Our very own apartment

As you all know it took Chet and I 10 months to get settled in our very own apartment. It's been so nice unpacking everything, getting organized and decorating our apartment. We still have some things in the hanger garage to go through, lots of clothes at the lake house from last summer, but overall we're almost done. Last week we tried going to the lake house to get the rest of our belongings, but there's still so much snow that we have to hike from the top and go down. We only did one load and will wait for the rest of the snow to melt to get the rest.

A few weeks ago I stayed home in Marion while Chet went back to Great Falls to do more training. During that time of being here without him I did a ton of decorating, and went through 15 boxes. This is the first time having all my belongings in one house. I've always had things at my moms, dads and I lived on my own during college. So I had way too much stuff! It's been SO nice going through everything and sorting out what I want and don't want.

Anyways, our apartment is pretty much done. Some of the photos I took before we got our curtains up and bought our new TV (our old one was broken), but you will get an idea what it's like with the pictures here. Hope you like it! :-)

Picture of the B&B

The Life of an Innkeeper

Chet and I arrived at home (for good) two weeks ago today. The minute we got home we have been working non-stop on the Bed & Breakfast. We had thursday, friday and saturday to unload all the antiques we bought, finish decorating, clean EVERYTHING, get a little organized and grocery shop for all the food. Well......we did it! Guests arrived Sunday afternoon and we were ready! At first we were both a little nervous, anxious and excited for our first set of guests to arrive. We had four couples that stayed with us and the last couple checked out on Sunday. So we had guests for a full week. The group that was with us had a dinner Monday night for 20 people. They had other couples come Sunday night to get their food ready, dinner monday night and people came over for leftovers wednesday night. So it was very busy and a bit overwhelming at times. But overall it went great! We served delicious breakfasts' every morning and a few of the evenings happy hour, which consisted of an appetizer and wine.

Everybody was very positive about the B&B and everything in general. They loved the food, hospitality, and the atmosphere. It was nice seeing the B&B in someone else eyes, because I've seen it every step of the way and I think of what else I need to add, but really it's spectacular! The B&B has turned out above and beyond what we all imagined.

The life of an innkeeper is VERY busy. If you know me well enough you would know that I like to be very busy, multi-task and have lots to do each day. Prior to last week I thought I was so extremely busy when I worked full time and planned Chet and I's wedding, but I was wrong. From Sunday to Sunday I was the busiest I have ever been in my life and I'm not exaggerating. We got up around 5:30 -6am every morning, decorated even when they were gone during the day, cooked breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen, cleaned the main grounds, cleaned their rooms while they were gone each day, served happy hour and tried to finish all the behind the scenes things....i.e. software for our reservations, quickbooks, website design, decorating our last suite, etc. But thankfully the day in the life of an innkeeper typically wont be what it was like last week, because we were not completely ready with decorating and such. When we have our next set of guests it will be much easier, because now we're able to finish everything and set up all the behind the scenes part of the business. Chet and I are learning quickbooks, how to do all the accounting, working on some advertising and pretty much learning how to run a business.

Chet and I did enjoy it very much. We work great as a team and I'm so blessed I have him. If I had to choose what was the easiest thing I'd have to say breakfast. :-) Serving people and getting their reaction on how they liked the food made my day. Almost every morning we started out serving them freshly baked scones with berries, huckleberry filling, or chocolate chips with the berries. One guy loved them so much he said I should sell them because they're so delicious. We would then serve fresh fruit with the main entree. The main entrees were: sausage spinach quiche, banana macadamia nut french toast, tomato asparagus crustless quiche, berries and cream french toast, custom gourmet omelet's, and upside apple cinnamon french toast. If you love breakfast come stay and you wont be disappointed.

If you have a facebook you can find us and 'like' the business. Just type in Cabin Creek Landing Bed and Breakfast in the search bar and you will find us! Also, visit us on our website to see all recent photos I have taken. www.cabincreekbb.com

The last month.........

The dinner I made for Chet was a honey mustard salmon glaze served with a rice dish that was onions, garlic, peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, brown rice & seasonings. Then a yummy homemade salad. So good!!!!!

The picture on the left is from our family room apartment on a snowy day.

The picture on the right is of Whitefish Ski Resort.

Well this past month Chet and I have been in between Great Falls, MT and our home Marion, MT. Words can't fully describe how amazing it is to be living with my husband the past month. I actually feel like I can fulfill the wifely role and take care of my husband, cook him dinners, make his lunch for work, do his laundry, etc. And I love doing all of that!

In just two days Chet will be completely done with ALL his training for the Montana Air National Guard! Wow! It's finally here. Wednesday afternoon it will all be over and we can go home together, for good!!! :-) During the last month of his training I came with him to Great Falls quite a bit, and the first couple weekends we would drive home to Marion. Even though it was a five hour drive one way it was worth being together in our own apartment for just two nights.

A couple weeks ago I did stay back in Marion while Chet drove to Great Falls, because we had our marketing manager from Texas come see the area and meet with other companies. Mary and I had four days to shop for the B&B, work on decorating the place, buy furniture, hang art work, clean and on my down time work on Chet and I's apartment. I was so busy, which was a good thing because I was away from Chet and it made the time go by so much faster.

Sonya, our marketing manager, is a gift from God. She is one of Ron's sisters best friend and that's how we met. Rick, Mary and I spent five days with her at the B&B. We met with several different companies to try and do co-opt advertising, establish relationships and give her an idea of what Northwest Montana is all about. In a nut shell she loved in and can't wait to come back. It was a very successful five days, and last Tuesday I flew to Great Falls to spend the last eight days with Chet. I'm so grateful that I'm able to be with him now. Chet drove his parents big dodge ram truck that is manual. Well.....I don't know how to drive stick so during the day I'm without a car. But it has worked out perfectly because I've been able to get a lot done here in the apartment. It's only a 13 minute walk to the gym so I've been going there everyday. There's a grocery store and a place similar to Target so I can get food and whatever else. I've also spent several days and hours on the B&B. The internet is a wonderful thing. This past weekend we did some great antique shopping for the B&B and found amazing pieces. Chet and I can't wait to unload them and find the perfect spot for them.

And now I sit here on my birthday waiting for Chet to get home from work so we can go celebrate tonight! And only two days left until we get to drive home. YAAHHHOOOOO!

This Sunday we have our first guests coming to the B&B. We have four rooms booked (8 people). So Thursday, Friday and Saturday Chet and I will be working non-stop to finish everything before the guests come. Keep us in your prayers!