Engagement by romantic couple on weekend getaway

Over the course of the years there has been many proposals of marriage by romantic couples here at the bed and breakfast.  Just this weekend, a couple choose our all inclusive romance package with a horse drawn sleigh ride while staying in the Northern Spy suite as their proposal venue.  The horse drawn sleigh ride didn’t work out as we didn’t quite have enough snow on the ground for the sleigh ride to work out (but that should very soon change).  But the horse drawn carriage ride was just as romantic for the setting and we were please to see this morning that it all worked out as the couple were beeming at breakfast.

Lake Effect Snow — a well-known Saugatuck Michigan terminology

Our current forecast once again has Lake effect snow in the forecast.  I never knew of this terminology until moving to the Saugatuck Michigan area when I first purchased the bed and breakfast eight years ago.  But since then, the Michigan winter weather forecast has used this terminology countless times.  I am sure this won’t be the last time we hear of it this year either.  Basically, it means that we will have a beautiful softly falling snow coming down almost continuously while the lake effect snow pattern is in effect.  It really does create what we know well as a beautiful Michigan winter scenery.

Bed and Breakfast guests love the baked apples

One of the simplest (I think) treats that our bed and breakfast guests love is our baked apples.  Especially since apples are such a traditional Michigan product, you would think that more folks from this area would bake with apples more often.  Just this morning as I served the baked apples to our Inn guests, everyone raved about them and it really makes me wonder why guests don’t make baked Michigan apples a tradition in their own home.

Michigan flowers still hanging on yet

Today as our snowfall from yesterday was beginning to melt around the bed and breakfast, I noticed a patch of color peaking through the snow almost to say “I’m not giving up yet”.  A very hardy purple mum continued to show it’s color in spite of the colder temperatures and the snow-covered ground.  It’s almost hard to believe that any flowers could be so tough to still not have wilted after the cold and snow that came our way the past couple of days.

Horse drawn sleigh rides great, driving not so much

Living in Southwest Michigan, you would think that we would be use to driving through the snow in the winter season, but leaving the bed and breakfast and driving in what appears to be our first winter snow week, we can tell you that you never really get use to driving in the snow and ice on the roadways.  But one thing is for sure, our bed and breakfast guests who are coming in the next weeks for a romantic couples getaway are hoping it continues as they all would like to experience our horse drawn sleigh rides through the picturesque forest.

Christmas shows a good sign the holidays are here

Living in the resort towns of Western Michigan such as Saugatuck, South Haven and Holland, one sees the Christmas decorations fairly early in November.  Still, it seems that the season just isn’t quite here yet until we start to see signs that each of us are familiar with.  For me, one of these signs is the return of the holiday classic TV shows, such as Rudoplph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  With both of these on tonight’s TV listings, now I really start to feel like the holidays are here!

Snow is on it’s way! for West Michigan

Many of the couples coming to our bed and breakfast this time of year for a romantic getaway and expecting to find snow to play in–horse drawn sleigh rides through the snow, snow shoeing, skiing, etc.  But so far this year we have continued to be blessed with a rather mild fall including the lack of any measurable snow.  But after the rain that is predicted for the coming two days, snow is now in our forecast.  So for those of our romantic bed and breakfast couples, we can tell you that “Snow is on it’s way”.  If there is one thing about living in West Michigan that we can pretty much promise every year, that is one promise we know we will be able to keep.

What Not Inn Restaurant a casual spot for our bed and breakfast guests

This evening I joined some friends for a casual bite to eat for dinner at What Not Inn Restaurant, which is close to the bed and breakfast and also close to Lake Michigan.  I also ran into one of our couples currently staying at the Inn for a romantic getaway.  It is always a great no-frills casual restaurant that our bed and breakfast guests and locals frequent.  Although early on a Sunday evening can be quiet this time of year, it can also get quite lively at times as well.

Wedding couple go to South Haven Chirstmas parade

Last evening we had a couple here on a romantic getaway wedding.  They were married as a part of our wedding package here at the bed and breakfast in the Northern Spy romantic suite.  Afterwards, their attendants and the newly married couple went to the South Haven Tello’s restaurant for their wedding dinner.  They were entertained by the small but fun South Haven Christmas parade that kicks off South Haven’s holiday season.  It is always fun to hear of the fun and romantic escapes that our bed and breakfast guests do while staying here at the Inn.

West Michigan Black Friday shopping

Today we were in the midst of the throngs of people our doing their Black Friday shopping spree.  I don’t recall ever having actually participated in this annual event in the past and not sure after today if I ever will want to consider being a part of it again.  Coming home to the bed and breakfast was a big sigh of relief to say the least.  Never has the comfort of home felt so great than after a day of fighting the crowds and traffic of the West Michigan shopping malls.  There’s no place like home!