The following is a recap of Shiloh Morning Inn's birth--from that first dream through construction.  This story was the total of our first website that was started when we began the construction phase in 1998.  Our grand opening was July 1, 1999, and we have loved innkeeping ever since.  The story is a long one, but shows the "heart and soul" within the 73 acres now known as Shiloh Morning Inn.  Various webmasters have told us it is now out of date and should be removed, but we wanted to share with you the excitement, joys, and challenges of starting with a dream and actually seeing it come to pass.  How lucky we are!

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Welcome. If this is your first visit to our web site, here is where you can catch up on the story of our bed & breakfast dream coming true.

It was about ten years ago that we somehow began dreaming about owning a country inn or a bed & breakfast. Can't remember what started it all. It could be that we had been running a free b&b here in our home. Living in a town of 3500 people with no lodging meant that any traveling preacher, singer, or politician had to sleep over in someone's home. More and more often it was our home and through the years we added and remodeled with that in mind until we had a type of b&b accommodation.

To start our research into this tremendous career change, we took a trip to New Hampshire (our first) to a seminar for "aspiring innkeepers." By the time we left three days later, we were "aspiring innkeepers" – a term we had never heard and suddenly were. Since that was our first and only stay in a bed and breakfast inn, a little experience was the next item on our agenda. That began the next year with a trip from our home in Oklahoma up through Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, down the East Coast and back through the South. After staying in 17 different bed and breakfast inns in as many nights, we had rolls of film to be developed and books of notes to pour over. Each of the innkeepers had been kind enough to spend time with us to talk about our dream.

Joining the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) proved to be the best decision of our quest. In 1992 we attended their biannual meeting at Santa Fe, New Mexico. After attending every workshop or seminar we could possibly cram into each day, we came away with so much inspiration and confidence. We COULD build this and they would come!

But it didn't happen. Nothing would work out at our present business for a sale at a price that would give us the funds to build our dream. So - the bed & breakfast inn was put on the far back burner. Saddened by the seemingly failed attempts, we decided to pick ourselves up "by the bootstraps" and go on with our lives. Maybe it was not meant to be. Maybe the timing was not right. Maybe we hadn't tried hard enough.

But the dream would not die. It just kept creeping back in subtle ways over the following months. We began looking for that perfect piece of land upon which to build this "place of peace and rest." That, in itself, was an adventure. Southern Oklahoma has many acres of beautiful rolling hills, covered in lush green trees. After almost a year of driving our real estate agent "bananas," we settled on 44 acres with a perfect building site - right on its border. When the 13 acres on that border became available within two months, we knew that this was the place. Two years later the 15 acres next to that came up for sale and we snapped that up to make a total of 72 acres for our dream spot.

By this time we had attended another PAII meeting in San Antonio and bolstered our confidence once again. The beauty of belonging to trade organizations is that they are such vast resource guides. The Oklahoma Bed & Breakfast Association also provides us with the opportunity to network with local innkeepers.

Along the trip down this yellow brick road, we have met some very special innkeepers who have been mentors to us. They've taken the time out of their very busy days to look at our plans, listen to our vision, and answer our questions. Ron & Phyllis Murray of The Montford Inn in Norman, Oklahoma, guided us through the planning stages. Gary & Martha Hall of The Arcadian in Edmond, Oklahoma, have dreamed along with us and even came for a tour when it was just to look at dirt and trees and visualize the finished buildings.

Some people write books & articles about how their dream came about after it is built. You are invited to come along with us as we go. Shiloh Morning Inn is still just a dream. It is a dream on paper, fully planned, partially built, and several months away from opening. The two cottages are in various stages of completion - that's another story.

Building on a piece of land on which nothing had ever been built has proven to be a challenge in itself - no utilities, no roads, etc. We wanted to be careful to preserve the beauty of the land and lose as few trees as possible. Once the site for the main house was decided, we needed places for the two cottages. As you can see from the pictures, nature had already provided. Bambi's House - our first cottage to be built - is nestled back in the woods.

