler edge border around the front of the house and are getting it ready for daylily removal and new plantings. Next year it should be totally transformed. One big problem is coming from the house to our north. It's empty and no one has treated that yard for weeds in decades. So now we've been the recipients of seedings of broadleaf and wild violets by the millions. Though we treated the worst part of the front yard, the weeds seemed to just laugh at the weed killer, and chose growth rather than death. The constant rain and working in the mud has not been conducive to seeing all projects to completion. It's frustrating. We've cleaned weeds from several flower beds about a dozen times this year. RAIN=massive amounts of weeds!
All the while, the Mississippi River is rising...and rising...and rising... Our highest crest was about 2 feet lower than our record of 31.7. And that's a GOOD thing. This year the Corps of Engineers and National Guard added 2 feet to the top of our levee for "good measure". Thankfully, we didn't need it. We hosted an ABC news crew from NY and TX and they were called out in the wee hours of the morning when levees to our north & south would breach or top. It was a trying time for so many folks and we hope and pray that all those displaced will find the resources they need to get "back home".
We powerwashed in the rain a couple days, and the limestone wall & steps look fantastic! Another fun job was replacing the decking and shingles on a small 3 x 17 foot roof over our dining room windows a week ago. We had yet another torrential downpour in the wee hours of 6/26, which revealed a leak in the roof. We discovered that water was dripping in the dining room at the top of the windows. So at 2:30am, we were planning our mode of attack for the next day. Thursday we demolished the old roof and put on the decking for the new one. Friday we were able to get the shingles in place, and Saturday we finished the job. It was not really that fun pretending to be roofers. But hey...we don't grow money on trees or manufacture it in the basement here, so we wear numerous hats in this business.
So that's it for May and June. See you next month! We're booked for National Tom Sawyer Days over the Fourth of July, but check our availability online to see if we can match a date to your preferences in July. We'd love to meet you!! Hannibal is OPEN for business!!
For Mother's Day, we had a wonderful visit with family. All the kids & families, nieces, nephews, & grandchild, were here along with Judy's brother. We had 17 guests in the house for about a week and it was a BLAST! We also were able to watch a massive hail storm on 5/13, with golf ball sized hail! There was an accumulation of over an inch of various sizes. It was amazing. Our Silverado had about 300 dings when all was said and done. Luckily, the rentals the family had driven here were parked out front under the trees and were undamaged. Tim & Kathy had left that morning and beat the storm heading south, before it hit. Oh to have that old Carriage house when we needed it.
Business was good in May and we thank all of our guests for choosing to stay with us.
JUNE: Like in May, the rains kept coming, and coming, and coming. We thought that gas prices and far too much water were going to cause us significant drop in occupancy, but that didn't happen. What a relief! June turned out well and ranks in our top 3 in 9 years. Again, thanks to all of our guests who decided to brave the flooding stories reported by the media and kept their reservations with us.
We were able to accomplish a couple other projects this month. Norm removed 4 bushes at the front door, which had seen better days. We placed our cobbler edge border around the front of the house and are getting it ready for daylily removal and new plantings. Next year it should be totally transformed. One big problem is coming from the house to our north. It's empty and no one has treated that yard for weeds in decades. So now we've been the recipients of seedings of broadleaf and wild violets by the millions. Though we treated the worst part of the front yard, the weeds seemed to just laugh at the weed killer, and chose growth rather than death. The constant rain and working in the mud has not been conducive to seeing all projects to completion. It's frustrating. We've cleaned weeds from several flower beds about a dozen times this year. RAIN=massive amounts of weeds!
All the while, the Mississippi River is rising...and rising...and rising... Our highest crest was about 2 feet lower than our record of 31.7. And that's a GOOD thing. This year the Corps of Engineers and National Guard added 2 feet to the top of our levee for "good measure". Thankfully, we didn't need it. We hosted an ABC news crew from NY and TX and they were called out in the wee hours of the morning when levees to our north & south would breach or top. It was a trying time for so many folks and we hope and pray that all those displaced will find the resources they need to get "back home".
We powerwashed in the rain a couple days, and the limestone wall & steps look fantastic! Another fun job was replacing the decking and shingles on a small 3 x 17 foot roof over our dining room windows a week ago. We had yet another torrential downpour in the wee hours of 6/26, which revealed a leak in the roof. We discovered that water was dripping in the dining room at the top of the windows. So at 2:30am, we were planning our mode of attack for the next day. Thursday we demolished the old roof and put on the decking for the new one. Friday we were able to get the shingles in place, and Saturday we finished the job. It was not really that fun pretending to be roofers. But hey...we don't grow money on trees or manufacture it in the basement here, so we wear numerous hats in this business.
So that's it for May and June. See you next month! We're booked for National Tom Sawyer Days over the Fourth of July, but check our availability online to see if we can match a date to your preferences in July. We'd love to meet you!! Hannibal is OPEN for business!!
Friday, April 25, 2008
March & April Notes
Once again, we're left wondering how it is that weeks just fly by. To catch up a bit: March was fantastic! It started very slowly. Then just after we offered our Third Annual St Patty's Discount, things picked up and kept us very busy. Thank you to all of our "Irish" friends who stayed in March.
