Spring So Soon?

The weather has simply been amazing; from a mild and short winter to an early spring.  Here it is the last day of March and everything is in full bloom and the weather guy is forcasting a high of 91 tomarrow!  This is the first time I've witnessed our daffadils bloom the same time as our tulips. 



Oft's Bed & Breakfast: March 29, 2012

  The growing season appears at least 4 weeks early this year.

Another spring event is restocking the pond with our fish.  In late fall, we remove our fish from our pond and drain and clean it for winter.  This gives us a chance for repairs and this spring we actually painted the bottom.  It seemed like it might have been leaking water through the pores concrete. 

Our fish stay in a 40 gallon tank in the basement during the winter.  The painted had sufficiently dried and we filled the pond and let it set for a couple of weeks.   It was time to bring them out.   

We have 3 smaller (6 inch) and one large (12) gold fish.   Its amazing how gold they are.  After draining the basement tank, the large gold fish is placed in one bucket and the smaller ones in their own.   The buckets are taken  out by the pool and pond water is slowly added over half an hour to temper them to pond conditions.  After they are use to the temperature in the pond they are released.  Its always fund watching them become reaccustom to their outdoor home.  

Winding Up the Past

We still have the family farm that was bought in 1880 by Great Granddad Eggert Oft.  The farm always game me a place where I could go out and do some manual labor and simply clear my head.  There is something about walking the same ground as my dad, grand dad and my great granddad did in the past.  I bought a mower for the ATV last year and its relaxing going out to mow the same land I did as a child growing up on the farm.  It's good to reflect on your "roots". 

Linda and I bought ourselves a little something last spring.  To recognize and celebrate the family farm we had a farm sign designed and I mounted it by the lane.  A 132 year celebration of our use of a chunk of prairie the good Lord saw fit to let our family use (with the blessing of the state tax collector).   

Cousin Mike Oft next to the Farm Sign

We had an old, very old barbed wire fence that had to be pulled out.  It dates back to granddad at least and some of the barbed wire design suggests some of the wire might go back further. 

Anyway, the fence was half a mile long; over 2,600 feet composed of antique steel posts supporting five strands of barbed wire and one strand of electrical wire.  I had planned to pull the fence in the spring but the weather was so nice in January, I jumped at it and actually got the wired pulled. 

I did it the old fashion way, the way dad would have had me do it 50 years ago.  I took one strand down at a time, starting with the electric wire.  I started on one end and walked the half mile take the wire down and when I got to the end, I turned around and started rolling it up.   I got about four roles per length.  I did that 6 times walking more than 6 miles wrapping up 3 miles of wire.  The job did in a new pair of leather gloves.

When I picked up the individual rolls it made quite a pile.  The wire was really rusty but some strands were still in usable condition.  I used them to string up a 200 yard section of fence by the Highway.  I think dad, granddad and great grandad would have approved and said; "job well done." 

Nearly 2 miles of barbed wire

Lights! Camera! ACTION!

When we opened as Oft's Bed & Breakfast we never dreamt the different types of clients we would have and not all of them stay the night.  Some simply visit to take pictures. 

We've been discovered by photographers of all types.  We've had several brides have their photographs taken here and a dress designer show cased her designs in our parlor.  Kate Walz is 14 and designs and models her own creations.  A very remarkable young lady!  Our home has also used been used as the backdrop for Senior Class pictures and even "glamour" photos. 


Kate Walz modeling one of her own designs

The most recent was a video shoot by Reliant Studios in Lincoln.  They do video promotional advertisement spots and they wanted to use an old Victorian setting to interview their CEO (who's from Arlington) and the rest of their staff for their own advertising. 

Staff Reviewing CEO's Interview

The interviews were shot in our formal parlor and we were informed they needed some "B-roll."  We found out "B-roll" was back ground or filler for the video.  They took moving shots of our Jude Box and even a zoom in of our old record player spinning away.  Below, is a shop of their set up for the phonograph the shot. 

Video Shoot at Oft's Bed & Breakfast

Does anyone out there old enough to remember the "Bob Cummings Show?"  "I think this is going to be a good one!"

A Change In Life

I am on our City's Council  and I'm currently getting ready to run for Mayor in the upcoming election.  I never dreamt or even considered serving in public office while I was pursuing my career as a research scientist.  I simply didn't have the time nor the interest.  I was focused on science and fish and travelled a lot.  That was actually a benefit in that I saw a lot of beautiful country but also a curse because I was away from my wife, family and community so much.

