Reasons To Stay at Oft's Bed and Breakfast

We had four lovely women stay with us this week.  Three came from eastern Nebraska and one from Virginia to reunite at our home.  It seemed Carley, Betty, Susan and Mary Jane had a good time.  Before they left, they took time to take pictures. 

It took a little time to figure out how to operate the X&&?@!!!! camera.  Finally, the right switch got pushed, smiles followed and pictures were taken.   A sack of home baked cookies were sent home with them, (we doubt they made it that far).  We enjoyed the conversation and meeting you!

Pot Bellied Project

Our home was built in 1910 and was originally heated with coal and wood stoves.  A few years later a hot water-radiator boiler system was installed and the boiler was fueled with coal.  We installed high efficiency heat pumps during the renovation allowing us to removed the deteriorating chimney and a lot of the piping.  We can no longer install a functioning stove but we still wanted to have a parlor stove for the decoration.  We found a stove.

Searching Craig's List, I found an old stove for sale.  I contacted the listing and that lead to a phone conversation and a meeting with "Fred" at a storage facility in Omaha.   Fred had a plain 'pot bellied' stove that was used by his grandfather to heat his basement.  It had seen a lot of use but it was all there and in fairly good shape.  Price negotiations resulted in the loading of the stove into the back of my pickup.  Explanations were given to the wife upon arrival back home and it was moved to the basement for restoration.  Now I have to find some good metal bushes and some stove black.  Another project for me when the weather gets bad.   

I'm still looking for a more ornate stove and depending upon how the restoration turns out, it will either end up in the Dining Room or possibly out to the old farm house.  Either way, its going to get enjoyed.  

Oft's Bed and Breakfast: "It's a Family Tradition"

Our guests, Joan, Merv and Sylvia left early this morning so Linda and I got an early start at cleaning rooms and doing laundry.  As I was making a bed, I couldn't help but to reflect that both my mother's and father's parents were farmers but grandparents on both sides had been inn keepers.  Heiko Mueller was an inn keeper in German before he immigrated to America and Eggert Oft started one of the first hotels (see: http://bennhistsoc.blogspot.com) when Bennington was found in 1888.  Eggert and his family lived in, and operated the hotel for 11 years.  So as Hank Williams so eloquently sang, cooking breakfast and making beds; "Its a family tradition."

Eggert and Rosa Oft (1882)
Owned and operated Oft's Hotel, Bennington, NE

Meilina and Heiko Mueller
Inn Keepers in German (1890)

Annual Nebraska Association of Bed and Breakfast Meeting

This past Monday and Tuesday, Linda and I attended the Nebraska Association of Bed and Breakfast's annual meeting.  It was originally scheduled to occur in Brownsville, NE but had to be moved to another location because of the flooding this summer.   The venue was moved to the Prairie Creek Inn which is located near Walton; just east of Lincoln.  It was hosted by Maureen and Bruce Stahl who provided a warm and friendly atmosphere for the meeting.




The Levette House

 

You might ask; "what do Inn Keepers do at their meeting?"  That is a good question.  The first morning we had an Inspiring Inn Keeper's Course which I helped moderate.  About 25 people attended.  Attendees ranged from those who have been in the business and simply wanted to share to those who are interested in possibly starting a B&B.  

That afternoon we had a workshop learning how to promote our businesses on facebook.  We learned the fastest growing age group joining Facebook are those over 55 years old.  (Possibly the last to join).  Nearly 800 million belong to this networking community. 

In the evening we went to the Deer Creek Winery which was only a few miles from Bruce and Maureen's.  They have an excellent selection of Nebraska wines which they produce on their farm.  I bought several early Christmas gifts and brought a couple bottles back for ourselves. 

On Tuesday, we heard presentations about Nebraska's Agritourism opportunities and better ways in Market our businesses on the Internet.  Both presentations were excellent.  It was wonderful to meet with a group of people who speak the same language....that's cooking eggs and washing sheets.  