I think it's been said before but...April is my favorite month with all the flowers blooming, and grass and trees turning green. The aroma of the hyacinths is heavenly. The month is nearly over and the flowers are blooming everywhere. Our Cherry tree is all decked out in white petals, along with neighborhood Redbuds, Crabs and Dogwoods are just beginning to show blossoms. We have high hopes for the summer harvest of cherries, as we had not one single cherry mature last year. We'll look forward to baking them inside our signature muffins again this year!
As usual, there is a project (or 3) in the works. Our pond liner has come to the age of decay. These days, the material used for free-form ponds is much better than just 8 years ago. Unfortunately, we didn't have that material available when we built it in 2000, and have a leak or two in the liner. The sun and weather wreak havoc on such things. The rocks have been removed to expose the liner and the temporary pond is ready to hold the fish until the new liner is installed. We're hoping for the weather to cooperate so that the job can be done as soon as possible. Making the pond a bit bigger is on the to do list as well, and it is far too muddy now to dig. Certainly, the fish will appreciate their larger pond. An adjustment to the waterfall is in order as well. It should be even better when completed. We're also working on more landscaping changes/repairs. We have bushes to remove and things to plant. It will be rewarding next spring to see the result.
April occupancy has been very good. We'd like to thank all of our April guests for being a part of that success. To those whom we have not yet met, and former guests as well -- Don't miss out on some discounted rates for Last Minute reservations. Our Spring Special is soon to come to an end. Make your reservations for April dates and check to see what your discount may be. Only FIVE days left (4/25). Just click below.
It's Spring!! Click for special
Happy Spring!
Judy & Norm
I think it's been said before but...April is my favorite month with all the flowers blooming, and grass and trees turning green. The aroma of the hyacinths is heavenly. The month is nearly over and the flowers are blooming everywhere. Our Cherry tree is all decked out in white petals, along with neighborhood Redbuds, Crabs and Dogwoods are just beginning to show blossoms. We have high hopes for the summer harvest of cherries, as we had not one single cherry mature last year. We'll look forward to baking them inside our signature muffins again this year!
As usual, there is a project (or 3) in the works. Our pond liner has come to the age of decay. These days, the material used for free-form ponds is much better than just 8 years ago. Unfortunately, we didn't have that material available when we built it in 2000, and have a leak or two in the liner. The sun and weather wreak havoc on such things. The rocks have been removed to expose the liner and the temporary pond is ready to hold the fish until the new liner is installed. We're hoping for the weather to cooperate so that the job can be done as soon as possible. Making the pond a bit bigger is on the to do list as well, and it is far too muddy now to dig. Certainly, the fish will appreciate their larger pond. An adjustment to the waterfall is in order as well. It should be even better when completed. We're also working on more landscaping changes/repairs. We have bushes to remove and things to plant. It will be rewarding next spring to see the result.
April occupancy has been very good. We'd like to thank all of our April guests for being a part of that success. To those whom we have not yet met, and former guests as well -- Don't miss out on some discounted rates for Last Minute reservations. Our Spring Special is soon to come to an end. Make your reservations for April dates and check to see what your discount may be. Only FIVE days left (4/25). Just click below.
It's Spring!! Click for special
Happy Spring!
Judy & Norm
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Love Month
First, I apologize for not posting in January. After returning from a wonderful family visit over Christmas, I have been completely immersed in winter projects inside, and simply forgot to update the blog. Now into our ninth year in business, we can surely say we've had better January occupancy. Weather was brutal, as it warmed and froze, snowed, rained and hailed on us here in Missouri. Not to mention, that surrounding states were battered with cold, ice and enormous amounts of the white flaky stuff. To those who braved the weather and found us in January, Thank You for choosing us. Now that we've survived January, we've moved into February and Valentine's Day is once again a thing of the past. However...
Not that we don't practice Love all year long, but February is "Love" month, and we extend that into mid March. To celebrate Love month here at Reagan's Queen Anne, as always our weekday rates are discounted, and until March 15, 2008, our weekend rates are generously discounted as well. Plus, to celebrate "Love" month, we offer a discount on top of a discount. So for all you romantics out there (yes, you who forgot Valentine's day too and need to get out of the dog house!), make a reservation to treat that special someone in your life. Our discounted room rates are the lowest of the year right now, when taking advantage of our double discount. The savings in room rates provides the incentive for you to add that "Sweetheart Special" as an extra nice gift to your loved one. Not to worry, if you use our Last Minute Special and book the day before or day of your stay...we'll waive the 3 day notice for Sweetheart Specials. Click the following and book your stay. We hope to meet you soon!!
Click Here for Last Minute Specials !!
