Journey to Happiness

My post today is a little different than usual -- it's actually about me, instead of written by me. But, the story is one that I wanted to share with you all -- I am so excited about what's to come! Please read on and you'll understand why....

Follow Linnea Rufo, owner of the Bee and Thistle Inn and Spa, as she organizes her own wedding to the man she married more than 15 years ago .

You’re 50-something … you’ve been married many years to the man you still love as much as that distant day when you first tied the knot. No, actually, you love him more … if that’s possible, and so a few weeks ago, while vacationing on an idyllic Caribbean isle, as the glowing sun sank below the horizon and the warm waves lapped gently around your feet, you suddenly found yourself asking him to marry you … again!



Meet Linnea Rufo – owner of the Bee and Thistle Inn and Spa in Old Lyme – and this is her story. Happily married to David for over 15 years and her partner in raising three wonderful children, she popped the question to him out of the blue on St. Maarten in early March.

Did he hesitate? Did he say he’d get back to her? Not for one second. He said “yes,” before she’d even finished the sentence.

So now to the arrangements … the date, the dress, the venue, the format. All of this is second nature to Linnea however, who’s been an event planner for over 20 years and, in her capacity as the owner of the Bee and Thistle, continues to be a sought-after wedding planner for both marriages and receptions at the Inn as well as at private locations.

When Linnea married David the first time, he declared, “I can’t stand by and watch you organize your own wedding,” adding, “I don’t want to see you up a ladder 10 minutes before the ceremony is due to start.” The solution was … they eloped! This time around he’s willing to go along with her dreams and let her plan every last detail.

Linnea is incredibly excited to have this opportunity to plan her own wedding both on the practical level of the logistics but also, in her words, “I feel I’m at a time in my life when I can embrace myself. I don’t think we should ever let go of who we are. That makes us ageless.” She asks with a twinkle in her eye, “What could be more thrilling for me than to wear a beautiful white dress?” recalling that the first time around, “I wore black velvet.” (Hint: she already has her eye on a stunning gown in “The White Dress by the shore” in Clinton. Thanks to Leslie Dumke for the photo!)



We invite you to follow Linnea as she travels through the wedding planning process of decisions, designs, decorations and so much more. See her choose the invitations, pick “the Dress,” make the guest list, select the menus, and do any other number of essential things that make a memorable wedding happen right up to - and including - the day itself.

Join Linnea and David as they take the journey of their life.

The Holiday Black Hole

Can you believe my last blog was on Oct. 28th, 2008! Yes, that is the correct date, but, since I know I’m not alone in experiencing the phenomenon of the Holiday Black Hole, many of you will understand that since that date, with the onset of the holiday season, I’ve lost all concept of time. I fell into the hole around Halloween, so now I have the task of filling you in on all that has happened at the Inn over the last three months.

October 31st

Boo at the Bee was not too spooky! David and I coursed the streets of Old Lyme in costume. We stopped by EF Watermelon for a treat - Pumpkin Martinis made by Cathy Elliot, which were excellent, so I thought I’d share the recipe with you…

Ice
1 oz vodka chilled [ I used vanilla vodka]
1 oz vanilla liquer
1 1/2 oz orange juice
1TBSP pumpkin puree
Pinch of cinnamon
Fresh grated nutmeg
Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka and the rest of ingredients and shake, shake, shake! Strain into martini glass and garnish with fresh grated nutmeg. And DRINK!

There were hundreds of young goblins in town. How wonderful! Kipp and Company played dressed as the Looney Tune gang at the Boo and we just danced the night away.




November 8th and 9th
My second dance competition. And yes, I’m still enjoying dancing. (Many thanks to Haessly Photography for the picture!)


November 10th
My husband of many years sets sail from Old Lyme to St. Marteen … but more about that later.





November 25th
Thanksgiving at the Inn was beautiful. There were lots of big families and the food was wonderful.



A few days later, we had the White’s over for dinner and I made Left-Over Turkey a la king. Lee wrote about it in her column … here’s the recipe.

Linnea’s Thanksgiving Left Overs Turkey a la King
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Pepper
1/2 c. milk
1 c. chicken or turkey stock, homemade or store bought
2 c. cut-up left-over turkey Left over vegetables: Peas, Pearl Onions, Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts or whatever left over vegetables you have Serves 6 Carve turkey meat off the carcass. Heat butter in 2-quart saucepan until melted. Stir in flour, salt and pepper, stirring constantly until smooth and bubbly. Stir in stock and milk. Heat to boiling. Add turkey, peas, onions, celery and other left over vegetables you have from Thanksgiving dinner. Add some cut up roasted red peppers and cube up any left over dressing. Serve over Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Shells or make biscuits. Garnish with any left over gravy and cranberry relish.
Chicken or turkey stock: Chicken or turkey carcass 1 large onion, 4 carrots, peeled and cut in 1/2, 4 ribs celery cut in 1/2, 2 bay leaves, 10 sprigs fresh parsley, 2 whole cloves garlic, peeled Enough water to cover carcass Place ingredients in stockpot. Cook on high until you see liquid beginning to boil. Turn down to medium low heat and simmer for a few hours. Strain stock. Cool stock. It freezes well.

November 29th
I spent the day decorating the Inn for the holidays and Afternoon Tea.




December 5th
Holiday Open House



This is one of my favorite events at the Inn. The young kids from town visit and see the decorations, trees and, of course, the famous gingerbread houses. They listen to the Victorian carolers, sip on hot cider, and feast on chocolate chip cookies. They come dressed for the season and are so well behaved.




Every Week in December We offered the chance to take a Victorian Tea at The Bee and Thistle on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons of November and December. Imagine an experience that allows you to step back in time into an unhurried world, where you can relax, sit back and immerse yourself in the company of friends and family. This was what we offered with our teas so our guests could unwind as they were pampered with delicious fare in a beautiful setting filled with exquisite music far away from the burdens of the economic crisis and the stress of the holiday season.

With the inn tastefully decorated for the season, warm fires glowing in the fireplaces and the music of harpist Faith Leitner in the background, we set out to create the perfect ambiance for these teas … and people say we succeeded! Christmas Eve and Christmas Day the Inn was closed.

December 25th
This year on Christmas Day I invited my family to the Inn and they accepted. I was thrilled. They arrived around 2 p.m. - all 30 of them! The house seemed so happy with family in every room and kids running up and down the stairs.



We exchanged presents and then had a wonderful meal, which I prepared … all 30 of us at one big table. Someone started ‘telephone’ and we all had fun with that. Then there was a special performance on the violin by my nephew Harry and Gabriel, a friend who joined us for dinner. Later we had a bonfire with cider and s'mores, so there was more singing to nephew Owen’s guitar and later that same night, we found time for a game of boules. Finally we said Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

December 31st New Year’s Eve Ringing in the year is always fun, but this year the weather created some issues. Here at the Inn though, the 14-piece-band “Flamingo” was great. Kris had a perfect menu and I love to watch everyone dance and kiss when the clock strikes midnight.

Here’s wishing everyone much happiness in 2009.


January 7th
My way out of the Black Hole was on Jet Blue flight 787 to St. Marteen. As I mentioned earlier, David had sailed there from Old Lyme - it took him a month. He sailed with four other mariners, one of them my brother, Ralph, a commercial fisherman from Kakacan, Alaska. So I am here on this beautiful Island with David and TIDE, the pretty boat that worked so hard to make it possible to have a home away from home on this blue water. We have met some wonderful friends here as we sip rosé and watch the fabulous sunsets. We set sail tomorrow for St. Barths.

I wish the Bee could be here …