We have enjoyed a variety of guests, all very wonderful and interesting, people from various walks of life and areas of the U.S., as well as foreign countries. Our complimentary "bed time snack" is homemade ice cream!  It is always a hit and seldom turned down.

     We quite often serve an elegant candle-lit breakfast and like to do "special" things for newlyweds and also for birthdays and anniversaries. You will enjoy a night out in the country and awaken refreshed to the serenade of the birds rather than the noise of the city.
      Breakfast is served in front of the fireplace on the sun porch, or in the formal dining room. It's rewarding to make selections according to what we think our guest will like. Our breakfasts are served using antique china, crystal, and lace. We serve a full country breakfast, beautifully prepared for our guests' enjoyment. If possible, I try to use fresh flowers in the center piece and sometime use edible flowers as an added garnish on our serving plates. We often use flavored coffee in addition to a selection of teas.

An elderly lady from Galesburg, Illinois, went out the door crying... She hated to say goodbye. A six-year-old little boy said to his parents, "I'm sure glad we came here instead of staying at a motel or hotel," and he didn't want to go on to the next night's reservation on their scheduled trip. We often serve Alaskan Sourdough pancakes. One 12-year-old lad, traveling to the state fair with his grandparents consumed 15. His grandmother later wrote, "I can't believe he ate that many."

     My parents' wedding quilts have been restored and are displayed in the upstairs hallway. The Bible my father's family brought from Ireland, when they came to the U.S. is there also. We display Grandma's spinning wheel, high chair, toy wooden blocks, brass wedding spoons, 100 year old clock and many other keepsakes of the past.

Jim loves to cook and does a lot of the cooking, I pitch in where needed and prepare the table linens and setting. A special time for us is usually in the evening before retiring. We serve the homemade ice cream and then sit down with our guests and get acquainted with them. At that time we finalize our planned menu and determine any dietary accommodations. Later I make the final decision as to which table settings to use, china vs. pottery, which cloth napkins, place mats, tablecloth, serving pieces and center piece, combined to set the morning mood.

     We are not an elegant Victorian mansion, just a country home with memories and treasures from all the 6 generations who have had a part of this dwelling.

     We're members of the Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Association and are inspected by them. We are also in the Christian Bed and Breakfast Book, and are listed in the Iowa Tourism Book, at  bedandbreakfast.com, ILoveInns.com and BBonline.com.

     We serve a full country breakfast; fruit, juice, meat and egg dishes, home baked bread and goodies. (Jim does a wonderful quiche.)

We encourage people to give us a look-over and a possible trial run. Gift certificates are available and are a neat way to give someone a special treat.

As the weary travelers we were, it was wonderful to sink into the warm and welcoming atmosphere in your home. The elegant breakfast will always be a delightful memory.  ~ Roy and Linda