I don't think anyone can really know what it is like to own and manage a B&B until they have experienced it themselves, however, I thought I would tell you about a typical Sunday morning here at The Grand Kerr House.
Before beginning, you need to know that I am not in this alone. My husband, Bob, is in this with me 100% (maybe even 110%). Through the past year together we have learned how to share the work and, most times, things run very smoothly.
This weekend we had four houseguests occupying two rooms - they were not traveling together but both groups were here enjoying a mother/daughter weekend. Dawn & Hannah were returning guests having been here a year ago and Allison & Lynne were first timers.
Breakfast is normally served from 8:00 to 10:00 am, though we have served breakfast as early as 5:00 am when requested. This morning Allison & Lynne wanted to eat at 8:00 and Dawn & Hannah requested to eat at 8:30. No dietary restrictions or special requests so we were serving what has become Bob's signature omelettes made to order.
The alarm went off at 6:00 am but I confess that it was probably closer to 6:30 before I got up. I took a quick shower, got dressed and was ready to begin work at 7:00. We live in the "Garden Apartment" of the house with a lot of stairs to climb. First I climbed up to the second floor to pick up the snack tray that the guests left in the hall last night and then checked out the common bathroom space. Lots of used towels and full waste baskets in there! I took the tray downstairs and asked Bob if he had time to empty the trash and bring the linens down before starting breakfast and he immediately headed upstairs. While Bob was tidying up the bathroom, I headed up to the first floor dining room to set the table for breakfast. This is my favorite part of the morning, laying out the tablecloth and putting out the good china and silver. I change out the dishes every day so guests who are staying multiple nights never see the same setting twice. I like to think it makes walking into the dining room special every day.
While I have been setting the table, Bob has made the coffee and started preparing breakfast. I always thought I would be the Head Cook at my B&B but I've become the Chief Bottle Washer. It turns out that Bob is a great cook and he really loves doing it. I load the towels into the washer and then join Bob in the kitchen. Bob is preparing the fruit bowls and I fill the water and juice decanters then head back upstairs with them along with the pumpkin bread and butter. Then I go back downstairs, get the fruit bowls, and take them upstairs to set out for the guests.
Yes, there are a lot of trips up and down the stairs - especially for someone like me who has had both knees replaced - but I tell myself that the exercise is good for me and its nice that the guests can't see our unavoidable kitchen mess.
At 8:00 Allison & Lynne arrive for breakfast. I grab their made-to-order omelettes, hash browns and bacon and take breakfast up to the dining room. The ladies and I chat a little about their visit but I sense that they did not come to TGKH for my company so I only stay a few minutes. Back in the kitchen, Bob has started the second set of omelettes that are done just in time for Dawn & Hannah.
By 9:00 the guests are served and Bob and I sit down with our omelettes (the joy of owning a B&B, we have wonderful breakfasts too!) and play a game of Gin Rummy.
At 10:00 we can hear the guests getting up from the table and I go upstairs to see if they need anything else and collect their final payments. Allison & Lynne leave. Dawn & Hannah stay to chat. We once had a houseguest who was a former B&B owner who gave us some great advice: "When guests want to chat, one of you should stay and talk while the other starts to clean up". So I talked while Bob cleared the table and started the dishes (lucky me!).
By 11:00 all the guests have checked out, the dishes are dried and put away, and we are ready to strip beds and start laundry. The rest of the day will be spent doing the bookkeeping and laundry, cleaning the house, working in the yard, and getting ready for the week ahead.
Still thinking the B&B Life is for you? It may very well be - I know that bob and I love it! We enjoy the guests, we love the house, and it's nice to have a job where the people you work with just want to relax and be pampered a little - who doesn't want that?
So if you really think this is what you want to do, why not come spend a weekend and walk in our shoes on a Sunday morning. We would love to share our time with you!
