Missouri Bed and Breakfast

The Annual Katy Trail Bike Ride...

2011-11-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

This year the Bikers lucked out with mild June weather for the Annual Bike Event hosted by the Department of Natural Resources. 350 bikers sign up for the 5 day ride from Clinton to St. Charles. Here they are at their Marthasville stopover....

Getting Ready for the Day

Tearing Down Tents

The Breakfast Line

A Family Affair

A Bike Shop owner rides along and does repairs for the group.

A Big Truck Hauls Everyone's Gear.
And there is a Shower Truck too!

And You Will Be Greeted By....

2011-11-16T10:36:00.000-08:00

Our handsome guys; lover boy Jesse and our big ham rooster we call "Turkey"

The Welcome Fairie

Summer Colors At The BnB 2011

2011-11-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

Giant Heart of Flowers

Zinnias Galore

The Tomato Tree

Purple Spikes

May 2011: High School / College Bicycling Reunion..

2011-09-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

Erin, Katy, Meghan, Kristin, Lesley and Nicole
This bunch came from Colorado, Ohio, Illinois and St. Louis to spend some quality time riding the Katy Trail. Although some are voting for the Beach next time!

Spring in Full Swing!

2011-09-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

Musicians and Bluegrass fans, Justin and John, just biked to Missouri from Fayetteville, Arkansas and are now Biking the Katy Trail! Little did they know what they were getting themselves into when they booked with us at Concord Hill.
Here they are enjoying some bluegrass and a little of George's favorite beer, "Warsteiner" on tap, in the Wine Cellar. John is such a big guy he makes our huge beer mugs look Tiny!

Still Life with Beer Mug.

Smilin' Ed.

Jesse Chillin'.

George on Guitar and Dave Macon on Banjer.

2011 Spring Sproutings

2011-09-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

This heart will soon be full of Pink Blooms!

Spring Chickens...

Flowers and Herbs.

The Veggie Patch.

Think There Is Nothing To Do Out Here In The Winter?

2011-09-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well think again... Washington Missouri is just 15 minutes drive from our B & B. Here we are outdoors at John G's Bier Deck on a snowy evening and it's just magic. Winter on the Missouri River is something special to see...

Heated Enclosures Make the Bier Deck Warm and Cozy

Sorry George, I got you with a silly face. But then again, when do you not have a silly face?

Winter Visitors..

2011-09-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

Margaret and Dylan joined us early in the year. Dylan is re-locating to our area to start his own organic farm. He already has a number of years of experience under his belt apprenticing at other farms and is sure to be a great asset to our little slice of heaven here in Missouri. He is also an aspiring claw hammer banjo player, and a mighty good one at that. Good luck to you both!

February 2011 The Scoop in the Coop...

2011-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Yes we are here in the Winter! And things are hopping in the chicken coop with our happy hens laying eggs for our guests. Roosty AKA "Turkey" rules the roost and keeps our gals safe from dogs, hawks and other unwelcome critters.

Many Thanks To Our Wonderful Gusts!

2011-01-21T16:37:00.000-08:00

This past year has been a busy one and I have so many wonderful photos to post. And believe me I will post them! But for now I have prepared a small sampling just to at least get some on line...

Is there a Nurse in the House?!

2010-06-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

This group of 4 Nurses and 1 Veterinary Nurse is spending the weekend biking the Katy Trail from St. Charles to Marthasville and back; and they picked the hottest weekend of the year so far to do it! Good thing they know how to hydrate well and stay properly nourished! They called ahead and ordered a pasta dinner so, once they cooled off in the shower and chilled out a little, they could enjoy a nice relaxing meal. This is one fun group who thoroughly enjoys each others company. I could hear the laughing late into the night; even after such a long, hot, exhausting day!

George's delicious Pasta with Spicy Italian Meat Sauce.

Breakfast: Michelle, Tammy, Jane(Angie's Mom), Angie and Sam.

Posing with Jesse.

LOVE This Tat Sam! Nurses have a great sense of humor...

On their way....

June 9th: Soldier's Angel Troy Yocum!

2010-06-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here's another unbelievable human being walking across America to raise awareness and money for a very special and much needed organization. Iraq war veteran, Troy Yocum from Kentucky, did some serious soul searching while watching fellow soldiers and their families experience the traumas of war long after they returned home. He knew that, once his tour was over, he had to do something real and effective to help. While researching groups to align himself with he found "Soldier's Angles" was where he could do the greatest good and offered himself up to take on a walk across America to draw attention to the Soldier's needs. Troy spent over 6 months raising money from sponsors for his trip and has a busy itinerary of speaking, meeting and greeting all across the country. Troy's wife Marieke, whom he met while on leave in Germany, and dog Emmie are walking with him; friend Terry drives the RV that they sleep in most nights. This small band of brothers found us, while walking the Katy Trail across Missouri, because the shower in their RV broke and none of them had showered in 4 days! Hot and sweaty from the humid Missouri summer, the desperate group asked a St. Louis "Trail Angel" to see if someone might put them up for the night. I said yes in an instant of course, since meeting Jonathan and Ben, I have such a soft spot for anyone doing great humanitarian feats. Small ones too.

Here's the RV the group is traveling in to cross the US twice on their 18 month 7000 mile journey.