That certainly isn't the case any more.  I was thinking how one's profession influences a person's relationships not only with one's family, but also with their community.  I have friends who are truck drivers that are on the road for extended periods of time.  We've recently had several service men who were returning or getting deployed oversees for a year or more.  Those are hardships! I'm just starting to realize how easy it is to get physical and mentally detached from our families and communities. 

I wonder if that is happening to our younger generations through career demands and technology?  Many would argue that technology has made us closer but I'm starting to question that.  We recently had a 'tech' savey crew over that used our home for a video promotion section.  I remember looking and seeing all 5 of them working on the smart phones; mentally isolated from each other.  I couldn't help but smile and think about Captain Pecard quote: "I am BORG, part of the collective!" 

As an Inn Keeper, I've switched professions and lifestyles.  I'm not on the road, wading in a river or at a meeting anymore.  I'm working at home with my wife.  The transition took a while but what a pleasant change.  There are certain things I miss about working outdoors but the opportunities I'm experiencing now I wouldn't trade for the world.  I have more time with Linda, meeting such nice and interesting guests, and having time to get more involved in community issues.  I now realize how I sherked those responsibilities for so many years.  

Being a Council Member has been one of the most challenging and at times the most frustrating job of my life.  As a scientist, I spent 30 years solving problems.  I've learned that far easier than trying to get people to accept and move in the right direction, specially when it comes to financial problems.  We all feel entitled in some way and I'm afraid that may lead to our society's decay if we let it.  Local communities, States and our Federal Government is so far in debt!

Take the opportunity to get involved or at least educate yourself what is happening in our society.   Take care.   

Visitors from Over Seas

We have hosted guests from foreign countries but yesterday was the most interesting.  We got a call about 6 pm from a gentleman passing through Kansas City wanting rooms for the night and said he would make Omaha by 10:00.  Well, they hit bad weather and phoned saying it would be past 11 so Linda and I turned on the old Perry Mason reruns. 

At 11:30 they arrived, cold, tired and road weary.   We showed them their room and said we would check them in after breakfast.   Breakfast was at 9 am and what followed was a most delightful discussion about world affairs, their lives and jobs and their exploits in this country.  All three were in the late 20's, early 30's and very interesting people. 

Left to Right: Artem (Russia), Evy (Austria), Tommy (Lithuania)

Artem is a managing editor for a Moscow newspaper with ties with the Washington Post, Evy is a consultant and Tommy is a mutual friend.  They came to the States for business and took some time to drive around. 

They were going to the Duram and eat lunch at Old Market.  Evy had sights on the Candy Store we told her about and then they were heading to Hanibal, MO to see the Mark Twain sights tonight.   Quick trip! 

Who needs to subscribe to "The World News?"

Smile at New Techology

We bought an I-pad to keep on top of e-mail and requests for reservations.  It has a handy camera but I couldn't figure out how to access those photos to add to our blog as we travelled.  A tech-savvy friend stopped by and showed us how to mail it to our blog.  She asked to use a photo for a test and I picked this one. 

Gordon A. Mueller

There was actually a reason for making this selection.  I was asked to participate in a panel discussing possible ways to improve recovery efforts for endangered fish.  The answers have been obvious for 20 years but the same questions are being asked. 

Anyway, just before I retired a fellow researcher wrote me a nice note saying I reminded him of the "Lorax" in the Dr. Seuss stories.  I wasn't familiar with the character but discovered it was the "environmentalist, the one wanting to save the trees"  that was quite a complement.  Anyway, the theme of my talk was Dr. Seuss, something I would never have gotten away with when I was employed.   At the end I showed the Lorax and diffused my image over it.  Fun!  I have to work on my mustache. 

January brings "TIME OFF!"

Winter is our slow time and since Gordon was asked to participate in a fishery meeting in Laughlin, NV, we thought we'd take some time off.  ROAD TRIP!  Gas up the Prius! 

We love checking out other B & B's as we try to compare and improve our service.  One place we stopped was the Sedgewick Antique Inn, located in Sedgewick, CO.  Sedgewick is a small (pop. 80) eastern Colorado town. There were two Google reviews on the establishment, one in 2008 and the other was only a couple of weeks old.  It had warned they were apprehensive seeing the outside of the building but would stay there again.  We thought we'd give it a try.