Just a bit closer to the main house site is the Bluebird Cottage. Each of these cottages will be a private getaway for a couple. They consist of a living room, bedroom with king size bed, bath with sunken tub and separate shower, and a screened-in back deck complete with a hot tub. Each has a fireplace, wet bar and a TV/VCR. Guests will be able to choose a full breakfast in the main house or a continental-plus delivered to their front door.

The big challenge still lies ahead - the construction of a 6,600 square foot house with another 2,000 square feet of porches and balconies. Our contractor says he can build it in seven or eight months, barring any weather complications. Which brings up another subject. Unless you haven't listened to any news in the last few months, you are aware of the severe drought in Oklahoma and Texas. Even with the cooler weather of September (it's only been in the 90's) and a few showers, the ground is still too dry to pour a foundation. We are number 1 on our builder's list, so we are praying for rain and believing that it will come soon.

Meanwhile we are working at our business as much as possible, helping our son as he learns the ropes to take it over. Weekends are spent shopping at estate sales, auctions, furniture stores, etc. How exciting it is to see it coming together as we bring in piece after piece, each for its very own spot. Our home is spilling over with furniture and artwork.

Keep watching for Shiloh Morning Inn updates. Bob has his new digital camera and he is taking lots of pictures. Oh - almost forgot. Be sure to watch for pictures of Michael - the Shiloh Morning Inn puppy. Michael is a Great Pyrenees who came to us all the way from Canada and will be like a guardian angel for the Inn. He is now four months old, weighs 53 pounds and quickly growing!

December Update

Time is flying and so are we! Construction on the main house for Shiloh Morning Inn began on November 10, 1998. Already we have a completed foundation and the framing is scheduled to begin this week. The numerous decisions are coming fast and furious and are we having fun!! More than sixty four beautiful windows have been ordered and all the oversized soaking tubs and whirlpool tubs for two have been selected.

We have been so blessed with gorgeous weather. The rains came in October and early November - enough to sooth the parched earth - along with cooler temperatures. But once construction started, the sun has been shining and beautiful blue Oklahoma skies have dominated. While others are out rushing to do their Christmas shopping, we are in the furniture stores, estate sales, and antique shops searching for just the right pieces.

Our family celebrated our last Thanksgiving in our home where we have gathered each year for almost thirty years. Then we all caravanned to Shiloh to walk together over the foundation and dream of what it would look like when the walls are up. No sadness here - we will take all our memories with us. Michael, the Shiloh Morning Inn puppy is now six months old and weighs more than 80 pounds! Bob has taken dozens of pictures of him to show you, but we would have to tape several together to get one complete picture of Michael. Getting an 80 pound puppy to sit still for a photograph is quite a challenge, but I have confidence that Bob will prevail. More pictures are coming and we are still on schedule for our summer, 1999, opening date. We hope you will plan on being there to celebrate this special time with us.

December Update II

Here is the latest! What a nice surprise when we drove up to Shiloh and after only three days work, they had the first floor almost framed. In the first picture, you are looking at parts of the Hummingbird Suite and Suite Memories.

One of the beauties of the Oklahoma countryside is that something this remote can be only 15 minutes off busy Interstate 35. Ardmore has such an ideal location being right on I - 35 halfway between Oklahoma City and Dallas - 90 miles either way. Adding to that, we are right at the foot of the Arbuckle Mountains with Lake of the Arbuckles, Lake Murray, and Lake Texhoma just minutes away.

In the second picture with the men working, you are standing in the kitchen. The dining room is on the front, facing east, with a wall of windows looking out on a fantastic view to savor as you feast on a scrumptious breakfast.

Happy New Year, everyone!

We are sooo excited about 1999. A few days of inclement weather during the Christmas holidays slowed progress down just a bit for that week. But-we are up and going now–and we're not kidding about the up part. We now have a second floor beginning. What a view those guests on the second floor are going to have. It was worth the effort of climbing up a few stairs and then taking a ladder the rest of the way.

Pelican's Perch, the Butterfly Suite, and Tranquility each will have a private balcony facing the east to watch those beautiful Oklahoma sunrises. And Tranquility will have a cozy whirlpool tub for two nestled under its windows for rather . . . unique viewing.

Here's a different elevation of the house. �

And check back this week for the pictures of the crane lifting those roof trusses into place.

