#Alternative to Newnan Hotels

What distinguishes a hotel stay from a bed and breakfast stay? It's really an important query and one that I enjoy answering. I had a call yesterday from a gentleman planning a return visit to Newnan. He and his wife had never stayed in a bed and breakfast and they thought they might give it a try! The top reasons worth your consideration; more personalized attention from the innkeepers, a full sit-down made-from-scratch breakfast served restaurant-style in the majority of bed and breakfasts, smaller groups of guests, more romantic accommodations with all the features of a high-end boutique hotel, and closer proximity to in-town activities and restaurants! Bottom line: a much more intimate experience that provides a long-lasting memory!

Newnan Places to Stay

Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast of Newnan is proud to serve our own freshly-made fruit sauces and syrups at breakfast! These beautiful blood oranges represent one of my personal favorites. although today I'm processing about five liters of prickly pear juice into syrup. 

 

Stay Near HGTV Green Home in Serenbe

There's still time to catch a glimpse of the 2012 HGTV Green Home at Serenbe. Tickets are $12 and Casa Bella is a quick fifteen minutes away! Enjoy HGTV's Summer Giveaway, discover Newnan's historic homes and vibrant downtown!

Mainstreet Newnan's Holiday Open House

Early Spring Bloom in Atlanta

It's hard to believe that spring has exploded around south Metro Atlanta!

Bradford Pear trees have bloomed and already dropped the flowers! And without much warning!

I think all of us that suffer from allergies were caught off guard but after a cold, dingy winter we were all ready for warmth and color in our landscapes.

Which brings me to my strawberry plants. I planted these last year and since it was my first year growing strawberries I didn't know what to expect. My hearty plants not only thrived in the snow, rain, and cold weather but they spread like crazy and celebrated the early arrival of spring with these pretty blooms a few days ago!

100 Years And Counting

When we purchased our home in 1993, we never imagined we would stay long enough to celebrate the 100th year of  our pretty home! We imagined ourselves living comfortably in the house for ten or so years.  Like so many who love older homes the years began to run together!

We have updated heating and cooling systems-replacing a very old room-sized Lenox furnace with dual systems that keep the rooms toasty during our long winter months and well-cooled during the hot, humid Georgia summers. Old cloth wiring was pulled through very small holes in the plaster to minimize dust and costly plaster repairs.

We redesigned kitchens and wine bar, dug a big hole for our pretty saline pool, painted and repainted, stained and restained pretty inlaid bowtie flooring and finally the house is sound, cozy and pretty throughout 99% of the property. 

We are on our second go-around as innkeepers, something unusual in the business but it is a house best shared-way too big for two people.  We closed for eight years to do the more complex upgrades-the electrical upgrade for the main house required 10 weeks of patience-snaking new wiring through minimum holes in the plaster and wood work through out the house.  Kitchen redesigns a total of six months. Time well spent when guests head for the kitchen to enjoy the large granite bar and soothing aqua walls adorned with cashmere-stained maple Welbourne cabinetry!

When we total up the projects we are always amazed that we have lasted and stay interested. We're grateful for the opportunity to watch over our stately home and know that it has been shared by many happy travelers, family and friends!

Childhood Memories at Casa Bella

Childhood memories of favorite Christmas traditions while living abroad as a young girl are this year's inspiration behind our whimsy tree at Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast!

Growing up a military brat and celebrating Christmas in Germany will remain two of my favorite childhood memories!

Gingerbread, Stollen, Pfeffernussen and old world ornaments have had a lasting impact on my ideas for an old-fashioned Christmas.

Mitch Miller, Ray Conniff and other 60's bands played through-out the holidays at my parents house and there were always games, visits from family friends and parties! 

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Newnan's Fall Market Days

Whimsical Reclaimed Garden Art

The Tassel Castle 

On the heels of a beautiful Market Days is Thursday's Fall Taste of Newnan and Wing Cook-off, from 5 - 8:30 PM on the Court Square!

Main Street Garden

Lucky for me, Linda and Tina from the Main Street Newnan office were both headed out of town this weekend-with ripening fruit on the vine. Added to my own batch of cherry tomatoes I have enough to roast the sweet little morsels in olive oil and can for the long winter months when I will be desperate for anything that taste like it actually came out of the good earth!

Like so many, we had a very dry summer and only these past few weeks have we seen good drenching rains that have caused my tomato plants to bloom and produce a whole new batch of heirloom tomatoes!

Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast Coffee

I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming when I look at this wonderful gadget. A single cup travel press! Could life get
get any better?

I love my French Presses and can't wait for that first sip of our Casa Bella Morning Coffee Blend with all of it's chocolately goodness! I own different sizes and appreciate that I can always have a perfectly blended cup of strong coffee wherever I am in the world! There are challenges carrying around all that coffee-making paraphernalia-with travel restrictions being so tight.