The business is operated and owned by Lupi, a charming and innovative retired school teacher.  Ten years ago she bought an old State Bank building which housed a 15 room hotel upstairs. 
Her Inn is unique and extremely casual to say the least; not your common B & B with all the 'frills.'  Her primary clientele are goose hunters which hunt at the local refuge.  Rates were $20 per person which included a continental breakfast. 

When we entered, we were greeted with a 'spattering' of yellow signs instructing us to use the phone along with other house rules.  We call the specified number and Lupi showed up.  She gave us a 2 hour tour of the building and we had a delightful conversation about Inn keeping, small town business, local politics, family and each other's dreams.

Our next experience was staying at the Inn On Broadway.  This B & B was an elegant, 4 bedroom Victorian home built 1880's.  It sits just off main street in Silver City, NM; the boyhood home of Billy the Kid.  We walked the old down town and we were given recommendations where to eat.  These appeared to be 'tourist traps'.   Instead we ate dinner at "Nancy's," a 'local' Mexican restaurant.  The small, commonplace restaurant served an OUTSTANDING meal.  It was really authentic and couldn't have been beat!  The hostess serviced and nice breakfast and we talked shop.  She had been in the business the past 8 years and offered that business had been down the past two years.  (No photo, sorry).


Our last B & B stay was at the Wisteria Hideaway in Luktin, TX.  The business had just been recently purchased by a young couple and this was their first week of operation.  The 1939 house was the home of Ted Trout, one of the founders of Luktin Industries.  The home was charming, breakfast was great and we had an enjoyable conversation with Candi who also runs a day care and a commercial bakery.  She's quite an energetic woman! 

Our trip took us through 12 states and 5,000 miles.  We stopped at Hoover Dam where Gordon had worked 30 years ago.  At that time they had started planning a bridge to span the Canyon walls to bypass traffic from the Dam.  It only took the Government 30 years to complete the project.  Regardless, IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE!

We saw some remarkable sites.  We visited Lincoln, NM, the site of the Lincoln County War and the famed Billy the Kid.  Its a small, quaint village out in the middle of no where. We visited the jail where Billy escaped and killed the sheriff. 

We visited Saguaro National Monument to see the lush Arizona desert and walked the 'Cat Walk' which Gordon visited 30 years ago.  At that time it was the original suspended wooden structure which has now been replaced with a suspended steel walkway.

Saguaro National Monument

The 'Cat Walk', NM

We discovered the true meaning of 'snow birds.'  We've always enjoyed traveling along the Platte River in late winter and early spring to see the thousands of Sandhill Cranes that gather there.  It is quite a site.  I knew they went South for the winter but I really didn't pay much attention where.  We found out.  They are nearly in every refuge in the Southwest.  The one below looked like he wanted to save the flight and hitch-hike back with us.  Sorry!

We were in the neighborhood of Carlsbad Cavern, a site we visited on our honeymoon nearly 40 years earlier.  Linda insisted we make the stop and we're glad we did.  It was just as beautiful and awesome as before.  There are few things more beautiful than nature. 

We also stopped in the little town of San Antonio, NM where we ate lunch at the Buckhorn Saloon.  It's green chili burger was ranked 7# in the US.  It was early afternoon and we still had to wait about 30 minutes but it was worth every minute.  About a 1/2 fresh hamburger patty; grilled onions and green chili, topped with American Cheese and served on a HOME MADE toasted bund!  YUM!

Buckhorn Saloon, San Antonio, NM

We spent two days in Corpus Christi.  The first day we sent at the State Aquarium, beach and at the USS Lexington.  Gordon got to sit in the Captains seat on the bridge and said it gave him "goosebumps" reflecting on the action seen through these windows during WWII.  Locals directed us to their favorite restaurant for seafood.   We arrived at "Snoopy's" just before sunset and were treated to a wonderful meal and outstanding view.  

Gordon Mueller on the Bridge on the Aircraft Carrier; USS Lexington.  "FULL STEAM AHEAD MATES!".. 

From our table at Snoopy's

We had a great time and picked up some tips along the way.  All in all, we think we're doing pretty good at our new business venture.  We live in a beautiful county! 

Back to business.