Normally fall is my favorite season of the year. This year Mother Nature has been playing games with us with warm “normal” temps one day and cold, brisk winds (and even snow) the next. The first weekend of the pheasant hunting season, she blessed the pheasant hunters, many from out-of-state, with blue skies and sunshine. Meteorologists are predicting a warm winter with less moisture. The Farmer’s Almanac doesn’t agree. I guess we will just have to wait and see. For now, enjoy the season, enjoy your guests, and have a blessed holiday season.

Remember to send in your 2010 BBISD Dues by November 15. See Eileen’s message that is included in the Snoozenews.

Board Members 2009
Chair: Marilyn & Art Oakes, Buffalo Rock Lodge, Keystone
Vice Chair: Andy & Jenny Todd, Prairie House Manor, DeSmet
Secretary: Vixie Miller, Vixie’s Victorian Villa B&B, Rapid City
Treasurer: Eileen Rossow, Peregrine Pointe B&B, Rapid City
Membership: Ila Rumbolz, der Rumbolz Platz, Ethan
Marketing: Judy Parker The Barn B&B, Geddes
Public Relations/Website: Sara Steever, Steever House B&B, Lennox
Publications: Carla Kaaz, Foote Creek B&B, Aberdeen
Past President: Ron & Carla Kaaz, Foote Creek B&B, Aberdeen
Regional Directors:
Black Hills & Badlands: Lyndy Ireland, Triangle Ranch B&B near Philip
Great Lakes: Jim & Linda Steele, Eagle’s View B&B, Ft. Pierre
Glacier Lakes: Darla Loewen, Possibility Farm B&B, Huron
Southeast: Clark Edwards, Clark’s Prairie Gold B&B, Letcher
*Newsletter Editor: Nancy Roth, Apple Annie’s B&B, Rapid City
Legislative: Marilyn Oakes, Buffalo Rock Lodge, Keystone

Jim and Lin Goglin will be hosting an afternoon Survivor Potluck at Anchorage B&B in Keystone, Monday, October 26. BBISD members and potential BBISD inns are welcome. It is a potluck. Please bring something you missed eating all summer; leftover muffins and egg dishes are not welcome!

Come anytime after 11, we'll eat at 2 so people can get home to check-in their guests if they have them. For those who want to linger into the later afternoon - we'll order out for pizza. For those who want to crash for the night, please let us know. Free rooms are available and another inn has offered to host if I run out of rooms. Breakfast is included in the free price. Bring your survival stories. RSVP's are always appreciated to help in the planning! anchoragebandb@gmail.com

*Directions are available from lin@anchoragebb.com if needed.

Treasurer: Eileen Rossow, Peregrine Pointe B&B, Rapid City
Hi Innkeepers!  Hope you all had a GREAT summer and those of you who are involved with the hunting season, I hope you are BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!
.......But not too busy to look at your ad for the 2010 BBISD Brochure and send in your changes;.......and not too busy to send in your dues for 2010.  The renewal is due November 15th.  Also, please take some time to look at your listing on www.southdakotabb.com and make sure that everything is correct.  If you have "packages" or "specials", those probably need an updating also.  Looking forward to seeing you all at the Conference in January!!


Public Relations/Website : Sara Steever, Steever House B&B, Lennox
We had a busy summer – as I am sure you all had! We wondered if the recession would affect us, but it sure didn’t seem to. People did not travel as far to come, but they still came, and they are still celebrating milestones in their lives with an overnight. Many of you know that we added an Attic Suite – fireplace, whirlpool, sitting area, king bed, and bath – and it is the first room that gets booked. That extra flight of stairs is good exercise!  On the Google front – everyone needs to check out a new tool that people can use to comment on your Web sites – and it is attached to your site! Yikes! If you were ever afraid of adding a blog to your site because you were worried about bad comments being added, well, now they can comment and you can’t control it. This is a good travel related article about it:
http://bit.ly/vAJBa
Remember to check your tripadvisor.com comments too! Have a great Fall and Christmas Season!

Membership: Ila Rumbolz, der Rumbolz Platz, Ethan
We have had a very fun, interesting summer, guests from Tel Aviv, Israel, New Delhi, India & Australia, along with lots of interesting guests from the U S.   2 weeks ago when the `banana belt' had 11 degrees & 4 " of snow 5 of us East River gals came to ride in the Hills, enjoyed it all despite the early taste of winter & thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Ghost Canyon B & B with Judy & Rick Vee!      And now us East River people are in the midst of the annual Pheasant Hunt - just survived 19 fellas from many states & Australia, totally fun fellas.   Next 6 guys come on Sun & 2 couples coming on Wed.  These guys have hunted SD several times, wanted to bring the wives to see what SD is like.

Marketing: Judy Parker, The Barn B&B, Geddes
As you know I have been dealing with cancer issues since May.  Things are going well with my treatment.  I will have a stem cell transplant sometime November or December. My niece, Jill and her family are taking care of me, my livestock, and the B&B.  They have been a real God send for me. The pheasant hunters call me and tell me how much they enjoy Jill and her family. God bless you, Judy. Let us know how you are doing from time to time.
 