It's A Crane's Life No–this is not foggy old London town–it's "sunny" southern Oklahoma at 3:00 in the afternoon. This was one of those days to curl up in front of the fireplace with a good book or an old movie and vegetate . . . after the house is completed. But we did take the workmen some chocolate chip cookies, still warm out of the oven. Bob wished he could get a picture of the entire house, but if we got far enough away to get the shot, you couldn't have seen the house for the fog!

Tomorrow, we leave for Albuquerque for a Professional Association of Innkeepers International meeting. There we will select (hopefully) our telephone system, some software, and learn how to be better at this thing on the "web". It's fun to get away and learn some more, but we will be in a hurry to get home to see the progress . . . and take more pictures for you to see. Shiloh Morning Inn is really taking shape and the dream coming true is better than dreaming the dream.

January 1999

Christmas is over and the seed catalogs have arrived . . . it's time to think about landscaping, right? After doing some research on mulches, we found that we could buy a truck load of a product called saw grain shavings at a considerable savings over the bags of mulch at a garden center. We were told the only catch was that this mulch has to cure. No problem . . . it's January . . . plenty of time before planting season. So we ordered a truck load.

The plans were to meet the truck at Shiloh at 8:00 a.m. this morning, but there was a delay in the loading and we had to get to work. At 3:00 p.m., the driver called to say he couldn't get his 65-foot long truck through the gate. what to do? Chris, our son, drove over to assess the situation and between the two of them deducted that the only place to dump the 23 * TONS of shavings was beside the road! Well . . . at least we know what we'll be doing this weekend. Anyone out there want to come and help??

Well, at least all our landscaping, grapes, blackberries, orchards, and trails through the woods are taken care of. Another page in the adventures of building your dream bed and breakfast.

February 1999

Here's another view of the front of the main house at Shiloh Morning Inn. Things are beginning to take shape so that we can see what each room will look like.

The other picture is a sunrise on a crisp January morning from the balcony of the Butterfly Suite. We took pictures from all the balconies on two different mornings.The view is breathtaking . . . and the silence was just awesome. As we stood there watching the sun rise, a hawk began his morning hunt for breakfast. He seemed to be floating on the breezes. And then the deer ventured out. The song from Oklahoma! is so appropriate–Oh, What a Beautiful Morning. We are so anxious to share it with you.

We thought you might like to see a close-up view of the front of the main house at Shiloh Morning Inn. In this front view #1, you can get an idea of
a few of the 65 windows which were installed this week. The room to the
right of the large opening (that will be the front door) is the dining
room. Just to the left of that opening is the parlor and further left of
that is Suite Memories.

In this view #2, you can get an idea of the color of the siding and the
roof. Today, we met with the cabinet builder and finalized plans for the
large kitchen, all the bath vanities and the library. Soooo many
decisions!!

This update is a little different–we want to show you something outside the building project. Our ovens and another kitchen appliance arrived this week so it was necessary to meet the freight delivery one afternoon. After
unloading the cargo, we took a walk through the woods to a back meadow, hoping to see some deer. On the walk, we looked down and saw these beautiful wild flowers in the middle of February! What a lovely signal of the new life to come in spring. How glad we were that we decided to "stop and smell the roses". . . . just had to share this with you. And, by the way, the house is moving along-just a little ahead of schedule.

February

This update is a challenge to your "visual imagination". We've had a beautiful wrought iron gazebo in multiple cartons in our garage since last August. This past weekend was the time to tackle the job. So we hauled all the boxes and necessary tools to Shiloh where we were joined by Linda's parents and our son & his lovely wife. Despite having six "wanna be" supervisors, the job was finished before sunset.

Now for your challenge . . . Take the picture of this lush, fragrant, Carolina Jasmine and imagine it growing on the gazebo . . . set in the middle of a beautiful green lawn. Next imagine yourself sitting in a comfortable lawn chair under the gazebo, with someone about whom you care very much, sipping on a cool summer drink. If you can put all that together . . . call us and reserve your own very private spot this summer at Shiloh Morning Inn!

