Thanksgiving 2011

Fresh Baked Apple Pie

served this weekend at

Bernadine's Stillman Inn! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Hope your Thanksgiving Holiday was GREAT!

A special Thanks to all of you who have stayed with us!  We look forward to seeing you next year!  

We are especially thankful this year for our two granddaughters, Cara and Liliana!

They keep us moving and laughing all the time!

Stop in and see us this winter. Returning guests receive a 10% discount and we always have great midweek deals during this time!

Blog Special

Mention you read this blog and receive a complimentary bottle of champagne with your two night midweek stay!

Bernadine and her Mom are back from their "Tampa Tour of Tea Rooms" vacation!

They had a great time and brought home lots of ideas!

2012

We will be adding:

Wine in the Parlor  (every evening)

Afternoon Teas on Saturdays and by special request from our guests during your stay

(24 hour notice needed)

Fall 2011 - It's here at the Stillman Inn located in Beautiful Galena, IL

There is just no denying it, we are into Fall and it is beautiful here!  Fall Festivals are beginning, we just had a civil war encampment event here down our hill and I'm taking what will most likely be the last pictures of this years gardens.  All that work....!

We've just spotted our second set of baby squirrels for the Spring/Summer.  They are just too cute and cause quite a bit of mischief around...not as bad as racoons though.  We've taken the bird feeders down and set them on the ground since the squirrels end up getting everything anyway.  Fun to watch our granddaughter try to say squirrel at 2 years old!

We'll start making pumpkin and apple pies, cheesecake, hot apple cider and by the way, a lot more people are have a smores fire these days here at the inn!  Yummy!

 I love the random sunflowers that come up around the garden, particularly under the bird feeder.  It's just a pleasant surprise that I didn't have to plant!

Once the sedum blooms you know it's time to get your warm clothes out!

Galena IL has two to three civil war encampments a year.  There was one this weekend across from Grant's home.  You can see it from the Inn.  As a matter of fact, I can hear the cannons going off right now. 

Civil war encampments are a great thing for families to do.  We used to go to them and was I happy when the guys told my son he couldn't use his phone or any other electronics while there.  He loved it.  He was usually a water boy during battle.

 They regularly go through formations that were typical in the civil war encampments.  Guests love to go down and ask questions, see how they make their food, look at antique artifacts from the time like uniforms, guns, old kettles, saddles, etc.

This is always my favorite.  When they set up the little log cabin as it would have been in the 1800's.  This particular weekend it was Set up especially nice with lots of knitting, quilts and sewing gadgets.  I love the simpler arts.  I won't say simpler life because it most certainly was  not simple or air conditioned for that matter!  There are a lot of artists in Galena that like to work with their hands especially in the area of fibers, mending and sewing, knitting, rug making...When I work on my projects I like to think what it would have been like for women in those days.  It's kind of a touch stone for me like doing a family tree is to others.

 By brother-in-law Donn is going to like this pic!

I had the rare opportunity of being able to leave the inn for a walk Saturday.  I sat in Grant Park trying to finish up a knitted scarf when the train came by.  Next to the train tack is a bike path.  Lots of people riding bikes!  And next to that is the Galena River.  I was able to watch several canoes and kayaks go by.  What a perfect day!

Then I walked to the farmers market.  Tried to find "Pink Lady" apples.  I've been trying to find them for pies because the description of them is so luscious.  I understand they are an Heirloom apple and hard to come by.  If you see any, send one this way!

Have a great Fall and stop on in!  The colors are going to be spectacular in the next couple of weeks.  Next weekend is Oktoberfest complete with wiener dog races and then the following weekend is our busiest weekend - Country Fair Weekend. 

Mention this Fall 2011 blog and receive a complimentary bottle of wine with your two night stay!

Bernadine & Dave

Ahhh, September 2011

Like everyone else, we here at Bernadine's Stillman Inn in Galena Illinois, we are wondering where Summer went.  We actually like the cooler evenings.  Great for having a fire with the guests and making Smores! 

Mom was here this week helping me make more Strawberry Jam and Truffles.  We have added the molded chocolates to our "Gift Armoire". 

Just made Brownies and a Strawberry Pie for this weekends guests.  Hope they love it!

Picked what will probably be the last of the tomatoes, green beans and green onions this year.

Also pictured here is some Pasta from Galena's new Pasta Store downtown.  They have everything, even Chocolate Pasta.

Mom and I picked up the "Spinach Basil Garlic Fettuccine".  It's a beautiful color and apparently all we have to do is add a little bit of oil or pesto to it for a great taste. 

I also liked the pasta shaped like sombreros.  You cook them and fill them up as an appetizer.  Check it out next time you are in Galena!

Come See Us Soon!  815 777-0557
Dave & Bernadine

Lavender Frosted Cake

Need a quick and beautiful cake for an event?  Here's an idea our guests love.

Lavender Frosted Cake
Simply make two 8" round white cakes from a box mix (I know, but it is quicker)
Level them before stacking (important thing to do and you can find a leveler anywhere they have cake making supplies.  I bought mine at Hobby Lobby)
Make your favorite frosting and add 2 teaspoons Lavender Extract (We get our extracts at www.kingarthurflour.com)
And add a touch of purple food coloring and mix well
Spread between layers and just on the top of the cake
Sprinkle with sparkly sprinkles and there you have it!

 This weekend our guests will be delighting in our fabulous disappearing oatmeal cookies and a Pineapple upside down cake!

Plan your next visit to Bernadine's Stillman Inn in hitoric Galena and mention this Lavender Frosted Cake and receive a complimentary bottle of wine with your two night stay!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

The Grand Romance Room