ChrisandShelley
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2014
- Messages
- 401
- Reaction score
- 29
I found my last post to be almost 2 years ago and it hit me how long I have been out of the loop. It is wonderful to be back in the innkeeper's role again after almost 2 years of absence. Since it has been a while, I thought I should start fresh with a new introduction.
My wife Shelley and I started innkeeping when we bought the Wildflower Bed and Breakfast On the Square in June of 2015. We started with a 6 room inn and expanded from there. Since then we have have added two rooms to the Bed and Breakfast, built a small event center/music venue (called the Mountain View Meeting Place), and built two cottages right next door. Over the last 6 years, we have made wonderful friends in this little mountain community and formed close friendships with many guests.
In late 2019, my offshore oilfield consulting company offered me a project that paid too well to refuse. During that project, the COVID pandemic broke out and we had to close the inn for a time. The oil field took a nose dive, so in order to save our business, I obtained my CDL and started driving a truck. At the time, we didn't know how long we were going to be closed: a month, a year, who knew? Luckily, we were able to open up at a reduced capacity, then eventually back to full capacity.
This summer, my wife's father had some health problems, so she went to stay with him and help him recover. So I came off the road and now I'm back innkeeping!
I didn't realize how much I missed being here. This is the first time that I have ran the business solo, but I am discovering things about myself I didn't know. I actually LOVE cooking and baking! Who knew? I am seeing a lot of our wonderful return guests who I haven't seen in a year or two. I am reconnecting with the local music community through our shows. We are having our highest revenue year this year.
Now that I am not running around like a headless chicken, I can sit down and reconnect with the Innspiring folks. I hope you all are doing well and that your businesses are staying booked.
It really is great to be back.
Chris
My wife Shelley and I started innkeeping when we bought the Wildflower Bed and Breakfast On the Square in June of 2015. We started with a 6 room inn and expanded from there. Since then we have have added two rooms to the Bed and Breakfast, built a small event center/music venue (called the Mountain View Meeting Place), and built two cottages right next door. Over the last 6 years, we have made wonderful friends in this little mountain community and formed close friendships with many guests.
In late 2019, my offshore oilfield consulting company offered me a project that paid too well to refuse. During that project, the COVID pandemic broke out and we had to close the inn for a time. The oil field took a nose dive, so in order to save our business, I obtained my CDL and started driving a truck. At the time, we didn't know how long we were going to be closed: a month, a year, who knew? Luckily, we were able to open up at a reduced capacity, then eventually back to full capacity.
This summer, my wife's father had some health problems, so she went to stay with him and help him recover. So I came off the road and now I'm back innkeeping!
I didn't realize how much I missed being here. This is the first time that I have ran the business solo, but I am discovering things about myself I didn't know. I actually LOVE cooking and baking! Who knew? I am seeing a lot of our wonderful return guests who I haven't seen in a year or two. I am reconnecting with the local music community through our shows. We are having our highest revenue year this year.
Now that I am not running around like a headless chicken, I can sit down and reconnect with the Innspiring folks. I hope you all are doing well and that your businesses are staying booked.
It really is great to be back.
Chris