February 1999

One of the big advantages of building a bed and breakfast "from the ground up" is the ability to customize it for the guests' comfort and privacy. Many years ago, during one of our research trips we stayed in an exquisite "castle" b&b. Unfortunately, whenever we remember that place, it is because we smothered all night. Our room was on an air-conditioning system which included several rooms and the thermostat was in the room next door–unoccupied and locked.

That memory was what led us to install a central AC/heating system for each suite and cottage at Shiloh Morning Inn. Our guests can be as warm or as cool as they desire. Each suite or cottage also has its own hot water heater. Because of these "extras", it has taken a little longer for the electrical wiring and plumbing. Don't know what the final measurement was but about a week before the electricians completed the rough-in wiring they had pulled over 6,000 feet of electrical wire!

So-if you have been wondering why there haven't been any more pictures of the main house–it's because there hasn't been a lot of exterior change and try as we may, pictures of wiring and plumbing didn't come out too great. What a surprise today, when we walked into Shiloh for the first time this week. The workmen had been very busy–hanging over 700-four by nine foot-sheets of Sheetrock! And . . .they're not finished. The change was tremendous–now you don't see through walls.

If you've never been to Oklahoma in the early spring, you've missed a treat. The Redbud Tree, Oklahoma's state tree, is just beginning to bloom. We found this one down by the ponds this afternoon. Last spring we decided to count the redbuds on Shiloh. . .but we gave up after 200. You really should come see them! We're looking forward to showing all of Shiloh Morning Inn to you. . .

March 1999

After talking with our builder this week concerning timetables, he assured us that everything is still on schedule. The work is getting into the "finishing" stages and progress is not as evident as when walls were going up and roofing going on. The cabinet maker also told us today that he is almost finished with the kitchen cabinets and the vanities for all the baths. So we are looking forward to a move in May and June. Wow . . . I'd better get busy cleaning out closets. After living in the same house for 30+ years, every closet, cabinet, and storage area is full to the brim. What a garage sale we will have!!

Here's a view of the back of the house. In the open area, there will be our raised bed (easier on the back) garden. On the blank wall to the left will be our greenhouse which arrived today in five huge cartons. Our plans are to have our own fresh herbs, vegetables, berries, and fruit.

We have been excited for so long over this dream but now others are joining in. The landscape designer and I visited today. She and her husband are B&B fans and she is so excited about helping us plan the gardens. Thanks to all of you who are e-mailing us with your questions and comments, we know this site is being seen by lots of folks. And . . . because so many have been asking for our rates and descriptions of the different accommodations we are working on getting all that info put on this site. Watch for updates with that.

April 1999

Time for another update already! We've been busy selecting floor tiles, styles for the mantles, counter tops, and more furniture shopping. This week the workmen did all the texturing of the walls, the bulldozer built the circle drive to the front of the house where guests will park to check in and unload, and all the cabinets and vanities were delivered. By next week we should have some pictures showing a lot of change. Here is one last shot of the front of the house before the drive is built. No-those aren't the permanent porch posts-they haven't arrived yet.

Today, we planted a few trees and while I was gone to the cabinet builder's shop to look at counter tops, Bob took a walk down behind the Bluebird Cottage . . . and here's what he saw. . . not bluebirds, but deer. He kept this a secret until we arrived back home and unloaded the pictures on our computer. What a neat surprise for me! More pictures later with all the changes.

April 1999

Spring is in full bloom at Shiloh. More wild flowers are appearing every day and that beautiful shade of "spring green" is coming to the trees. Inside the main house, work is progressing as the trim carpenters are busy putting up crown molding and the trim around the windows and doors. The cabinet men are putting in all the bath vanities, kitchen cabinets, bookcases in the library, and those neat little cabinets surrounding the mini-fridges in each guest room.

We have selected all the paint colors, the carpeting, tiles, and marble which will surround each fireplace. From the picture . . . if you look very closely, you can see the porch posts on the first floor porch. Our builder worked very hard to place them so that they would not interfere with the beautiful views from the upstairs balconies.

Grass seed is in the ground down around the gazebo. Another level down the hill is our mini orchard. We were down there tonight looking at all the blossoms and turned around to see this view of the house . . . and wanted to share it with you. Our 18-month-old granddaughter had a great time hunting Easter eggs in the lush green grass around the cherry trees.

