Comfortable Musings

Winter is here at the Lazyjack Inn

2011-01-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

We are sporting a redecorated library that is really comfortable for our guests. Mike has been creating some very interesting wooden bowls from special wood that was destined for the landfill or the chipper. He will make a few of them available for others at pretty reasonable price for a one of a kind creation.
We have some very special packages and prices for our guests. Would love to see some of you this winter. It is really peaceful here.

The Summer season begins

2010-05-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day 2010.....seems like we waited forever for this one to arrive...but it was surely worth the wait! Mother Nature gave us some fabulous summer weather to share with the weekends guests...and as always it was a real privilege to offer people the perfect space to unwind and really enjoy their weekend escape.

I was happy to serve my favorite Mint Pancakes with Rasberry Sauce as it had been a good bit since i had shared that treat with our guests! I am happy to report that all of the plates came back clean!!!

We had a full three day weekend and the chance to meet new friends...it is our sincere hope that they have journeyed home safely , well rested and with great memories of their time on Tilghman Island and The Lazyjack Inn.

What's to do on The Eastern Shore

2009-05-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

Looking out the window this morning, the wind shoving across the river, rain clouds and wet everywhere , it would be hard to tell that it's May if it weren't for the lush green and the recently returned Osprey happily riding the air currents in search of materials fo this years nests...

Spring is really here ....boats of all sorts have been returned to the water, outdoor cafe's and restaurants once again sport street side tables and umbrellas, cyclists and kayak enthusiasts can be seen arriving with vehicles loaded down with gear.

Talbot County and nearby Dorchester County have put together a wide array of fantastic outdoor events for locals and visitors to take part in ...

Here is a small sampling of what awaits you in the month of May:

Tilghman Island comes to life in the spring with the onset of the crabbing season and the beginning of sport fishing.
Visit The Tilghman Island Inn on Sunday, May 10th for a fabulous Mothers Day brunch then head over for a real preview of summer at The Bay Hundred Restaurant where the first luau of summer will take place from 1pm till...

St Michaels as always offers a terrific variety of small shops, art gallerys and museums all located on the main thorough fare through town.
Never miss a chance to visit the St. Michaels Maritime Museum when you come t the eastern shore as the exhibits are updated regularly.

Stop into the Eastern Shore Brewing Company to what the latest creation is ...and enjoy live music every Thursday evening from 6pm-8pm and The St. Michaels Winery just round the corner is also a fun stop...they will be offering special wine prices May 9th for Mothers Day .

Take a trip on the Oxford Bellvue Ferry, take in the beauty of Oxford architecture, and enjoy the best ice cream by far on the entire shore at The Oxford Creamery.

The beauty of historic Easton and it's growing arts community is not to be missed. Spend the sunny hours taking in the gallerys and museums and then turn to 'Coffee CAt' (formerly ' Coffee East') and The Historic Avalon Theater for incredible live music every weekend. Both of these venues ntw being booked by Mangold entertainment and the performers are top notch.

This coming weekend weekend in Cambridge features a Blues and jazz fest free of charge.

We will continue to post new events for the month as they become available....

plenty to do ...or do nothing at all....it's your getaway ..just a short drive ....

Call us for your reservation at The Lazyjack !

Warm up!!!! Artisan Bread Recipe to Share

2009-01-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

There is just something fantastic about the aroma of freshly baked bread on a cold winters day...

Here at The Lazyjack Inn we have quite a penchant for baking...we have a lot of fun trying out new recipes...some make it to the guest table and some do not..but we have a great time experimenting!

This is a terrific recipe that was recently shared and we would love to pass onto you.

We have added this one to our list of favorite breads!

SIMPLE CRUSTY BREAD

Time to prep: About 45 minutes plus @ 3 hours resting and raise

Yield: 4 rounded loaves

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 tblspns yeast

1 1/2 tblspns kosher salt

6 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour (plus some for dusting )

cornmeal

water

DIRECTIONS:

1. In large bowl or platic container, mix yeast and salt into 3 cups lukewarm water(about 100 degrees). Stir in flour, mising until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose(almost like a batter bread). cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room tempertaure for 2 hours (2 hours seems to be just about right...any longer than 3 brings on falling).