No more! This little beauty is diswasher safe, compact and has all the right working parts! Finally, perfect coffee anywhere in the world!

The Face of Young Newnan

Espresso Lane on Newnan's Court Square

Thankfully, we still have a couple of months of our Market Days in Newnan.  I look forward to the smells and visits to my favorite shops.  Shown above is a young guest of Espresso Lane on the square.  Ron waits out my leisurely stroll of the square with his favorite Latte!

We are just about ready to enjoy one of our communities' favorite Labor Day pasttimes-Powers Festival, now celebrating its' 40th year.  Just getting to the festival site is half the fun.  Flea markets and garage sales line the road and one can hope that there will be money to spend at the festival with all the tempting bargains along the way!

In the "not to distant future" we'll enjoy The Fall Taste of Newnan and Chili Cook-off, a popular Beer Tasting at the shops in downtown Newnan and the exciting opening and re-dedication of our beautifully- renovated 1904 Courthouse.  For a full list of events please visit our Mainstreet website. 

www.MainstreetNewnan.com/

So, we invite you to make your plans to spend quality time on Newnan's beautiful court square! Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast is within walking distance to most of the activities posted in this blog.  Leave the car behind and discover Newnan on foot! Photo ops abound!

Enjoy our historic homes, dine on the square and shop our fabulous boutiques!  Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast looks forward to your visit!  RESERVATIONS: 770-755-6750

Newnan's Newly Renovated 1904 Courthouse

Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast Loves Newnan Market Days

www.Imcreations.biz

Newnan Market Days-2nd Saturday of the Month

I had my usual good time on the Newnan court square this past Saturday with Newnan Market Days!

I catch up with friends, visit the pretty shops and enjoy a cappuccino at Espresso Lane! Ron and I always linger at the coffee shop-admiring Newnan's historic courthouse-just about to re-open.

Espresso Lane in Newnan

Power's Festival is right around the corner and this year our festival will celebrate it's 40th year!

I find myself amazed that I have personally witnessed 18 years of Power's Crossroads! Main Street Newnan will showcase itself at the Country Store and as a volunteer I am really looking forward to meeting guests and catching up with Coweta County!

Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast is full with guests! Eight women will spend three days enjoying the festival as they have in years past! Some of them have stayed with us previously and we're looking forward to their return and meeting some of their friends!

To Learn More About Power's Festival and For A List of Artists and Vendors CLICK HERE!

Atlanta's Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast

Many of our guests at Casa Bella have questions about our lifestyle and wonder what makes a successful innkeeper.  I'm sure there are many thoughts on the subject but I believe a background in hospitality or food and beverage gives one an edge.

My husband is Italian and grew up in an neighborhood market that his family owned for over 75 years-Gironda's Market in Maranoneck, N.Y. Customers became extended family!

I'm the daughter of a career military man. My family often lived overseas and accommodations weren't always in base housing but sometimes in small apartments or gasthauses "on the economy". 

The gasthauses had a profound and lasting effect on me.

The owners treated us like family. My older sister and I were invited into the restaurant kitchen for ice cream after school.  We were treated as adults at the breakfast table  . . .a memory that I cherish fourty something years later!

Furry Friends at Market Days

So many of the creatures that cross my path are furry! Thankfully, our own local market held on the square each month in downtown Newnan provides me with so many great photo opportunities.

In a week or so vendors will set up around the newly renovated court house creating yet another chance to photograph "man's best friend"!

I'm working on a special wall upstairs dedicated to our furry friends!  So many have crossed the Rainbow Bridge but they are in our hearts, forever!

So see more of my photos over the past year click Charlie's picture!

Unexpected Guests

One guest explained that these were actually great fishing bait so I developed an interest in these grasshoppers.  I also read that they can tear up your garden so I am now hoping for a fisherman!

French Toast With Pecan Cream and Toasted Pecans

This is a wildly popular breakfast item and most certainly one of my favorites.

Our French Toast is made in the traditional sense of the recipe but we have our own techniques that impart a little something extra to this popular breakfast fare.

Creamy Pecan Cream and hand-blended syrup make for a spectacular recipe with contrasting textures and flavors.

Perfectly toasted pecans add crunch and a pleasing toasty flavor to our crispy French Toast!

Casa Bella Morning Blend Coffee

Guests of Casa Bella can experience every type of coffee experience; including our most popular option-a French Press with our own signature Casa Bella Morning Blend.

A deep blend with chocolate undertones, Casa Bella Morning Blend is offered as a traditional restaurant-style cup or in a French Press. Our record for most pots enjoyed in a single sitting was set by Richard! A whopping 3 pots! And I thought I loved coffee!

Guests can also opt for a single cup from our popular Keurig coffeemakers-conveniently placed through out the Bed and Breakfast! The pod-style single cup makers are perfect for an early morning cup before a jog or walk around our wonderful historic district and have been a big hit with guests.