Not that we don't practice Love all year long, but February is "Love" month, and we extend that into mid March. To celebrate Love month here at Reagan's Queen Anne, as always our weekday rates are discounted, and until March 15, 2008, our weekend rates are generously discounted as well. Plus, to celebrate "Love" month, we offer a discount on top of a discount. So for all you romantics out there (yes, you who forgot Valentine's day too and need to get out of the dog house!), make a reservation to treat that special someone in your life. Our discounted room rates are the lowest of the year right now, when taking advantage of our double discount. The savings in room rates provides the incentive for you to add that "Sweetheart Special" as an extra nice gift to your loved one. Not to worry, if you use our Last Minute Special and book the day before or day of your stay...we'll waive the 3 day notice for Sweetheart Specials. Click the following and book your stay. We hope to meet you soon!!
Click Here for Last Minute Specials !!
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Last month of 2007...
.jpg)
Yes, the last month of 2007 is a reality. We thought it would never get here...just kidding. As stated in our blog entry for November, this year has sped by quickly enough to give us whiplash! We've hosted several wonderful guests this month and are thankful that our weather held out. The departing guests Sunday (12/9), wondered if they'd be sliding down our hills on their way out of town, as we we're hit with ice overnight. Thankfully, they all made it home safely. Hopefully the warmer weather we're expecting this week will materialze. Just a bit of sunshine would help a lot.
As promised, we're including the info about The Shepherd's Tale. This performance is something that every person who loves the story of Christ needs to see. Hannibal's own-Richard Garey, portrays the shepherd Esrom in full shepherd attire, on the stage in the Planter's Barn Theatre. Esrom will draw you into his world and have the audience feeling as if they are walking along with him in the Judean hills. Click the following link to gain more information about the show. http://heritagestage.com/shepherd.html Be sure to read the reviews. This truly is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is the Christmas story as never told before. So plan your trip to Hannibal before Christmas to see this wonderful performance.
Make your reservations now, as space is limited. We have over-night openings for 12/20, 21, 22 or 23. This old girl is dolled up for the holidays, and we'd love for you to come enjoy the festive decor. We hope to see you before the end of the year, but if not, be sure to come visit us here in America's Hometown in 2008! Blessings to you and yours. Happy Holidays! Judy & Norm
As promised, we're including the info about The Shepherd's Tale. This performance is something that every person who loves the story of Christ needs to see. Hannibal's own-Richard Garey, portrays the shepherd Esrom in full shepherd attire, on the stage in the Planter's Barn Theatre. Esrom will draw you into his world and have the audience feeling as if they are walking along with him in the Judean hills. Click the following link to gain more information about the show. http://heritagestage.com/shepherd.html Be sure to read the reviews. This truly is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is the Christmas story as never told before. So plan your trip to Hannibal before Christmas to see this wonderful performance.
Make your reservations now, as space is limited. We have over-night openings for 12/20, 21, 22 or 23. This old girl is dolled up for the holidays, and we'd love for you to come enjoy the festive decor. We hope to see you before the end of the year, but if not, be sure to come visit us here in America's Hometown in 2008! Blessings to you and yours. Happy Holidays! Judy & Norm
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Seems as if November passed us by...
November 2007...it seems was the fastest month of our lives. Certainly the massive amounts of exterior work we did this year were a factor in time passing quickly here, but we are so glad that our big construction projects and much of our painting is finished. We still have the west and north walls and porch ceiling to paint, but overall we're happy with what we accomplished. Since our painter was missing in action, we did all of our work ourselves this year. We both recognize that we're happy we didn't choose to be painters as a profession, but we'd certainly do a neater job and be more reliable than and ours has been.
On several occasions, we found ourselves saying that we wondered where the year had gone. Then November flew by with warp speed. My how time flies when you're having fun! This has been a wonderful year once again, and we thank our guests for being a part of that. To all whom have stayed with us, and to all who will come in the future, we appreciate you!! Two-thousand seven is close to becoming our best year since we began innkeeping. And...in November, we are thankful for all those who have made it possible. With good numbers in gift certificate sales, our year will be our best since our inception. We're hoping for a great December!! Next month's blog will offer links to information about our Christmas Show in Hannibal. The Shepherd's Tale is a "Must See"!! We have openings on December 19, 20, 21 & 22 only. Give us a call or book online. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
On several occasions, we found ourselves saying that we wondered where the year had gone. Then November flew by with warp speed. My how time flies when you're having fun! This has been a wonderful year once again, and we thank our guests for being a part of that. To all whom have stayed with us, and to all who will come in the future, we appreciate you!! Two-thousand seven is close to becoming our best year since we began innkeeping. And...in November, we are thankful for all those who have made it possible. With good numbers in gift certificate sales, our year will be our best since our inception. We're hoping for a great December!! Next month's blog will offer links to information about our Christmas Show in Hannibal. The Shepherd's Tale is a "Must See"!! We have openings on December 19, 20, 21 & 22 only. Give us a call or book online. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Hannibal in October
The photo was taken in 2005 in Riverside Cemetery. Colors rival and exceed this in October. Since October is our busiest month of the year, why not make your reservation now? As promised in an earlier blog, it's soon time for our rates to go up just a bit, to help us offset the 40% increase in our energy expenses over the past 3 years. We have not raised prices for over 4 years, but we knew it would come eventually. If you know you'll be coming in October of next year, make your reservation now and mention that you saw this post. We will book you at 2007 prices! Don't delay. After prices change in April, it will be too late to get the discount.
