Blueberry Cove Inn
Innkeeper(s):
Seely & David Gerraughtys
Discount on Walking Tour of Newport 18 May 2013, 10:58 am
One of the fun things about Narragansett is its location. Although most people hear "Narragansett" and think:1) Huh?
2) Beach time!
3) Weddings!
Really they should also be thinking
4) In the center of everything.
Yes, Narragansett is on a great ocean-facing piece of land and it has lovely beaches and weddings. But it is also within a 15 to 30 minute drive to many other destinations. One of the most popular is Newport.
Lots of people run over there to shop, tour the mansions, experience the nightlife and explore the bird sanctuary. Others revel in the history. Well, this deal is for the latter.
Groupon has a discount for two historic walking tours produced by the Newport Historical Society and the Newport Restoration Foundation. To quote the deal, "Walking tours explore the history of colonial Newport and Newport during the Golden Age."
So, if you are into history, walking or just doing something different AND like a bargain, check out this offer.
http://www.groupon.com/deals/newport-history-tours-1?p=1&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&sid=46101384-a824-4f9b-8bfb-510654b105e0&division=providence&user=2addbab0f087548b8d88d728e3172a4914e1c893b531fdeb9716dfc7b856496d&date=20130518&s=body&c=deal_button&d=deal-page&utm_campaign=newport-history-tours-1
Note: no one at Groupon, the Historical Society or Restoration Foundation knows who the heck I am so I'm not getting any kickbacks for sharing.
How did you do that? 7 May 2013, 9:00 pm
Sometimes guests ask me how I learned to do most of the construction and maintenance jobs that I have tackled. (Or have been too foolish/poor/But it was my mother's can do attitude that really shaped me. She taught me the basics that a girl would need in the areas of cooking, cleaning, sewing, handicrafts and gardening. She encouraged me to have curiosity and to think out of the box in problem solving. In some leap of enlightenment I began to just translate traditional "girl's jobs" into construction terms.
When you have an odd shaped house that needs new wall board just fall back on "girl skills." Cutting the wall board is just like cutting a fabric pattern. Screwing it to the wall is just like pinning a dress together. Mudding the seams is just like icing a cake. (Not my best skill but it gets done.)
So when there is a hole in the icing because you cut the opening for the electrical box wrong, get out the icing piping bag and get to work. First make sure the electricity is turned off. Mix a bit of plaster of Paris a little on the damp side - sort of between the texture of Greek yogurt and set pudding. Use either a cake piping bag or heavy plastic bag with the corner cut off. Don't bother using a cake decorating tip. Roll up the bag and gently squeeze the plaster into the openings outside of the metal box to fill the hole.
This technique was tidier than filling the areas with a putty knife. It allowed me to put a thicker bead of plaster evenly into the space. The tip of the bag squirted the plaster behind the metal "ears" of the box and self-leveled so there weren't any annoying air gaps.
I'm sure a professional plasterer would roll his eyes at these instructions but they sure Worked for Me on Wednesdays.
Happy Mother's Day Mom. Thanks for all you taught me.
Rejoice! Marriage Equality Embraced by Rhode Island 3 May 2013, 1:59 pm
| Gov. Chafee signs the bill into law |
When you enter business you are always told never to discuss sex, religion or politics with the clients. Well, I guess I am breaking the rules today because I want to celebrate Rhode Island's decision to accept love as the standard for marriage and to pass a marriage equality
bill that was signed into the State's laws yesterday afternoon.
| Touro Synagogue tour |
| Elopement Package |
Obviously this is a contentious issue and not everyone thinks it is great. But here at Blueberry Cove Inn, I want to celebrate everyone's happiness. I want to embrace new families from every walk of life. I want to be dizzy from dancing, tipsy from the champagne toasts and sneezing from all the wedding flowers.
So to everyone, even if you don't get married here, have a blast at your wedding. To all, straight and gay and lesbian, celebrate your way and have a happy life together.
The world's easiest stuffed French Toast 5 Feb 2013, 7:28 pm
French toast is one of my favorite breakfast foods. This variation is officially in the Blueberry Cove Inn lineup after mid-winter trials. It meets all the criteria for an easy and versatile dish: it is prepared the night before so it is ready to bake when I roll out of bed; the fillings can be varied by season; it is easily reduced or increased depending on how many servings you want to make; and it holds fairly well after baking when the guests come to the table a little later than expected.I pull Texas toast slices out of the freezer to throw the dish together. The bread thaws and absorbs the egg mixture overnight in the fridge. I think it is easier to spread the cream cheese and preserves on frozen bread than it is when using thawed bread.
Some days I have a thicker layer of cream cheese. Some days I'm more in fruit mood. As long as you have about the same amount on each serving it will cook evenly. I saw something similar on Pinterest using peanut butter and bananas. (I want Fluff on those.) Let your imagination run wild with fruit and preserve combinations! Enjoy!
The World's Easiest Stuffed French Toast
12 slices of thickly sliced bread or Texas toast bread
8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
8 oz raspberry preserves
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
10 eggs
1 cup milk or cream
2 teaspoons almond extract (or flavor of choice)
Butter or spray a 13x9 pan.