2. At this point you can shape your bread and bake OR refrigerate, covred, for as long as two weeks.

3. When ready to bake, sprinkle a little flour on the dough and cut off a grapefruit-size piece with a serrated knife. Turn dough in hands to lightly stretch surface, creating a rounded top and lumpy bottom. Put dough on pizza peel sprinkled with corn meal (any wooden cutting board or the bottom of a cast iron skillet will work fine). Let dough rest here for 40 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.

4.Place broiler pan in bottom of oven to warm (this will be filled with water when bread goes into oven). Place your baking stone (pizza stone or heavy cookie sheet)on middle rack and turnover to 450 degrees; heat stone at that temp. for 20 minutes.

5. When bread has risen dust with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Carefully slide onto heated stone ( this move is why the dusting of cornmeal is so important in step three!). Pour one cup of water into broiler pan and shut overn quickly to trap steam. (the steam is what will give you your fantastic crusty bread!) Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.

We hope that you have fun with this one!

Carol

Taken from The New York Times November 21, 2007

(adapted from 'artisan bread in five minutes a day" by jeff hertzberg and Zoe Francois (Thomas Dunne Books , 2007)

Gift Certificates at fantastic rates for Winter Escapes

2009-01-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Consider a gift certificate for a Winter Getaway to Marylands Eastern Shore.

With choices of rooms and suites and length of stay you can customize your Gift to best suit your needs...make your next birthday, anniversary or the upcoming valentines celebration one to remember.

For a limited time we are pleased to offer Lazyjack Inn on Dogwood Harbor gift certificates at our special winter rates.

Gift Certificates are custom made for each client and can be sent by post or emailed for faster service. Gift certificates purchased on this offer must be used by April 15th 2009.

For more information on the super winter discounts for these Gift Certificates please contact us by telephone: 1-800-690-5080 or by email: info@lazyjackinn.com

Just tell us that you saw this offer on the Blog!

Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Carol

Tilghman Island featured in OutLook by the Bay Magazine

2009-01-24T08:47:00.000-08:00

We were thrilled to receive notification of a new article featuring Tilghman Island as a winter getaway destination.

Outlook by the Bay, a publication "for the Bay Boomer and Savvy Senior" has published a two page article in the Winter 2009 edition.

"A Chesapeake Bay Island, even one with a drawbridge to the mainland, may seem and unlikely destination for a winter vacation or weekend , but plenty of people have discovered that much of what draws visitors to Tilghman Island in warm weather is still there when the temperatures drop."

The article features some beautiful winter photos of the island and the surrounding area as well as interviews with folks who have become 'winter regulars' on the island.

A complimentary copy of this publication can be obtained by contacting them at

http://www.outlookbythebay.com/

It is always such a pleasure to know that so many others find Tilghman Island as special as we do!

Carol

Winter Blues Breaker in Full Swing

2009-01-08T10:59:00.001-08:00

Winter Hols are over....we have successfully passed the shortest day of the year and now we look towards the arrival of spring...but in the mean time there are 3 months to live....

Just because it's winter doesn't mean that you have to spend it waiting...some folks relish winter as a 'down time', the gardeners take this time to plan new designs and pore over seed and nursery catalogs, some folks flourish on outdoor winter sports, others take on big home projects without the lure of the warm outdoors to distract them...

Whatever your winter M.O. is we would like to suggest that you do allow for a tiny bit of that hibernation...right here at The Lazyjack Inn.

The Blues Breaker Package

Our most popular winter package.Revive your spirits during this winter retreat with a two night stay in one of our beautiful rooms or luxurious premier suites.

*Fireplace and elegant private bath with Jacuzzi and shower*

*Comforting afternoon refreshments by the library fire

*Fruit & Cheese tray and fresh flowers in your suite

Reservation and dining recommendations provided

*Evening turn down with chocolate and sparkling water

*A hearty blues breaking gourmet breakfast each morning

Blues gladly broken from January, 2009 - April 15, 2009

Mid week and weekend accommodations available

Rates for two nights BLUE BREAKER PACKAGE $330 - $407 + tax.

Limited time only provide the following blog code when you call to reserve

and receive even further discount on your winter stay!