We'll await your email or call!! Click the following link and Email to: stay@reagansqueenanne.com, or call us toll free: (888)221-1251.
A September to Remember!
September follows suit with August in being our best September in eight years. THANK YOU to all September guests who helped make it possible!! Our hard work and superb occupancy earned us a mini-vacation, and we welcomed the opportunity to take a couple days off in late September. Since Judy is a NASCAR fan, Norm decided that a great birthday gift would be to take her to Kansas Speedway to enjoy the race. We stayed at a wonderful B&B in Leavenworth for 2 nights and attended the race on Sunday. Being in the first row just past the finish line was a superb place to watch, feel and smell the NASCAR experience.
Though our A/C took a nose dive in August, it's all functioning at 100% once again. It's a good thing, considering the extraordinary weather October has offered! Finally, this morning the temps dropped a bit, and it is a beautiful autumn day. We're looking forward to the color of the leaves evolving very soon. Some color is showing now, but by the time our Fall Folklife Festival is in full swing, there should be plenty of vibrant colors to enjoy. Since we have very limited vacancy for weekends in October, don't delay in booking your weekday getaway while you can still enjoy the colorful trees before the leaves drop. If you want to lock in this year's prices for weekends next October (2008), we can certainly book you now for the "Leaf Peeper" season next year. Remember that our Fall Folk Life Festival is the 17th & 18th of October next year.
You can still come to enjoy the festival this year 10/20 & 21, but premier lodging is impossible to find at this late date. Come to Hannibal October 20th or 21st, stop by to make your reservation, and we'll gladly give you a tour of the main level of our Victorian Queen. You truly do deserve to book an October weekday (with year round discounted pricing), drive to Hannibal and enjoy the colorful foliage, tour our quaint town, relax in our Victorian Queen, enjoy a restful slumber, and a delicious breakfast served by Judy and Norm. Maybe your entree du jour will be Judy's well received Apple French Toast with Cider syrup, or our signature Crustless Quiche, or maybe a guest favorite "Queen's French Toast Marmalade".
We currently have limited availability on the 26th & 27th, and some Sundays have good availability as well. Just call to check for open rooms on those days. Again, if you want to enjoy the festival next year, make reservations EARLY, or right now if you prefer!! Just follow the link to our website and book online, or give us a call. Hannibal is a wonderful place to come during autumn. A perfect way to enjoy the autumn blessings of nature, is to travel the roadways leading to the land of Mark Twain, and enjoy the magnificence of the autumn color palate. http://www.reagansqueenanne.com/. We'd love to meet you!
Though our A/C took a nose dive in August, it's all functioning at 100% once again. It's a good thing, considering the extraordinary weather October has offered! Finally, this morning the temps dropped a bit, and it is a beautiful autumn day. We're looking forward to the color of the leaves evolving very soon. Some color is showing now, but by the time our Fall Folklife Festival is in full swing, there should be plenty of vibrant colors to enjoy. Since we have very limited vacancy for weekends in October, don't delay in booking your weekday getaway while you can still enjoy the colorful trees before the leaves drop. If you want to lock in this year's prices for weekends next October (2008), we can certainly book you now for the "Leaf Peeper" season next year. Remember that our Fall Folk Life Festival is the 17th & 18th of October next year.
You can still come to enjoy the festival this year 10/20 & 21, but premier lodging is impossible to find at this late date. Come to Hannibal October 20th or 21st, stop by to make your reservation, and we'll gladly give you a tour of the main level of our Victorian Queen. You truly do deserve to book an October weekday (with year round discounted pricing), drive to Hannibal and enjoy the colorful foliage, tour our quaint town, relax in our Victorian Queen, enjoy a restful slumber, and a delicious breakfast served by Judy and Norm. Maybe your entree du jour will be Judy's well received Apple French Toast with Cider syrup, or our signature Crustless Quiche, or maybe a guest favorite "Queen's French Toast Marmalade".
We currently have limited availability on the 26th & 27th, and some Sundays have good availability as well. Just call to check for open rooms on those days. Again, if you want to enjoy the festival next year, make reservations EARLY, or right now if you prefer!! Just follow the link to our website and book online, or give us a call. Hannibal is a wonderful place to come during autumn. A perfect way to enjoy the autumn blessings of nature, is to travel the roadways leading to the land of Mark Twain, and enjoy the magnificence of the autumn color palate. http://www.reagansqueenanne.com/. We'd love to meet you!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Oooooops...JINXED!
August began HOT and became even HOTTER...what a month!! And we must have jinxed ourselves, because our main central a/c unit (for guest rooms) bit the dust during the hottest part of the month. We closed 3 of our rooms for over a week, while we waited for a new air handler. We improvised, and put window units in 2 rooms so we were not completely out of business. Thankfully, guests with window units in their rooms, were cool as cucumbers in spite of our sweltering 2nd floor hallway. Not withstanding hot temps and sauna hot empty rooms, plus a "grandma" vacation of almost a week for Judy late in the month, we broke our record for all previous Augusts. We'd like to offer our August guests a great BIG THANK YOU, for our best August in 8 years.