Spread cream cheese on six slices of bread. Spread preserves on top of cream cheese. Place in pan. Arrange blueberries evenly over the preserves. Top with remaining bread slices.
Beat eggs well then mix in milk or cream and flavorings. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 375. Tip pan and spoon any extra egg mixture over tops of the bread. Cover with foil. Bake 30-45 min. or until all liquid is absorbed. Allow it to sit a few minutes before removing from the pan.
12/12/12 is coming 28 Nov 2012, 11:27 am
How cool would it be for your anniversary to be 12/12? So easy to remember each year. So unique. Then the added bonus of the year of 2012! Get married at noon or midnight for an extra 12. Everything is aligned to ensure a long and happy marriage and yet, I have no weddings scheduled.So, if you are about to take the plunge but need a nudge besides such a great date, I will offer a 12% discount to anyone that books one of our bridal packages on 12/12/12.
If 12 couples sign up for 12/12/12 all of their elopement packages will be free! (We will have to spread out their stays in the Whirlpool Suite though since they probably won't want to share.)
So no maybe, call me! This special won't be offered again until 12/12/3012.
Nighty Nights: a cookie for all seasons 28 Nov 2012, 10:10 am
| photo by Baker Beth |
The cookies are a basic meringue but lend themselves to many variations. These are not as dry and hard as commercial varieties. The outside has a pleasant crunch but the inside is more of a divinity texture due to the moisture in the fillings. They can be tinted or flavored as you like. I've listed my most popular fillings but you can try anything that is fairly dry. I prefer mini chips and usually chop regular sized chips if the flavor doesn't come in mini size.
If you have had trouble with undissolved sugar in meringues due to humidity or old sugar I have an easy tip. Measure the sugar required for the recipe into a blender. (If you have a small blender jar it is even better.) Whirl the sugar for a minute or so until it is the consistency of powdered sugar. Then use in the recipe. DO NOT substitute regular powdered sugar as the corn starch in it will mess up the finished product.
Nighty Nights
Preheat oven to 350 for an over night bake or to 200 for a 3 hour bake. Cover a baking sheet with tin foil - do not grease.
2 room temperature egg whites
2/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla or other flavoring
(optional) food coloring
Whip egg whites until at least doubled. Continue whipping and gradually add the sugar until stiff. Finish with vanilla and food coloring if used. Remove from mixer and gently blend in one of the additional ingredients groups:
1. 1 1/2 cups mini chips and 1 cup finely chopped nuts
2. 1 cup nuts, 1 cup sweetened coconut, 1 cup white chocolate chips
3. 1 cup mini chips, 1 cup dried cherries, tint batter pink
4. 1 cup chopped dried fruit, 1 cup chopped nuts
5. 1 1/2 cups chopped dried fruit, no nuts
Drop batter by small teaspoon or small cookie scoop onto foil. These won't spread so you can place them very close together.
Place in 350 oven, turn off heat and leave for 8 hours without opening the oven door.
OR
Place in 200 oven and leave for about 3 hours. Cool on counter before removing from the foil.
The cookies will peel off of the tinfoil. Store tightly covered.
Surviving another storm 30 Oct 2012, 1:48 pm
Just a quick unadorned note to let everyone know that the Inn and innkeepers survived another massive storm. Sadly two of the big trees by the parking lot fell on top of our students' cars but no one was injured. We have only minor gutter damage. Of course we have no power, phones or internet access and aren't sure when those will be back. (Thank goodness for cell phones and the many WIFI hot spots around the area.) We have repair crews in the neighborhood including some from Missouri and Michigan. Many trees are down and need to be cleared before the lines can be safely repaired. We will let everyone know when things are ready for guests again. If you have reservations for this weekend we will be contacting you tomorrow.Another nice review 3 Aug 2012, 11:13 am
We have hosted some of the nicest guests this year. Some of them have taken the time to write reviews for us on the popular review sites. This was just posted to Trip Advisor:http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g54097-d81671-r136031666-Blueberry_Cove_Inn-Narragansett_Rhode_Island.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT
Ben T
Seattle, Washington, United States
1 review
Reviewed August 2, 2012NEW
Would definitely stay again. Near the beach and good restaurants. Make sure to stay for the breakfast before heading to the beach. Nice rooms with very good service and modern conveniences such as wifi and flat screen TVs.Trip Advisor, Yelp, or BedandBreakfast.com
Thanks Ben, we look forward to your next visit. If anyone wants to check out other reviews you can find us on Trip Advisor, Yelp, or BedandBreakfast.com.
Innkeeper Seely
WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!! 3 Jul 2012, 8:29 am
YOU DID IT!!!!!! YOUR VOTES PUT US OVER THE TOP!!!!!!!The Inn is now eligible for Phase Two of the Mission Small Business Grant Competition: the Essay Contest.
Fortunately there will be no swim suit, competition or talent competitions.
Seriously, I've sent in the essay and there's nothing more to do until they announce the winners Sept. 15, 2012.
THANK Y'ALL A MILLION TIMES OVER
Big happenings around the area, rooms available 28 Jun 2012, 1:17 pm
So make a booking and come enjoy the sun, surf, and all kinds of free fun.
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