Mark your calendars!  Sunday, June 16, is the annual Art in the Park celebration in Lanesboro, MN.  There will be over 90 artists from the five-state region, which includes 30 new artists.  In addition to the vast amount of art and handcrafted items, there will be music throughout the day and food.  Even though, food is noted last, it is not least.  What is a day in a park without food?  Many of these food vendors are from the area organizations and churches.

On Saturday, June 15, the annual Gammel Dag Fest will be held in Peterson.  Peterson is about 17 miles from Lanesboro, and there will be food, entertainment, and a dance in the evening.

It seems like there is always something going on in our area communities.

Until next time . . . .

If you are looking for a fun, educational tour opportunity in Lanesboro, consider taking an Amish tour with Bluffscape Amish Tours located in Lanesboro, MN.  Any time is a good time for a tour; however, this time of year, you may see the Amish farmers in the field planting their crops.

We are truly fortunate to have the Amish as neighbors as they make beautiful furniture and handcrafted items.  They also make wonderful candy (cashew crunch) and have garden produce available for sale when in season.  You can also find baskets, canned goods, and leather goods.  More importantly, you will learn about the history and tradition of the Amish community.

The tour guides at Bluffscape respect the Amish community and have a very good relationship with the Amish families and farms they stop at. They truly give some of the best Amish tours around. The tours depart Monday – Saturday at 10:00 am and at 1:30 pm.  Each tour is three hours in length.  For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 507.467.3070.

Until next time. . . .

“Everything rhubarb” will be celebrated.  There will be a rhubarb run, rhubarb games, and rhubarb tasting.  The Rhubarb Sisters will take the stage at 11:15 am and will sing original rhubarb songs,other entertainment will be featured during the day, and the Rutabaga Brothers will be performing at 2:00 pm in Sylvan Park.

The Rhubarb Sisters and Guests will be in concert at 7:30 pm at the St. Mane Theatre in downtown Lanesboro.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 507.467.2446 or at the door.

For a day of “rhubarb fun”, make plans to attend.     Scenic Valley Winery in Lanesboro will be sampling their locally produced rhubarb wine.  The restaurants will be serving rhubarb delights along with their usual delicious offerings.

When you are in Lanesboro, stop by the Art & Craft Gallery located at The Feed Mill in Lanesboro.  The Art & Craft Gallery is home to twenty local artisans that have their pottery, jewelry, fabric, and other art displayed.

Until next time . . . .

Stone Mill Hotel & Suites guest cannot help but talk about their stay.  With so many great things all located right here on the premises or within walking distance, Stone Mill Hotel & Suites is the perfect getaway!  Check out our guest reviews on BedandBreakfast.com or Trip Advisor.

We cannot say enough good things about the Stone Mill Hotel and Suites!

May 06, 2013:  We loved everything about our stay in Lanesboro. Started off with a massage at the Lanesboro Day Spa! Angie was fantastic! We stayed in the Garden Suite and loved the room! We had a king sized bed in a loft and the bed was soooo comfortable. The people at the hotel treated us like family! You could explore the hotel and every room was unique. It is a beautiful place. We enjoyed exploring the lovely town and eating at Pedal Pushers. The Bluffscape Amish Tour with Joan was great! She had a lot of info and took us to interesting farms! We will definitely return and highly recommend Stone Mill Hotel and Suites! Barb and Chuck from Mahtomedi, MN

Lanesboro will host the Bluff Country Gathering on May 16 – 19.  Each year, musicians from all over the United States come to celebrate traditional American music.  In addition to workshops, there will be a public concert on Friday evening and a barn dance on Saturday evening.

Preston, our neighbor to the west, hosts its Trout Days celebration.  There will be a parade, food, activities, and a dance in the evening.

So many activities, and it is just the start of festival season.

Until next time . . . . .

During the last weekend in April, we were given a taste of the upcoming seasons.  Spring and summer are now in sight.

