Our recent Croton-Harmon High School Reunion brought folks from Colorado, Arizona and even Europe! There were festivities galore and many enjoyed the FREE outdoor concert held every Friday night at Senasqua Park just down at the foot of our hill. Some even enjoyed the eclectic mix of music from our pool deck. The breakfast table was a trip down memory lane for members of the class of ‘ 60 and ‘ 61 and we all learned some great tidbits of Croton history.

The sparkling new kitchen is proving to be both beautiful and functional and we’ve received numerous compliments from our guests- both new and returning- and it is a pleasure to prepare the morning feast in such a wonderful space.

-Tom

Everything seemed to happen here overnight. The Red Maple outside the Garden Room is glowing, The prize winning azalia hedge poolside is as spectacular as it can be. The Wysteria is about to eat the guests – I’d better get out the pruning shears.

Barbara and I talked all day today and came up with a great new rate schedule which is sure to make our guests happy. Be sure to see our new packages for weekday, weekend and weekly stays, the gist of which is the more you stay, the more you save.

Innkeeper Tom

I‘m still wheel chair-bound, but the weather has been really wonderful and Tom managed to get me into the back seat of his car yesterday so that we could be the first to see the newly arrived pansy shipment.  We bought two flats of brightly colored plants and Tom planted them while I enjoyed the warm weather. What Joy!  He also took out all the winter greens from our window boxes and replaced them with beautiful hanging purple and yellow flowers and hanging vines.

Sunny, warm weekends are great and our guests seem thrilled with the ideas of biking, hiking and taking advantage of the out of doors. The crocuses are up and the bulbs are almost 4 inches tall!

Tom’s culinary skills are expanding each day.  He’s added our signature dish of coddled eggs to is repertoire.  The response from guests has been outstanding!

Tom Morrissey, our new innkeeper, has turned out to be a wonderful presence here. He started just before Valentine’s weekend and has barely had a few hours off all month.  Now that I’m home and able to answer the phone, I’m insisting that he take some time to pack up his home for the move to the inn where he will be in residence.  Thanks to Tom, the Alexander Hamilton House was truly a warm port in the three day storm that left more than 60% of Crotonites without power for days!  When we received the call from the town that they were setting up a shelter at the train station, we knew we were all in for a rough weekend.  We knew that we would be getting calls from those with infants and pets who didn’t want to huddle in a shelter or try to tough it out with candles and a fireplace at home.

We had a great weekend, accommodating locals who never thought they would be guests at the inn in their own hometown. One family brought their newborn straight from the hospital, another very pregnant woman arrived fearing that she would go into labor and not be able to call for help.  This year we made certain rooms at the inn pet friendly.  This weekend our policy was taken to the limit as we became a home for a number of dogs, a cat and a snake which was in its tank, and a large plastic box and confined to the stall shower in the owner’s private bathroom. Under ordinary circumstances we won’t accept more than dogs, but in a crisis like this one, we’ve even been known to accept a parrot.

This storm reminded me of a hurricane we had years ago.  When I arrived in the kitchen to make breakfast, I heard snoring coming from the sun porch.  When I tracked down the sounds, I found three strangers sleeping on the couches out there.  It turned out that they were three IBMers from the Watson Research Center who came home with one of our guests when the roads to their homes were cut off by the flooding. Needless to say we fed everyone breakfast and arranged hot showers.

I am very happy to have been here for all who needed us and want to thank Tom for making all our guests so comfortable.

I chose the last two weeks in January to do this work, as it is usually very quiet here.  Consequently, I’m housing Kelly and Ed and my friend, Raul, who is doing the painting.  With the Jets in the playoffs, I thought no one from NYC would want to travel, but a bunch of people are taking advantage of the warm spell to visit the Hudson Valley.  We seem to be attracting a crowd from across the US and other countries.  Our guests this weekend hail from England, Mexico, Brooklyn and California!  It makes for very interesting breakfast table talk. We even have a little guest enjoying our high chair and the orange croissant French toast.

-Barbara

Tomorrow completes my first month here!  Now, my skin is getting better and probably in a few days I can have a normal life again! It helps that the weather is warmer and much less wind. Barbara says, “Wait until the February snows…”

This week we went to a meeting of the Hudson Valley B&B Association where we learned more about how important is it to manage social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, Trip Advisor, etc. to keep growing your business today.

This week we were also working at everything to time to keep everything in order.  The days are warmer and today it’s a sunny and beautiful day.  We have new ovens and a new grill!  I keep going to the gym and take my free day to go to NYC. This Sunday I will see the Jets at a friend’s house at Manhattan.