It is getting more and more difficult to leave Shiloh when we have to come to our present home. But . . . there is still work to be done here. Cleaning out closets last week sent a van load to charity and we have just started! Talk about spring cleaning!! It's hard to believe that we will begin moving furniture into the houses in just six weeks.

Mid-April, 1999

Greetings to everyone! Things have been going so quickly that we just realized we hadn't sent an update in quite a while. Yesterday, men laid over 14,000 square feet of grass sod on the hills going down from the house. Here's a before shot taken early in the morning. Next will come the landscaping around the house and cottages. The challenge there is to find plants that will grow in the tight clay soil we have just at the foot of the Arbuckle Mountains and something the deer won't want to have for lunch. We are trying very hard to not disturb the natural beauty of this land.

The painters are moving right along on the Bluebird Cottage. . . should be finished by the end of this week. The cherry finish on all the trim work is just beautiful and we can't wait to see the soft blue walls.

Bob and I "camped" out one night this week at Shiloh so we could be there early enough to meet the sod truck. The moon and stars were incredible! We didn't realize how much we were missing by not "seeing" the sky because of city lights.

Here is another shot of the guys as they finished up the sod on this slope by Suite Memories. All of them took time to just stand and look at the beauty that is at Shiloh.

We had a tour group from the Oklahoma Department of Tourism last week. It was such fun to show them a "new" bed and breakfast . . .with large, open, airy rooms . . .each guest suite with its own heat and air system and its own hot water heater . . .and the large dining room with an entire wall of windows looking out on the view. Such a lovely place to sit and enjoy several cups of morning coffee . . .or maybe take a carafe out onto one of the porches or balconies.

Hello to each and everyone. I told Linda I wanted her to let me do the writing this week and she graciously agreed. Things seem to be coming together. Linda and our interior decorator made a trip to Texas Friday to find the comforters, shams, and other odds and ends for the rooms. We are supposed to have a truckload of furniture come in this week and the only problem we will have with that is storage till the main house is finished.

This year has been fabulous for wild flowers and here's one last pic. We have been averaging rain about once per week for the last six weeks, so it has been perfect for all the outside growth. Linda didn't want me to mow down the wild flowers . . . I didn't want to mow them down . . . but when the grass gets a foot tall in the meadows, we had to start mowing. Maybe next year everyone can come see the wild flowers when they are in bloom.

One day Linda mentioned to her dad, who is 86 years old, that we would like to have a bluebird house to put up outside of our Bluebird Cottage. Also, Oklahoma is promoting the increase in the bluebird population. A few days later he called and said to come by and pick up our bluebird houses. He had made eight houses for us. So we took them and a couple of weeks later, he had made 20 more for us. We told him we didn't know when we were going to find time to put up 28 bluebird houses. So, he came out and nailed them on trees all over our property. I don't think we have found all of them yet.

We are located 100 miles south of the deadly tornadoes that tore a path through Oklahoma last Monday night. We saw the destruction last Wednesday while in Oklahoma City shopping for furniture, light fixtures, fans, etc. I have never seen anything like it in my life and hope I never see it again. Our prayers go out to those who lost loved ones, their homes, and all their belongings. Seeing the damage makes us all the more thankful for the above ground shelter we built at Shiloh. Our office is a reinforced concrete room like the one shown on the news reports that survived the F5 tornadoes in Oklahoma City.

Oh, and by the way, for those of you who just look at the updates, there have been a few changes made on some of the other pages of this site. Check out "Reservations" to see a brief description of all the suites and cottages and our rates.

May

We thought it would be neat to show you what the view is from the two cottages if you are relaxing in the hot tub on the back deck. What is so unique about the way nature planned this land is that both of the cottages are just a short distance from the main house . . . and breakfast, yet out the back door of each one is another world.

Here is the view from Bambi's House on the back deck. The deck was finished this week, but we had to wait for the screening to be put up since a barn swallow had decided to take up residence there and raise a family. But now all the babies are grown and gone and work can progress once again. Just imagine, leaving all your worries behind and taking a good soak out here while looking at this view.