Another Great Grandson

A Special Quest!



October 1, 2011 was a special day at the Oft-Gordon House.  Mike Oft; a great grandson of Eggert and Rosa Oft came and stayed with us.  This was Mike's first visit to his Great, Grandparents Eggert and Rosa Oft's Home.  Mike's mother Betty, stayed with us last year and we their quests at their family home and ranch in Ontario, Oregon.   

Mike Oft

Mike's family lineage goes like this:  Mike's father was Eggert Oft, who was the son of Hans Oft, who was the son of Eggert Oft, who was the Great Grandfather of both of us.  We are 3rd cousins! 

Mike's family got caught in the housing market squeeze; finding themselves owning two homes, one in Oregon and another across the country in Massachusetts.  His Oregon home has been on the market for over 2 years and just sold recently.   This is the last trip of his family's move to the East Coast.  He was accompanied by Gary, a fellow music instructor and longtime friend.  Gary shared that when they were much younger they both talked about touring across the country by bicycle but simply didn't find time.  Now they are doing it by truck!

We visited the family farm which was bought by Eggert in 1880 and remains in the family today.   Walked through the old farm house where his grandfather and my grandmother grew up.  His grandfather and grandmother lived in the home when they were first married and its highly likely his father Eggert was born there.  His grandparents moved to Oregon in 1914. 

I had to take this photo op..  This is a 'drop rake'; an original piece of horse drawn equipment on the farm that was undoubtedly operated at some point by Eggert and Hans.  A 100 years later, another Oft sits at the rake's 'controls.'

Lilly Pond Make-Over

A common question we get is: "How old is  in the Lily pond?".  I don't know but it appears it was built shortly after the house was built.  Eggert and Rosa had a similar concrete lined pond in their yard on the farm and I found photographs of Jeanette standing next to the pond in the late 1920's.    I do know that Mom and Dad had the pond rebuilt when they moved in the house, in the late 1970's.

Linda and I wanted to 'spruce-up' the pond a little by adding a statue and a larger hand pump to serve as a fountain.  The water pump fountain we had was made from a small kitchen pump that friends gave us and our 'statue' was a plastic great horn owl that Mom bought to scare away the barn swallows that nested on the porch pillars (see picture below).  (The owl didn't work.)  The hand pump-fountain  worked fine, but was small and I wanted something a little larger and started looking for a full sized hand pump at antique stores.  A close friend of ours (Coe Leta) call us one day and said there was a hand pump at a farm sale near her home.  We went and ended up buying it for $50; a great price.  It was built in Beatrice, Nebraska and stood 4 feet tall.



Our Lilly Pond with the Owl and small Hand Pump Fountain (extreme right)

 During a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico a couple of years ago, we stopped at a gift shop that had fountains and statues made of plastic resin that looked like brass.  They were very attractive.  When we got home I started to search and found a couple of import companies that featured them and we found a store in Nebraska City and another in Lincoln that sold them.   We mentioned that we were looking for something like this to Coe Leta and she said that she had seen them at "Market" in Las Vegas.  She goes there with her sister twice a year to buy new merchandise for her sister's gift shop.   She found the vendor got us a catalog and we both ended up ordering statues; ours was one of two boys playing 'leap frog'.  It was perfect. 

It arrived while we were on vacation in Colorado.  When we got back I got busy with the project.   I stripped the old paint off the hand pump.  It had originally been painted red and the surface retained some of this pigment along with a rust patina.  It looked pretty good.  I then soaked the water pipe in WS-40 for a couple of days and broke the pipe loose.  After a trip to the hardware store, I had all the parts necessary to attach a hose and make the pump spout water once again.  I attached the pump to the existing trough and submerged pump and "wha-laa;"  a new and larger fountain.

The statue probably weighs 40 pounds.  I drilled a couple of holes in the concrete island and mounted a couple of bolts to secure the statue in place.   Once the glue set, the statue was bolted down.

