We Are Community 236
It’s a New Year. We each are given a clean slate and its up to us to decide what to do with it. Hopefully we will strive to be our best selves and to do positive things for our fellow human beings and our planet.
Our country lost a great man who lived to be 100 years old and who was wise and honest. President Jimmy Carter may not go down in history as a great president but he was a great human being. After he left office, he and his wife worked tirelessly for Habitat for Humanity to improve the lives of those needing a decent affordable place to live. Ben and I traveled to Plains, Georgia to check out Habitat and I have financially supported them every since. Each person needs a home. May he be remembered as the humble, wise and caring person that he was.
I understand that Treva Walker also passed away. She was a Home Economics teacher in the area and I understand a very good teacher. Our sympathy to her family and friends.
As you know, I have run a Bed and Breakfast for a vey long time. We started it when BnB was a new concept. A BnB is different from Airbnb and VRBO. When you stay at a normal BnB, you share the home with the owner and part of the charm in the past was siting down and enjoying a nice breakfast and getting to know each other. Covid changed that for me. I no longer fix a full breakfast but often do sit down with my guests and share. It is interesting to get to know those who stay with me. Now many of my guests are return guests and are like family to me. They are invited to “founder themselves” with cake, cookies, donuts, muffins and more from my freezer even if we don’t sit down to breakfast.
I got a call about noon Saturday asking for a room for that night. First, that is not a good idea as Puff and I do not always live in a spotless home. Second even though I strip the beds after use and wash the sheets, I often do not remake the beds because I normally ask customers, “cotton, flannel or fleece sheets” so it takes a bit of time to make beds and clean. I also ask what is bringing a person to Plymouth, IL as have had several calls thinking I was in Massachusetts. When I asked this potential customer about their intended stay the reply was that she and her 9-year-old son just wanted a getaway. All the while the news media was predicting awful weather and asking people to stay home if at all possible. One of the good things about not using a 3rd party booking agency is that one gets to talk to the potential customer and sometimes it is just the right thing to do to say “NO”.
I do all the tax preparation work for my businesses so have been adding columns of figures, sending in tax forms, doing end of year closeouts and more. Still not done but have a lot accomplished. Later I will take all this to John Dittmer and have him officially file for me. Thanks John!
Kyle Kelso had a wonderful live antique auction of Dec 29th. I normally don’t go to Sunday auctions as it means missing church but after looking at the photos, I had to go to the auction. Some great stoneware and some really great prices realized from many of the items. My most fun purchase was an Alaskan kick sled. If you don’t know what that is, I didn’t either! Come in and visit it, it is cool.
Hope you have been able to look up at the stars on these cold clear evenings. They have been brilliant. Also remember the birds and squirrels and other wild life. They are eating like crazy and also you may want to put out some heated dog bowls so that the critters have water.
Hope you have a great New Year. Do what you can to improve your life and the lives of those around you. Scatter Kindness and love and hopefully some of both will come back to you.