Troy on drum, Marieke (with Harley the chihuahua) and Terry singing along with George in the wine cellar.

The guys Jamming....

Troy gets up early each morning to answer the tons of emails he gets and to plan his day. Emmie and Harley wait patiently under the table.
Follow Troy on his Blog www.drumhike.com. Or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Hike-for-our-Heroes. Follow Emmie at www.drumhike.com/emmie, she has developed her own set of fans and is becoming the most famous dog in the US!

May 26th: Jonathan Stalls "Kiva Walk" Across America!

2010-06-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

This is a first for me, I have had bikers biking across America and I've had walkers walking the Katy Trail but this is the first time I have had someone walking across America! Jonathan Stalls is one amazing guy walking with his beautiful dog Kanoa across the US to raise awareness for an ingenious and much needed non profit organization called Kiva.
Here is a little bit about it:
"Kiva" is a Swahili word which means "unity" or "agreement", Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. To find out more click here www.kiva.org.
Johathan's friend Ben Purner joined him on the walk for a several weeks before going back to school in Colorado where he is studying nursing. The two met in Ireland while working on a community youth project.
Guys, it was an honor to have you stay at the BnB, I'm so glad our paths crossed!
You can follow Jonathan's walk on his blog www.kivawalk.com.

Here are the guys in the wine cellar cooling off with some Warsteiner.

and on the porch getting ready to hit the trail again....Jesse is saying good bye to his pals...

May 24th: Cross Country with Bruce and Steve...

2010-06-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Retired cop, Bruce Wynkoop and retired DNR (department of natural resources) dude Steve Mueller, are good pals and avid bikers from Mineapolis, MN who decided to take the Katy Trail to cut across Missouri while biking across the Entire Country. I joined them for a yummy pasta dinner (prepared by moi) and great conversation, along with some of our local Missouri wine. Dinner was followed by a spectacular light show courtesy of an amazing storm that was rolling in. We all sat on the porch with our wine and Oooed and Ahhhed for about an hour as the sky lit up like the 4th of July for us! Glad you guys rolled up the Hill, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening!

May 21st: Party time with The Zeigers and Burches!

2010-06-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

This bunch has fun where ever they go! They spent 3 days biking the Katy and called ahead to make sure the hot tub would be ready. While stopping for "refreshments" at the Treloar Grill just off the Katy, they heard about our Warsteiner Beer on tap in the wine cellar and said they knew they were coming to the Right Place! The next day we bumped into them at their next stop on the Katy, our favorite winery the Blumenhof! Roy, Cheryl, Dave and Susan; we hope to see you back here again soon!

Newest Nephew!

2010-06-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

I just have to add these photos of my newest nephew Avishi, the fifth and (they say) the last! child of Brother Jimmy and SIL Elana...

May 14th: Brother Dan's Birthday..

2010-06-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

OK so I didn't get a photo of my brother Dan but he did come out to spend the night, and brought his 15 year old son Zach who is an amazing guitar player. We all went to Washington MO and hung out at the Bier Deck, then had gourmet pizza at the American Bounty wine bar, Yum! Our favorite places to eat and chill!

Here's a photo of nephew Zach Fendelman rocking out on his guitar in the great room...

May 14th: Rebecca and Aaron

2010-06-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

Rebecca and Aaron Jaques came from Tennessee to join us for a bit of RnR. Here they are relaxing on the porch on a chilly morning after breakfast....

May 12th: The Walking Wegges

2010-06-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is the year for walkers at Concord Hill! Our first walkers of the year year are Nancy and Bill Wegge who are spending 3 weeks walking the Katy Trail. This a pretty ambitious project and a good test of a marriage too! They were only going to stay one night, but ended up spending two because of the rain. Big tip for walkers, Dry Shoes are Very Important! Next stop, the Apple Gate Inn in Augusta. I really enjoyed having you guys for a few days, and I'll never look at walking the same again!

Paul Johnson, Our Mother's Day Biker...

2010-05-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

Avid Cycler, Paul Johnson called from the Katy Trail Saturday afternoon hoping to find a room for the night. Well, he called the right place; not only did we have a room available, we also had great food and music because our Moms, along with other family, were over for Mother's Day!

So glad you found us Paul!

P.S. We Love Paul's License Plate! I just had to take a photo.

1st year Anniversary!

2010-05-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jared and Jallae on their first wedding anniversary! We're so glad you chose to spend it here. Jared and Jallae Brannan, originally from Kansas City, are now young ministers just starting out on a new life together in a small Missouri town. The big challenge? Getting used to the slower pace! Not easy for the young energetic couple who are used to constantly being on the go. We wish you lots of happiness and a long life together following your dreams!

The Wild Bunch Rides Again!

2010-05-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Shawn, John, Tom, Andy, Kishen, Kevin and Chuck (center above) are members of a biking gang (Group, Club?) I call "The Wild Bunch". These guys bike the Katy Trail several times a year and spend their last night here at Concord Hill before ending in St. Charles. They come from St. Louis and Kansas City to enjoy 5 days of serious male bonding. Between them there is a fire fighter, a financial adviser, a beer distributor, a doctor, a radio station manager and a rock band promoter, but on the trail nothing is sacred! Looking forward to seeing you guys next time....I think you are finally inspiring George to get on the Bike this year... at least for a short ride to the Winery!

