When Life Throws You Challenges – Musings From an Exhausted Innkeeper

Whew! I’m glad that’s over. Ever have one of those weeks? My last week was jam packed with inn guests, meetings and special events. I mean jam packed!!

First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who left a comment on last week’s blog. I hope you’ve received your books and that you’ll enjoy reading them. Remember, I gifted them with the understanding that you’d leave an honest review upon completion. I trust you’ll all do that.

So, what was so challenging about last week? Let me tell you about my week, and please understand, I am in no way complaining. It was all fun and met with a smile on my face and a can do attitude, but I was wondering for a little bit if I really could do.

Last Monday we met with our local Bed & Breakfast Association for our monthly meeting where we discussed at great length the upcoming spring pilgrimage. Stay tuned for more information about that. I can tell you, it’s been quite a few years since Vicksburg has conducted a pilgrimage so it is with some anticipation that this event even occur. Here’s hoping everything goes of without a hitch. (For more information about this 3-week event, visit: http://vicksburgpilgrimage.com/)

That evening The Baer-Williams House hosted the Civil War Roundtable, featuring David Harris aka Dixie Surgeon. He gave a fabulous presentation about medical services during the American Civil War complete with demonstrations using authentic tools from his 1860’s medical kit. Let’s just say – yikes and yuck!

Wednesday involved shopping and prep for a 20-person private catered dinner for the Army Corp of Engineers’ Officers’ Dinner. That’s right, military officers in full formal dress uniform and their plus ones. It was elegant. It was fun. It was a LOT of work. (I was not able to photograph this event for obvious reasons.)

Friday night we conducted another Detective’s Comedy Dinner Theater, which also meant, shopping, prep and cooking for 20 more people that evening. At least I didn’t have to set up tables and chairs again since we had the exact number both nights. Even still, the amount of clean-up – dishes, pots & pans, linens, etc. – is outrageous. All in all, a lot of fun albeit a lot of work. (I had no time to take pictures of this event.)

Saturday, for four hours a production crew sat up in my ballroom and front entryway to shoot a music video. I don’t know much about the project, other than it’s an original piece of music performed by Lee Brenner of Mississippi. He stars in the video, produced all the music and the video. It was rather fun to watch the process.

Later that night we hosted our very first book signing by Vicksburg native Shannon Bagley. Shannon’s story is much too sad to tell here, but her book, Climbing Jacob’s Ladder (available at Amazon and other e-book retailers), was instrumental to her healing process. I am so proud of this amazing lady and was super excited to conduct a book signing here at The Baer-Williams House. It was also her birthday and, her boyfriend proposed – a celebration trifecta!! (You can see all 3 things if you look closely at the last photo (cake, book, diamond engagement ring).

Sunday saw me up early to prepare breakfast for inn guests, followed by room cleaning, lots of floor mopping, putting away catering supplies and finally a few minutes to sit down and write this week’s blog post. When I sign off – it’s much needed wine time!

So, there you have my busy past week. How was your week? Any big plans on your immediate horizon? What do you like to treat yourself with after a big project well-completed?

Word of the Day: Bonspiel

Fun fact about me: I think I’m getting the hang of this innkeeping business.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, February 2017. Original photos by P. Rickrode. Other photos courtesy Google Images.