BLOGSUPERSPECIAL2009

Join us for A week of incredible art at The Plein Air Festival of Easton, summer 2009

2008-07-17T11:41:00.001-07:00

Beautiful lazy days of summer and FRESH LOCAL PEACHES!!

2008-07-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

What an incredible summer it has been so far!

The small town America feel of Tilghman Island is at it's best just now. The workboats leave the docks before the sunrise...the local watermen in and out of the dock unloading fish brought in from the pound nets, crabbers with bushel baskets full of the Bays treasure and results of thier own intense efforts. The sound of our well known drawbridge being raised for the boats..some work boats, some charter fishing boats and multitudes of pleasure craft on summer holiday.

Beautiful bright sunrises over Dogwood Harbor, warm sunny days and breezes off of the Choptank River, cool evenings sometimes with amazing cloud formations, those quick summer thunderstorms and sunsets like you only see over our Bay.

We are well into the middle of the season now and the fairly regular evening rain storms seem to be keeping our typical summer droughts at a distance.

Farmers market is jumping with fresh produce in abundance, the tomatoes are here as are the summer squash and yes, PEACHES!! There is something really terrific about following the path of our seasonal fruits and veggies...late spring brought us the fantastic combination of fresh rhubarb and strawberries for pies and crisps. The spring asparagus this year was spectacular...and now we are being gifted with the local peaches and blueberries....

This means the unbelievable peach cobblers and our famous over-stuffed french toast...with peaches of course...are now at the breakfast table!

Come and join us....we're closer than you think and we promise that you'll feel miles away!!!!!

Carol

Where women go to reconnect.....

2008-06-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

The Eastern Shore of Maryland, Tilghman Island, The Lazyjack Inn...

We have been so pleased over the past year to host several groups of women who just decided that it was time to take a break from the hectic schedule of their lives and take some time to 'catch up' with each other.

Life just seems to happen around us sometimes ....it flys by and before we know it weeks and months have passed and we haven't taken the time to really sit down and talk and laugh and really listen to our friends.

Watching these women sit our breakfast table and unwind has been a real treat for us...and a reminder to us as well that our time with friends is really a treasure and should be made a higher priority in our lives.

We have been able to act as a 'base camp' for women visiting the area to take in the arts, artist workshops, yoga and meditation retreats...and just plain down time.

We are happy to arrange a special weekend package for you and your 'girlfriends' ...or to just provide the space for you to do nothing at all for the entire stay!

If you would like to reserve space at the Inn for a 'girls getaway' please be sure to ask about our special rates for booking two or more rooms for your visit.

Looking forward to your stay with us,
Carol

Leaning Green at The Lazyjack Inn...

2008-05-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

We are so glad that you have chosen to stay with us here at The Lazyjack Inn and would like to share some of our efforts to remain aware of our impact on the world around us.

Since the time that our first grandchild was born (9 years ago!) we have become steadily more aware of the impact that our daily choices have not only on us but on the world around us...this is an ongoing growth process for us which we find at times a bit daunting but mostly inspiring.

As always, it is our personal exchange with our guests that really make this lifestyle so rewarding. Over the past few years we have had the amazing opportunity to exchange information with so many of our guests who are experiencing similar growth and awareness in their own lives. So many of our guests have shared fantastic ideas and experiences with us.

While some of our efforts seem so simple and 'small' we truly believe that each one of them does make a difference.

Here is a summary of our 'Green Leanings' :

*Regional clean foods- We are proud to call ourselves 'Locavores under construction'! The difference in quality and flavor in these foods is just incredible! We do our very best to purchase as much of our food as possible from regional growers. This includes produce from local farms and farmers markets and locally raised dairy, eggs and meats. We firmly stand behind our belief in small family farms. When ever possible we purchase organically grown foods and pasture raised meats. While we have not arrived at 100% on this we are doing our best to move in that direction.