The Finished Lily Pond (Minus the Lilies)

When Coe Leta  arrived and we got a couple cups of coffee and sat on the porch listening to the sound of the water hitting the trough and the pond.   Everyone was smiling, it was a beautiful day and we were all pleased with the project.  Linda and Coe Leta both smiled at me and Coe Leta said; "Don't you think a lily pond should have a few lilies?"   She's right and that will be another project.

Colorado Elk Hunt

Linda and I took two weeks off to see our boys, visit old friends and relax in the Colorado Mountains.  We had a busy and enjoyable spring and summer with the Bed and Breakfast.  We hosted lots of interesting guests in our home.  However, we were ready to get away for awhile and I was lucky enough to draw an archery elk tag. 

Last winter and spring were remarkable in terms of precipitation for Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.  That precipitation is reflected in the fact that the Missouri River flooded all summer, being above flood stage for over 3 months.  Rains have been constant throughout the year.  It's being reported the flood is a 500 year event.

Vegetation was lush throughout the Sand Hills of Nebraska, high desert of Colorado and its mountains.  Normally this time of year, vegetation is drying out and the fall colors are starting to show but that wasn't the case at all.  Mountain meadows were overflowing with flowers and yes, bugs.   Lots of flies, mosquitoes, and gnats.  In the mountains, late afternoon summer storms are the norm and that was the case for our trip; we had a pleasant shower nearly every afternoon and or night. 

Rainbow Over Diamond Peak

I envisioned retirement as a simple one-room cabin at the top of the ridge overlooking a 100 mile vista in either the mountains or desert.  I'd have a nice porch, comfortable rocking chair, and a hot cup of coffee and be watching beautiful sunsets and the approach of storms.  I love the feel of that gust of cold air that signals the approach of a storm; the cool droplets of drizzle or snow that hits my face while I watch and feel the spectacular force of wind, pounding rain, lightning and the concussion of thunder.  At those times, I feel in Ah and the closest to my creator. 

Our favorite camping and hunting location is northwest of Steamboat about 50 miles, near the Wyoming border.  There are virtually no people up there, just a couple of ranches miles apart connected by a dirt road.  No phone reception, lots of sheep, some cattle and amazing wildlife.  Its a great get-a-way if you like the sound of nature.  In the morning, the sand hill cranes would be singing to their mates and possibly to us.  Its indescribable the feeling to waking up to the 'clucking chooo' of a pair of cranes.  They are marvelous birds.  A friend of ours has a photo blog which includes some crane pictures she's taken; check it out at:
http://snowlens.blogspot.com/.

We have a small trailer that suits our needs.  It will sleep 6 but you would have to be a verrry close family.  It's just great for two.  It has a kitchen, bathroom, shower, furnace, refrigerator and air conditioner if you have somewhere to plug in.  Otherwise its conservative use of battery power, water and propane.




Camping in the west is becoming a hazardous pastime in some popular areas.  Dead trees are falling everywhere and many campgrounds have been closed as a result.  Agencies simply don't have the resources to remove all these hazards.   The Forest Service is being taxed simply to keep back country roads and trails open.   In this particular area, nearly half of the mature pine trees are dead, killed by an infestation of pine beetles. 




Dead Pines from Pine Beetle

 

These little insects bore under the bark and feed on the vegetative tissue between the bark and wood.  This interrupts or prevents sap from flowing between the trees leaves (needles) and its roots.  When the infestation becomes severe enough, the tree simply dies.  There is no solution or known prevention.  This plaque extends from the forests of Canada to Mexico and in many locations nearly ALL the pines are dead.  It's an ecological and economical disaster few people realize.   These dead and dying forest rob us of the potential lumber they provide and pose a serious threat from forest fire.   Some communities are clear cutting these dead trees to protect their properties.  The dream of having a cabin in the pines is rapidly disappearing.





