Yes, I can officially say we're in business.  Chez Soleil is up and running.  We had the grand opening yesterday for locals, neighbors, etc. on the island to come and tour through.

It was a lot of work.  The decorating, the furnishing, the purchasing, the DSL wireless connection (YES...it is FINALLY up and I'll blog on that another time) assembling five new bikes.  But in between all the work, it was also a lot of fun choosing color themes, picking out items and just seeing it all come together.  It's very nice and the people who came to see it yesterday also agreed.  Everyone loved the back deck, with the trees hanging over it.  They also said it gave the feeling of actually being in a tree house.  That's what I'll call it......the tree house deck.

I also got some good ideas and suggestions from people.  Like having a fish cleaning table outside under the house.  Makes sense.  This is an island.  Many people who visit here come to fish.  Rather than taking their catch into the house, they can clean it right outside.  So that's added to the list.

Before everyone arrived, I poured myself a glass of red wine to toast our new venture.  I also took a deep breath that the physical work is behind me.

Our web site is completed, brochures printed and distributed around town, we're listed on 5 different websites for vacation rentals, AND........we also have our first booking for today!  Yup.....a family of four will be checking in this afternoon for 3 nights.

If you'd like to see the updated photos on our website, please click here and visit Chez Soleil.  On the sidebar, you'll see Interior Photos.  

So looking back to four months ago when we discovered this house for sale....it's been quite a ride.  Actually, the only glitches as of right now are we're waiting on the other 2 bar stools to be delivered and the bedskirt for the second bedroom.  I'd say that's not bad at all!

See you next time........

I hired one of our local artists, Alda, to paint a sign for our new vacation rental home.  Isn't it great?  I just love it!  Bright colors done on an oval piece of wood, it'll hang from a beam in the front of the house.

But  as with most things on the island....there's a story that goes with it.  Alda called me the other day, said she'd finished the sign and left it on the steps of the rental house.  I told her Ray was headed over there to bring some things, and I'd have him bring it back to show me.  He arrived back home and said, "There was no sign there.  Not on the stairs.  Not anywhere."  Hmmmm.....

So I called Alda, told her there was no sign and this was our conversation.

ME:  You're sure you left it at the right house?

HER:  Yeah.  1157 Hawthorne.  Stilt house.

ME:  Yup.  That's it.  Hmm.  Odd.  Where on earth could the sign be?

HER:  Gosh, I don't know.  There was even a guy walking up your steps when I put it there.

ME:  A GUY walking up my steps? (concern sets in and then realization) OH, it was probably Mark, we have him doing some work for us there.

HER:  That's probably who it was.

ME:  Well, I'll over go there myself and look around.  I'm sure I'll find it.

HER:  Yeah, who would want it?  It's personalized for you.

I got over to the house, looked everywhere.  No sign.  Later that afternoon at 4:30, my phone rings.  It's Sherry at the Salon downtown.  This was our conversation:

HER:  Miss Terri, did you have Alda make a sign for your new vacation rental?

ME: (Excited)  I did!  HOW did you know that?

HER:  Well, I'm here at the Salon and my friend, Kathy, is here.  She lives at the other end of Hawthorne.....and your sign is on HER steps.

ME:  Get outta here!  Really?  Where on Hawthorne does she live?

HER:  The yellow stilt house.

ME:  There is NO yellow stilt house on my street.

HER:  Yeah, there is.  You know, on the other side.

ME:  Other side? (lightbulb goes off in my head) OOOOOH, the WEST side! (The street is split in two by Gulf Blvd. I'm on the East side)

HER:  Right.  She said the sign is still on her steps and you can go pick it up.

Killing myself laughing, I hung up the phone and shook my head.  Only in a small town.  Only in a small town would the sign not be stolen.  But......only in a small town would somebody know I'd purchased that house, know who I was, figure the sign was mine and call me to tell me.

God, I love living on this island.  Plus, I smile and laugh a lot.  See you tomorrow......

All of the above, my dear readers, is what my garage has looked like for the past 3 weeks.  We had gone shopping to an antique shop in Chiefland and I fell in love with a lot of the furniture and didn't want it to be sold.  It was perfect for our vacation rental house and the prices were great.

Well, I certainly couldn't ask the store owner to "hold" it for me in their shop taking up space, so we had them move it to our garage until we closed on the house.