Dennis and Barb Bike The Katy...

2010-04-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Dennis and Barbara Preis from Hillsboro, MO are retired teachers who love travel and adventure. This week they took the the Amtrak with their bikes from St. Louis to Jeff City to bike the Katy. Dennis loves biking and finally got Barb (who got into quilting when she retired and now teaches it) to go on a big ride with him. I think they did really well on their maiden voyage together! We did our part and ordered up some nice weather for them...It was supposed to rain every day on their trip but it stayed cool and dry for the most part. It was great to meet you both, good luck on your future adventures together!

Spring Has Sprung...

2010-04-22T16:38:00.001-07:00

This morning I got a sweet surprise when I went to re-pot my hanging planter of pansies. I found a tiny nest with 4 eggs! I thought something might be happening in there because now and then when I stepped out on the porch a little bird would fly out of the flowers....

The eggs are so tiny, only the size of my fingernail...

Girls Gone Wild!

2010-04-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

We met Michelle and Lindsey from Columbia MO at the Blumenhof Winery a while back; they spent the night with us and we became fast friends. Last weekend they came back with friends Jill and Reah for Lindsey's Birthday celebration. After spending the day visiting wineries in Hermann and New Haven, they arrived here at Concord Hill to a fabulous pork tenderloin dinner by our very own "Chef George" and an evening of fun and frivolity in the hot tub!
Happy Birthday Lindsey!

Musical Night With Dan & Gail and More!

2010-04-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

Dan and Gail Lewis drove up from Mountain View Arkansas last week to spend 3 days bumming around our local historic sites and antique shops. So when Gail showed up with a Banjo, I just had to call George to see if he might throw together a little impromptu jam session with a few friends. Well he never needs any arm twisting on that one and before we knew it we had a small party in the wine cellar that included 2 new guests; BFFs Terri Crabill and Suzie Rogers from Illinois, who were visiting wineries on their way to see Terri's sons in Columbia, MO. The rest is musical history...
Gail Lewis on Banjo and Guitar
Denny "Wheels" Weelis on Dobro
Rob Adelson on Banjo
Jerry Sherckenghost on Upright Bass
George McVicker on Guitar

Molly and Jenna

2010-04-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Molly and Jenna biked the Katy Trail this week with their Moms, Sheila and Janet, and left this awesome drawing of the BnB in our guest book, I just had to share it. All from Indianapolis, they are here to celebrate Sheila's 45th birthday. Their final destination is St. Louis to check out the City Museum and visit Sheila's parents who live there....
We Loved your drawing guys! Have a great trip!

July 22nd: Red Corvette!

2010-02-20T15:55:00.000-08:00

Lew and Marilyn Bailey are a retired couple from Alton who really know how to have fun! They just decided on the spur of the moment to hop in their Corvette, put the top down, and spend the day (and night) exploring the winding roads in Missouri Wine Country. And they had a gorgeous day for it too! Lew grew up in Washington and loves to visit here. He has wonderful stories about his childhood when Washington was nothing but farm land; he went to school in a 1 room school house in with 2 outhouses, one for Boys and one for Girls, and a pot bellied stove for heating.
He also Loves Corvettes, especially Red.
Got any room in there for me?

July 18th The Delaney's settle in..

2010-02-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

Chris and Mary Beth Delaney drove down from Iowa with their tandem bike hitched to the car. The plan was to bike west one day the east the next and just enjoy a laid back long weekend together. Chris is a triathlete and Mary Beth just tries to keep up. Just kidding, as you can see she is in not too shabby shape herself. With 3 Kids, one in college, both working parents are enjoying a well deserved break together.
And as you can see, Jesse is getting his favorite thing (other than a little bacon dropped on the floor), a tummy rub from Chris...

July 12th: The Biking Bakkens!

2010-02-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

This is one biking couple, Kathleen and David Bakken from Iowa have biked Alaska, the Katy Trail and even the famous or infamous "Hip Breaker" in Wisconsin! I had never heard of that before so I looked it up, Georgeous and a little daunting...Check it out here...
Trempealeau Hip Breaker Bike Tour in Wisconsin
More power to you guys! You are inspiring me!
P.S. I Love the Yarn Kathleen...That's my idea of a good day, a little biking and then a little knitting to relax.

July 10th: A Katy Trail Anniversary

2010-02-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

For Jim and Jennifer Hamlin, the Katy Trail means True Love. This couple loved biking the Katy so much they got married on it! 17 years ago, their entire wedding party biked to a beautiful gazebo they had reserved in Augusta where they said their vows and celebrated their union. Now after all these years the love affair continues as they mark their 17 anniversary relaxing, riding the trail and even had Breakfast in Bed!
Congratulations Jim and Jennifer!
Of course Jesse has to get in the official anniversary shot...

July 8th: Happy Birthday Julie!

2010-02-20T13:55:00.000-08:00

Rob and Julie came out in the middle of the week to celebrate Julie's XXX Birthday, no that doesn't mean 30th! I just didn't want to reveal her age without permission. But as luck would have it, we did have a special birthday Tiara left over from my Mom's 75th. Julie entusiastically wore it at breakfast, beginning a new birthday tradition at The Hill.

