Great Skiing at Belleayre!

Yesterday morning after our Breezy Hill Inn guests had left for the slopes following their breakfast of baked french toast, yogurt with granola and blueberries, I too headed to the slopes for Christmas morning skiing. The slopes were groomed and perfect for my first day of skiing for the year. I love skiing on December 25th; there are few skiers early in the day although by noon it begins to get crowded. We met friends in the lodge and exchanged greetings but mostly we were anxious to try out our newly tuned skies. The sky was blue, the temperature just under 30 degrees and the snow was great! What more could one ask? Happy holidays and think snow!

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It's snowing!

It started snowing at 11 o'clock this morning. It's been over three hours since and it hasn't let up. The folks up at Belleayre Ski Center say over two inches have accumulated in less than two hours. The ski season is projected to start tomorrow! I'm a skier who has recently taken up snowshoeing after a trip out west a couple of years ago. These Catskill mountains are perfect for snowshoeing...beautiful views and exhilarating exercise as well. So get your winter sports equipment and clothing ready and head up to the mountains!

Breezy Hill Inn is ready to greet you and make your stay comfortable. I just took a batch of banana walnut muffins out of the oven!

See you soon!

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Cold enough for snow in the Catskills!

The leaves are down and the weather is crisp and chilly! Feels like snow any day now! Belleayre Ski Center is a bustle with preparations for the ski season-opening day is November 14th. The phone is ringing with inquiries for winter stays. President's week is in big demand as always. We are hoping for lots of natural snow so we can snowshoe on Breezy Hill. Last winter I often put on my snowshoes and set out for the top of the property. I love those clear brisk day when the sunshine dances off the snow. The trek up the mountain to the property line, a typical stone wall that divides the former grazing fields from the farmhouse surround, is rewarded by a magnificent view of the Halcott valley in one direction and a view of the ski trails of Highmont and Belleayre. Come join us at Breezy Hill Inn for a luxury in the country!
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What to do on a rainy day in the Catskills!

Our guests arrived last evening and we are about to serve breakfast. The sky is bleak as it has been raining all night. The leaves are mostly down although as I gaze out the window there are still some glorious trees dressed in golds! We are serving homemade blueberry muffins, fresh fruit salad and omelets with cheese and chives this morning. When they ask about what to do today, I'll suggest a visit to the galleries in Woodstock or maybe a drive to Cooperstown. There is always somewhere to visit and the drives are through the beautiful Catskill mountains. Rain or shine the country is relaxing!

Catskills Color

Fall color has come early this year! I looked out from the wrap around porch of Breezy Hill Inn this morning and the trees were ablaze in color; brilliant reds, golds and greens about to turn. Our guests this morning will be having breakfast in the dining room as it is too cold to sit outside in the gazebo but they will be able to see the Catskills autumn display through the french doors. Breakfast this morning starts with homemade banana walnut bread(see the recipe below), fresh fruit cup followed by Georgette's wonderful cheese omelets. This weekend's guests are from Philadelphia and Long Island. Plans for the day include traveling to Cooperstown to the Baseball Hall of Fame, hiking, birding and just driving through the mountains to view the beautiful colors.

In the last three plus years, since we opened Breezy Hill Inn, we have had guests from all over the United States as well as from as far away as India, Italy and England. The fun of running an inn is meeting interesting people! My husband and I fell into running a bed and breakfast not by design but by default. We bought the house next door to our country retreat, to restore the family compound that the original farmer had built at the turn of the last century. Our plan was to do a quick renovation and then rent the house out for the ski season.(We are located less than 5 miles from Belleayre Ski Center.) It became clear during the process that the house would need a much more extensive renovation than expected. Well, I guess we should have known that as we have renovated two other 19th century houses. So here we are 5 years later running Breezy Hill Inn and thoroughly enjoying it. Our guests are very appreciative of the work we have put into bringing this building back to its glory....the woodwork is lovely and the details preserved with all the modern conveniences added.We are pleased to provide visitors with luxury in the country!

Breezy Hill Inn Banana Walnut Bread

4 tblsp of butter
1/3 cup of sugar
1/6-1/3 cup of honey
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas (3)
3/4 cup of flour
3/4 cup oatmeal, classic style
1/2 tspn salt
1/2 tspn baking soda
1/2 tspn baking powder
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts

Cream sugar and butter. Add one egg, beat mixture. Add the second egg and beat mixture. Add mashed bananas and mix. Then add the remainder of the ingredients, mix and add walnuts. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake in pre-heated oven at 375 to 400 degrees until done approx 40 minutes. Test by lancing with a turkey lancer ot toothpick. It's done if it comes out clean. Cool on rack. This loaf freezers well.

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Till next week!