And here is the view from the Bluebird Cottage back deck. As you can see, the walking trails are already there just a little mowing is needed to make them great for a stroll. This past week, the electricians started hanging light fixtures in the cottage and carpenters have almost finished the deck. They promised to finish that part this week, then the plumbers will finish up, floor coverings laid . . . and MOVE IN DAY!!

One truckload of furniture arrived last week and more is on the way. All those beautiful linens are ordered and our home is filling up with comforters, bed skirts and window coverings. We're starting to pack this week for our move. I can't wait to begin on the kitchen. It's been a long time dream to have a kitchen such as this one. What an exciting time we are moving into! Keep the email coming. We're having such fun with all the people making reservations for their special days.

June

Good June to you! How the time is flying. Things are moving along at a good pace, but as usual on a project this size, some of it is running a bit behind schedule. Don't know how much you can see from this angle but here is a picture of our son, Chris, digging the holes for the privacy fence and arbor that will go over the patios on Suite Memories and Hummingbird Suite where guests can soak away cares in their private hot tub.

Another load of sod will arrive Friday and landscaping around the cottages and main house will begin then also.

Now for other news. While packing week before last, I stepped off a step stool, turned my ankle, fell on the other one, broke all three bones and destroyed all the ligaments. After surgery to put in a metal plate with screws and a screw on the other side, I am now home from the hospital looking forward to six to eight weeks in a wheelchair or on a walker with our first guests arriving in four weeks. We had a few moments of . . . what shall we call it . . . sheer panic? But that was all put aside after we e-mailed our fellow innkeepers in the Professional Association of Innkeepers International and asked for suggestions for a cook in a wheelchair. Overnight we received a wealth of information from veteran innkeepers in inns from California to Maryland. Some of the ideas were so great we will probably adapt them to our permanent plans. It was a tremendous morale booster!

Along with learning new things about food service from a sitting position, we have learned a multitude of other things. Suite Memories is our wheelchair accessible suite and we got to try out all the turns for our future guests. It works great . . . even with a foot protruding out front! And our ramp is sooo easy to go up and down. There is no furniture in that room yet, but we will also be more aware of keeping it very open for easier maneuverability. While it was a goal to have one wheelchair accessible room, we realize that not all the guests who stay there will have those limitations. So Suite Memories offers more than just accessibility. It has a roll-in glass walled shower with a tiled seat, and also a huge soaking tub for two, along with that private hot tub out on the patio. This suite has a corner fireplace and two of the neatest lounge chairs with matching ottomans which will slide under the chair when no longer needed. My grandmother made a king-sized quilt entirely by hand before she died and it will hang on one wall.

With orchid walls and white cottage style furniture, it is both cheery and mindful of simpler times. But I think one of the best aspects of the room is the private patio (with the hot tub) to sit on with just a few steps down the hill to the woods. Apparently humans aren't the only ones who will appreciate this suite . . . Bob found wild turkey tracks all around in the fresh soil while getting ready for the sod.

Well . . . I must get back to packing . . . how wonderful to have friends who are willing to come in and help . . . they pack and I sit nearby telling them what goes to Shiloh Morning Inn and what goes to the garage sale.

Our list of "Friends of Shiloh" keeps growing and we love it! If you haven't added your name, be sure to e-mail us so we can keep you up to date.

June

Greetings, Are things ever changing! The painters have almost finished the walls and we can't wait for you to see them. The parlor is a rich burgundy and the dining room is hunter green . . . and with the white crown molding and trim, it looks so neat.

Another load of sod has been laid and the beginning shrubbery is scheduled to be planted this week.

This weekend while I was doing some paperwork in Bambi's House, Bob had the sprinklers going on the new sod out front. I looked out and there was our friend, this cute roadrunner. He would run into the sprinkler's path, then spread his wings to catch the water and you could almost hear him say "ahhhhh". Then he would run underneath a tree for a while until time for another shower. He has become our resident "buddy". But . . . he needs a name. So, we thought it would be neat to have a contest and let YOU name him. The winner will receive . . . drum roll . . . a genuine pottery Shiloh Morning Inn coffee mug. Now it won't be filled with that freshly ground coffee you would receive if you were sitting in our dining room . . . but, hey, you can dream. E-mail your entry to us and the winner will be announced on July 1 . . . our opening day.

