NEW YEAR'S EVE, 2010-11 at the Channel Bass Inn on Chincoteague Island, VA.

We intend to stay on the Island for Christmas and New Year so would be very happy to see you! We thank you so much for another successful year and for the opportunity to be your hosts, and we look forward to our next season, our 20th!


New Photo of the Garden

The Inn will be open for New Years Celebrations on December 30th, 31st, January 1st and 2nd. (We would prefer a 3-night stay, if possible.) If you think you’d like to celebrate New Year’s with us at the Channel Bass Inn, we’d love to hear from you! We are offering a delicious buffet supper, including wine and champagne, at $50.00 per person.

View of The Gardens From The Front Porch Window

We send you our very best wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season, and a healthy, safe and prosperous 2011.

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

Call 1-757-336-6148 to check availability and reserve your room, we’d love to hear from you!

Barbara's Recipe Corner December 2010 - World Famous Chile Cheese Egg Bake

WORLD FAMOUS CHILE CHEESE EGG BAKE

This will feed 15 people:

I use a large Pyrex dish - probably 13 x 9 inches.

Mix the following ingredients together:

16 eggs
1 x 1lb tub of non-fat sour cream (or you can use light, if you prefer)
** 13 oz chopped chilies (I buy the large cans from the wholesalers)
but you may only find small ones in the grocery store!)
6 - 8 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated (I use Monterey Jack and Cheddar blend)
Approx.25 good shakes of Louisiana Hot Sauce
Salt and black pepper to taste
(I also add crushed red pepper for extra zip!!)
** lately I have been using the whole can, i.e. 1 lb 12 oz

(I have increased the cheese and probably everything else 'cos I think it's better this way)!!

You prepare the Pyrex dish by splitting approx. 5 English muffins and buttering them well. Place them upside down in the dish and pour the mixture over them. (You may want to fill in the gaps with bits and pieces of English muffins, but you won't need more than 6).

You don't need to pre-heat the oven. Bake at approx. 350 Fahrenheit for about 1 hour (might take longer if the dish is smaller, and the egg bake is deeper). Watch out for the middle - it always takes a little longer than the edges. I turn the egg-bake around half-way through baking so that it's browned evenly.

ENJOY!

January in Toronto, Wisconsin, New York, and Getting Practical Back on Chincoteague

In January, we visited our oldest friends Angie and Jeff in Toronto, and absolutely froze. Apparently we “enjoyed” some of the coldest weather they had had in a long time. But, hey, we love that city. We were delighted to be able to see the exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Royal Ontario Museum. Just in time since the exhibit moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin the very next day.

New Croton Dam in Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County NY.

On the drive back to Chincoteague we made our usual stopovers with friends and family in Croton-on-the-Hudson, NY and Falls, PA (with the additional treat of a lunch in New Jersey with friends from Manhattan, NY.)

Instead of our usual flight to warmer climes, namely Florida, we decided to be practical! Our little house on Clark Street had just been painted on the outside, but the inside of the house was in great need of a spruce-up. We knew our British friend Corinne was very handy with a paint-pot and brush and she agreed to help. Six weeks later we had painted the house from top to bottom, (actually from bottom to top!) and had replaced all the carpets. Barbara even painted furniture!

All our very best,

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

March in Virginia, Phoenix and California!

In March we visited daughter Nina and her husband Michael in Blacksburg, VA and from there drove to BWI to fly SouthWest to Phoenix. AZ. David’s sister Jean and her husband Burt live in Gold Canyon, just east of there. We made a quick road trip to Southern California to visit Barbara’s cousin Ruby in Indian Wells, and then on to Irvine to meet up with our San Franciscan friend Debbie who traveled south to meet us. (Debbie is Barbara’s traveling companion when David doesn’t want to leave home!) David’s cousin Peg and her husband Bob live in Rancho Palos Verdes, so we managed to squeeze in an overnight stay with them in their gorgeous home with terrific views of the Pacific.

Fondly,

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

New Colours!

April brought us back to reality, and back to work!

Showing Off The New Colours!

If you have looked at our website lately, you’ll probably notice that the Channel Bass Inn is looking very lovely. She is now painted in four colours ~ the body is a light(ish) green, with paler green shutters, white windows and a “sweet rosy brown” trim.

