Dickinson College - A New Year Begins!

     Today is move-in day for the Class of 2016 at the Dickinson College.  We are chock full with families from CA, TN, MA, NY and RI.  Many hugs and tears all around!  We wish the new Freshmen all the best!

18th Annual McLain Festival - Carlisle

18th Annual McLain Celtic Festival

         September 1, 2012
Two Mile House, Carlisle PA 

Join the fun at the 18th Annual McLain Celtic Festival with musical entertainment including Irish and Scottish dancers as well as Border Collie demonstrations and Highland athletics. Other highlights include re-enactors, Scottish Clan representatives, Highland cattle, vendors with Celtic goods
 and of course, delicious food!
 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  

Photo by Rachel Drumheller

Old Friends - Frequent Guests

It is always so nice to have returning guests! 

Emily and Lowell were our 22 guests after we opened the Carlisle House in 2004 as their daughter was at Dickinson College.  Following her graduation and career move to New York City, we see Emily and Lowell as they overnight on their journey

 from Ohio to NYC. 

 25 reservations for 35 nights!  WOW!

A Visit to Gettysburg

Mary in the Gettysburg Museum

One of the best parts of owning a Bed & Breakfast is being able to guide guest toward all the fascinating and fun things to do in Carlisle and the Cumberland Valley.  Sometimes we send them to Hershey and Gettysburg as well, but the downside is that being so busy, we rarely get a chance to go and enjoy all these outings ourselves.

Last week though, we had no guests actually arriving on Wednesday, so we took off to see the Gettysburg Museum and the fully restored Cyclorama, and then took time to do the driving tour of the battlefield with the CD Guide.  Of course we had a guest call to book a room for that night, but with the aid of our trusty iPad we were able to accept the reservation and have dinner in Gettysburg (at the Blue Parrot - an excellent Beer-battered Haddock sandwich, with roasted heirloom potatoes on the side!) and still get back to Carlisle in time to greet them.

But I digress (as usual, Mary would say).  If you have not seen the fully restored Cyclorama/diorama, then make it a definite on your next visit to South-Central PA.  It is stunning, and alone is worth the super 35-minute drive through the apple orchards of Adams County.  In the museum, you can see beautifully preserved artifacts of the battle, and then of course, there is the battleground itself.

Cannons at the ready....

The CD tour gives you plenty of chances to stop and soak in the atmosphere of the battle which changed the course of the Civil War, War Between the States, or War of Northern Aggression - depending on your affiliations!  Regardless, to see the lines of cannon pointing at the pastoral countryside, and close your eyes and imagine the roar of the guns, the screams of people and horses, makes you really wonder why after all these years we still have to send our young people to war.


Mary's great-uncles fought in the Civil War, Leo losing his life at Antietam, and John surviving the travails of Andersonville and Florence.  We can't help but think of them, and of all the military who put their lives on the line for us and for our allies.  Thank you to all of you - you know who you are.

All Ford Nationals in Carlisle

    Carlisle Events

 presents the

 2012 All Ford Nationals!

Our first guests have arrived...early this morning from northern Alberta, Canada...what a drive...2,485 miles in a fire engine red 2008 Mustang Shelby Cobra with bug wrap still on.   This is the Shelby American's 50th year and there will be a huge celebration, parade and street party in the downtown on Saturday!

Memorial Day 2012

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

We remember those who have sacrificed everything for us!


God bless Leo W Faller
Killed at the Battle of Antietam
September 17, 1862

From this day forward...

Joanna Horstmann Hayes

Our beuatiful bride guest is Joanna Horstmann, leaving the Carlisle House on her way to be married to Kevin Hayes.

We were privileged to have many of the bridal party staying with us - appropriately enough in the Hayes Suite - as Joanna prepared for the great step into matrimony!

We wish Joanna and Kevin the very best of lives together and hope to see them back here for anniversaries in years to come!

A Post from Carlisle...

We are enjoying an exciting weekend with so many special guests here for the 2012 graduation ceremonies at Dickinson College with CIA Director David Petraeus delivering the Commencement address.

One of our VERY special regular guests of four years is with us to celebrate her daughter Daisy's graduation.  Markie Post, TV actress best known for her roles in Night Court and Hearts Afire is here with husband, screen-writer and producer Michael Ross and daughter, NYC actress, Kate Ross!  They have all been wonderful visitors with warm hugs, huge smiles and great conversation every visit.  We will miss them all!  Socks Markie!

Complete Feature article

Reservations from the Air!

In the April issue of the US Airways Magazine, our beautiful Cumberland Valley was featured in a 13 page article.  Would you believe that we got a call from a US Airways plane as the caller had just seen us in the magazine.  Tim and Beth booked and stayed with us this past weekend for the Spring Carlisle auto event!

Remember the old saying...
                  "Pennies from Heaven"?

"Look out! An ice-cube on the bow!"

The Astors

Last night we had the great pleasure of helping out at a dinner party where we, along with some of our best friends, recreated the last First-Class dinner served on the Titanic!  Friends of ours, Skip and Anne Ebert had donated the evening as an auction item for the benefit of the YWCA.

 First to arrive were "the Astors of Manhattan", John Jacob Astor IV and his wife.

The menu was amazing!

Punch Romaine

First Course
Oysters Mignonette

Shrimp Butter on Toasts

Second Course
Consommé Olga

Third Course
Poached Salmon with Mousseline Sauce, Cucumbers

 

Roasted Squab on Watercress

Fourth Course
Filet Mignons Lili

Potatoes Lyonnaise
Vegetable Farci

Fifth Course
Roast Duckling, Apple Sauce

 

Asparagus Vinaigrette

Sixth Course

Sirloin of Beef, Chateau Potatoes
Green Pea Mousse

 Seventh Course

Punch Romaine

Eighth Course

Roast Squab & Cress

Pate de Fois Gras

Ninth Course

  Cold Asparagus Vinaigrette

Tenth Course
Pate de Foie Gras
Celery Fan

Eleventh Course
Waldorf Pudding, Chocolate Eclairs, French Ice Cream

So what did Mary and Alan spend the evening doing? Well as we run a Bed and Breakfast which not only is one of Pennsylvania's top B&B's according to Tripadvisor.com, but we are also members of Select Registry, so we are recognized as really, really good at what we do.

And we proved it! We spent the whole evening from 7pm through 11:15pm washing and drying dishes, plates and glasses. As they say, "if you have a talent, flaunt it!".

The really good news is that between us and our friends the Eberts, Myers, Reitzels, Hegglins, and Squab Queen Laurie Hanel we raised $1,375 for the YWCA.  Life doesn't get much better than that!