Happy St. Patrick's Day from Newcastle Inn!!

It is an absolutely gorgeous St. Patrick's Day here in Newcastle, Maine.  The sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky and the temperature is a balmy 58 degrees!

I have friends coming for dinner tonight and and we will be sitting down to enjoy our "Irish Feast". So, the preparations are underway. I've got a lovely beef brisket cooking on the stove, a loaf of Irish Soda Bread just came out of the oven and Guinness is in the refrigerator. Sounds like a great meal to me.

I had mentioned in a previous post that I would shed some light on the Celtic Knot in the logo and the other hints of Irish-ness that are scattered around the inn.  Since I was a young girl I have had a keen interest in Ireland.  I don't really know where that comes from since I'm 50% Dutch and the other 50% is mostly German, with something else thrown in, perhaps some Irish?

While living in Milwaukee I became involved with Milwaukee Irish Fest and that is where I met Tom and Colleen.  We formed a partnership and purchased Newcastle Inn in May 2008. While developing a new logo for the inn we wanted to include something Irish and that is how the Celtic knot got incorporated.  I have been collecting Irish art, books, etc. for years and they have now found their way into the inn.

Newcastle Inn Hosts Aspiring Innkeeper Seminar

Another beautiful spring-like day today. I think that this makes it five in a row! The garden buds that I wrote about last time are soaking up the sun and growing more each day. Some of the little Snowdrops are just about ready to bloom.

For all of you out there who have thought about owning a Bed & Breakfast someday, you should check out the two-day seminar, Inn Your Dreams, taught by Don Johnson. The seminar will be held at Newcastle Inn from April 10 - 12, 2010. This is an information packed two days that will answer a lot of questions and help you to decide if being an innkeeper is right for you.

Spring in Newcastle, Maine?!

Even though this winter hasn't been that challenging, as winters go, last week I decided that I was done with winter, so I put away the remaining winter/snowman themed decorations and pulled out the brighter and lighter spring decor. I decided to do this on the day that the weatherman predicted snow! Yes, there were some little snow flurries that day, but I persisted.

Later in the week a huge storm moved through the area and the rain fell and the wind blew and blew. The last of the snow piles are now history and today when I was out in the yard picking up fallen branches I noticed that there were little tiny green spikes poking out of the ground! The Snowdrops, some Tulips, and lots and lots of Narcissus have also decided that winter is over and it is time for spring!

Springtime in Maine is beautiful and it is surprising to me that more people don't visit then to experience it for themselves. The Hospitality for Habitat Special starts in another month and offers guests a great discount, an opportunity to support a worthwhile cause and a chance to visit Maine in the springtime!