Thriller

It was an incredible evening. We didn't care that it was cold and wet. There were some incredible zombies ready to thrill. Most of you are probably not aware of this but Michael Jackson's Thriller was performed simultaneously in 40 countries at 8.30pm (EST) on Saturday October 25, 2009. Our town, Oakland, was led by Brenda of Brenda's Dance Studio. She made her studio and staff available to the county and was an inspiring fund raiser. Each person wishing to dance had to raise a minimum of $50 to participate - all of it went to the House of Hope (a wonderful organization run by two incredible nuns). We raised over $30,000 - an enormous amount for a small town. One little girl raised over $2000 by herself. That is a picture of us presenting the check after the dance. It's not a particularly easy dance to learn but everyone rose to the occasion and some of the costumes and makeup were spectacular. I'm so glad I was a part of it. You can watch us on the YouTube link below and we may be on Oprah this Wednesday for raising the most money for a single charity. We performed at the Stables at Herrington, near the state park.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9WknyJs6zg

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons -I love the fall colors and crunching leaves beneath my feet. A great time to enjoy long walks in the state parks.

I have some great activities I am lining up for next spring (another favorite season of mine). I have Julia Child coming in April!

Award-winning actress Mary Ann Jung will cook up her unique recipe for fun in this show about Julia Child's two great loves-her husband and French cuisine. Learn how Julia changed culinary history by opening up America's kitchens and minds in the days when TV dinners reigned supreme. Discover why anyone who loves ethnic cooking and fine dining should thank this vivacious, funny innovator whose joie de vivre captured the hearts of all who saw her. Mary Ann is a recognized performer in the Chautauqua circuit.

Julia will be appearing on Saturday, April 24, 2010. This will be followed by a delicious English tea and a question and answer session. This event is free to guests staying at Haley Farm that weekend.

In addition to Julia I have organized an art workshop for April 16-17, 2010 and many other fun programs are in the pipeline. The Girlfriends Getaway is always a fantastic way to enjoy time with your best friends. And I'm still offering a free two night mid-week getaway to soldiers who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq (proof of service is required).

Check out what our guests are saying about us, and why we were awarded Best in the Mid-Atlantic. I do hope to welcome you soon to Haley Farm and treat you to our great food and hospitality.

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ShowReviews.aspx?inn=605013&m=1#s3626379

Kam Gillespie

This is a picture of the mist over the farm in the early morning. Its amazingly beautiful. The fall colors are just as amazing. And this weekend (October 9-11) we celebrate Autumn in all its glorious colors with parades, marching bands, crafts and more.

We also got some wonderful news this week (October 5, 2009) when Haley Farm B&B, Spa and Retreat Center was selected as Best in the Mid-Atlantic in the annual Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards, 2009-2010. The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards are based upon a qualitative and quantitative review of the nearly 50,000 independent reviews submitted to BedandBreakfast.com, the leading online B&B directory.

"We're delighted that inn goers agree that Haley Farm is deserving of high praise from travelers", explained BedandBreakfast.com's Sandy Soule, one of the most highly recognized authors and a spokeswoman for the B&B industry. "Clearly, Haley Farm B&B earned its stellar reviews from inn goers for its quality accommodations, breakfasts, amenities, and wonderful hospitality and service," commented Soule.

"It's a true honor to be chosen for a Best of BedandBreakfast.com award, and we thank our guests for all the positive reviews that led to this award, said Bobbi and Pete, innkeepers at Haley Farm."It’s really gratifying that our guests took the time to share their comments about our hospitality, accommodations, breakfasts and attention to detail which set Haley Farm apart," Here's a sampling of what our guests have to say about Haley Farm.

”From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed, and were awed by the lovely setting, beautiful rooms, and great food. Bobbi and Pete really helped make our girls' weekend more memorable”

“We just came back from a great long weekend at Haley's. What a wonderful place! We fell in love with the dogs and cats and of course with Bobbi and Pete! Breakfasts (and snacks served all day!) were wonderful and Bobbi really went out of her way to prepare me my own versions of her magnificent breakfasts without milk and cheese. She also prepared special meat free dishes for some of the other guests. Thanks Bobbi and Pete!”

“This is a hidden gem in the Deep Creek area about a 10 minute drive from the lake. It is in a scenic rural farm setting and the rooms and common areas are spacious, comfortable and nicely appointed. Snacks, coffee, and cold drinks are available all day, and the sumptuous breakfast is enough to fill you until dinnertime. Most memorable of our stay is Bobbi and Pete who are outstanding innkeepers, warm and friendly and professional. We also enjoyed their dogs and cats.”

“We had a wonderful time at the Haley Farm Bed & Breakfast in Deep Creek, Maryland. Pete and Bobbi were awesome innkeepers. They were super nice and Bobbie made an exceptional breakfast every morning. We didn't even need to eat lunch after the huge breakfast we had. The house and farm is beautiful!! The room was decorated very nice and very spacious. It was also very peaceful there. We had a great time at the Haley Farm Bed and Breakfast and can't wait to go back. Thank You for a great weekend.”

For a complete list of all winners, including regional and international Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners, please visit www.BedandBreakfast.com and click Winners 2009-2010. The Getaway Gift Card from BedandBreakfast.com, is welcomed at over 4,000 B&Bs in the U.S. and Canada, including Haley Farm B&B.

I am still offering a free two night mid-week stay for our soldiers who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq. So if you know someone who has recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan and deserves a free two night stay at the B&B please email me their particulars. I will select two soldiers every month for as long as our soldiers are there (I will need proof of their service). I hope for their sake that peace breaks out soon, but I am honored to able to show support for our brave men and women in this small way.

Wishing you all a joyous fall

Kam Gillespie
October 7, 2009