And for those of you with sharp eyes . . . this picture of our little buddy was taken in front of the Bluebird Cottage. He decided to take a stroll over there to check out the planting bed preparation and Bob got this shot.

Here's a challenge for your imagination. This is a shot from the Butterfly Suite looking out on its private balcony. Months ago, before there was anything built, we would drive up on the hill where the house now sits and climb up on top of a pickup or anything we could get on to try to see what the view would be like. There was no way we could ever capture what it is really like . . . it's better than we could ever have imagined. Of course, the view will be better after the windows are cleaned and the outdoor furniture is on the balcony so that our guests can lounge on the balcony with a third or fourth cup of coffee and appreciate what nature has provided.

Be sure to get those entries in for the "Name Our Roadrunner" contest! Till next time . . .

Can it be August, already??? Shiloh Morning Inn is officially open! Hooray!!! We did open the cottages on July 1, as planned, and all the guestrooms in the main house opened on July 17. We are still adding finishing touches here and there and as a result haven't taken very many pictures. But . . .we are getting e-mails asking when is the next update, so we got busy.

First . . .all the news. Thanks to the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and the Sunday Oklahoman for that great article which ran on July 4. If you missed it, click here for a copy. We received hundreds of phone calls, in fact we still are receiving calls from folks who saw it. After being fully open for three weekends, we have been full for three weekends. Isn't that wonderful news? It is such fun to see those tired, weary souls come in on Friday evening and then observe the change to rested, refreshed people on Sunday. We always knew that Shiloh had that affect on us and it was a part of our dream to share it with others.

The house and cottages have come together better than we dreamed. Each guestroom and cottage has its own personality and we can't decide our favorite. I guess that's why some of our guests are returning to "try out" a different suite. This picture will give you a hint of the Butterfly Suite. Our suites are so large we can't get one picture of the entire room . . .so on the advice of a professional, we will take segments of each one. But to get the "entire picture" you will have to come and visit us!

Well . . .we missed the July 1 deadline to announce the winning name of our roadrunner. Are you ready? It's Roady. That name was submitted by Kathleen Marks and we have a mug on its way to her. Congratulations!! Roady now has a "friend" and Bob has seen (or so he says) two little "Roadys". He comes around each morning about breakfast time to get his meal of grasshoppers. And are we glad.

Here is a picture of some of the grapes from our vineyard. We have really neglected them this year . . .seems there were other more pressing matters. This year we will share them with the birds and deer . . .but we may be more selfish next year. And yes, they taste as good as they look. We can almost taste that grape jam.

Things are going so GREAT at Shiloh Morning Inn! Our guests are loving the peace and quiet here and are telling their friends. Some are even making their next reservation before leaving. That makes us feel really good. Just listen to what two of our guests wrote in their journals:

"What a beautiful place, just like a storybook - we just loved our stay. We know everyone could not help loving it too. We couldn't find a thing to change! Thanks for this wonderful place."

"One of our favorite memories was discovering how bright the stars can really be as we sat on our private patio. We will be sure to revisit Suite Memories."

With the Labor Day weekend quickly approaching, we have had so many folks ask us to do dinner that we are jumping in with both feet! Well . . . not literally. But beginning with the holiday weekend, we will be offering dinner to our guests by advance reservation only. It seems that once our guests arrive, they don't want to leave . . . even if it is only to drive 20 minutes to a nice restaurant.

Bob is still working on getting some more interior pictures to show you. Here is a shot of the Hummingbird Suite. It is one of our downstairs suites with a private patio and its very own hot tub. The bath in Hummingbird is big enough to be a bedroom! It has a large soaking tub, a glass shower, lots and lots of vanity space, and a "reading room" complete with books.

The other downstairs suite, Suite Memories, is shown here. It also has a private patio and its own hot tub. The soaking tub in Suite Memories' bath is 4 x 5 feet!

Thank you for allowing us to share with you our dream of inn keeping. Hopefully, we can meet in the real world!

Bob & Linda