Hello everyone, Sue and I were pleased to host Barb and John Brinkmann over the Memorial Day Weekend. Barb is the CEO of Barb's Interior Design--see http://www.barbsinteriordesign.com and is active in a myriad of service organizations [Go M-T Optimists!], as well as the Thiensville-Mequon and Cedarburg Chambers of Commerce. John is an engineer for Harley Davidson who enjoys cooking, grilling, and brewing some great beers. We also hosted their amazing pooch, Toby Jo! For great advice on interior design, we strongly recommend Barb--she is amazing!

Today is a great day for our family--Drew, our youngest son, graduates from the University of Wisconsin. He worked really hard at his studies while providing outstanding leadership to the Wisconsin Student Alumni Board and c-directing it's All Campus Party for the past two years. http://waa.uwalumni.com/acp2009/index.html Drew [aka Moose] will be joining Milwaukee Electric Tool Company as a sales account rep in the Los Angeles area. He'll be joining Paul as a member of the California branch of our family [see them both in the photo!) Best wishes and love!!! Go Badgers!

The last entry referred to the Coloma Wine Shop; actually it's the Coloma Wine House. The proprietors, Steve and Chris, have a great place that offers over 200 small vinter wines, plus artisan cheeses, meats, gifts, and greeting cards. Today, at the Shop, I sampled and purchased a Sartori Reserve BellaVitano Merlot, which is a parmesan style cheese soaked in Merlot and aged for at least 8 months. It's creamy smooth with a chaddar texture and has a great mouth-feel. Paired with Reisling, it's a great break from a lot of standard fare. I also purchased a 2004 Shiraz by Penascal from the Castilla Y Leon region of Spain. We're looking forward to give it a whirl!

Everything is in bloom! Sue and I are sprucing up the grounds, hanging flower baskets, and planting the herb garden and raised beds. Fresh herbs are integral to our recipes and we love having fresh flowers in the rooms and on the tables. We are excited about our friends Chris and Steve's Coloma Wine Shop. The have a terrific selections of domestic and imported wines, as well as cheeses. Just tried a Carmenera from Argentina--super!

As they say, today is the first day of the rest of your life. I retired Thursday! I have been a nurse for 40 years and it is time to start the next phase of my life, the Inn Keeper phase, full time. Mike and I are very excited about tackling the yards, exterior house and the woods. Also, one of my favorites, recipe testing. Now is the time to look at strawberries and aspargus. I'll let you know what works, or come on up and I'll make it for you myself! Development of programs is also a priority, starting with the "Go FLy a Kite" workshop. Stayed tuned for more intersting tidbits, recipes and picutres of our growth and developments. Today is Derby Day. Find a fancy hat and enjoy!