Today's the day!  We're closing on the house at 10 a.m.  And this weekend, we've hired a few guys that will remove the furniture from our garage and take it to the rental house.  As you can see, I got some really nice things.  Finished off the second bedroom with wooden twin head boards, the bureau and night stand.  Got a nice bureau for the master suite.  Also found a great entertainment center for the great room, an antique wooden ice chest (which will be perfect to hold the microwave) and 2 antique desks that I fell in love with.  One for the upstairs den and one for the great room.  So I did pretty good.

Now that we'll officially own the house, we'll be busy shopping for the appliances and rest of the furniture which can now be delivered directly to the house.  And we have to call the phone co. for phone service and the highspeed internet, the cable company, etc.  So lots to do.  Not to mention getting all the arranging and decorating done.  But it'll be fun and I'm looking forward to it.

So I'll have the keys in my hand shortly and then the work fun will begin.  See you tomorrow........

Even if we don't openly admit it, I bet all of us have a secret passion.  You know....that one thing that we'd just love to do.  Like maybe go sky diving, or try to become a rock star or go to Africa on a Safari.  Well, mine has always been.....now, don't laugh.....to own a small Bed and Breakfast.  I guess this secret thought formed in my head on my first trip to England in 1985.  I envisioned decorating it, furnishing it, greeting guests, getting to know people who stayed there and having myself a little business that would be work, yes, but also something I'd enjoy doing.  I've mentioned this secret desire to friends and family over the years, but I never pursued it.  Not until recently.  So no.......I have not purchased a B&B.

However......Ray and I ARE purchasing a luxury vacation home rental here on the island.  The timing is right.  It just plain "feels" right.  AND I'm super excited about it.  On a much smaller scale, my B&B is coming to fruition. 

We recently made an offer, the offer was accepted, our deposit was given and we'll be closing on or before June 1.  And you will be hearing lots about each step of my new venture here on my blog.  As you can see, I've set up a new category, "Cedar Key Vacation Rental Home."  Eventually, I'll have a separate website with all the information, rental prices, lots of photos, etc.  But I'll have a link here as well.  Marketing is everything in business.

The house is brand new.  Never been lived in.  Built in 2005.  It's a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home.  Great room, dining area, half bath and kitchen is on the first level, with a porch in front and large deck off the back.  The second level has 3 bedrooms with two full baths and a deck in front from one of the bedrooms.

I won't be renting it as a 3 bedroom though.  That 3rd bedroom will be a den......with desk, wireless internet available, TV, and a futon for sleeping.  So the house will sleep 5 comfortably.  Ideal for a family, for two couples, for some girlfriends that would love to visit the island and enjoy that much needed "girl" time, etc.

It will be pet friendly, so that means if you have a well-behaved Bowser or Fluffy......they can come on vacation with you too. 

I've been told often enough that because of my deep love for this island, I'm like a mini-Chamber of Commerce.  Well, I intend to make that a reality.  I DO love this island.  I love everything about it.  More and more people are coming here to visit and my place will be one more venue for them to come and enjoy Cedar Key.

Here's a few photos I snapped yesterday afternoon.  The great room/dining area.......

View from back deck.........

View from Master Bedroom.........

And the view from great room area into dining room and kitchen.......

This is simply the furniture they had in it to show......Obviously, before I rent it, it will be fully furnished. 

I wanted to share my new venture with you now, here on my blog, because as I said many updates will be following.  And also, because one can never start too soon when it comes to marketing and advertising.  So my readers........if you've always had a desire to visit Cedar Key, if you have friends, co-workers, neighbors, relatives, etc. that you think might be interested in renting this luxury, vacation home, please use my Contact info on my sidebar and send me an email.

My plan is to have my website up and running with the added details within a month.  I also plan to have the house fully furnished and ready to rent for it's debut for 4th of July weekend.  It's a great and fun weekend to be on Cedar Key with our ClamAmerica celebration.  Parade, lots of activities and spectacular fireworks.  A perfect time to come together with family and/or friends and spend a long weekend on the island. 

So this is my "baby."  My new venture.  And like all babies, it has a name.  I've decided to christen the vacation home, "Bayou Breeze."

I'm nervous.  I'm excited.  My head is spinning from all I have to do.  But most of all......I'm very much looking forward to a new path on my journey.  And my secret......it's no longer a secret.

See you tomorrow..........