Barbara on Assateague Island with 'arry the Londoner wot painted the Channel Bass Inn (Barbara on Assateague Island with Harry The Londoner Who Painted The Channel Bass Inn;)

The Front Porch - Showing Off The New Colours

The colours were chosen by our dear friend, Cathy, a long-time guest at the Channel Bass, and we think they are just absolutely perfect. Harry, the painter, originally from the London area, spent almost 3 months on this project, from May 11th through August 2nd, removing all the ivy, repairing every piece of wood, (including the two fire escapes,) doing everything that was needed to be done before starting on the painting. During that time he took only 3 days off, worked through the sweltering heat of the summer, maintaining his body fluids with enormous mugs of tea, jugs of water, and numerous cans of Coors Light. Thank you so much, Harry. You did a wonderful job!

Many Thanks,

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

Friends Carol and Chuck to the Rescue!

Newlyweds - Diana and Jan

When we needed to be in Chicago at the end of August for our niece Diana Wiedenheft’s marriage to Jan Kuebler, our friends Carol and Chuck Kalmykow, formerly Chincoteague innkeepers, came to our rescue. They flew from Sarasota, FL into Norfolk, VA where we picked them up (at the same time seeing our friend Debbie off, back to San Francisco) and drove them up to Chincoteague.

Looking North from the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building, Chicago, IL. (8/27/2010)

Two days later we drove back down to Norfolk to take our flight to Chicago. Diana and Jan were married on Friday, August 27th.The reception was held on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building and they now live happily ever after in Zurich, Switzerland.

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

Congratulations Lt. Michael! Many Thanks to Chuck, Carol, Maggie and Gunnar!

The day after the wedding in Chicago we found ourselves back on the island, and we were happy to learn that our experienced innsitters had been taking care of our guests in a most commendable manner. On the following Wednesday, September 1st, we took Chuck and Carol back to the airport, at the same time getting on a flight ourselves to Columbus, Georgia. You may be wondering why. Well, our son-in-law Michael was graduating OCS (Officer Candidate School) from Fort Benning the next day, September 2nd (Barbara’s birthday actually!). That was an event to be remembered, and we were so glad we could be there for Michael.


2nd Lt. pinning ceremony. , Fort Benning, Columbus, GA. September 2nd, 2010. From left to right: Jimmy Hickman (father), 2nd Lt. Michael Hickman and daughter Nina Hickman

You may be wondering who was taking care of the Inn at that time, since you know that Carol and Chuck were back in Sarasota. Well, Barbara’s twin sister Maggie and her husband Gunnar took over for us. (Everyone in this business should have a clone!) This was the beginning of Labor Day weekend, so we couldn’t stay away too long. Hurricane Earl decided to get to Chincoteague just before we did, but luckily didn’t interfere either with our flight home on September 3rd, or with our guests’ desire to get away for the long weekend.

Fondly,

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

Southern Living Magazine September 2010

In September we were very fortunate to be written up in that month’s edition of “Southern Living”(see our website to read the article). Both September and October proved to be record-setting months for the Channel Bass Inn and we are very grateful to the writer of that article, Christie Findlay.

Thank you,

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

October with Pamela, David and Nina

In October our UK cousins Pamela and David Mason visited us ~ always a treat! They were not able to be with us for our daughter Nina’s wedding last year, so we drove out to Blacksburg, VA to visit her. Unfortunately hubbie 2nd Lt. Michael was at Fort Benning, so we didn’t get to see him, but had a lot of fun with Nina and her black lab, Lane (named for the Hokie Stadium, of course!)

Fondly,

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

Reunion and Auntie Betty’s 90th Birthday in the UK

Reunion in Aberford, Yorkshire 11-13-10. You can find Barbara 3rd on the left, and David 3rd on the right!

In November, we flew to the UK for Barbara’s Auntie Betty’s 90th birthday party and for a reunion of “kids” who used to hang out at Auntie Betty’s home in Leeds so many years ago. It’s like this: Auntie Betty has 2 children, Linda and Franklin. Linda and Barbara were best friends, Franklin and Barbara’s brother Anthony were best friends, and Franklin was Barbara’s boyfriend from the age of 11 to 15! And there was Leon who was Franklin and Anthony’s best friend also. Maggie, Barbara’s twin sister, was always around. And let’s not forget Judy, Anthony’s girlfriend at the time. So we were friends then, and we are still friends. Fourteen of us (original players plus spouses) had an unforgettably memorable reunion in the White Swan Hotel in Aberford, Yorkshire, a beautiful little village just outside Leeds.

Leon and Judy meet up again after more than 40 years!

Betty’s 90th birthday was celebrated the next day ~ she had no idea that Barbara and David, and Maggie and Gunnar would be able to make it from the States, and she was surprised, and delighted!

