Cooking with Donna event at the 2010 University of Okoboji Winter Games.

Okoboji Country Inn Innkeeper, Donna Muilenburg kept the crowd inside Annabelle’s Tea Room entertained this year at her Cooking With Donna demonstration and tasting during the 2010 University of Okoboji Winter Games.  For her second cooking show, Donna chose recipes from the cookbook 9×13 The Pan that Can!  This cookbook showcases recipes of comfort foods that everyone grew up with.  Donna chose four interesting and easy to make recipes for her cooking show which included chicken broccoli strata, salted peanut bars, lasagna blanca and ended with the very popular root beer float cake. 

The cookbook is available for purchase at The Wash House  gift shop.  It makes the perfect gift for beginning cooks, busy working moms with hungry children to feed, or even retired cooks who love to read cookbooks.   Next year’s Cooking With Donna is almost filled up, call (712) 332-2358 if you want to be added to the list of attendees.

Mount Ayr, Iowa — The new Pavillion Reception Hall located on  Ramsey Farmsis at Lesanville is open and available for use year round.  The large facility can accommodate any gathering — from an intimate meeting to a large corporate convention. It seats 300 and is one of the finest in the area.

The hall can accommodate corporate banquets, wedding receptions, graduation parties, anniversary parties, community celebrations, family reunions, and much more.  The Ramsey Farms catering team offers quality food served with pride and can cater almost any type of an event.

Make your next event memorable at Ramsey Farms!

Attend the fun at the University of Okoboji Winter Games!

Be sure to attend the 2010 University of Okoboji Winter Games, the fun starts on Friday January 29th and continues through Sunday January 31st.

Donna Muilenburg, Innkeeper at the Okoboji Country Inn Bed and Breakfast will be having another cooking school during the Winter Games Weekend.  Cooking with Donna will take place on Saturday January 30th from 10 am to 12 noon at Annabelle’s Tea Room which is located inside The Wash House gift shop in West Okoboji.  Donna will be showcasing recipes of comfort foods that everyone grew up with that are easy to make and serve.  This demonstration and tasting requires a pre-registration of $5 per person.  Call (712) 332-2358 or stop by the store to register, seating is limited.   See you at the Winter Games!!!

On October 24th six wineries will join with the merchants to present a taste tasting celebration from 1 PM to 4PM. Call the Chamber at 1-877-648-5549 to reserve your wine glass and join the fun. Make it a weekend and stay at the Bed and Breakfast of Cabin Cove. www.cabincove.com

If your stay will be for one or two nights, or a week-end visit, consider the Hannah Marie Country Inn just south of Spencer. They feature central air and heating, softened water, bubbles for your bath, and ironed top sheets.

Weekly lodging can be found at the Prairie Cottage just north of Spencer. It sleeps a small group of 4-6 adults in two bedrooms with a futon couch and rollaway bed, or is extremely comfortable for a family of 6. Fix your own meals and save $ with our apt-sized stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishes, silverware, cups, glasses, linens, coffee maker, grill, etc. Our cottage also includes a video collection, TV, a desktop computer and Wireless Internet access, games, puzzles, and cards available for your enjoyment.

Don’t wait until the last moment, visit the Web sites of each lodging establishment and make your reservation early!

Spencer, Iowa ~ The Clay County Fair has come a long way since it grew out of a series of homestead era fairs, agricultural society expositions, a state high-wheel-bicycle meet, a trotting association and community barbecues and picnics — held in Spencer in 1871, only five years after pioneer settlers drove their covered wagons from Wisconsin to Spencer Grove. For entertainment this first fair ran races with horses and riders from Sioux Rapids, Peterson and Emmetsburg. Today, the Clay County fair is the largest county fair in the state of Iowa. It has the second largest agricultural exposition in North America. Bringing in over 310,000 visitors a year, the Clay County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the USA.

If you plan to visit the fair this year, you will want to consider lodging at one of these fine northwest Iowa bed and breakfast establishments — and, be sure to visit their booth in the Ag Building’s basement during the run of the fair:

Join the fun and attend the University of Okoboji Marathon competitions.

If you are going to be in the Iowa Great Lakes this weekend for the annual U of O Marathon and need lodging accommodations, the Okoboji Country Inn has just two rooms left.  Our historic bed and breakfast is the perfect place to relax and recharge.  We are located right in the heart of the Lakes area but also offer a very peaceful and tranquil setting for a great weekend getaway.  Call (712) 332-2358 or book online at http://okobojicountryinn.com/rooms.html.

July 17 – 19, 2009

Beginning Lampwork Glass Beadmaking (with lots of Torch time) ~ Fee: $295 plus cost of supplies used.  Ages 18 & up.   This class covers how to melt glass and make basic shapes, pull stringers, & decorate glass beads.

This is an intensive 3 night week-end course under the direction of world reknown glass artist Louis “Tony” Curiel.

Students must wear Didymium safety glasses for proper eye protection & to “see through the flame of the torch.” (You can Rent or Buy safety glasses at the school.)

If you are need lodging for the week-end, visit www.hannahmarieinn.com

Come join other talented quilters for a weekend for sharing and learning and having fun. Make a reservation to stay at Cabin Cove where you will enjoy the wonderful scenery on the Iowa River.

Classic Rock & Roll with some Country. Friday June 26th.

Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Elkader and Cedar St. Suites with friends! We have two bedroom full suites to accommodate a fun weekend.

Check us out at www.elkadersuites.com or call Rebecca to reserve the weekend. 563-880-1233. Music by Midlife Crisis.