July 3rd The Wolfe Pack..

2010-02-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

Ok, We really didn't know what we were in for when the family that calls themselves "The Wolfe Pack" booked for the weekend, but what a great bunch! Mom and Dad (Roger and Mary Lou Wolfe) drove in from Memphis with daughters Robin and Meagan, son-in-law, Ken and grand baby Sam. Roger is originally from New Haven so they came to visit family, bike the Katy Trail and just all hang out together. On Saturday night George cooked up one of his wonderful dinners and a couple friends dropped by to jam and entertain. For a Grand Finale, George serenaded Mary Lou with his rendition of "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson. But of Course! In the Midst of everything, on the 4th I found a little lost visitor at the door. Checking in with my neighbors, no one was missing the cute pup so he spent the night, in bed, with me...Fortunately on Sunday the local grapevine brought a family to the door, along with a very happy little boy, to claim Gizmo!

July 3rd Bluegrass at Blumenhof!

2010-02-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

If anyone is wondering what to do out here in Marthasville, just 10 minutes away is one of our most favorite places to spend and afternoon or evening, The Blumenhof Winery. This night Blumenhof hosted one of their "Dinner and Music Under the Stars" events featuring The Cumberland Gap Band and an awesome Bar B Q from our local Williams Brothers Meat Market in nearby Washington. We had such a fun night, great food and great music and dined with our favorite Irish Priest, Father Finbarr Dowling from St. Ignatius Church just down the road from us in Concord Hill. Also toasting the night is friend and gardening instructor extraordinaire David Diehl.
I'm a lucky girl to be having such a great time with 3 handsome dudes!

July 1st The Biking Beckers

2009-07-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Kathy and Bob Becker from St. Louis are teachers too (seems like we get a lot of teachers out here at the BnB). They are taking a few days to just hang out and bike up and down the trail in this area. Bob rode over to the Thierbach Berry Picking Farm in Marthasville and came back with a box of blueberries, blackberries and gooseberries for everyone, so the next morning I made pancakes with fresh berries Yum! Here they are on the porch playing their favorite game, Scrabble.

June 26th Cross Country Couple.. The Holders Ride Tandem...

2009-07-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

Bob and Maggie Holder are two teachers from Pittsburgh, PA who Love biking. This summer they are on another leg of their cross country tour. Each summer they bike part way across the country from west to east until they reach the Atlantic Ocean. This stretch they are beginning in Pittsburg, KS and ending in Pymatuning, PA, riding across Missouri on the Katy Trail. Here they are getting back on the road again.... You can check out their blog at tandemtwo.blogspot.com . Have a great trip guys!

June 21th My Mom's 75th Birthday Party!

2009-07-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Well my little ole' Mom turned 75 this weekend so we threw a party! It was also Father's day weekend and another family members birthday so we celebrated them all on one day. Here are photos of the event...

June 20th Father's Day Bike Trip...

2009-07-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

Insurance agent and Avid biker Bill Lewis from Michigan had the ultimate Father's day weekend biking the Katy Trail with sons Aaron and Michael. Aaron is a recent Wash U. (Washington University in St. Louis) graduate with a degree in architecture and is living and working in St. Louis now, so the Katy was the perfect spot for the three to spend some quality time together. Dad Bill also rides in an annual charity bike ride across Israel to raise money for a Children's Hospital there, How cool is That!

June 18th More Facebook Connecitons..

2009-07-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

I have found so many old school friends on Facebook, all the way back to Kindergarten! One friend Suzy Levinson has been threatening to visit but instead keeps on recommending me to all of her relatives...so here is her sister Laura (who was in my sister's class) and her wonderful beau David. They are both Massage therapists now and just great people! Next time I think we'll do a trade, a night for a massage!

June 18th The Ultimate House Guest!

2009-07-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

Who says Facebook isn't Great! While connecting with so many old friends on Facebook I noticed that David Diehl, brother to Keith who visited this month, was traveling in India, Thailand and Vietnam this summer and posting photos on facebook. Of course I had to "Friend" him. He asked if he could stay at the BnB for a few weeks when he got back in exchange for doing some much needed handyman and yard work. David went above and beyond the call of duty digging, weeding and planting in the high 90 degree Humid Missouri days, fixing a toilet and a gutter down spout. And he put me to work too! I call it Boot Camp David! He also introduced his favorite pancake breakfast which is now becoming a staple at Concord Hill. So here is the result! Thanks David! You are the Best!

June 16th The Murins from Granite City...

2009-07-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday and Monday Eric and Jessica Murin took a few days off to bike the Katy Trail but it was forecast to be a pretty stormy few days so they left their bikes at home and just enjoyed a few days relaxing and bumming around the area. Hope you guys come back again for some biking!

June 12th Jazz at the Blumenhoff!

2009-07-16T07:56:00.001-07:00

Ok now, there are so many fun things to do out here and we Do get to enjoy them! This weekend in addition to all the other stuff going on George and I went to one of our favorite wineries, The Blumenhof just 10 minutes away in Dutzow, for one of their wonderful outdoor dinner concerts. That night it was The Stewart Johnson Jazz Trio and a catered dinner from our favorite restaurant The Hawthorne Inn in Labadie. What a magical night! Music, Food and Atmosphere were Perfect! Here we are enjoying the evening and conversation with interesting man we met.