The hummingbirds are absolutely crazy this time of year. The young ones born here this summer are such fun to watch. We have more than a dozen birds at our feeders this year and they are a constant entertainment for those who venture to the veranda. Our spring bedding annuals have seen better days due to the lengthy heat wave, but our mums and hibiscus are filling in the voids nicely. Some of the late impatiens have survived well, and the mandevilla is beautiful as usual. We've also seen a fair share of rain and our grass is once again green.
We've been saying "where has the year gone" for months, but now it's really hitting us. September has arrived and soon the leaves will be blowing around. We're just hoping that the snow holds off for a looooooooong time!! We never look forward to the departure of the hummers, but they too will soon begin to migrate to their winter abodes. Be sure to check out our Autumn page on our homepage. We post local photos from spots around Hannibal and the autumn leaves are stunning. We'd love to accommodate you this autumn. Leaves begin to show color changes in early October. Since October weekends are nearly full, don't delay in reserving your favorite room. Or if you can come during the week, there are plenty of choices, and we discount weekdays year 'round!
We look forward to greeting you at the door of Reagan's Queen Anne.
The hummingbirds are absolutely crazy this time of year. The young ones born here this summer are such fun to watch. We have more than a dozen birds at our feeders this year and they are a constant entertainment for those who venture to the veranda. Our spring bedding annuals have seen better days due to the lengthy heat wave, but our mums and hibiscus are filling in the voids nicely. Some of the late impatiens have survived well, and the mandevilla is beautiful as usual. We've also seen a fair share of rain and our grass is once again green.
We've been saying "where has the year gone" for months, but now it's really hitting us. September has arrived and soon the leaves will be blowing around. We're just hoping that the snow holds off for a looooooooong time!! We never look forward to the departure of the hummers, but they too will soon begin to migrate to their winter abodes. Be sure to check out our Autumn page on our homepage. We post local photos from spots around Hannibal and the autumn leaves are stunning. We'd love to accommodate you this autumn. Leaves begin to show color changes in early October. Since October weekends are nearly full, don't delay in reserving your favorite room. Or if you can come during the week, there are plenty of choices, and we discount weekdays year 'round!
We look forward to greeting you at the door of Reagan's Queen Anne.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Fantastic June!!
First of all, we're thankful for the absolutely perfect weather we've had this summer. It has allowed us to keep our rates the same as they've been for over three years. With rates for energy taking a gigantic Calaveras County Bullfrog leap recently, we're resigned to the fact that it's going to happen eventually so we can keep the boat afloat. We also want to thank all of our wonderful guests who helped to make June our best in eight years.
We have some fantastic news. Hannibal's own, Mark Twain HIMSELF, is running for President in 2008!! Check out his website: www.marktwainforpresident.com. This is the same Mark Twain who entertains our guests on a regular basis during scheduled "Breakfast with Mark Twain Experiences". You may see him soon on CNN news and ABC Family and the Travel Channel!! There is another bit of very exciting news we are itching to share, but we're sworn to secrecy for a bit. We'll let you in on the secret as soon as possible. Let's just say that it will certainly put Hannibal on the map of the USA, when things in the works come to completion.
As mentioned in May, the flowers indeed are blooming and have added to the serenity of the veranda and back yard. Our front and side yard is in stages of redesign. Judy is anxious to see it to completion as soon as possible and works every chance she gets a bit of time off from the inside duties. The mosquitoes are wicked this year!! We're heavily supplied with Citronella candles, so don't worry about enjoying the veranda in the early afternoon and evening. We'll take care of you! With the mini drought, our pretty green grass has been fading, so this is the perfect time to rework the ground for more perennials and ground cover. Now the chore will be to keep them watered and protected from the summer heat, which arrived "on time" today-July Fourth, just in time for the prime activities Hannibal celebrates each year as we host National Tom Sawyer Days.
It truly felt like summer today!! YES! We have three central a/c units to keep this 5200 sq foot mansion cool in the summer. We hope to meet you in the future! Give us a call to schedule your stay.
We have some fantastic news. Hannibal's own, Mark Twain HIMSELF, is running for President in 2008!! Check out his website: www.marktwainforpresident.com. This is the same Mark Twain who entertains our guests on a regular basis during scheduled "Breakfast with Mark Twain Experiences". You may see him soon on CNN news and ABC Family and the Travel Channel!! There is another bit of very exciting news we are itching to share, but we're sworn to secrecy for a bit. We'll let you in on the secret as soon as possible. Let's just say that it will certainly put Hannibal on the map of the USA, when things in the works come to completion.
