Its rustic charm was irresistible. The Crofting Inn put forth a Hallmark lumberjack façade. The bed and breakfast in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, offers 7 quaint, old-fashioned rooms. Just what my friend, Bandanaland Princess Edda, had been looking for. She was planning to get away from the Texas heat for a summer outing to this ski resort village with her Prince Helmut.
Hostess Gail at your service
“The price was right for that amount of ambience,” Edda said. “The old house, built in 1919, appealed to me because I like historic locations.”
But they couldn’t decide on the exact days because a mouse had chewed up a wiring cable and this car problem had to be fixed for the road. “It was wonderful that the landlady was so accommodating about our back and forth with the dates,” Edda recalled. What joy, the last-minute deal worked out.
When they arrived, the door was locked. “Just type in the code and go up to your room,” the woman in charge, Gail, instructed them on the phone.
The house was decorated with an abundance of old-fashioned trinkets and antiques. The room offered plain accommodations with a bed and bedside tables, no wardrobe or storage for clothes. No TV or air-conditioning either, but the little balcony let plenty of clean mountain air in. It would have been perfect enough, except the tub looked whacky.
“No problem!” the hostess said. “We will move you into another unit.” Those showers were totally up to date.
“I also chose this Inn because it advertised a gourmet breakfast,” Edda said. She likes fancy fare in the mornings. “After a home-baked blueberry muffin and a bowl of fruit, I asked myself, what’s next.” But nothing came forth. So, the hostess served additional toast and extra hot milk to thin Edda’s coffee. On top of that, she offered advice on outings to the famous train trestle, the beer brewing company, and the elegant Lodge with its resident ghost.
Gail minded every minute request with unaffected hospitality. “She was a little like me,” Edda said. “She liked to cook but it had to go fast.” The conversation in the dining room between the different guests flowed merrily from one to the other, a fact that Prince Helmut really liked.
A couple from Kerrville, Texas, shared their discovery of mega croissants from the best bakery in the 950-souls-strong little western town of Cloudcroft. They talked with an astoundingly sprite 90-year-old woman who celebrated her birthday with a family reunion. And a good-looking couple was planning a flashy wedding.
Why flashy? Another interesting fact surfaced at this point. Innkeeper Gail and her husband, math professor Scott, got married on their lunch break, just like Edda and Helmut did. No flash at all, but the bond lasted.
Crofting Inn had many cozy corners. Coming from Bandanaland, Edda felt right at home with the rustic paisley patterns all around. The whole house was decorated with bandanas: as table cloths, as fireplace décor, and dangling from the ceiling as garlands.
“We get many guests from Texas up here,” Gail explained. “They are very fond of Western themes, in which the bandana plays a pig part.” So, she made her place extra comfy and welcoming for cowboys and cowgirls. This goes to show again that there is creativity in bandanas to no end. The sky hangs full with bandanas at the Cloudcroft Inn.
Thank you, Bandanaland Princess Edda, for the lovely photos and story
Contribute to the Bandana Book III
“Sung and Unsung Heroes” Stories deadline: December 1st
Everybody knows a hero. Could be your parents, neighbor, school mate etc. Send in your hero story, regardless of a Bandana! Heroes don’t necessarily wear bandanas, but they might suit them well.
Call for Bandana Stories
Looking forward to your stories!
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