June 12 Friends Visiting Too

2009-07-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was such a busy one there is a lot to catch up on...I was so excited to have my friends Keith and Steve with their kids Chris and Angelina stop by on their way back home to California! Originally from St. Louis, they moved to CA 9 years ago and I Miss them! It's been such a long time and so much has changed over the years, the kids are all grown up and getting ready to move out of the house. Wow how time flies... Here they are in front of the BnB with the sign. Earlier we all went out to dinner in St. Louis with our good friend Pat Tuholske and her new puppy Hunter.

June 13th The Wild Bunch Rides Again!

2009-07-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Twice a year Andy Mayberry (yes that's his real name) from St. Louis organizes a Katy Trail bike trip with a big group of friends and it is a Wild Time. This is their second time booking Concord Hill and we really look forward to their arrival. Time to Par-tay!
I don't know how they manage but this rowdy bunch bikes the whole trail and parties their way from Clinton to St. Charles in 5 days. George made his Giant juicy burgers and gathered his buddies for a music jam and everyone had a great time!

June 12th Bruce and Jan Bike the Katy...

2009-07-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Bruce and Jan took the weekend off to stay at the BnB a few nights and Ride the Katy. They did 104 miles in 2 days coming back each evening for some well deserved relaxation. They picked a good weekend for it too because Saturday night we had a much larger bike group (see above) staying with us and there was a planned Bar B Q and music jam, so they got some good food and entertainment as well. On top of that Jan, being the only other female in the bunch besides Moi', couldn't help but pitch in with the clean up in the kitchen! I love you Jan!

June 12th Family Reunion!

2009-07-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

RayLee Lam from Houston, TX was looking for a place to stay for a few days while in town for her family reunion so her cousins (just down the road on Hatchery Lane) suggested Concord Hill. Well it turned out she didn't stay but her Daughter Alli along with husband David and 1 1/2 year old Chapman did. They had a relaxing 2 nights and spent their days hanging out with the family. It was Chapman's first time playing with his Missouri Cousins. Hope you had a wonderful time!

June 11th The Green Man from KC

2009-07-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

Jamison Clark from Kansas City did a quiet peaceful solo trip on the Katy this week. Jamison is an electrical engineer who specializes in Green heating and cooling systems primarily for large institutional use, I picked his brain a little about what I might be able to do here at the BnB but the ideal setup would be way out of my league. The cost is astronomical! Oh well, we do what we can...Keep up the good work Jamison, we need guys like you!

June 9th The Taylors have Landed...

2009-07-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

Randy and Susan Taylor of St. Louis are taking a little time out from their busy lives to bike the Katy.... Here they are relaxing on the porch with coffee before breakfast and getting off for the rest of their ride. Quiet guy Randy turns out to have the most interesting of careers, he's a satellite orbit analyst and travels all over the world working at major observatories for the department of defense. Very Cool!

June 5th & 6th Anniversary Couples...

2009-07-06T05:53:00.000-07:00

It's always interesting how our guests often seem to have a lot in common. This weekend we had two young couples celebrating their anniversaries. Both couples ordered our big steak dinner (on different nights) and we served it in a romantic setting in the Wine Cellar. Fred and Marie Abboud drove down from Omaha, Nebraska to spend a few days celebrating their 5th anniversary. Fred is a lawyer and also teaches legal writing and Marie is an administrative assistant. And they're expecting their second baby! so Fred thoughtfully asked me to get some sparkling grape juice to have with their dinner.
Our next couple Nathan and Allison Laupp were celebrating their 3rd anniversary by biking the Katy Trail and doing the BnB thing. Nathan and Allison come from just up the trail in Defiance, MO where Nathan grew up. Unfortunately the next morning a big storm was rolling in and, although they tried to beat the rain, they got stranded in Treloar. Good thing they had family close by who came to pick them up! It was great to meet you guys!

Many updates....

2009-07-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Wow we have had such a busy month here at Concord Hill I haven't kept up with my posts but I have lots of photos and lots of notes so here goes...

Coast to Coast

2009-06-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

When Derek Liecty asked about restaurants along the Katy Trail I asked where he was coming from. His response was St. Louis... Of course I assumed he meant St. Charles which is the beginning of the trail. But when Derek and his friend Jerry arrived I found out they really did bike from St. Louis. The St. Louis Airport! Not only that but Jerry biked from Richmond Virginia and is planning to go all the way to Oregon. Derek flew in from Oakland CA to bike the Katy Trail with his long time friend and biking pal. Both are avid bikers and have done biking tours all over the world. I'm impressed! And a little bit jealous. Derek came riding up up on a "Bike Friday" which is a bike that folds up into it's own suitcase that you can bring on an airplane. And Jerry came loaded down with heavy traveling gear on a sturdy touring bike. Biking cross country takes about 4 months and Jerry is visiting friends along the way who sometimes bike along with him for bits of the trip. Stopping in St. Louis to visit friends was a perfect way to meet up with Derek at the airport and get on to the next stretch. They biked through St. Louis streets to a trail in Creve Coeur Park that connects to the Katy, that was news to me, so all you St. Louis people who are interested might want to check that out. You can follow Jerry's trip on his blog at Jerry Bikes West. He usually updates it at libraries in the towns he stops at for the night. Have a great trip guys... You are really inspiring me!