-Julio

We also experimented this week with a new recipe for a Panettone Bread Pudding with Almonds. It was not difficult, but cooked for an hour and a half in the oven! Reviews were unanimously top drawer. It has been so cold that temperatures in the 30s seem warm. Having the Panettone Bread Pudding in the oven created a warm, cozy and sweet-smelling afternoon. I think this might become a winter staple at the inn.

We’re planning a short visit to Cape Cod next week so that Julio can see Boston. Lori will be returning to the inn to take care of our weekday guests, but Julio and I will be back in time for the MLK Weekend.

-Barbara

It’s a sunny week! Last weekend, I was in Manhattan and went to Barnes & Noble, Times Square, Chelsea, etc. The City is really amazing and super close to Croton! Only 40 minutes from here to there. I had to buy more winter clothes and ear muffs. Oh, I found a friend from Brazil in NYC. I bought tickets for a party we have in Brazil and here in New York called Alegria. Also I’m looking for tickets for the Lady Gaga shows. Wednesday, I did my first breakfast alone and I’m ready to take on this responsibility. We must now practice how I can answer the phone calls. This is my next step.

I went to the dermatologist this week. My skin is still getting used to the climate, but hopefully soon and with the cream he gave me, I will be 100% again. Today it snowed in the night. It is the first day without sunshine this week, but certainly the beauty of the snow is like the sun rays.

-Julio

Julio Cardia, our Brazilian apprentice arrived from Brasilia. He is young, strong and handsome and speaks Portuguese, Spanish, English and a little German. I speak a little French so we’re now ready to receive the world! Julio, like others in their 20′s, is on Facebook and Twitter and adds photographs of everything we do here. This makes old folks, like Steven and me, laugh.

Cyd and Jonathan spent the week in Italy, leaving Bam in Clara and Steven’s care, while Julio and I kept things going at the inn. They arrive back today and we’re really glad. Cyd is our webmaster and will soon have the picture of our doggie guests on the website.

We are getting ready to help our guests ring in the New Year and plan the kitchen renovations which will happen the second two weeks in January.

I’m now turning the blog over to Julio who I’m sure will see things here in a different light.

Julio

So, everything is different and amazing here in Croton! Barbara and Steve are fabulous and really show me a good American way of life. We are working hard, always trying to make things better at the inn. Croton Village is like a piece of heaven in those crazy days around the world. If you want a peaceful and a lovely place, it’s here.

I had a fun time at a Candlelight tour at Van Cortlandt Manor on Friday. Saturday, I toured Lyndhurst in Tarrytown. Lyndhurst is a Castle. It is so big. I can imagine how difficult was to live 100 years ago. Now I can appreciate the things we have in this century. The first day, I ate at a simply and fantastic burger place and I want to go to Japanese restaurant.

The estimates for updating my kitchen have been swarming in.  Who would think there is now a specialist for each and every task?  My head is swimming with numbers and suggestions.  Hope I can make up my mind before the planned start date of January 18th!  We do have to be ready for all our romantic Valentine’s Day arrivals.

After 30 years of running a B&B, you would think I’ve seen it all, but no! Today a newly married bride came down to my kitchen to prepare the breakfast for her new husband!  We strive to please everyone and since she spoke no English and I no Spanish, the charades were wonderful and everyone left happy!

What’s new at the inn: Plans to update the kitchen with granite counters, a new floor, a new stove, and new hardware for the cabinets.  Consequently, there will be a period in January when the kitchen is off-limits, but we’ll make do.

Who’s running the inn in Cape Cod?  Well I’ve got a wonderful band of friends who have come together to make sure everything goes well for the guests willing to BYOB (Bring Your Own Breakfast) this winter.  Housekeeping takes place after guests leave and our prices will reflect these sacrifices.  My husband Steve expects to be traveling between our property on Cape Cod and the inn out here once the new year rolls in, along with our Boston Terrier concierge, Clara.

Speaking of dogs, we’ve now designated a few rooms here at the Alexander Hamilton House to be dog-friendly!  Well-behaved dogs are now not only welcomed but we urge their owners to plan their stays with us.  We provide a crate which only needs to be used if dogs will be left behind while their owners adventure without them.  Food and water bowls plus a treat are also left in the room on arrival.  This winter, to celebrate our four legged friends, dogs stay free when accompanied by a well-behaved owner.  Spring will bring a $10 daily fee.  If you or someone you know travels with a dog, come stay with us!