When the gentle spring rains give way to colorful blossoms, I start to think of day trips, weekend trips, family getaways, and summer celebrations.  Lanesboro is the complete vacation destination for couples and families, and is a playground for all ages.  The Root River Trail and Root River, which crisscross in Lanesboro, are perfect for walking, biking, tubing, canoeing, and kayaking.

If you are seeking lodging, Stone Mill Hotel & Suites is a premiere lodging destination in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota.  If shopping and eating, are on the list, the choices will be plentiful.  If theater and the arts are on the list, you won’t be disappointed.  If comfortable and conveniently located accommodations are on the list, a reservation at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites is the answer.  If an Amish tour is on the list, we can reserve that for you.  If a massage is on the list, we can make an appointment for you.  If sitting and relaxing is on the list, this will be checked off.

We are looking forward to seeing you this summer.  Until next time . . . .

This event provides a plethora of art for everyone from art enthusiasts to the occasional art gazer.  There will be unscheduled demonstrations as you visit the studios and locations.  When you visit Lanesboro, you will be able to stroll down the historic main street, ride bicycle on the Root River Trail, attend a performance at the Commonweal Theatre, or dine at one of the signature restaurants.

If your visit lends itself to an overnight stay in Lanesboro, Stone Mill Hotel & Suites is the perfect way to end your day.  Stone Mill is conveniently located in the heart of the theater district and one block from the Root River Trail.  If refreshed and renewed is how you want to end your day, a massage at the on-site day spa is the perfect treat.

With the promise of warmth, now is the time to not only make plans for the weekend but also for some upcoming summer fun.

Until next time. . . . .

As we move through November, we celebrate Thanksgiving.  We, at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites, are very thankful for all of our blessings.  As we take time to reflect on this year, we want to say “thank you” to all of our wonderful guests.  If you have visited us this year, you have witnessed our “in process” project.  We continue to take steps to make Stone Mill a premier place to stay.

With the Lanesboro Christmas Inn Tour just weeks away, we are busy organizing the decorations.  We have a Stone Mill “Sweets” day planned for baking treats for the day.

This time of year is perfect for a relaxing getaway.  You can unwind in one of the jacuzzi or fireplace suites at Stone Mill.  Maybe you need a little pampering or a massage at the Lanesboro Day Spa.  Maybe you just need some quiet time alone or with that special someone.  Whatever the reason, give us a call at 507.467.8663 and let the relaxation begin.

Whatever the season, celebrate it with Stone Mill style.

Jean Kussmaul Bula, the youngest daughter in the family, sent us the picture of her as she is pointing to the feed bag from the company that her father started.  She also sent us the following information about how her father started Kussmaul Seeds.

He started the business in 1934 with just one acre. That was before electricity came to the area and he built a shed with a slotted floor and he used a wood stove to heat it. It took about 10 days to dry the corn. He had a B tractor driving the fan. He used a gas engine on the sheller and fed it by hand. The seed grader was run by a gas engine too and he could grade one bushel in about an hour. He sold his first crop for $4.00 a bushel! A few years later electricity came to the farm. Someone from the University of Wisconsin drew up plans for the first forced air corn dryer. Several farmers close by started to raise a little hybrid corn and brought it over to Dad for him to dry. He made good money—$1.00 a bushel! In 1939 his brother came into the business. He was a natural born salesman. He is going to be 99 in Feb. Dad died three years ago at the age of 97. His name was Rudolph Willard Kussmaul. My Uncle is Allen Kussmaul. “Rud” and “Al”. Like I said, Dairyland Seed bought it in the early 80′s and now it is owned by Dow Chemical but still goes by the name of Dairyland. Needless to say, we are all very proud of him.  

The picture to the left is of Rudolph Willard Kussmaul at one of the displays at the Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa, in the early years.  Rudolph is the one on the far right in the green shirt and cap just behind the guy with his back to the camera.      

From feed and seed to rooms and suites.  The Feed Mill has quite a history and the legacy continues.  Isn’t it amazing what a small world we live in!  Lanesboro is so fortunate to receive so many visitors each year.