Pine Beetle Holes



We have always had these pine beetles but they have always been controlled by natural factors.  Somehow, that balance has been lost.  Some scientist attribute their expansion to climate change; that winters are not as severe (cold) as they use to be which might be allowing higher insect survival over winter.  Others suggest recent droughts have weakened trees, leaving them more susceptible to insects.   Regardless of the reason, our pine forests are dying. 

Hunting Elk for anyone is quite a challenge, especially when your 61 years old.    This year I planned to hunt from a tree stand; do more sitting and less walking.  I picked a location near some good game trails about a mile from the end of the road.  I carried in my stand and steps, found a good tree that hid me and yet provided a good view of potential game corridors.  I set up my stand about 15 feet above the ground.  

Tree Stand,  Elk Predator

The benefit of hunting from a stand are many, specially for the old and patient.  First it prevents you from walking through the forest and only seeing elk butts run off into the distance.  I've done that for 2 decades.  Second, it gives you a better view and you see a lot more wildlife.  Birds and squirrels feed in the trees surrounding you and animals wonder around and even under your stand.  Another nice thing; your not trying to shoot arrows through the brush.  It also gets you above the ground where its makes it more difficult for animals to see and smell you.   Elk don't have natural predators that live in trees so they seldom look up.  However, they have a tremendous sense of smell so getting off the ground makes it more difficult for them to smell you.  The hard part is to set on a board for hours.  Your butt gets sore, to have a tendency to fall asleep and often you move when you shouldn't; movement is your enemy.  That's what animals catch.  

However, the thrill of seeing an elk, deer, or even a fox lumber underneath your stand makes it all worthwhile.  This year I saw a spike bull, a 4 point bull, several cows and one small calf.  Season opened and I held out for a bull for the first weekend.  Fortunately for me a yearling elk wondered too close to me on Tuesday.   A single well-aimed shot and the arrow shot through its lungs and heart.  It ran about 30 yards and collapsed dead.  A humane kill.   

A yearling is an elk that's about a year and a half old.   It isn't full grown but is still the size of a large deer.   When you start thinking; "I have to carry this animal a MILE back to the truck, a smaller animal simply didn't seem to be a drawback and was actually a blessing.  For me, it was about all I could do and make me think about work that I would have had to gone through to carry a full grown bull out of the woods.  A mature bull would have about as much meat as a medium sized horse, 400-500 pounds.  This trip has made me reconsider my capabilities and they are certainly not what they were 20 years ago.  I need to keep that in mind.   On my last trip out, Linda helped by carrying out my stand.  It was a nice walk through the woods that we'll both remember.

My Helper!

We were hunting and camping with an old friend of ours, Johnny Boutwell.  Johnny and I worked together for nearly 20 years.   He was hunting deer this year; he failed to draw an elk tag.  Its always better to hunt with someone; its safer and more fun.  He also found some time to play cards and domino's with Linda.   They both love to play.  

Why do people ply with more than one deck??

Surprise Visitor      The last night we were just finishing up a celebratory dinner of elk steaks when we were somewhat startled by someone asking us through the camper's open window if it was OK to camp along with us.  We said it was and I went outside and found a young man on a bicycle.  His name was Mike Cowlin, a recent college graduate from New Zealand.  He was touring the US along the Continental Divide on back roads.  He started in Banff, Canada and was heading to Lone Pine, New Mexico on the Mexican Border.   What an adventure.   I gave him a cold beer that he gladly accepted. 

Mike Cowlin seeing the World

We had a pleasant rain that evening, pleasant if you sleep in a camper.  I visited with Mike more in the morning over a hot cup of coffee.  I discovered he recently finished graduate school and was a marine biologist.  He said he had traveled about 1,700 miles so far and was looking forward to visiting friends in Golden, Colorado for a couple weeks of rest before resuming his adventure.  WHAT an adventure!!!!  He is posting his adventure on his own blog  http://www.mikedoestheworld.com/ and he has some amazing photos of his trip thus far.  We had a wonderful drive back home.