As the River Churns

Introducing Kayden Gabriel Drake

2011-09-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

Kayden Gabriel arrived at 0510 Sunday the 4th of September 2011 right on time. He weighed in at 7 lb 6 oz. Mom (Andrea) and Dad (Adam) both are doing well.

River Run Cottages - Baby on the way..Weekly and Advance Bookings

2011-08-03T18:01:00.000-07:00

August 2011 Issue.

Summer was slow in coming but when it got here...WOW !

All Barb's work on the flowers is something to be seen. It was a slow start to the growing season, but now the containers and hanging baskets are blossoming with flowers and all the fresh herbs are ready to use. We are even eating our own tomatoes at breakfast.

Tomatoes are not the only thing gowing here at River Run. We are starting onto the baby watch as the end of August nears. Our daughter Andrea and husband Adam are expecting our first grand child due 4 September but every mid-wife in Ladner says it will be earlier.

The baby's room has been painted twice, the furniture has been repainted and the new crib & bassinette have been set up. Overnight bags have been packed and repacked. All this in the after B&B hours.

As you can see Barb is constantly switching modes from Innkeeper to Nana and back again, moment to moment. So to help her out we have been looking at some different accommodation options here at River Run

We are currently running a new time limited Special:

For the price of $50 you can purchase an Advanced Booking Certificate and save between 30% - 50% when you book in advance for stays in September thru December.

The Advanced Booking Certificate

50% discount off when booking 60 days or more prior to your stay; or

30% discount off when booking 30 days in advance.

Conditions:

Valid for use with all cottages 2 night minimum booking, 01 Sept – 22 Dec 2011
Payment due at time of booking
½ of $50 certificate cost will be credited towards your reservation
Not valid with any other discounts, normal cancellation policies apply

Weekly Rates for longer term stays on the River.

In addition we will be offering for the first time a weekly rate for longer term stays on the river along with our nightly Bed and Breakfast options. These weekly rates are for self-catering and allow you to enjoy the river at your own pace. Additionally our two course breakfast can still be ordered when you feel the need to be pambered.

If you are interested please give Will a call and see what is available.

Until we meet again we wish you all good health and look forward to your next visit.

Will and Barb

South Delta newspaper Readers name River Run Cottages B&B #1

2011-06-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

The South Delta newspaper the Optimist every year runs a contest where local shoppers can vote for their favourite business. The two page entry form asks the question which local business is your choice as the best of its class in over 80 categories.

Barb and I are very pleased that since taking over River Run Cottages Bed and Breakfast we have been once again honoured with the award of the best B&B in South Delta. This 2011 Award brings to us to 11 consecutive awards, one for each year we have been in business.

We have always prided ourselves as being committed to our local community first. Supporting local causes and charities is one of the first objectives we set out for ourselves in the beginning.

It has paid dividends and the local support has blossomed from an off-season trade to a year round trade where we are seeing two and sometimes third generation guests' encourage their children and grand-parents alike to visit through gift certificates and special celebrations.

Thank you South Delta and thank you to the Delta Optimist newspaper for once again for awarding us the Readers' Choice award for 2011.

Global TV features Ladner

2011-05-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Barb and I, thought you all might like to see Global TV's small town feature about Ladner on their Saturday 14 May program. Click this link to view the 7 minute feature.

Check out a number of Ladner's events and beautiful scenery. River Run Cottages actually appears twice once with a beautiful Swan’s at Sunset taken by one of our guests and a second one from some kayakers out in front of the Waterlily.

Don't forget to keep an eye on our enewsletter 'As the River Churns' for bi monthly events and specials.

We are lalso looking for feed back directly by your comments and though your reviews.

River Run Cottages - Voted #1 B&B in Ladner by Tripadvisor visitors

2011-04-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

River Run Cottages has been voted as the #1 B&B in Ladner by Tripadvisor.com. We would like to thank all of you that have taken the time to submit a review on your B&B experience with us.

We encourage those of you who have not had the opportunity yet to share your experience to submit a review by clicking the Tripadvisor - Add a Review button and help keep us as one of your favourites. Your comments help keep us fresh and we learn about all of the little things that make your stay more enjoyable.

If you found us in a travel guidebook like ‘The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest’, ‘Fodor’s’, ‘Lonely Planet’, ‘Yelp’ etc. they also appreciate any feedback on your travel experiences and their contact info can be found below.

You may wish to also follow our River Run Blog which contains a number of Barb’s fine recipes that you enjoyed during your stay with us along with any current specials.

We truly appreciate your help and support and hope we will have the pleasure of your company again in the future.

Thank you for thinking of us at River Run Cottages.

Will and Barb

http://www.riverruncottages.com/

New look at River Run Cottages B&B

2011-03-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

Check out the new Northwest Room!

April 2011 Issue.

This winter was a time for change in the Northwest Room.

The new look retains the River Rock Waterfall shower but includes an updated bathroom area and expanded bedroom.

Now, after your shower you can reach the driftwood bed from both sides,all the while your toes are warmed by a thick plush carpet underneath.

The kitchen nook has been moved into the sitting area where we have added more room for the single murphy bed and to read by the wood burning fireplace.

We also found time to update the Keeper's Quarters bathroom with new lighting, cabinet and granite sink.

Look us up or call if you want to stop by for a look to plan your next visit.

Have you seen our Spring Specials?

We have just published our new Spring Specials for April and May:

Book two or three nights in April and we'll pay the Gas;
Special mid-week rates for May;
Romantic Dine and stay package.

