Battlefield Bed & Breakfast with news about the inn and also about the town of Gettysburg

Simple Homemade Eggnog

2011-12-22T15:07:00.000-08:00

This easy eggnog is delicious and good for you!

I like to make my eggnog one cup at a time. You will be heating your eggnog to kill any bacteria in the egg, so plan on making this in advance to let it cool.

Put one egg and 1 cup of milk in the blender. Blend until frothy.

Transfer to a 1 quart glass bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes.
A soft custard will start to form.

Put the liquid back into the blender. Add 1/2 tsp vanilla and 1 Tbs sugar. Blend until smooth.

Refrigerate. Sprinkle nutmeg on top. The eggnog is ready when it is cold.

Holiday House Tour and Tasting

2010-12-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

Come to Gettysburg this weekend for the Holiday House Tour and Tasting. This year, our annual house tour has expanded to include food and wine. Each inn is featuring a recipe from the Inns of the Gettysburg Area Cookbook. Adams County Winery is offering wine samples at six of the inns. Ten inns are decked out in their holiday finest. Come and feel the holiday spirit. Your ticket money goes to SCCAP, the South Central Community Action Program runs the homeless shelter, the emergency food bank, and many other services for those in need. Hope to see you Saturday from noon to 5 PM. You can buy your ticket at the inn.

What the Change In Seasons Means In Gettysburg

2010-09-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

The air was nippy last night. Fall air portends a change in Gettysburg.

What does that mean for visitor?

The children have gone back to school. The Visitor Center and park have been turned back over to adults.
A few dedicated families of home schoolers scamble over the rocks at Devil's Den, but for the moment, the public school children have not started their field trips. Those are usually reserved for spring. So if you like to travel in a world of adults, now is the time to come.

The ghost hunters come out in force. Halloween is in sight. You can still go out on the Battlefield until 10 PM. Camera flashes are rampant on the Battlefield after dark as the ghost hunters work to find signs of the spirits of the battlefield. Check out your photos for orbs or mists - or perhaps for full-body apparitions!

If you have a special interest in the paranormal, don't miss our Halloween Paranormal Weekend with Medium Ron Reeder. You will have two days on the Gettysburg Battlefield to fully immerse yourself in The Other World. You will have a paranormal investigation, personal time with Ron Reeder. And opportunities to be involved in Ron Reeder's online radio show. More information will follow.

Fall weather is the best weather in Gettysburg. This is a good time to book a trip. Hope to see you soon!

Village Book and Table Restaurant

2010-07-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Today, Miss Betty, The Ghost Storyteller, and I discovered a cozy lunch spot in Fairfield, PA about 8 miles from the inn. The walls of Village Book and Table Restaurant are decorated with framed pages from the Dick and Jane readers (nostalgia for some of you, and ancient history for the rest. There was a time when everyone learned to read from these books.) The original soda bar and stools are still there. The details are pure 1954. This is the kind of place that you want to go to when you want to hang out with a book, nibble on freshly made sandwiches, sip fresh-brewed iced tea, and just unwind. The two of us shared a fried oyster sandwiches and a crab cake sandwiches. Both were excellent, as was their homemade cole slaw and deep fried ochra. This hangout wasn't busy at the lunch hour, but it should have been. Stop in and unwind.

Elephant Museum

2010-07-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum is no more. Usually, I wouldn't mention bad news, but this news is worth a comment. This roadside attraction starred in the local film phenomenon "Route 30." The Gettysburg Convention and Visitor's Bureau featured Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum as a successful local example of destination marketing. The museum was worth the trip for the absurdity of the elephant collection and the tastiness of the fudge. The museum and the collection burned down last night. I hope that Mr. Ed rebuilds the museum. Where will he get a collection of every known tacky or beautiful elephant object ever manufactured? I know that I have at least six elephants I could donate to him. If you check your attic or basement, I bet you, too, can find some kind of elephantine object. All Mr. Ed needs to do is ask. I bet the elephants will come flooding in.

Whipping Egg Whites and Baking Trouble Shooter

2010-06-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Did you know that almost any combination of flour, sugar, shortening, eggs, and liquid will make some kind of delicious food? The secret is understanding how to recognize what you are making and then treating the ingredients in a way that is appropriate for your final product.

For example, you can put a sauce in the blender to make it very smooth, but if you put a meringue in the blender or food processor instead of using an electric mixer or whisk, you will end up being very disappointed. The egg whites in your meringue or souffle need to have a lot of air whipped into them. This can't happen in the blender or food processor. So pull out your electric mixer when you want to whip eggs.

Crack your eggs carefully because even a drop or two of egg yolk will keep the whites from whipping up to full volume. You can probably only whip 10 egg whites at once. If you are making a recipe that calls for more egg whites, whip them in two batches. Again, you need room for the air as well as the eggs. Your whites should be properly whipped when they are very fluffy and make stiff peaks. Keep going if your peaks are floppy and soft.

If you are adding sugar to your egg whites, add it very gradually. If you are folding your egg whites into other ingredients, fold very gently so that you don't lose all that air. The air makes your final product light and puffy. Air is a real ingredient! Treat it gently and you will have a light, airy cake or souffle.

For more tips on baking, take a look at our Baking Trouble Shooter.

Majestic Theater

2010-06-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

When you visit Gettysburg, don't forget to check out the Majestic Theater. The theater has two movie theaters where they have an amazing array of up-to-date alternative and arts films. I just saw Babies and The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo. I can recommend both!

The live theater has nationally recognized performers. You may want to plan your trip around their performance schedules. I'm looking forward to seeing Joan Baez on July 25.

