Balloon Festival

The Balloon Festival was the best ever. Don't miss it next year, Mother's Day weekend.

Spring has been a long time coming this year but fortunately the flowers having waited patiently are now out in full bloom. Houseguests here from Southern California for Whitman graduation asked for my clippers to cut flowers and make bouquets. They quickly made three bouquets using nine varieties of flowers, vines and shrubs. (Columbine, Oriental Poppy, Iris, Queen Anne's Lace, Golden Rod. Kiwi vine, Bleeding Heart, Flox and Bridal Veil). The neighbors across the street were having a garage sale so after breakfast off they went coming back with 2 more vases (couldn't resist a pink vase to match the living room) and more flowers. My living/dining room has never looked prettier or more festive. Bed and Breakfast guests are often very special people!

Shakespeare comes to Walla Walla

The Kirkman House Museum presented their annual "Sweet Home Walla Walla Homes Tour" April 17th. All seven homes on the tour were lovely BUT the secret surprise of the tour was the Historic (120 year old) Walla Walla Gas Plant which is being transformed into "THE POWER HOUSE THEATRE". Scheduled to open with "Merry Wives of Windsor" on May 19, 2011 with 5 performances and coming in August "Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors" both performed by the Seattle Shakespeare Company. Another good reason to visit Walla Walla. Of course I hope you will stay at The Maxwell House when you are visiting.

spring is here (coming fast)

Daffodils and Tulips are blooming so it must be so! Today I took my cruiser bikes in to get a tune up to be ready for Spring and bicycle rides to town and local wineries. This week-end a Mother and Daughter are coming to stay and visit the Whitman Campus. They will fly in and not need a car because we are only 2 blocks from campus and only 5 blocks from Main Street and a dozen or so restaurants. The weather promises to cooperate.

Yes, winter is here and the days are a bit grey at times but Walla Walla has fun, wine and good food even now. In fact the Christmas Season here is especially festive on Main Street. Lots of lights and the stores full of gift ideas.

Looking ahead past the Holiday season, the Bed and Breakfasts are offering a fabulous package week-end called Gourmet Getaways. Stay 2 nights in one of our 12 Bed and Breakfast Inns, take a cooking class (each one offered unique), eat what you cook/bake with a bottle of "paired" wine and receive an apron. For all the details go to the web site www.wwbbia.com. The Maxwell House hopes to see you this winter. We will make it warm, cozy and inviting with a fire in the fireplace, a cup of tea and warm cookies.

Gourmet Getaways Special

Walla Walla is just as nice and as much fun in winter as spring or fall so here is a reason to come over/down/up. The Maxwell House is offering a week-end special for 6 week-ends beginning February 19 through March 28, 2010. For $390.00 a couple, stay 2 nights, participate (hands on instruction) in a wine or culinary class given by local culinarian or wine educator, enjoy the fruit of the class (lunch) with two glasses of wine and an apron. The SPECIAL called GOURMET GETAWAYS is the third annual event for The Maxwell House and Wallla Walla.

Happy Thanksgiving

We think of cranberries at this time of year so I went back a few years to a recipe I got from Cooking Light magazine for CRANBERRY UPSIDE DOWN CAKE. It was very well received this morning. In a springform pan melt 1T butter then add 1/2 cup brown sugar mixed with2 cups whole cranberries and 1 cup chopped walnuts (or not). For the cake mix 2 Tablespoons soft butter with 1 cup sugar and 2 eggs then add 1/1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon cinnammon. Pour the cake mixture over the cranberry mixture and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn upside down on serving plate. Good anytime but especially nice when still warm out of the oven.

Share this great recipes with your friends and loved ones :)