*Organic Fair Trade Coffee- We are happy to support our local 'barista' 'Rise Up Coffee' by offering our guests a custom made organic fair trade coffee blend at breakfast each morning. This coffee is also available for purchase by the pound. http://www.riseupcoffee.com/

*All natural cleaning products- We have eliminated the use of all chemical cleaning products for the Inn. With an increase in the level of sensitivity to these harsh products by so many of our guests (ourselves included) and our proximity to 'Our Bay' this seemed an obvious choice for us. We are just so happy with the change. The essential oils in our new custom made cleaning products are just fantastic!

*Water conservation- During your stay with us you will have the option to reuse your bath linens rather than having them changed each morning and evening. Our guests over the past few months have responded to this with great enthusiasm and we are so happy that this simple option is making such a difference in our consumption!

*Recycling- We now recycle all of our non-compost waste. Newspapers, magazines & office waste, cardboard, glass, plastics and metals. As there is no recycling on the Island we take all of our recycling to local drop off in the town of St. Michaels. If you set these items aside in your room we are happy to collect them when we do housekeeping each day.

*Compost-All kitchen waste and materials from the maintenance of our gardens is composted here at the Inn and used in our gardens.

*All natural bath soaps- This is our latest addition to our green leanings and we are so excited about it! Two months ago we had some terrific guests stay with us who own and operate a small handmade soap business. We fell in love with their product and their philosophy. We have just placed our first order with them and will soon be sharing these regionally produced chemical free soaps with our guests. Full bars will also be available for purchase during your stay. http://www.parsonagesoaps.com/

We are happy to get your feedback and suggestions for additional ways that we can expand our offerings.

It is our hope that our efforts to be conscious of our footprint will enhance your stay with us here at The Lazyjack Inn.

Carol

The Boat Season gets underway!!!

2008-04-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

SHARPS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE

Another monument of spring for us here at The Lazyjack is the launching of the boats and the beginning of the sailing and lighthouse tour season.

Join Mike as he trades in his Innkeepers hat for that of Captain aboard the Motor Vessel Sharps Island. In addition to being the first mate in the kitchen for Carol Mike holds a 50-ton masters license to operate Chesapeake Lights lighthouse Tours. For the past six years he has been illuminating the Bay, it's history and it's wonders to hundreds of visitors and passengers

Chesapeake Lights offers a variety of tours to suite the interests of all of our guests.

For details or to book your lighthouse tour visit

www.chesapeakelights.com

THE YACHT LADY PATTY

Enjoy some fantastic sailing aboard the yacht Lady Patty with our son, Captain Chris Richards. This historic bay built yacht is available for both 2 hour day and sunset charters as well as private charters of extended length.

For more information or to book please visit http://www.sailladypatty.com/

May 'First Friday Gallery Walk'

2008-04-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Join us the first weekend of May and take in this terrific local arts event.

Take part in the First Friday Gallery Walk held from 5 to 9 pm the first Friday of each month. Easton’s galleries are respected for the quality of their collections and their knowledgeable, enthusiastic owners.

Enjoy the art, the wine and the people of Easton.

Don’t forget the Academy Art Museum , the anchor for the visual arts on the Eastern shore. Located in Easton, the Museum houses a permanent collection of 19th and 20th Century works on paper by European and American artists.

After your stroll enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants that feature local artwork as part of their décor. St. Michaels, Oxford, and Tilghman Island are also recognized for their galleries and or restaurants spotlighting local and regional artists. Our current featured restaurant is Bella Luna in Royal Oak. Visit Chef/Owner Barbara Helish at

http://www.bellalunarestaurant.net/content2.html

Spring at The Lazyjack Inn

2008-04-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Although we have been anticipating the seasons arrival for weeks now it is still hard to believe that it is upon us!

We are happy to have our hands in the gardens once more....fresh herbs and spinach from our own gardens at breakfast....one of the many small pleasures of our 'craft'!

The local farmers market is open for the season bringing the fabulous seasonal flavors of locally grown produce, meats and cheeses to our breakfast tableau.

It is always such a fantasic experience to begin the high season with the opportunity to see so many new faces at the Inn and to catch up with our many returning guests.

One of the real joys of keeping an Inn has always been our time getting to know the diverse group of folks that we are pleased to call 'our guests'. Over the past 16 years we have grown so many terrific friendships through our work.

We look forward to yet another incredible season at the Lazyjack Inn!

Happy Spring All!