Glacier Lakes: Darla Loewen, Possibility Farm B&B, Huron
Greetings from Possibility Farm B&B where the cook-a-thon has begun!  I am booked solid with hunters for the next 4 weeks.  I'm thankful for my neighbor lady who is helping me clean and cook.  We had a busy summer with both paying and non-paying guests.  The yard looked great with all the rain we've had this past year, kept us busy mowing and if it would dry up a bit, we could mow it again.  We have not harvested any corn or soybeans yet - the crop is too wet to combine.  It will be a long fall - we could use some warmth and sunshine!  If you have some, send it our way.  Have a great holiday season everyone!

Great Lakes: Jim & Linda Steele, Eagle’s View B&B, Ft. Pierre
We are making progress as we organize the BBISD convention in Pierre.  Remember to put the afternoon of January 22nd and morning of January 23rd on your calendar and spend quality time with your fellow innkeepers!!  We are asking that if any of you have a topic you would like addressed (or are willing to present to our group) please let Linda Steele know.  We need your input before we finalize our plans. Send your thoughts/ideas/desires/suggestions to eaglesviewbandb@pie.midco.net.  Thanks for your help as we plan. 

Black Hills & Badlands: Lyndy Ireland, Triangle Ranch B&B near Philip
"Hello from Badlands & Black Hills Region!" Kenny and I had a great summer.  Triangle Ranch produced quite a harvest of hay and guests. It sounds like tourism was up most everywhere in "God's Country".  Similar to depression era thinking, visitors came to enjoy the "natural wonders" in our great heartland.  We had quite a number who brought camping gear along as an option, even couples our age, then couldn't resist a B & B stay.
 
Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes Assoc. will be hosting our Annual Meeting on October 30, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn with luncheon to follow.  BBISD needs a new nominee to represent us on the Board of Directors since Lyndy will be termed out.  Either spouse/partner from any of our member inns, who are also a member of BHB&L, is eligible.  The time I served has been so very interesting and educational.  BHB&L is out there working for our region and state in more ways than you can imagine, whether it be online, in print, on the street or finding grants/coops to make our member dollars stretch further.  The organization is not without its "warts" but then neither are we.  So please, step up!
 
The next step in BHB&L's "Great American Road Trip" branding and campaign (which will be a perfect fit with our "Inn-Route") will be showcased at the Annual Meeting also. 
 
Hope to see you all at our Summer Survivor Party at Anchorage B & B on Monday.

I have been thinking a lot lately about our association.  Buffalo Rock Lodge has been a member since the year BEFORE we actually opened.  We have not missed even one conference in 11 years.  I think maybe we have missed one meeting, but can't recall for sure.  Has it been worth our time, effort and money?
 
Well, in answer to that question, let me say this:  We have been in the Bed and Breakfast business for 10 full years.  We are LOOKING FORWARD to the next year, and the one after that.  We run about 98% full for the months of June, July, Aug, Sept, with about 60% occupancy for Apr and May.  Are we extra special?  No.  Have we been lucky? No. Then what is it that 1) keeps our business coming, 2) keeps us wanting to stay in business?
 
I truly believe that it has a whole lot to do with being professional innkeepers.  We started out before opening with the plan of being a professional operation, not a fly-by-night outfit.  We spent a lot of time talking with innkeepers and studying the market.  We joined the "Professional" organization for innkeepers, Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of South Dakota.  And we have been active in that group, along with our regional tourism association. 
 
We have not spent any other advertising money, anywhere.  I have often wondered how we would have made it to this point without BBISD.  A good website plus our professional association is what has carried us these 10 years.  Talking with other innkeepers, at meetings, conferences, parties, has enlightened us immensely. 
 
As I write this I am thinking about the current BBISD board. Those who have been active in BBISD have also enjoyed success as innkeepers."  I hope you will all give these comments some thought. It is written with a sincere desire to see each and every one of you more successful and happy with your business and more satisfied with BBISD!

AND, we do still need a Black Hills Badlands and Lakes Regional Director.  Can you see yourself in that role for about 3 years?  If you have any questions, just ask me. 
Marilyn and Art Oakes, Chairpersons Buffalo Rock Lodge, Keystone

 Mix:
1 c. butter or margarine (melted)
1 1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs (slightly beaten)
2 tsp. vanilla
Add & Mix:
2 c. flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
Glaze:
1/4 c. butter (melted)
3 T. cocoa
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
(stir until crumbly)
Add:
 2-3 T. boiling water
1 t. vanilla
(whip until smooth)
 
Cook in preheated waffle iron at same temp as waffles. Drop a heaping teaspoonful of batter in each section and cook for the same baking time as waffles. Spread glaze on each batch as you remove them from the waffler.
 
Midwest Living's suggested option: Drizzle with both chocolate glaze and caramel sauce on turtle and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. You’ll need a fork - mmm.

2 ½ C flour
2 C sugar
1 T pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 C canned pumpkin
½ C vegetable oil
2 C peeled, finely chopped apples

Streusel Topping (recipe follows)

In large bow, combine first five ingredients; set aside. In medium bow, combine eggs, pumpkin and oil. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients; stir just until moistened. Stir in apples. Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling ¾ full. Sprinkle Streusel Topping over batter. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Makes 18-20 muffins.

Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine 2 T flour, ¼ C sugar and ½ tsp ground cinnamon. Cut in 4 tsp butter until mixture is crumbly.

All for this issue. Remember, Daylight Saving Time ends November 1st…set your clocks back and enjoy an extra hour of sleep!

Nancy Roth, Apple Annie’s in Rapid City, BBISD Newsletter Editor