As mentioned in May, the flowers indeed are blooming and have added to the serenity of the veranda and back yard. Our front and side yard is in stages of redesign. Judy is anxious to see it to completion as soon as possible and works every chance she gets a bit of time off from the inside duties. The mosquitoes are wicked this year!! We're heavily supplied with Citronella candles, so don't worry about enjoying the veranda in the early afternoon and evening. We'll take care of you! With the mini drought, our pretty green grass has been fading, so this is the perfect time to rework the ground for more perennials and ground cover. Now the chore will be to keep them watered and protected from the summer heat, which arrived "on time" today-July Fourth, just in time for the prime activities Hannibal celebrates each year as we host National Tom Sawyer Days.
It truly felt like summer today!! YES! We have three central a/c units to keep this 5200 sq foot mansion cool in the summer. We hope to meet you in the future! Give us a call to schedule your stay.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
It's the last day of MAY!!
It is amazing that May is ready to come to a close. Summer is on our doorstep and we find ourselves wondering what happened to spring. We've had an eventful month busy with guests, outdoor projects and visits with family. The hibiscus plants have finally been moved outside and are setting dozens of buds. It won't be long and they'll be popping with color. Bedding plants are flourishing and the grass is the most beautiful green. One of the best things about May is that our resident hummingbirds are back in full force. We've counted 10 and there are likely many more. We're anxious to see the babies begin to stop by to quench their thirst next month. Now if I can just keep that pesky fox squirrel out of my newly repotted plants!! If it's not raccoons getting into mischief...it's squirrels who wreak havoc in our yard. I think I've fixed foxy however. Today I put pepper seeds in some of the pots he seems to "dig". There is plenty of ground in the neighborhood for him to bury nuts, without using my flower pots!
We thoroughly enjoyed a visit this month from sons Bill and Tim. Bill's girlfriend Amy came with him, and we loved meeting her. Tim and his wife Kathy and our grand-daughter Kaylie made the time fun. There's never a dull moment when a 1 yr old is in the house. It was a great combination of Mother's Day and my birthday, especially since I'd rather forget that another year has passed. The kids helped take my mind off any unpleasantries relating to age!
Hannibal will be in full swing with the onset of June. Give us a call and reserve your room. Weekends especially, are filling fast right now. We look forward to hearing from you!!
We thoroughly enjoyed a visit this month from sons Bill and Tim. Bill's girlfriend Amy came with him, and we loved meeting her. Tim and his wife Kathy and our grand-daughter Kaylie made the time fun. There's never a dull moment when a 1 yr old is in the house. It was a great combination of Mother's Day and my birthday, especially since I'd rather forget that another year has passed. The kids helped take my mind off any unpleasantries relating to age!
Hannibal will be in full swing with the onset of June. Give us a call and reserve your room. Weekends especially, are filling fast right now. We look forward to hearing from you!!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
What?? April FREEZE??!!!
Well I suppose we should be prepared for this (living in the midwest), but in spite of that fact we were shocked to have far too many nights in April with wind chills in the teens to single digits. Some late April Fool that was! Only it wasn't foolery...but actually happened!! With all the warm weather in March, our cherry tree had just set blooms along with tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. Some of our hostas had reached 8 inches tall. The flowers survived and lifted their sagging heads, but the hard freeze was not kind to the hostas which were turned to mush. We're hopeful that they will rebound. Most flowering bushes and trees were also "zapped". They'll fully recover, but we missed out on the pretty blooms this year. The good news is that our cherry tree is now in full bloom, so we're hopeful that only a few buds were damaged. We certainly enjoy the tart cherries in the summer and fall and use them in several breakfast recipes.
We're finally back to our painting outside, however we're doing it ourselves once again. Our painter left in November (yes, it was warm enough to paint then), and has not contacted us to schedule his return as yet. The pond and waterfall work began but came to a halt when the weather turned frigid. Boy am I looking forward to finishing cleaning out that waterfall! I just wish it wasn't such a nasty job, but it will be so nice when it becomes a little babbling brook once again. The fish are huge and very hungry. Be sure to visit them when you stay with us. Soon, soon....our hummingbirds will be back and I'm anxious to see the first one! I set the feeders out this week for the transients who are heading further north.
Our weather is warming again, Hannibal has awakened from winter and is set to welcome you. Give us a call or book your visit online. Don't forget to check our Last Minute Specials, and remember that Reagan's Queen Anne is the only B&B in Hannibal where Mark Twain comes to share breakfast time with overnight guests! Hope to see you soon!!
We're finally back to our painting outside, however we're doing it ourselves once again. Our painter left in November (yes, it was warm enough to paint then), and has not contacted us to schedule his return as yet. The pond and waterfall work began but came to a halt when the weather turned frigid. Boy am I looking forward to finishing cleaning out that waterfall! I just wish it wasn't such a nasty job, but it will be so nice when it becomes a little babbling brook once again. The fish are huge and very hungry. Be sure to visit them when you stay with us. Soon, soon....our hummingbirds will be back and I'm anxious to see the first one! I set the feeders out this week for the transients who are heading further north.
Our weather is warming again, Hannibal has awakened from winter and is set to welcome you. Give us a call or book your visit online. Don't forget to check our Last Minute Specials, and remember that Reagan's Queen Anne is the only B&B in Hannibal where Mark Twain comes to share breakfast time with overnight guests! Hope to see you soon!!
