Valentines Day

Yes, it is that time of year again, VALENTINES’ DAY is just around the corner.

Are you ready? What is your most memorable Valentines’ Day surprise, can you remember?

One of my first Valentines’ day gifts I remember is a beautifully wrapped box from a bashful 12 yr. old who then speedily ran away. When I opened the box I discovered a beautifully beaded chain. I showed it to my mother and was told it was a Rosary. A beautiful gift to say the least but one that I don’t believe he knew what to do with anymore than I.

Remember that romance is a state of mind. If you have the right mindset, you can make cleaning the bathroom romantic; if you have the wrong mindset, you can turn a moonlit stroll on the beach into a fight.

We need to understand the difference between a gift and a present.

A present is something you’re giving the receiver because it’s something you want him or her to have.

A gift is something that you know the receiver wants.

I would like to give you my TOP FIVE VALENTINE’S GIFTS

1. My husband was forever losing his car in the parking lot. He would wander around for hours, sometimes even getting in the wrong car. Now there are some great stories to tell. When we purchased a new car I secretly had the dealer keep the car for an extra 3 days and for Valentines’ day surprised him with a box of his favorite chocolate covered cherries and a keyless entry system. He still lost the car but at least he was able to follow the beep. He loved it.

2. A Dinner Date to her favorite restaurant; give her an invitation for a DATE with time, date and a single red or paylene rose (yellow or orange with red tinges, means love, friendship and passion) schedule the baby sitter, make a reservation, Dress up in a suit, her in a dress. Open the doors for her always either hold her hand or place your hand in the small of her back. Assist her to the table and pull the chair out for her placing a kiss on her cheek as you do. If you think you know what she wants order for the both of you - the best thing on the menu. Keep eye contact and good stress free conversation. At the end of the night don’t forget that GOOD NIGHT KISS AT THE DOOR and tell her how much you enjoyed your date. Maybe you could ask her what she is doing next Friday night. (a cd with romantic oldies playing in the car would be great)

3. Plan a trip to a bed and breakfast, surprise her with the “Romance Package” with candy, rose petals, drink on ice, and candle light, and make reservations to the theatre. Remember the same manners explained in the above date…the good night kiss at the door would also be great.

Or Do a getaway, even if it is to a motel 8, with a lunch basket full of her favorite snacks and drinks. Rent or buy her favorite romantic movie, cuddle up and enjoy.

4. Take a horse and buggy ride, don’t forget to bring a thermos of hot chocolate and maybe a gift of jewelry.

5. Last of all and the best Valentines gift I could ever imagine would be to bring home a picnic basket, seclude yourselves in your bedroom, lay out a variety of travel brochures, place the checkbook or your credit card in her hand and give her the number available then start planning your trip of a life time together. DREAMS COME TRUE.

Judy Savage, Innkeeper
The Armstrong Mansion - Salt Lake City, Utah

Holiday Season

Thanksgiving here at the Mansion is always on the quiet side and that is how it should be.

It is a time to gather together and appreciate our loved ones. It is so great to have a time set apart nationally when tradition, family, kindness and sharing are the only things on the schedule. Employers and employees alike share together in the respite from our usually hard work and stressfully filled lives.

We had a lovely guest visiting with us from Australia this year that opened my eyes to a different way of viewing our lives here in America. Gwyneth was impressed with our “Thanksgiving Day”, and thought it an amazingly important day as it is so overlooked as a whole by all of God’s children. She marveled at the many work projects around the city and admired what she called our “Can Do Spirit”, and the marvelous way we never give up here in the “States”. She was envious of the wonderful spirit here among the people and compared it to the defeatist attitude that she sometimes felt envelope her own people. What a wonderful compliment to the country and especially Utah.

I know how busy our lives do get during this season, even when we think it is already very busy and schedules full, but what a wonderfully awesome responsibility to realize that the eyes of the world are on us and looking for our leadership in so many ways, even in this “Giving Thanks”.

I was encouraged, by a very smart friend, to take a few moments every day and find 10different things that I am especially thankful for. They don’t need to be big, it’s the little things, remember, that really count. Try it.

The most important word in the English language….REMEMBER!

GIFT SUGGESTIONS:
1. Plan a family reunion
2. Plan a get-away with a brother or sister’s day
3. Give a gift to someone that you know will not give you one

Check out our great specials on gift certificates. They make great HOLIDAY GIFTS!!!

Judy Savage, Innkeeper
The Armstrong Mansion - Salt Lake City, Utah

Ghost Stories at the Armstrong Mansion

Hello from us all at the "Armstrong".

Fall is here and October just around the corner, brings out the snoop and the spook in all of us.
Since you have asked if we have ghosts, here are some sightings at the Mansion – you decide.

A cleaning woman in 1999 told some very scary stories.

Virgie would often come flying down the stairs, hair flying, her shrill voice vibrating off the walls.
One day as I was cleaning up breakfast she bumped into me and I heard her say; "I hate when she does that.."

I remember asking her "When who does what…?" She then started into her strange story.

When Virgie started to work at the Mansion, Florence Armstrong (sleeping quietly in her grave for many years) found a kindred soul in her.

"She taunts me daily" Virgie said, "and finds it quite entertaining to walk right through me…I hate that!"

"Sometimes when I go into a room to clean I find her there just swooshing around…."

When Virgie left Florence became quiet.

I must admit that I still feel a little uneasy going upstairs when the house is empty…I really do not care to make friends with Florence.

Are you too scared to continue?

Well here is another. One day our guests staying in the July room had been out shopping and stopped at the front desk to visit.

It was around 5 o’clock in the early evening and they asked us if the maids were cleaning their room soon. I assured them the maids had been long gone at least 4 hours ago. They had a puzzled look on their face,…

"Who was that in our room?" they asked.

It seems that they were interested in finding the July room’s window so were standing outside looking up towards the house when they found someone standing in the window facing the east, looking right down at them.

1. The tub is in the gable of the east window in the July room.
2. Because the tub is in that area, no one could stand on the floor by the window except they were floating.
3. No one else had keys to their room so no one was in the room.

The guests later pointed out Florence’s picture as the person in the window.

Enough?

One morning early I was awoken by the fire alarm resounding through the halls and stairways. I dressed and quickly raced to the top floor to see if I could find the fire or the problem causing the alarm to sound.

I met several couples filing down the stairs vacating the home. As we met the last couple coming from the August room, the wife apologized and admitted that they were the ones that made the ghosts mad and there was nothing wrong with the fire alarm. When the halls were once again quiet I sat down with the couple and they told me this fun story.

The husband started early in the evening trying to scare her, making noises and blaming it on the ghost. Finally he gave up and they settled down to sleep, imagine their shock when they where awaken by the door handle moving back and forth….to the closet.

The next morning he had been starting once again to tease her when the alarm went off. She said "I guess the ghost had had enough."

Buy the way, there is nothing quite as scary as a good murder. We actually have had several murders here at the Mansion, and you can help us solve the mystery of "WhoDunnit". Gather 12 to 14 of your friends together and come and enjoy a great evening of fun. You are the actors and the suspects.

Check us out on the web or call us for more information.

ALSO! Our first ever "Scary Movie Night at The Mansion" will be October 31st. Come and get a room and meet us in the parlor, don’t for get to let us know what your favorite scary movie is – maybe we will show it. Make sure it is PG-13 at least. Treats will be served.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

Judy Savage, Innkeeper
The Armstrong Mansion - Salt Lake City, Utah