New Soap at the BnB..

2009-06-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

Our guest Bob from Colorado was a little put out that we had "Lisa" soap for his daughter Lisa in the bathrooms and none for him, so in honor of Bob we have just added a new soap to the rooms...

Coincidences

2009-06-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Coincidences are abounding on the trail...I guess that's not so strange, really. Monday night's guests just by chance met each other at the Augusta Brewery right off the trail, struck up a conversation and discovered they were all spending the night here at Concord Hill.
Lisa Ruskanen from Kansas City wanted to bike the Katy Trail and invited her dad Bob, who is now living in Colorado, to join her. Since this is a family that loves physical activities out in nature (Skiing, Scuba diving, Biking etc.) Bob jumped right in.
Janet and Wayne Kneipkamp from Millstadt, IL (near my old stomping ground) decided to take advantage of a summer break, and test their wheels on the Katy before inviting more friends to come along for longer, larger group trips.
Everyone sat on the porch that evening sipping wine and sharing stories while I made a big pasta dinner, then we sat down for a lovely meal together.
It was wonderful meeting you all and I hope you come back this way again!

Garden Angels Have Decended!

2009-06-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

OMG! Do I have some Awesome friends or what? Good pals Debbi and Reese offered to come out and help in the garden since I am such a novice, and believe me I need all the help and advice I can get. Well, not only did they come but they brought 2 more friends Kate and Jamie who have worked at a nursery in the past and love gardening! They spent the better part of the day Sunday digging, weeding, transplanting, chain sawing, weed wacking, edging and teaching me so much! These guys really got me on my way. And on top of that They Thanked ME! Are you kidding? You guys are the Best! I couldn't have done it without you and it was fun too!

Kim and Bob from Terre Haute

2009-06-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening Kim and Bob DisPennett rolled up on their Tandem Recumbent Trike, now that was an unusual site! The couple from Indiana have 2 recumbent trikes that can be hitched together by popping off the front wheel of one and attaching it to the back of the other. Kim says this way husband Bob doesn't leave her lagging behind and they can talk while they're biking, I like that Idea. Bob and Kim met in Hawaii while Bob was a young enlisted man and Kim, coming from a military family, worked on base. After a long career in the Police force Bob is retiring and uh hmmmm what now? Kim works as an administrative assistant at a college and is an accomplished musician, they both fell in love with the Native American flute for it's beauty and simplicity (even Bob could play it) and now enjoy teaching and selling the flutes and accessories. We're looking forward to your return guys and maybe a flute jam...I think I could even do that!

St. Charles to Columbia...

2009-05-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

Wednesday's couples were coincidentally both biking the Katy on the same route.
Nan Bocherty and husband David from Ohio wanted to make a fun trip out of a visit to see their daughter who is attending Mizzou (University of Missouri in Columbia), so they decided to ride the Katy for 3 days staying at BnBs along the way. And Jamie Crist along with boyfriend Tyler planned the same route for different reasons. Tyler lives in St. Charles and is the football coach at Lindenwood University there, and Jamie is a senior at Mizzou studying education and earth sciences. What a fun way to commute from city to city, via the Katy Trail.

The Morning After...

2009-05-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some our TN and MN gang having coffee on the porch before breakfast and then all together before they hit the road again...our Minnesota bunch is going to tour the Daniel Boone Home before they get back on the trail.
Happy trails guys! And have a great trip home.

Almost Fargo...

2009-05-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

And here is our Minnesota bunch...Patti and Tom Lawson and Brad and Lou Ann Burgerson. Not to say that these guys aren't busy too...in addition to their "regular lives" Tom and Brad are major bikers and have done some serious bike trips together. Lou Ann told me that Brad has done a number of cross country trips, she drops him off and picks him up from coast to coast!
P.S. Thank's for helping out Rob with his eye problem Tom!

T is for Tennessee..

2009-05-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

Here is our Tennessee bunch...Jack and Judy Benhanyon and Mark and Lisa Chandler. One doctor and 3 RNs from Knoxville taking a break from their busy lives. So glad to meet you all!

A Tale of Two Cities...

2009-05-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

Friday we had a converging of cultures with two couples from Minnesota and two couples from Tennessee. Two groups biking the Katy Trail with a lot in common. Among them were 2 doctors and 3 RNs who had actually worked with some of the same people in the past. All ordered dinner in advance so George made his special Pasta with with red sauce and Spicy Italian Sausage and we had hot bread and a delicious salad. Little did we know that my neighbor would drop off some live chickens for me right when we were preparing dinner! Of course I was at the store and George had no idea that we were getting chickens. I certainly wasn't expecting them that day! So Minnesota gals Patti and Lou Ann made the salad and set the table while Rob helped me take care of the Chickens...Thanks Guys I couldn't have done it without you!
At Patti's request (also in advance) George called up some of his music buddies and there was an awesome after dinner jam in the Great Room. Rob on banjo, Ed on upright bass, Denny (AKA Wheels) on Dobro, and George on guitar were in rare form and we all had a very special evening.

