An Innkeepers Hours

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an innkeeper?

I'd like to share a bit about the very rewarding life that comes from being an innkeeper. I'm using my mother as the example here, as she is... the innkeeper.

She has a very giving, very humble, serving heart. Her greatest gift is that of giving you exactly what you need to feel relaxed, at peace, joyful, and loved. I have always wanted to be like my mother in that regard. I admire those traits about her greatly.

She works very long hours in the wee morningtime to make sure your stay is perfect. From baking all the yummy treats you enjoy in our butler's pantry, to writing out special deals for your next stay, to being a full time grandma, and a full time mother at the same time. She manages the housekeepers, looks up recipes, and answers e-mails until the late am's.

I once asked her how she kept her "innkeepers" hours. And she explained it like this; "to me, my innkeepers hours are the guests who just lost their grandmother, and came to stay with us and sat down in the parlor and listened to a quartet practicing, and walked into the office to say how at peace they were at the Grandison. To me it's the business person weary from travel that writes a note thanking us for the homemade cookies that took away the bite of homesickness. To me, it's the family that comes through road weary, and tired from taking their kids all over the state and back, who write about "almost as good as a trip to grandma's" in their journal. It's the couple that comes back 8 years later and says 'we got married 8 years ago and stayed in this room, and want to stay again and create more memories'. Those are my hours, and those are what I work for every night. "

If you have ever considered being an innkeeper, and making some memories like these of your own, you can drop her an e-mail. She would be excited to talk to you about the joy she experiences giving you a home away from home.

Weddings Weddings Weddings

Wow, this has been an amazing summer so far. The Grandison has been busy with weddings. We range from small and intimate, to dance tent on the front lawn get your groove on weddings. They don't let me select the music at these events, but that is mostly due to my eclectic tastes in music. I don't have any set genre that I listen to, or play.

Be sure and check out our weddings page for a glimpse of why we are your affordable downtown OKC wedding destination.

I came across some photos of past weddings I'm going to be working on scanning and updating to the website soon. I've also been experimenting in the kitchen again, and might be tweaking the in room dinner menu again. I noticed all of our sides are potato potato potato. So all things being equal, it needs more potato. I found an AMAZING potato casserole recipe. Stay tuned for more updates.

Oh my Goodness, who turned on the heat

Is it too early to be this hot out there or what? I was grilling dinner for some guests today, and figured that I did not have to turn the gas on, I could have grilled with residual heat. Which reminds me, I grill an AMAZING steak. You should come stay with us and get the in room dinner.

Anyways, back to the heat. I've decided it is a very good thing that we have tickets to White Water Bay, and Frontier City on sale for only $20 each. Both parks offer bundles of fun. White Water of course is all water park and slides, but Frontier City has water rides as well.

Did anyone ever find out who Stella was? We know! Stella's is a restaurant here in Midtown, and it smells AMAZING. Speaking of dining options, we recently visited Rand MacNelly's pub around the corner and really enjoy the atmosphere and food.

Caleb reports that the breads at Thunder Prairie Bakery have stolen his heart. He loves them.

We are still seeking out hole in the wall, and lesser known eateries to explore. If you have any ideas, or would like us to check out a restaurant for your, drop us an e-mail.

How do you like fresh veggies? I know we love them! We were recently surprised to find that there is a farmers market at Saint Anthony's Hospital right across the street. It is very well attended, and we have buying some of the most amazing tasting hydroponic grown tomatoes. They really do taste like tomatoes. You should check them out every Friday. If that isn't your thing, the Grandison Garden is growing well. If it doesn't get too hot, we will have homegrown corn, okra, green beans, tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeños, and fresh mint! If all goes well, we will have plenty to share.

Hope you see you soon!

Oklahoma`s Weather

Hello Grandison Fans We are thankful for protection during the past storms that hit OKC. Some of our friends and family were hit by the hail storm, but have not heard of any that suffered from tornado damage. Friends Peggy and Mike were in two different places---she at home and he on the road and both had twisters come much too close. Peggy and her next door neighbor only had roof damage, the rest of houses on street were leveled. Please know that we are thinking of all of you that had any kind of harm or damage and praying for quick recovery. We are booking a lot of weddings and hope to give reviews of some of the upcoming ones as they happen. The Maney family- whose ancestors owned this property-had a wonderful celebration the end of April here. Mike and Nema Maney celebrated 50 years of marriage and their kids did a bang up job---a raspberry brides cake, chocolate w/strawberries grooms cake, outstanding selection of foods to snack on and, of course, champagne to toast. The house was filled with fun and laughter. For us, the most special thing was that this was Mike and Nema`s very first wedding reception!! They eloped 50 years ago and waited that long to have a special celebration. We hope to be posting pictures soon.

Crazy Travel Stories

Greetings again Grandison fans,

I apologize that it has taken me so long to keep things updated on the facebook, twitter, and blog fronts. I won't make excuses, even though I REALLY REALLY want to.

We want to hear from you about your recent and not-so-recent travel stories. What happened on that cross country trip last year that you really liked? What went horribly wrong in the middle of things and how did you overcome it? What sites did you see? what would you like to see again?

We will feature some of your stories in our upcoming posts.

Opening Night - New Year's Eve

Opening Night is a New Year’s Eve celebration with music, dancing, theater and fireworks! Since 1987, Opening Night has been the way to ring in the New Year. All performances take place in a safe, family-friendly environment.

Opening Night 2010 takes place on Dec. 31 from 7 p.m.-midnight in venues around Downtown Oklahoma City. This year's entertainment features a variety of performances from some of Oklahoma's brightest stars.

An Opening Night admission wristband allows you access to all venues, all night long. Wristbands are $8 in advance, or $10 at the event. Purchase advance wristbands starting Nov. 20 at 7-Eleven Stores of Oklahoma, metro Homeland stores, Mathis Brothers and MidFirst Bank Locations.