Friday, March 09, 2007
We Heard the Roar with the Arrival of March
Weather has been the story here in the beginning of March. I guess we were due. Last year we were greeted with the "Lamb". Yes, our March began with the proverbial Lion this year. We're hoping for a calmer spring and have noticed the tips of tulips and daffs popping their heads already. Soon it will be time to be outside working the grounds, to get ready for the the best time of year in my book. I LOVE SPRING!!
We're feeling the excitement of the emergence of Spring, and since we have some "Irish" connections with the O'Reagan family, we're offering our guests a little "pot of gold" at the end of their rainbows. Just check the homepage for the "Lucky Discount" during the month of March. Keep in mind that March rates are the lowest of the year and we're adding a St Patrick's discount on top of that. We promise the same accommodations, hospitality and breakfasts offered at our regular rates. Just make your reservation in March for a date in March and you'll receive your own "pot of gold", compliments of Reagan's Queen Anne. Click here and scroll down a bit: http://www.reagansqueenanne.com.
Happy St Patrick's Day!!
We're feeling the excitement of the emergence of Spring, and since we have some "Irish" connections with the O'Reagan family, we're offering our guests a little "pot of gold" at the end of their rainbows. Just check the homepage for the "Lucky Discount" during the month of March. Keep in mind that March rates are the lowest of the year and we're adding a St Patrick's discount on top of that. We promise the same accommodations, hospitality and breakfasts offered at our regular rates. Just make your reservation in March for a date in March and you'll receive your own "pot of gold", compliments of Reagan's Queen Anne. Click here and scroll down a bit: http://www.reagansqueenanne.com.
Happy St Patrick's Day!!
February has Quickly Come and Gone ~~
February 2007 is history. We finished our final inside winter project and now the Riverview & Rose and Wilson's Chambers have a new look to the bathroom. Though I loved the wallpaper, it had to go, due to the lack of adhesion qualities on the part of the 100 yr old plaster. We tried numerous "fixes" but nothing seemed to work. I was about to apply "Liquid Nails", but that would have obviously been a ridiculous remedy. It looks nice with the paint which matches the Riverview & Rose room, and we won't have to worry about paper rolling or peeling any longer.
To all of our February guests~Thank you for braving the cold, wind, ice and snow, thus making February one of our top four!
So long February...until next year! We won't miss the frigid temps, ice and snow!! We're looking forward to getting out of the winter doldrums.
To all of our February guests~Thank you for braving the cold, wind, ice and snow, thus making February one of our top four!
So long February...until next year! We won't miss the frigid temps, ice and snow!! We're looking forward to getting out of the winter doldrums.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Two thousand seven arrives with a smile...
We hope your holidays were everything you hoped they would be. We spent a quiet Christmas with anticipation of a visit from our Daughter-in-law, her Mother, and our grand-daughter. What a delightful time! Norm was able to experience being a grandparent for the first time and he LOVES it!! Kaylie is a joy. Since Air Force son Tim is deployed until next month, we were able to spend time with our daughter-in-law, grand-baby and pets. We thoroughly enjoyed their company, and were glad to give her a hand with the "clan" while Tim is away. 
~~Grandpa & Grandma & our jewel~~
As always, January has been fairly quiet regarding occupancy. So...as usual for this time of year, we're working on renovation projects. We've painted and worked on several jobs inside, but as usual there is a never-ending list of more waiting in the wings. We're thankful for the time to be able to "spruce things up", but don't let that discourage you from coming. Our guest rooms are always ready for guests. Give us a call or book online and take advantage of our generously discounted "Quiet Season" rates. We await your call.
Friday, December 08, 2006
December begins with a Foot of Snow!!
November ended with freezing rain and ice, something we dread in Hannibal hill country. However, we awoke December 1st, to a twelve inch blanket of white. In itself, a snow of that magnitude is not exactly easy to navigate, but it was better than "skating" on an icy landscape...that's for sure.
Christmas decorating is nearly complete. I know, I know...we're late according to merchants, but we just don't like to rush the season here. The old girl is looking quite festive. And as promised we vowed to share the information on a magnificent theater performance in Hannibal over the holidays. The Shepherd's Tale is being performed the first two weekends of December, and begins daily shows on December 16. Follow this link to the info page: http://www.heritagestage.com/shepherd.html. This is a fascinating show and will surely leave the audiences feeling the Christmas spirit. This year they've added a dinner of Shepherd's fare, which we are excited to experience ourselves.
Check our website for last minute discounts. And for a great gift for family, friends and co-workers, remember that gift certificate purchases are classy, quick and easy. Give us a call and reserve your stay in December. Come enjoy the beauty of the season in America's Hometown.
Happy Holidays
Christmas decorating is nearly complete. I know, I know...we're late according to merchants, but we just don't like to rush the season here. The old girl is looking quite festive. And as promised we vowed to share the information on a magnificent theater performance in Hannibal over the holidays. The Shepherd's Tale is being performed the first two weekends of December, and begins daily shows on December 16. Follow this link to the info page: http://www.heritagestage.com/shepherd.html. This is a fascinating show and will surely leave the audiences feeling the Christmas spirit. This year they've added a dinner of Shepherd's fare, which we are excited to experience ourselves.
Check our website for last minute discounts. And for a great gift for family, friends and co-workers, remember that gift certificate purchases are classy, quick and easy. Give us a call and reserve your stay in December. Come enjoy the beauty of the season in America's Hometown.
Happy Holidays
Saturday, December 02, 2006
A November to Remember
We survived a very, very busy October, and are Thankfully making it through November in spite* of the weather. (*tongue in cheek). Following the non-stop October occupancy, we took a couple days and went to Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. The trip was relaxing and exciting too. One thing we did was to visit Three Chimney's Farm where Seattle Slew was stabled. Now it is home to such notable Stallions as Smarty Jones, Dynaformer (sire of Barbaro), and many amazing others. I was able to touch the velvet nose of Smarty Jones and was in heaven, being the horse lover that I am.
The best November news is that our exterior painter was here and nearly finished the old girl's new coat! It looks as if he'll have to finish the small areas on the back of the house in the spring. During the same time, we'll be working to put a new coat of paint on the porch railing and upper spindles. It will be so nice to see everything looking fresh with shiny paint!
The end of the month brings a special time to be Thankful for all the wonderful things we have in our lives, and we hope you have a special Thanksgiving with your loved ones. It will also be time for Holiday decorating. As always, we'll have Seven Christmas trees, and will use more than 7,000 lights. We're hoping to have the old girl all decked out by the end of the first week of December. We never like to rush Thanksgiving and thus don't begin setting out Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving is over.
Remember that we offer Gift Certificates for loved ones, friends and co-workers. As with each of our guests, we provide our Gracious Hospitality and Comfortable Elegance in this magnificent Queen Anne. On our website we have provided numerous links to our Gift Certificate page. Just click a link, complete the request and we'll take care of the rest. It's a simple, quick and perfect gift.
December notes will include information about "The Shepherd's Tale". Check back next month.
Happy Holidays!!
The best November news is that our exterior painter was here and nearly finished the old girl's new coat! It looks as if he'll have to finish the small areas on the back of the house in the spring. During the same time, we'll be working to put a new coat of paint on the porch railing and upper spindles. It will be so nice to see everything looking fresh with shiny paint!
The end of the month brings a special time to be Thankful for all the wonderful things we have in our lives, and we hope you have a special Thanksgiving with your loved ones. It will also be time for Holiday decorating. As always, we'll have Seven Christmas trees, and will use more than 7,000 lights. We're hoping to have the old girl all decked out by the end of the first week of December. We never like to rush Thanksgiving and thus don't begin setting out Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving is over.
Remember that we offer Gift Certificates for loved ones, friends and co-workers. As with each of our guests, we provide our Gracious Hospitality and Comfortable Elegance in this magnificent Queen Anne. On our website we have provided numerous links to our Gift Certificate page. Just click a link, complete the request and we'll take care of the rest. It's a simple, quick and perfect gift.
December notes will include information about "The Shepherd's Tale". Check back next month.
Happy Holidays!!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Trick or Treat! Already givin' the raspberries
...so much like her Daddy. A perfect little pumpkin. Happy Birthday Grandpa Norm.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Ahhhh Autumn, in the Hannibal hills...
Yes, Autumn has arrived. Last night we lost some of our pretty annuals to the cold (about 33 degrees). The problem was the windchill. We're hoping that the tropicals will survive tonight in the gazebo. They need to be sprayed before bringing them inside and it was raining yesterday. I don't know about you...but I think it is way too early for freezing temps. Thankfully this cold wave is going to be short lived and weather will warm tomorrow a bit. Leaves are turning quickly and when we have a cold snap, colors come on fast. Since we have no vacancy for weekends in October, don't delay in booking your weekday getaway while you can still enjoy the colorful trees before the leaves drop. If you want to lock in this year's prices for weekends next October, we can certainly book you now for the "Leaf Peeper" season next year. Remember that our Fall Folk Life Festival is the 20th & 21st of October next year. You can still come to enjoy the festival this year 10/21 & 22, but premier lodging is impossible to find at this late date. So book an October weekday (with year round discounted pricing), drive to Hannibal and enjoy the colorful foliage, tour our quaint town, relax in our Victorian Queen, enjoy a restful slumber, and Judy and Norm will fix you a delicious breakfast. Maybe your entree du jour will be her *New* Apple French Toast with Cider syrup. Yummmmmm
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Just HAD to share!!
When we're not providing hospitality for our guests, cleaning and caring for this Victorian Queen, our little Princess is occupying our thoughts. Ok, I admit...she's constantly on our minds.
This is our adorable grand-daughter, Kaylie. She is 5 months old and has the prettiest blue eyes. We hope you enjoy the photos.
This is our adorable grand-daughter, Kaylie. She is 5 months old and has the prettiest blue eyes. We hope you enjoy the photos.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)