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Great visits start with great planning. This time of the year Lee and I start planning for our holiday house guests. We try to limit the number of out of town guests per visit so that we have time to spend with each of our guests, and comfortably accommodate them all.

We love to have family and friends stay at our home and we find if we have planned the visit well, we are sure to have fun. We keep an air mattress on hand, spare sheets, extra pillows, blankets, and towels. In our guest baths we place baskets containing extra toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions, etc. In the guest bedrooms we like to leave a local guide to events and attractions, a few bottles of water, and a few small bags of snacks that our guests can take with them when they venture out. We also print instructions on how to use the coffee pot, washing machine, etc., and instructions on where to find the supplies. Since Lee and I are out working, leaving instructions frees us up, and provides our guests with the ability to care for themselves.

We let our guests know that they are welcome to relax and enjoy their stay by leaving paperback books, fresh flowers and some note paper in each of our guest rooms. We also leave a calendar with a schedule of breakfast and dinner times so that our guests know ahead of time what we have planned. We do not always stick to the plan, but we find it helpful to have a plan and be prepared. I make a few items ahead, muffins, granola, hard boiled eggs, a quiche, simple items to make breakfast easy. We leave lots of fresh greens, cheese and fruit in the fridge, so our guests find it easy to make lunch or a snack. Dinner is up to you. We generally cook one or two of the nights during a visit and dine out with our guests, and we always encourage our guests to venture off to enjoy dinner on their own. We have even enjoyed a pizza night while guests were in residence. We find it fun to entertain, and if you make the visit easy it will be fun for everyone. No one wants to spend their vacation doing dishes and as a host we find if we make the visit too much work for us, we are too exhausted to enjoy the company. So have fun with your guests, be kind to yourself, and enjoy your guests in Solivita style.

When I know company is coming, I make the following Muffin Recipe. These muffins can be made in advance and frozen.

Lorraine’s Company’s Coming Muffins

1 ½ cups Whole Wheat Flour

¾ Cup Sugar

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup oil

1 large egg

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

½ tsp nutmeg

Mix and Stir in

½ cup walnuts chopped or

½ cup raisins

Mix Dry Ingredients. Mix Wet Ingredients. Mix Wet Ingredients into dry. Do not overbeat. This should be done with a spoon. No need for a mixer. Spoon into greased muffin pans. Bake 375 till toothpick inserted in center is clean. Let cool, remove and serve