Barbara and David with a Bagpiper in Edinburgh Scotland

While in the UK we visited with friends and family in Hertfordshire, West Sussex, Surrey, Cheshire, Lancashire, Leeds, Edinburgh (by train) and West London, with a two-day trip to the Netherlands in-between to visit friends in Zeist and Driebergen. (If you read our previous Newsletter, you may remember that we visited with our dear friend Mech last November. Unfortunately Mech passed away in March at the age of 92, and we miss her so very much.)

Goose Bay, Newfoundland Through The Plane Window

To make our return flight to Chicago and Norfolk really interesting, three passengers had checked in, but didn’t show for the flight. Their luggage had to be removed before we could take off, causing an hour’s delay. Two hours later there was a medical emergency on board. Unfortunately, a passenger was having seizures and needed urgent hospital treatment. So now we know what Goose Bay, Newfoundland, looks like! Our landing at Chicago was further delayed by storms, causing us to circle around Wisconsin for a while, before eventually landing at our destination ~ 3 hours late for our connecting flight though! We arrived at midnight at our hotel in Norfolk, after a 17 hour journey!

Fondly,

Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

On the way home from Norfolk, we stopped by the Eastern Shore Animal Hospital to pick up our sweet cat, Betty (no relation to Auntie Betty by the way) who had managed somehow to break a leg just as we were putting our bags in the car to leave on our UK/Holland trip! Betty had spent 14 days at the hospital, recovering from having a pin put in her leg. The lovely Portuguese veterinarian, Dr Nuno, actually sent me an email, plus photo, while we were in the UK, to assure me that she was doing well. In fact, Betty now has a “CERTIFICATE OF BRAVERY” pinned on the wall, above her bed, which she received from the hospital. She knows that she is confined to the indoors for the next 5 weeks, and is a marvelous patient.

Betty after the op! Get me out of here!

Fondly,
Barbara and David
The Channel Bass Inn Bed and Breakfast & Tea Room

The Channel Bass Inn 2009

Dinner by candlelight in the gardens of the Channel Bass Inn

First of all, we wish a very happy New Year to all our guests. May 2010 bring you everything that is good!

Well, it’s been a year since we emailed our last Newsletter ~ our apologies for such a long silence. Quite a lot has happened since then and hopefully you’ll enjoy reading this.

Nina & Michael

Our most important news is that our beautiful daughter Nina married Michael Hickman on June 6th. Their first wedding ceremony took place in Jamaica on May 21st, just the two of them, and the second ceremony took place by the water, on Chincoteague Island, with family and friends from here and abroad. Our friend, Elizabeth ter Poorten, an interfaith minister, officiated. The reception was held at the Channel Bass Inn – 108 guests seated outdoors at beautifully set tables, garden flowers and candles on each one, hanging lights in the trees, live music, and, miraculously, perfect weather. It had rained for days previously, but the day of the wedding was warm and sunny, with a temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit. (We are so thankful for that – there was no Plan B!)

Barbara’s twin Maggie catered most of the food, with a lot of help from visiting cousins Drussie and Naomi, from Leeds, UK and San Francisco respectively, and from so many family members and friends from far and wide. Maintenance man/husband David extended the patio for the event, and (almost) completed a deck! On the morning of the wedding, Michael’s step-father Mark, his brother David and their father (also David!) arrived at the Channel Bass. (So many Davids, but one can never have too many!) You remember the Amish tradition of barn raising? Well, within a very short time that deck was completed!! Thank you so much guys!!

We offer a huge “thank-you” to our niece Katarina and to Anja who worked so energetically that evening to take care of guests.

Music by Ron Cole and Wayne Young (appearing Friday nights at AJ’s on the Creek)

When Barbara called Maggie months before the wedding to ask for her help with the food, she heard a familiar message, but in an unfamiliar high-pitched voice, with traces of an English accent: “The number you have reached is no longer available. Please check the number and dial again”……….. What a hoot!

Haiti

Since we began the writing of this Newsletter, the people of Haiti have suffered a devastating and catastrophic earthquake. We sponsor a foster-daughter there, our fourth child since 1992. Her name is Jenyfer Moise and she’s 11 years old. The Baptist Haiti Mission contact address in Michigan is unable to give us any news regarding Jenyfer, but we are hoping for the best. We just wanted to share this with you.

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Barbara's Recipe Corner January 2010

MEXICAN EGGS

Total preparation time: 20 Minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 x 6” Flour Tortilla Per Person (1 makes 2 tortilla eggs) - (I warm the tortillas for a minute in the microwave to make them more pliable)

Chopped Hot Cherry Peppers (they come in a jar!)

8 Eggs (2 per person)

Spring Onions (scallions), chopped

Fresh roughly grated Parmesan or Reggiano cheese

Steps:

1. Grease muffin tin with Pam and preheat oven to 375
2. Cut each tortilla into 4 – place two quarters pointed side down to form a cup
3. Put one tsp chopped cherry peppers in each cup
4. Crack egg against a glass, and open into each tortilla cup. White pepper and salt on the eggs. Add (nice amount) of chopped scallions & grated parmeggiano or reggiano cheese over the eggs.
5. Place in warmest part of oven for 15 – 18 minutes (depending on how many you make)
6. Serve on warmed plates, side by side, with a spring of rosemary in the middle.
7. Home fries make a nice accompaniment to this dish. (see below.)

I serve these eggs with home fries, at least that is what my guests call them: I use red potatoes, unpeeled. I microwave them, allow them to cool, cut them into chunks, and fry in hot oil. When the potatoes are nice and brown on one side, I shake the pan to toss the potatoes. I add sea salt (no pepper) and at the very end of the cooking add fresh rosemary (if available.)

Tip to the chef: When microwaving the potatoes, it works to place the tortillas on the potatoes for about a minute to soften them. Don't forget to re-adjust the timer, probably 8 - 12 minutes for 4 potatoes, depending on their size.

19th Season as Innkeepers

Unbelievably this is our 19th season as innkeepers, and we are still here! It is known that most inn-keepers usually burn out after 7 years in the business. We know that it is because we have been loved for so long by so many beautiful people over the years that we have been able to sustain the level of hospitality that you have come to expect from us, and that we willingly give. We thank you all so much for this opportunity to serve you.


Fondly,

Barbara and David
Innkeepers


More about Barbara & David »

The New Bridge Opening Soon!

The new bridge is scheduled to open at the end of this month (January 2010) and we are all very much looking forward to this event. It seems that our patience is soon to be rewarded ~ no more waiting in long lines, no more delays. The main difference for visitors to the Channel Bass Inn is that you will now be turning right at the lights and will take a left turn into Church Street, just after the Shore Stop.

The 2009 Season at The Channel Bass Inn

The 2009 season at the Channel Bass was exceptionally busy, despite the economic downturn. Many of our faithful PGWs (Previous Guests of Wiedenheft) paid us their annual visit, some honored us more than once. We were also very fortunate to be able to welcome so many new guests, and we look forward to their return.

A Dear Old Friend

In October, an old, dear friend and former neighbour of Barbara’s in the Netherlands became ill, and we flew to Amsterdam to visit her. Mech (92) and Barbara have been friends since Nina was 3 months old! We also visited friends in Normandy who have a beautiful bed and breakfast close to Bernay, and while we were there took the opportunity to visit Omaha Beach. It was a very moving experience for us both. At the end of our trip Barbara found it very difficult to say goodbye to Mech, so she didn’t. Instead she told her she’d see her in February. Her dear friend is still with us, so it seems that Barbara may be paying her another visit before too long!

Springtime in the Channel Bass Inn Garden

Of course springtime means lots of work in the garden and Barbara was so very fortunate to find a new friend to help her! Corinne, also a Yorkshire girl from Bradford, was born 9 miles from Barbara’s home town of Leeds and had moved to Chincoteague from Massachusetts, with her husband Paul. One day she decided to drop in to the Channel Bass to say hello to the innkeepers. She told us that she could tell from the garden that an English person lived there!! Ha ha! We have become good friends and Corinne is always ready to help out at the Inn when needed.

Quick Trip to the UK and the Netherlands

In March, friend Debbie (San Francisco) accompanied Barbara on a very quick trip to the UK and the Netherlands. Just 6 days in England and 2 days in Holland, but it was a lot of fun! Just enough time to see friends and family in Hertfordshire and Surrey, Oxford, St. Anne’s in Lancashire, and Leeds Yorkshire, before flying to Amsterdam to visit friends in Zeist and Driebergen.

Valentine's Day 2009

Although we were closed for the season, we decided to open up the Channel Bass Inn for Valentine’s Day 2009. It was good to get in the swing of things again just for a few days, before our “proper” opening in the spring time. The rest of our time off was spent looking for furniture for the Wetherby – lots of fun!

