Shanty Days

Once again...Shanty Days was a big hit in Algoma. The parade fell on a beautiful day, a pleasant mix of sunshine, clouds and a nice breeze and our front lawn was filled with onlookers. Our guests hung out on the patio with their Bloody Marys, soaking up the small town nostalgia and the warm rays of mid August. before heading to see what the street vendors had in store for them. Corn dogs, kettle corn, a blackberry phone cover, fresh wildflower honey, a Packers dog collar and some artwork were purchased and dropped off at the Inn before heading back to see the bands. All in all a very enjoyable weekend was had by all!! Make sure to plan early for next year's Shanty Days Celebration.

Algoma B&B is Perfect

Whew! We had our grueling inspection to become members of the Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association and I am ecstatic to tell you that we passed with FLYING COLORS! In fact we received a score that is not given out very often...100%. The comments from the Hagermans, the WBBA inspectors, were wonderful to hear! The report stated "Tia did her homework and covered all the bases. All requirements were met and exceeded. Decorating is eclectic, bordering on "funky", in an interesting way. Very friendly & accommodating innkeeper." Included in the extremely positive comments were the sample breakfast menu, the breakfast room, complimentary wine and appetisers, the entertainment amenities like tivo, Wii and movie channels, the grill options, private balconies and the porch and patio areas. We're on our way now!!
Upcoming plans for the Belle Isle Inn will include a new salon and spa area and new added living quarters area.

Harley and Iron Horse Hotel tied to $10 Garage Sale Find

Who'da thunk??? So I go to this garage sale and find this old dresser/mirror combo painted the most awful color of pastel green. I thought to myself that this is SOOO ugly it has to be beautiful underneath. So, for a whopping $10 I bought it. I would never have believed, that after stripping 10 coats of paint, at times using a toothbrush for the detail work, that I would find my most prized antique to date. I was so excited once I got the first glimpse of the wood that I worked day and night to complete my treasure. One day I happened to pay attention to the back and I noticed something peculiar. A tag that said Berger Bedding Company, Wholesale Furniture and Bedding, Milwaukee Wis. A clue to the history. I hopped on the internet to check it out. I was amazed to find that the Berger Bedding Company building had become the new Iron Horse Hotel which is close to the new Harley-Davidson Museum. To quote the hotel's website, the Iron Horse is unique for "Meeting the needs of business travelers and motorcycle enthusiasts alike forced design creativity. Many of the concepts arose from focus groups of “road warriors” of both the briefcase and biker persuasions, such as rugged wood floors that are welcoming to both high heels and riding boots, and chic yet durable furniture, able to withstand heavy zippers and buckles yet cool and refined for business attire." The hotel looks absolutely "right up my alley", beautiful and unique, a blend of the past, the present and the future. I am so proud to hold the dresser and mirror in my posession, and to have beautifully transformed, such an incredible piece of Wisconsin and Milwaukee history for the Algoma's Belle Isle Inn in Northeast Wisconsin. The historic prize is located in the King's Chamber. This room boasts a flat screen TV and DVD for a romantic evening watching movies in bed. The thick feather topped king bed beckons your tired body after a long hike on the Ahnapee trail or Lake Michigan boardwalk. And, of course, the beautiful antique dresser and mirror, built at Milwaukee’s Berger Bedding Company , most likely between 1886 and 1907. To see this and other beautiful pieces, visit us at the Belle Isle Inn, your Home away from Home! Our Bed and Breakfast gives you so much more than any area hotel, including the memories of feeling just like family.

I'll meet my ankle in Miami

Well, it's going to happen. I am going to have an ankle replacement. I also need a partial fusion. I'm so excited... and at the same time, I'm so scared!



It will be awesome to not have as much unbearable pain, to get my life back, to maybe be able to run again or at least walk more than a few steps without feeling like a crow bar is being shoved into my ankle or having my ankle just lock up for days at a time.



And Scared? This surgery will be the third in twenty five months. I will have a titanium ankle, spend 5 days in the hospital, 6 weeks in a hard cast and if things go well, then I can start to walk again. Then we can talk about finances, or the lack there of, not working, recuperation and how to possibly handle everything all over again?



So, I got to be Algoma's Belle Isle Inn-keeper because I could no longer function at the hairdressing/educator career that had been so great to me. Standing on your feet for hours with dead bones in your ankle isn't a peachy day!



I had thought that my only option was fusion, locking my ankle up completely. Of course this leads to it's own set of complications and difficulties.



But being proactive about my health led me beyond Green Bay, to Miami, and to not accept that fusion was the only option.



It is amazing what you can find when you look long and hard. It is incredible how fast technology advances. It is wonderful to have found hope. It is great to have another option; to have cutting edge doctors like Dr. Mark Feldman paving the way in new surgical techniques.



I thought I would have to settle, to accept, to struggle terribly. I would become a Kewaunee innkeeper, have a new career, but deal everyday with the consequences from my fall and my damaged ankle.



Instead...I have hope! I am excited! I have a new career, I will meet and pamper tons of people, I will cook my four course breakfasts at the B & B with a lot less pain (80%-90% less pain), I'll be able to walk on the Algoma beach boardwalk, and around the block, and the future, that a few months ago looked so disappointing, now looks so promising,(not only for me, but my husband and the others who have helped out so tremendously since my accident.)



"I'll meet my ankle in Miami" (It could be my new theme song.) "and we'll become one. Together we'll be stronger and life will move on!"

Fresh Blueberry Bread Pudding

Hey All,
Yesterday was experimental recipe day at Belle Isle Inn. I think I gained 10 pounds and man, it was worth it.
This new B&B thing is so cool. Oh, you don't know about it? Well I was a hairdresser (check out the up do at left) for over 20 years when an inanimate something jumped out in front of me causing me to fall. I saved my new laptop but damaged three bones in my right ankle. Long story short, the bones died (became necrotic), I'm heading into an ankle replacement and hair dressers and dead ankles are not on the same page. In fact they are not in the same library! So here I am, presto change-o, an Inn Keeper at Belle Isle Inn in Algoma Wisconsin, Just south of Sturgeon Bay in Door County.
Anyway, back to the Scrumptious Fresh Blueberry Bread Pudding. I used a pint of fresh blueberrys from nearby Wienke's Market, and substituted Kaiser rolls for bread. A little cinnamon, a little half and half, a few eggs and some sugar and voila! Can you Smell it? It tastes as incredibly incredible as it looks!
This morning is Bacon, Broccoli and Cheddar Jack Quiche. Just add half and half to some eggs, some chopped up some green onions and some fresh ground peppercorns to the title and..The timer just went off! Gotta go enjoy. Then I'm taking some new pictures for the Inn website, http://www.belleisleinn.com/. Just waiting for the license to be able to pamper you all!!
Have fun, Tia