31st Anniversary...

2009-05-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

Kathy and Greg Armstrong from Louisburg, Kansas plan a trip each year for their anniversary. They often ride the Katy Trail at the western end but Kathy wanted Greg to see the eastern side too. They spent 3 days peddling, hiking and checking out the Wineries along the trail from Augusta to Hermann. Here they are relaxing on the porch with their books and a glass of wine, enjoying a beautiful sunset.

What's for Breakfast?

2009-05-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

OK so what is George's Big Country Breakfast? Well here's a sampling...There is always fried potatoes with onions; bacon, ham and/or sausage; eggs either fried or scrambled with veggies and cheese; toast, OJ, hot tea and fresh ground coffee. Sometimes you may get biscuits and gravy too. George loves to do it Big! I offer a light and healthy breakfast but hardly anyone ever requests it. I probably shouldn't tell you all this but I call it George's Artery Clogger Breakfast and he calls mine Maggie's Tooty Fruity Breakfast. Either way we've got something you will like!

Kansas City Bound...

2009-05-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

Also here this weekend were newlyweds Jerome and Miranda Harris from Kansas City. They've been together for years (since college) but just married 1 week ago, they were in town 2 nights for yet another college pal's wedding. Although we didn't get to hear him play, Jerome is an accomplished pianist and we are looking forward to their return for their 1st anniversary. Maybe he'll give us a sampling of his talents, hint hint...

A Sterling Bunch from Diamond...

2009-05-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

This was a busy weekend at the BnB. One group, Cammie and Bruce Burkey and John and Lisa Mitchell, drove up in their cute little sports cars from Diamond, MO (near Joplin) for the Wine and Art Fest in Washington, MO. Afterwords they hung out in the wine cellar playing a lively game of cards. The next morning they were off to Hermann for the Maifest which was also held this past weekend. These guys know how to have fun!

Visitors from Matoon..No it's not another Planet, it's in Illinois!

2009-05-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

George and I were at the Blumenhof Winery in nearby Dutzow this past weekend and met Sue and Carey Paxton from Matoon, IL. They ride their Harley out every year to Hermann for the Maifest. Carey is a professional photographer and has a studio in Matoon. Check him out at The Perfect Image. Here they are clowning on the porch swing...

Patrick In The Hot Tub

2009-05-13T07:52:00.001-07:00

This is a classic photo of George's son Patrick reading "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" in the hot tub... Amber is supervising.

The National Champions

2009-05-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday we hosted a victory party for the UMSL (University of Missouri St. Louis) Roller Hockey team who won the National Championship this year in Philadelphia. It turned out to be a 12 hour party because some team members didn't arrive until 11 PM! I was in bed by then so half the team didn't make it in my photos. But apparently I missed the best part because our neighbor Ralph went home and brought back a new born squealing piglet making all the girls squeal right along with it. Then he gave some of the girls a ride in his combine! Ralph, we never knew you were such a ladies man! George and his pals Ed and Rob provided entertainment and a good time was had by all. Unfortunately Son Patrick couldn't make it because he is also on a local community league that was having it's playoffs that same night. Here they all are hanging out on the porch and in the Wine Cellar...

The Guys From Black Mountain

2009-05-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Ed, John, Roger and Denny are all avid bikers from Black Mountain, North Carolina where they are accustom to biking steep mountain roads after work and on the weekends. They look forward to their vacation time when they can take a whole week off and just ride. This year they decided to do the Katy Trail. Biking about 60 miles a day and staying at B&Bs the whole way, they got soaked in a pretty good rain storm the day before they arrived here. Starting in Sedalia, Concord Hill is the last stop before the end in St. Charles. They got in right about 6PM and went upstairs for Cocktails and Showers. Yes they came with their own Vodka and Tonic, just add Ice! Then we all sat down for George's special Extra Thick and Juicy Burgers and Brats with baked beans and salad. (The guys had pre-arranged for a dinner upon arrival). Above you'll see them having coffee on the porch before breakfast. "Off we go like a heard of turtles!" said Ed as they were leaving. I don't think so...60 miles a day on the Katy is not too shabby, especially when it's wet.

Girls Night Out

2009-04-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

Every year for the last 30 years 6 College pals from MU (Missouri State University) get together for a weekend reunion. This year 3 of them; Angie, Ellen and Janet came out to Concord Hill. Angie Wood grew up just down the road in Holstein so she took her friends to meet her parents who are in their 80s and still run the family farm there. Her son Tyler, who now lives and works in nearby Washington, popped in for a music jam in the Wine Cellar.

First Anniversary

2009-04-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

We are honored to have Jonathan and Kathleen Shumate from Texas celebrating their First Anniversary here at Concord Hill. Here they are enjoying a pasta and salad dinner in the wine cellar. Jonathan and Kathleen are living in St. Louis right now while they attend seminary school together. They're having a quiet couple of days just relaxing and taking a break from their studies. Best of luck to you both for a bright & happy future!