Opening Night 2010
Performer List

All About Irish Performance Troupe – Irish Dance, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center- Exhibit Hall 3, 7:00, 9:00

The Ambassadors’ Concert Choir – Choral/ Gospel, Venue 9, First National Center, 7:00

Boru’s Ghost – Modern Celtic Rock, Venue 7, Kerr Auditorium, 7:00

Bricktown Clowns & Face Painters – Children’s Performer, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Lobby, 7:00-11:00

Brother Summit Band – Old School/Jazz, Venue 6, Bank of Oklahoma, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00

Built for Speed – Rock, Venue 7, Kerr Auditorium, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00

CDS Jazz Band – Jazz, Venue 4, Ronald J. Norwick Downtown Library, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00

Charlie Hill – Acoustic Guitar, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Lobby, 7:00, 9:00

Cori & Chelsey Emmett with No U-Turn Band – Contemporary Country with ‘70s and ‘80s Rock & Roll, Venue 10, Chase Tower, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00

David Thomas and the World of Magic– Magic/Variety Artist, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 2, 7:30, 9:00, 10:15

Desert Fire – Aalim Princesses (Belly Dancers), Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Lobby, 10:00

Duo Fisher: Dueling Pianists – Dueling Pianists, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Lobby, 8:00, 10:00

Eden Sharmaine – Experimental Progressive Indie Rock, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 1, 9:00

Edgar Cruz – Classical Guitar, Venue 3, Stage Center – Tolbert Theatre, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30

Floyd Hanes Orchestra – Big Band and Classics, Venue 5, Leadership Square, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00

Harrison Academy Symphonic Winds – Wind Ensemble, Venue 9, First National Center, 8:00

Jamie Bramble – Acoustic/Rock, Venue 2, Myriad Botanical Gardens, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00

Justin Echols – Jazz/Standards, Venue 4, Ronald J. Norrick Downtown Library, 7:00

Lola and Sparkle – Music and Comedy, Venue 3, Stage Center – Arena Theatre, 8:00, 10:00

The Non – Experimental/ Rock/ Ambient, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 1, 10:00

OK Chorale – Chorale, Venue 9, First National Center, 9:00, 10:00

Oklahoma Children’s Acting Guild – Youth Musical Theatre, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 3, 8:00. 10:00

Oklahoma City Roller Derby – Roller derby, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 1, 7:00, 8:00

PowerHouz – Variety, Venue 8, Kerr Park, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00

Red Dirt Improv – Improv, Venue 3, Stage Center – Arena Theatre, 7:00, 9:00

Tall Cotton String Band – Traditional/Folk, Venue 10, Chase Tower, 8:00, 10:00

Total Equilibrium – Juggling/Comedy, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Lobby, 8:00, 10:00

The Uglysuit – Psychedelic/Rock, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 1, 11:00

Unity – Instrumental/ Multicultural, Venue 2, Myriad Botanical Gardens, 7:00

Upside Down Artist – Family Entertainment, Venue 1, Cox Convention Center - Lobby, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00

For a venue map, click here.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Some interesting facts about the Twelve Days of Christmas: From the Grandison Bed and Breakfast

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the festive days beginning on Christmas Day (25 December). This period is also known as Christmastide. The Twelfth Day of Christmas is 5 January - the day before the Feast of the Epiphany on 6 January.

In England in the Middle Ages, this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season. In Tudor England, Twelfth Night itself was forever solidified in popular culture when William Shakespeare used it as setting for one of his most famous stage plays, titled Twelfth Night. Often a Lord of Misrule was chosen to lead the Christmas revels.

Many in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations still celebrate some aspects of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Boxing Day (26 December) is a national holiday in many Commonwealth nations, being the first full day of Christmas. Victorian era stories by Charles Dickens (and others), particularly A Christmas Carol, hold key elements of the celebrations such as the consumption of plum pudding, roasted goose and wassail. While these foods are consumed more at the beginning of the Twelve Days in the UK, some dine and dance in the traditional way throughout, all the way to Twelfth Night.

Nowadays, the Twelfth Day is the last day for decorations to be taken down, and it is held to be bad luck to take decorations down after this date. This is in contrast to the custom in Elizabethan England, when decorations were left up until Candlemas; this is still done in some other Western European countries such as Germany.

With the onset of more Americanized and secular traditions throughout the past two centuries (such as the American "Santa Claus"), also the popularity of Christmas Eve itself as a holiday, and rise in popularity of New Year's Eve parties as well, the traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas have been largely forgotten in the U.S. This is also heightened by the commercial practice to have "After-Christmas Sales" begin on 26 December and run usually until New Year's Eve. Indeed, contemporary marketing and media tend to espouse the (erroneous) belief that the Twelve Days end on Christmas and thus begin 14 December.^[3][4]

However, a small percentage of Christians of many sects have held on to their own favorite ways to celebrate and those who choose to also have their own church to guide them in a spiritual way of marking this reverent holiday. Americans who celebrate various ways include secular Christians of all backgrounds, religious Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Moravians and those of the Amish and Mennonite communities.

Today, some celebrants give gifts each of the Twelve Days, feast and otherwise celebrate the entire time through to Epiphany morning. Lighting a candle for each day has become a modern tradition in the U.S. and of course, singing the appropriate verses of the famous song each day is also an important and fun part of the American celebrations.

Some still celebrate Twelfth Night as the biggest night for parties and gift-giving and some also light a Yule Log on the first night (Christmas) and let it burn some each of the twelve nights. Some Americans also have their own traditional foods to serve each night.

As in olden days, Twelfth Night to Epiphany morning is then the traditional time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations.

(All information comes from the wikipedia entry located at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas )