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December News for
You!
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In This
Month's Edition:
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A Gift For You
In this
holiday season of love and appreciation, we
are giving a special and exclusive gift to you and friends of
our Stonewall Jackson Family.
For ALL stays with us until
March 1, 2008, if you mention this gift which is ONLY in this
newsletter,
you will receive the following discounts
on our rack rates.
With
any
midweek stay of one night or more, there will be a $25
discount; for weekend nights,
a $10 credit. In addition,
you will
receive
your usual
frequent
stay
credit if you have joined our Loyal Stonewall Jackson
Brigade. AS WELL, this same credit will apply to any gift
certificates you buy as a wonderful gift for your loved ones,
if they stay with us before March
1st.
To receive your gift, call us at 800-445-5330 or
click the link:
www.webervations.com/magic-scripts/giftcert.asp?memberid=30320.
Be sure and note that this gift is in response to this
Newsletter. Here’s
your chance to go on a skiing vacation with a nice discount!
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Roger's News
I am having a great time launching my new
Sears Store Adventure. It has been a month now, and I am getting
squared away with the Sears business structure and getting my new
personnel hired and trained. This has been a great opportunity
and a very good move for me. I am working hard, and since I am
not cooking breakfast, I am losing weight! lolol! We
had the highest sales mark for "Black Friday" in the history
of the Store, and the Christmas Season portends to be a banner one for
us. I still drop by the Inn for morning coffee to visit with old
guest friends, pick-up my mail, dispense my special INN knowledge to
Rudi and Jeff, and give
Wayne
his daily hug. See you at your "Breakfast to
Remember"!
If you would like to help me with my
new adventure, purchase something from my Sears website, visit
http://www.searsdealer.com
Type in my Store number
3474
and order up!
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Wayne's
Adventures
Caribbean
Bound!
Rudi
and Jeff are doing so well, I have planned a 2 week
vacation next January to make a return visit to
Trinidad
at Mardi Gras Carnival time. It is a wild and
unforgettable time. Trinidad is a small Island
country in the Caribbean West Indies, just off the
coast of
Venezuela. The whole country shuts down the week
before Ash Wednesday for the neighborhood and
country-wide Mardi Gras Carnival when everyone lets
the devil out of themselves before the Lenten season.
The biggest and most amazing celebration is in the
nation's capital of Port-of-Spain. It is
similar to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but is much longer, bigger and more permissive, with far
fewer tourists. They prepare for it all year starting
as soon as Easter is over. It is a historically true
National Carnival for the Islanders. There will be
street parades, food, drinks and parties, Pan
Orchestra & Costume Competitions and well as Celeb Concerts. Wanna go along?:-) I am staying
at a Colleague's B&B; they still have rooms
available ($25 per night). Incidentally, I am paying for
all this by getting several needed dental caps done at
less than half the amount it would cost me in the
US. My Tooth Fairy there is very competent having been
trained at the University of North Carolina with a residency
at a NC University Hospital. Thank you Rudi and Jeff for
making it possible for me to go.
The
Wayne & Audrey Attic News
Ya'll
come to my Penthouse Christmas Party!
I expect to move in to celebrate the Holidays with
Audrey (our friendly Artist ghost). As we are a
certified Green Inn, we recycled the lovely 125 year old
yellow pine flooring and milled it to make all the trim.
At the moment, we are down to laying the spiffy marble
stone tile (Cream Beige) in the kitchen and bathroom.
Picking out the carpet for the living, bedroom and office
areas is the current fun decision. (Audrey
likes the Berber "Sea Foam;" I prefer
the "San Sebastian," but there are others in
the running.) Also, the beautiful old entry
yellow pine stairway is being sanded and will be
refinished to match the trim. I painted the
decorative metal "New Orleans" window balcony
yesterday. It matches the wrought iron Wisteria
Arbor next to the old Horse & Carriage Portico
Cher at our entrance.
The
Innkeeper News
Rudi and Jeff, our new Aspiring Innkeepers, are wonderfully natural team
mates for me. They are taking to Stonewall
Jackson Innkeeping like ducks to water. The really
good news about our team is that we are having lots
of fun and are rapidly becoming a happily bonded family. Using
her ingenuity and artistic talents, Rudi is decorating the
Inn for the Holiday Season, and is greatly enjoying being
the
Inn
's Chatelaine & hostess. She also put
together this Newsletter! Jeff
is a priceless Renaissance Handyman and Chef. As
well, he demonstrated his computer technical
skills in putting a picture slide show on our home
page. Check it out: www.StonewallJacksonInn.com.
The Innkeeper's Apartment (on the first floor) is framed,
plumbed and has a new Energy Star Zoned Climate
Control System that also serves the entire entry level second
floor. I plan to surprise Rudi and Jeff (and
you) with some nifty custom design/construction features
that are a work in progress. I am having Fun!!!!
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(Top)
Jeff & Rudi's
News
Jeff and I are entering our third month as Aspiring Innkeepers at the
Stonewall Jackson Inn. We are learning more each day, with Wayne’s
gentle guidance. He is a wonderful and patient teacher. We have a lot
of fun playing together. We love meeting and having the pleasure of
hosting our guests as well as being members of the Stonewall Jackson
Team. It’s easy to see that many long-term friendships will grow;
truly as an ever extending family. Come see us soon. We look forward
to seeing you all next year.
(Top)
Guest of the Month
On November 17, we were
pleased to have Mr. Kenneth W. Farmer, Jr. as one of our honored
guests. Ken, sponsored by WVPT, Virginia’s Public Television station,
came to town to present two shows at the Court Square Theater. Ken is
the owner of Ken Farmer Auctions and Appraisals, LLC, based in
Radford, Virginia. His special interests include the appraisal and
selling of American furniture, folk art, and sales of fine art and
decorative art. Ken has traveled throughout the U.S. and has
entertained audiences with appraisal seminars, lectures and
presentations on a variety of subjects. Since 1995 he has served as a
guest appraiser in furniture, folk art, decorative arts, and musical
instruments on the PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He
has also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show. It was our treat to have
Ken with us to become a new member of the Stonewall Jackson family!
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Godparents Wanted
Perhaps
you do not know that the Stonewall Jackson has co-sponsored
with the
US
State Department & The Virginia Council of Churches, the
resettlement of several refugees from
Africa
. They have stayed here at the
Inn
as one of our family. We help them learn a new
culture, language and marketable skills. We have successfully
sponsored one each from the countries of
Sudan
,
Kenya
and
Rwanda
. Currently, we have offered to co-sponsor a man
from
Tanzania
who wishes to stay with us to learn to be an
Innkeeper and work in the hospitality industry in
Tanzania
. His name is Joseph Nyaki. Pastor Dwayne
Westermann and the
Lutheran
Church
in
Tanzania
are working on the Visa problem, which is formidable with the
current national security & immigration hiatus.
Pastor Westermann has recently retired from College Lutheran
Church in Salem, Virginia to serve as full
time President of "Godparents for Tanzania," a
non-profit, 501(c)(3) public foundation. They run
an excellent educational program that provides scholarships
to under privileged children in that country. For
$480 you can sponsor a child for a full year of quality
education that is provided by qualified teachers, some of whom are
volunteers from the
US
. Dwayne also operates Discovery Safaris, the
travel program of Godparents for Tanzania, which brings
Americans to
Tanzania
to learn about life in a developing country.
Arrangements are made for Godparents who travel with him to
meet their students. Wildlife safaris to some of the most
famous game parks in the world are always a part of these
trips. Learn about their trips on their web site.
"God willing and the creek don't rise", I will
be going with him on his July Safari there. Dwayne
tells me there are still a few seats open on their upcoming
trips in June and July of next year. We are
sponsoring several students, you might like to do the
same. At least visit and check out their website: www.godparents4tz.org.
Pastor Westermann also publishes a monthly newsletter you might wish to
receive. You can subscribe on their web site or email dwestermann@godparents4tz.org.
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Winter
Travel Tips
General Information:
- Carry a cell phone.
- Let someone know when you depart, your route, and
expected arrival time.
- Dress according to weather conditions. Keep dry and
wear clothing in layers.
- Do not leave without a full fuel tank.
If stranded:
- Stay with your vehicle.
- Run the engine sparingly. Start with 15 minutes
every hour and adjust if needed.
- Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
- If the cold is extreme, it may be necessary to keep
the engine running continuously. It may not restart if
shut off.
- Keep your feet off the floor if the heater is not
on.
- Never go to sleep with the engine running.
- Read to pass the time.
- Position car so it faces into the wind.
- Tie a colorful banner on the car antenna. If you
need to leave the car for any distance during the storm,
tie a nylon rope to the car and yourself so you will be
able to find your way back to the car.
- Move all your emergency supplies from the trunk to
the interior of the car as soon as you realize you will
be staying for a while. Put on warm clothing now, before
you get cold. It is easier to stay warm than it is to
regain lost warmth. Loosen tight clothing so body heat
can circulate. Remove metal jewelry as it can chill you.
- Check your supplies to see what you have to work
with and arrange them in order for their use. This will
help you ration them in case you are stranded for a long
period of time.
- Here's a tip from cold weather campers: eat a snack
of high calorie food just before sleeping to stimulate
your metabolism (heat production). If you awaken due to
the cold, eat some more high energy food and add another
layer of insulation such as more clothing or a blanket.
Vehicle Equipment:
- Carry repair tools such as pliers, wrenches, screw
drivers, pocket knife.
- Carry tire chains, booster cables, tow rope, gas
line antifreeze, and container of sand.
Safe
Travel Wishes to All
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Did
You Know?
The plant we know today as the poinsettia has a long and
interesting history?
Native to
Mexico, the poinsettia originated in a region near the
present-day city of
Taxco. Joel Robert Poinsett, a Southern plantation owner and
botanist, was appointed the first United States Ambassador
to
Mexico
(1825-1829). While visiting
Taxco, he was struck by the beauty of the brilliant red plants he
found blooming in the region during December. He had some of
the plants sent to his plantation in
Greenville
,
South Carolina, where they flourished in his greenhouse. While the
botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was given by a
German taxonomist in 1833, the common name, poinsettia,
became and has remained the accepted name in
English-speaking countries. With over 70 million plants sold
nationwide each year, the poinsettia is now the number one
flowering potted plant sold in the
USA.
The Legend of the Poinsettia
A charming story is told of
Pepita, a poor Mexican girl
who
had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve
Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her
cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than
joy. "I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble
gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His
eyes," said Pedro consolingly. Not knowing what else to
do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of
common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking
at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and
embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She
fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.
As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro's kind
words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love,
will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit
lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the
nativity scene.
Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of
brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they
had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.
From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores
de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they
bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
Today, the
common name for this plant is the Poinsettia!
And now you know!
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(Top)
Recipe of the Month
Super Easy Gingerbread
House
WHAT
YOU WILL NEED:
-
An
8-oz. milk carton, empty and clean
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Canned
white frosting
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Graham
crackers
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Assorted
soft candies for decoration (gum drops, jellybeans, candy
canes, and cake decorations, such as sprinkles and
nuts)
INSTRUCTIONS:
-
Tape
or staple the spout of carton closed.
-
Using
the white frosting as glue, stick graham crackers onto sides
and top of carton.
-
Decorate
with candies and cake decorations. Licorice can be used to
make windows, small marshmallows can be used as snow covered
shingles, and pretzel sticks can be used to make fences.
TIPS:
-
Use
different sized milk cartons to make an entire city.
-
Ice
cream cones can be covered in green frosting to make
Christmas trees.
-
Decorate
with small red candies for holly berries or sprinkles to
make Christmas trees.
NOTES:
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Calendar of Events
For more information on
any event, please call us at 800-445-5330 or visit:
Daily News Record
Harrisonburg
Tourism and Visitors Bureau.
***Innkeeper's Choice - See Below***
Dec. 11-30, 2007 -- The Santaland
Diaries --
American
Shakespeare
Center
–
Staunton
,
VA
–
www.americanshakespearecenter.com
Dec. 13-30, 2007 -- A
Christmas Carol --
American
Shakespeare
Center
–
Staunton
,
VA
www.americanshakespearecenter.com
Dec.
13, 2007 -- Dan Paisley
& Southern Grass with Vintage
Bluegrass
-- 7:30 pm -
Court Square Theater
Details & Directions »
Dec. 14-23, 2007 -- Holiday Lantern
Tours
--
Frontier
Culture
Museum
–
Staunton
(540) 332-7850
Dec. 21, 2007 -- "Christmas Moods" Concert --
7:30 pm -- presented by the Shenandoah Valley Choral Society at Bridgewater
Church
of the Brethren -- (540) 828-3711
Dec.
22, 2007 --
A Christmas Story -- Court
Square Theater -
$5
Fridays!
Details & Directions »
Dec. 26,
2007 -- Winter Caroling Party --
Frontier
Culture
Museum
–
Staunton -- (540) 332-7850
TWO
NEW YEAR
CELEBRATIONS:
***Innkeeper's Choice***
Dec. 31, 2007 -- First Night
-- downtown
Harrisonburg
- 6 pm to midnight – We
have a wonderful “First Night” Celebration here in Harrisonburg.
The entire downtown is cordoned off for the crowd. There
is Street Dancing and Performers, Music Concerts of all
kinds, Street vendors and food, contests and finally fireworks,
all with an international flavor. It is alcohol free and
very well organized and presented. AND it is only two
blocks from the Inn, an easy walk. Join us, we are
going!!!
For details, click: www.firstnightharrisonburg.com.
Jan. 4-
Feb. 9, 2008 -- Chinese New Year Spectacular
In November, we had the pleasure of having
John & Jessica Russo stay with us on their Wedding
Anniversary. The Russo’s hail from Philadelphia where Jessica is
involved with the Chinese New Year Spectacular presentation
there. This year’s festival begins its 50-city worldwide tour at
Philadelphia’s University for the Arts - Merriam Theater from
January 4th - 6th, 2008 .
The troupe will then tour the US & Canada through February 9th. We
thought it a delightful way to ring in the New Year
(if you are not staying with us J)!! To
check for dates in your area, go to:
www.BestChineseShows.com. |
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newsletter for more current events, things to
do
and special discounts for newsletter recipients.
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547 East Market Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 433-8233 (800) 445-5330
Info@StonewallJacksonInn.com
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Stonewall Jackson Inn
547 East Market Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
(540) 433-8233
(800) 445-5330
Info@StonewallJacksonInn.com
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