Our Neighbors

2009-04-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

Concord Hill is a farming community that was settled by German immigrants in the late 1800s, the decedents of those families still live here and farm the land. Almost every day a baby cow or pig is born and our next door neighbor Ralph Glosemeyer invited me to see the Calves and Pigletts yesterday...Guests are welcome to come see the farm any time. Tomorrow the Glosemeyers are hosting a School Field Trip to their farm.

A New Member of the Family...

2009-04-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

What can I say, we just had to get a new pup to keep our Jesse company. I knew the time would come but the decision was sort of made for us when our friends Debbi and Reece's daughter was moving and couldn't keep her puppy. Well this adorable 9 month old Border Collie came to our home and it was love at first sight. So please meet our "Lucky Star"...As you can see Lucky and Jesse are already having a blast together...This Tee shirt says it all...Our neighbor Kayla was at the scene of the crime, although she strangely remains dirt free....

Watching Movies...

2009-04-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hanna and Allison Watching a Movie on Their Portable DVD Player

The Mayers Bike the Katy...

2009-04-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

This week Lee and Regina Mayer came all the way from Chicago to spend 3 days biking the Katy Trail with their 2 daughters Hannah and Allison. The Mayors often take biking trips together and love boating too. The weather is perfect right now for their trip, sunny and dry with light cool breezes. When they're done they are meeting up with friends in St. Louis and going to visit the Arch and the City Museum before heading home. Sounds like a great little vacation guys... Hope to see you back this way again!
That's Our Jesse Seeing Them On Their Way...

The Season is Starting...

2009-04-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday Rick McKenney surprised his wife Tammy with a night at the BnB for their 29th Wedding Anniversary. They spent the day visiting wineries and antique shops in the Augusta area and planned another fun day for Sunday in Hermann. The High School sweethearts have 3 grown girls now. They both have a passion for gardening, grow their own vegetables and raise chickens too. I got some good tips, encouragement and inspriation from them. Gardening here we come.....Thanks Rick and Tammy!

Meet our Guests....

2009-04-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Mark and Emily Carder from Alabama are biking the Katy Trail from St. Charles to Hermann and back with their 3 month old baby Lucy! Emily is a nurse and Mark is an accomplished portrait painter who has been commissioned to paint two U.S. Presidents, among others. He's also created a successful instructional DVD on how to paint, for those of us who've always wanted to learn but never thought we could really do it. I may even try it myself..... Check out his web site at www.markcarder.com. You will be amazed.
It was great to meet you Emily and Mark, Best of luck with all of your upcoming adventures!

Mark, Emily and Lucy....

2009-04-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Signs of Spring at Concord Hill....

2009-03-31T16:26:00.001-07:00

Spring is Here!

2009-03-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
Spring is here at Concord Hill, Pear trees and Red Buds are in bloom and bulbs are popping up all over. Flashes of color are brightening up the landscape after a gray winter. We did have a freak snow a few days ago though, at the end of March! Crazy....

A little news on what we've been up to lately...March 13 was George's birthday (That's right Friday the Thirteenth, and it suits him so well). We had a fun get-together with lots of food and music, jammin' all day and into the night. George made his slow cooked Pulled Pork and we had a big salad, baked beans and great side dishes brought by friends. Very yummy and not many left-overs! Many friends spent the night and George made a huge breakfast in the morning. We had a full table of about 15 for breakfast!

Other news; George's son Patrick is on the UMSL (University of Missouri St. Louis) Hockey team and they are going to the National Championships in Philadelphia this week. Patrick has been playing hockey since he was 5 when George coached the Pee Wee team and now George is coaching his Mens League. Patrick's nicknames are Chopper and Patrick the Hat Trick. Bring home a win Patrick!

We are looking forward to the arrival of our new hot tub in about a week (the old one pooped out after a long and happy run) so bring your suits and get ready for some relaxing!

On a sad note, we lost our beloved Amber this month, George's 13 year old Husky mix. He raised her from a pup and she happily spent her last days enjoying the country air and greeting our guests with her loud bark and a wagging tail. Amber will be sorely missed at the BnB.

As for me, I'm trying my hand at gardening...it's something I've always wanted to do and now I have the chance, but I am such a novice! Come on out and see my progress, I gladly accept all tips and advice!

That's all the news for now.
Happy Trails to You, Maggie

Our Slide Show

2009-03-29T08:23:00.001-07:00

Find more photos like this on The Green House, cooking, gardening, DIY, and other fun stuff.

Highway 47 Bridge Work...

2009-03-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

This is an important update for those of you who might be using the Highway 47 bridge over the Missouri River from Washington, MO to Marthasville. Please check online road conditions as there will be a lot of construction on the bridge throughout this whole year. There will be times when it is only one lane and there will be times when it will be closed. At this point we don't know what the schedule is.

Happy trails, Maggie

Winter 2008-2009

2009-02-16T16:37:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for our Ladies' Lunch.
Ham, spinach and cheese Quiche with Salad for 20 women from St. Paul's Church quilting club.

Our Neighbor's barn in the snow.

Fall 2008 at the BnB

2009-02-16T13:53:00.001-08:00

Rich, Cal and Ron.
These guys are part of a larger group that was biking across the country from Oregon to Florida! The Katy Trail was their route across Missouri.

Amber Chillin'

Amber will greet you when you arrive.

And you might find some musical entertainment too....