In the photo, notice the Gettysburg Trolleys parked next to the theater. This is our public transportation system. There is a pick-up spot right at the theater door. Take advantage of the trolleys and avoid parking hassles around town. They can take you to the historic downtown from the National Military Park Visitor Center as well as to the Steinwehr Avenue tourist district.

Small Country Wedding

2010-06-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Lilies along front walk

What a beautiful bride!

Our younger guests enjoy the tree swing and the cats
The bride poses in the parlor.

A small country wedding, families relaxing outdoors, visiting the kittens - all in a day at the inn.

Spring in the country

2010-05-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

If you live in the city, you owe it to yourself to plan a weekend away in the country. Spring isn't just another page on the calendar. A country spring is baby geese on the pond, rampant irises blooming on every bank, and fresh green leaves on every tree.

I love to smell spring! The moist earth when I garden, the bold scent of climbing roses, the honey suckle smell on the breeze make me pause.

Spring is also about the sounds. The courting bullfrogs bellow. Mocking birds serenade you. Did you know that babbling brooks really babble? Listen closely and they might even speak to you. The kittens are mewing in the barn. The breeze rattles the trees. Spring is never quiet.

There are just a few more weeks before the heat of summer dries the grasses and the cicadas chirps replace the bullfrogs moans. Don't miss spring in the country this year.

Potato Salad

2010-05-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

Next week, my chorus performs our spring concert. We are having a coffeehouse dinner and concert in the town of Enola on the west bank of the Susquehanna River. Each chorus member is bringing food and I'm bringing potato salad. I bet that each of you has a favorite potato salad recipe. Mine is from my mom and she learned it from my father's sister. Some recipes have to be passed down in families.

Here's the secret! Pickle juice!

Boil your potatoes like usual. You can peel them, or not. Potato skins are good for you. Let the cooked potatoes cool. Cut them into bite-sized bits. Add some mayonnaise, chopped celery, chopped dill pickles, and pour in some of the pickle juice for flavor. Salt and pepper to taste and add chopped onions only if you like them.

I didn't tell you how much of each ingredient you should use because it doesn't really matter. It just comes out different if you emphasize one ingredient or the other. Some people like to throw in some mustard. I don't always do that. Don't forget your potato salad for your Memorial Day picnic - and come see our concert on May 22. www.cpwchorus.org See you there!

Bringing Grandchildren

2010-05-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Some of our favorite guests are grandparents with their grandchildren. We have one couple who brings each grandchild when that child turns 10. Traveling with your grandchild can be very rewarding. We have a number of rooms that are suited for grandparents and grand children. The children have a wonderful time exploring the historic farm. The grandparents can relax at the inn, knowing that their grandchildren are having a good time. The Gettysburg Battlefield has days worth of entertainment for both the children and the adults. Think about bringing your grand kids. We'd love to help you plan your trip.

WiFi at the inn

2010-05-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Last night, an astrophysicist who was staying at the inn was able to check in with the data being transmitted by a satelite that he monitors, thanks to our WiFi. Whether you want to check on your space probe or just check in with your family while you are away from home, our WiFi is free for our guests.

Gettysburg Festival

2010-04-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

If you haven't discovered the Gettysburg Festival, this is the year to come! The Gettysburg Music Festival has combined forces with History Meets the Arts. From June 18 to June 27, you can flit from big bands and Gilbert and Sullivan to Edible Art. Meet the artists, listen to music, and eat your way through the town. Here are some samples of the kinds of events that may tempt you.

Don't forget the Fringe Festival with a wide variety of genres.

Book your rooms now! This is too good to miss! 717 334-8804.

The Reenactors Return to Gettysburg

2010-04-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

April is here and the reenactors have returned to Gettysburg. Enjoy an encampment at the American Civil War Museum on Steinwehr Avenue. Encounter reenactors on streets. To really get in a nineteenth century mood, take a carriage ride through town.

Ghost Stories

2010-04-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Twenty guests enjoyed our ghost stories this evening. Every Friday, we gather our guests and tell stories about Gettysburg, the inn, and the Civil War. I often ask the guests to write a collaborative Gettysburg ghost story during the evening. This evening, they jumped in with rapid fire additions to a story that circulated around the room. I set the tone - a door slammed and a black cloud tumbled down the stairs. The guests continued the story. They were scared! They took photos! But of course their camera failed them! More clouds appeared! In the end, the phantom was after the chocolate chip cookies! Gettysburg ghosts live on! After the collaborative stories, guest enjoyed hearing about paranormal events in their guests rooms and traditional Gettysburg ghost stories. The ghost stories in Gettysburg are endless. Come and hear them for yourself. Maybe you will even see a ghost!

Rick Garland's JEB Stuart Dinner Scheduled for Wednesday September 22

2010-04-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

Our first JEB Stuart Dinner has been scheduled for Wednesday September 22, 2010. Book a room and settle in for an real soldier's dinner of pot roast, corn bread, Rick's own baked beans, salad, and baked apples. You will enjoy Rick's music while he muses on the exploits of the Confederate Cavalry leader JEB Stuart. $35 per guest in addition to room rate.

Spring is here in Gettysburg

2010-04-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

April is the beginning of the Gettysburg tourist season. Not only are the woods and orchards bursting with flowers, but the tourist businesses are in full flower. You can tour the battlefield on horseback, bicycle, or Segway in addition to the traditional personal guides and bus tours. The photos show downtown Gettysburg in bloom. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and drive to Gettysburg. You won't regret it!