Shopping for our New Suite in Sarasota

To warm up, we drove down to Saint Augustine, Florida, to visit our friend Richard, and then south west to Sarasota, to stay with Carol and Chuck, all retired innkeepers from Chincoteague! In Sarasota, we dragged our friends around Lowe’s and Home Depot, where we spent many hours choosing all the good stuff we needed for a new bathroom at the Inn. Luckily, we managed to keep on schedule and our new Suite, the Wetherby, was opened to our first guests on Memorial Day Weekend. It’s on the first floor, convenient for our guests who don’t want to climb stairs, and has a very spacious sitting room and bedroom. The bathroom has a walk-in shower, and that’s really lovely too. Take a look on line – www.channelbassinn.com

We Started 2009 in Toronto

We started the year with our annual trip to Toronto, to visit our life-long friends Angie and Jeff. Their cousin Howie, who has lived with them for years (though he originally intended to stay only six months!) generously always give up his basement apartment for us and moves upstairs to a spare bedroom. Son Daniel still lives at home, so Angie is surrounded by her “boys!” We love the city of Toronto – there is so much to do there, one of our favourite jaunts being a visit to the St. Lawrence Market. Move over Whole Foods and Wegman’s! Just an amazing array of fabulous foods, fruits and vegetables from all over the world, with languages to match!

On the way home we paid a visit to our sister in law, Darlene, who lives close to Clark’s Summit in Pennsylvania, (but it seems she lives miles from nowhere really) then on to friends Elizabeth and Hans in Croton on the Hudson in New York. Darlene’s son, Dickie and his wife and family had just moved from British Columbia to a nearby town, so we were happily able to pop in to see them also! Dickie serves a congregation in Ossening, NY and he and Anne raise their family of four in that quaint town.

Barbara's Recipe Corner - March 2009

BARBARA'S NUT BREAD

Mix: 1 cup milk and 2 eggs

Add: 3/4 cup sugar (6 oz)
3 cups flour (self-rising) (12 oz)
2 teaspoons baking powder

Fold in: 1 cup (8 oz) walnut pieces
1 cup (8 oz) combined golden raisins, chopped apricots, chopped dates

Add: 2 Tablespoons wheat germ

Bake at 250 F** for about 1 1/2 hours, or until lightly brown. Makes one large loaf tin.

** not a typo - this bread does get baked at 250 degrees.

ENJOY!!

Channel Bass Inn News & Events - March 2009

Well, our big news this year is the renovation of a spacious suite on the GROUND floor: we're probably going to call it the Wetherby Suite, but that's not definite. There's a sitting room, bedroom and bathroom with walk-in shower, perfect for our guests who no longer wish to climb stairs. The bathroom is not yet completed, but we expect to be able to take reservations for May, possibly earlier. A family has already booked the suite for Memorial Day weekend -- we are excited.

Channel Bass Inn News Vol 1 - March 2009

Unbelievably we are beginning our 18th season as bed and breakfast innkeepers on our beautiful Eastern Shore of Virginia Island of Chincoteague. Many of you have known us since our debut in 1992, and we love and appreciate every one of you. Innkeeping is alot of work, and we do get tired sometimes, but all those layers are put back each day by the generosity of our guests' appreciation for everything we do, and we thank you so much for that.

We took some time in our off season to travel: In January we spent a couple of weeks up in Toronto, Canada visiting life-long friends of Barbara's (ex-Leeds). Along the way we stopped in Salamanca, NY, where we met up with our daughter Nina and her fiance Michael and where David managed to get in some beautiful skiing, and on the return journey visited family and friends in Pennsyslvania and Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

To warm up, we travelled down to Florida a week later to visit our old Chincoteague friends who have retired down there -- Richard, former innkeeper of the Year of the Horse Inn (sadly no longer in existence), who lives in St Augustine, and Chuck and Carol, former innkeepers of the Island Manor House, now happily retired to Sarasota! We make that trip each year and love every minute of it.

Barbara has just made travel plans to visit the UK and Holland and will be leaving March 14th for 9 days with her friend Debbie Deaton from Sonoma County, CA. Debbie stayed at the Channel Bass Inn as a first-time guest in February, 2004. This will be their second European trip in 18 months! So one never knows where a stay at the Channel Bass Inn will lead...........
David has elected to stay behind to dig in to many patiently-awaiting projects!
Hopefully Barbara will be able to get into the garden before her departure -- there's a lot to do. Those of you who have stayed with us before know how proud she is of her English garden and how wonderful it is to find a peaceful moment there, to enjoy an early morning cup of coffee, to read a book, or just to sit and reflect .......