Go to our specials page to check out the deals.

Until we meet again, we wish you all good health and look forward to your next visit.

Will and Barb

New Year's Eve Weekend Special at River Run Cottages

2010-12-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve at River Run Cottages.

Barb and Will would like to invite you to join us for a New Year Eve weekend Special. Imagine you and your loved one bringing in 2011 at one of the Best Places to Kiss in the Vancouver area. Then staying on to enjoy the party afterglow nestled beside the fireplace.

Our New Years Eve weekend special includes:

Two nights stay in your choice of cottage, along with our gourmet breakfast, brought to you in the privacy of your cottage.
Champagne, party favours and snacks to bring in the New Year on Friday.
Then for Saturday, our after-party basket with all the things you need to curl up in front of the fireplace to relax and enjoy the morning after in style with your loved one.

The cost for the Friday 31 December and Saturday 1 January weekend is $450 plus applicable taxes.

Recipe: Brown Sugar Shortbread

2010-09-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

This basic shortbread recipe is a family recipe that our daughter Andrea loves. It lends itself well to cookie cutters, so it’s perfect for Christmas and other special occasions … as well as for River Run guests, of course!

Brown Sugar Shortbread

1 cup salted butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 325ºF.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add vanilla and flour, blend thoroughly on low speed.

Roll dough and cut into shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 17-19 minutes or until cookies spread and turn light golden brown.

Remove to baking rack to cool. Decorate with icing, sprinkles, etc. if desired.

Enjoy! To set up your own Romantic Getaway, check out our availability calendar

Recipe: River Run Cookies

2010-09-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

These cookies are as nutritious as they are delicious. The dough keeps really well in the freezer, so you can bake small batches at a time.

We do this as our Bed & Breakfast has only four cottages, and Will loves them so much that I always worry about having enough for our guests!

River Run Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup chocolate chips
1 ½ cup dried cranberries
1 cup coconut
1 cup rolled oats
1 ½ cups granola

Preheat oven to 325ºF.

Cream together butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Batter should be thick.

Drop dough onto cookie sheet in large drops (we like them big).

Cookies are best if they are slightly undercooked, so we recommend 10-15 minutes. Your oven might be different than ours, so keep an eye on them and remove when golden brown around the edges and slightly soft in the middle.

Remove to baking rack to cool. To set up your own little getaway, check out our availability calendar

Enjoy!

Welcome back to the Snowbirds of River Run Cottages

2010-09-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

What's New at River Run?
September 2010 Issue.

Hello to our Indian Summer on the coast at River Run Cottages and the Return of the Snowbirds

Fall is now upon us here at River Run Cottages Bed and Breakfast, school is back in, the kids are off to University, and now iss the time to stop and watch for the return of the Snowbirds to Ladner, the Vancouver area and Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

The Lesser Snow Goose migrates 400 km from Wrangel Island off the coast of Siberia wintering in Westham Island (Ladner) and some going to southern California.
Upwards to 20,000 stop to feed on the farmer's fields in our area.

Our Snow Geese start arriving at the Sanctuary in early October and are often referred to as the "Fraser-Skagit” flock or subpopulation, as they move back and forth between the estuaries of the Fraser and Skagit Rivers. The Sanctuary marking the center of the Fraser River estuary.

During their stay here, favourite natural foods for these birds are the intertidal marsh plants of the estuary. Marsh plants such as bulrush (Scirpus americanus) store starch reserves in their roots and rhizomes. The geese dig up these food sources using their strong bills. The soils in the Delta area are rich in iron compounds, and stain the head feathers of the geese orange when they have been digging in the marsh. In the spring, the green growth of pastures and marsh plants such as sedge (Carex lyngbeyi) are popular foods.
Agricultural crops are also eaten, although most are harvested by farmers before the snow geese arrive. Leftover potatoes often remain in the fields, and the geese dig these up. Local farmers all participate in a program called “Greenfields” which coordinates the fall planting of green growing grass cover for these geese, other wildlife and soil enrichment through the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust.

The snow geese provide spectacular wildlife viewing for our visitors. They form very large dense flocks which feed, rest and fly over the Sanctuary, neighbouring farmland and nearby Fraser marshes every day. They are restless and constantly moving when Bald Eagles, people and dogs are nearby. Within the flocks, visitors can often identify family groups. The young born that year are fully grown before they migrate to this area, but their first set of adult feathers is grey, not white.

Small groups containing two white birds and several darker birds are likely family groups. The snow geese regularly sleep on the water in large dense flocks, sometimes out in the marshes of the estuary, and sometimes in the quiet river channels around the Sanctuary.

Book a two night or more visit and stay during the midweek between the 1st of September and the 31st of October and we will offer a 10% discount .

All you have to do is email us at River Run and mention that you are here to see the Snow Geese.

We wish you all good health and look forward to your next visit.

Will and Barb

Recipe: Lemongrass and Chervil Sauce

2010-09-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

We do catered dinners for River Run guests on request, and this lovely sauce is one we use on scallops and seafood dishes.

It’s our variation of a recipe in Fresh, a cookbook by John Bishop of Bishop’s Restaurant in Vancouver. In the summer months, we use our own chervil and tomatoes from the pots growing on our decks.

Lemongrass and Chervil Sauce

½ cup shallots, chopped
½ cup lemon juice
¾ cup lemongrass, chopped
1 cup white wine
2 cups heavy cream
pinch salt
pinch pepper
2 tbsp fresh chervil, chopped fine
2 tbsp tomato, seeded, finely diced

Combine shallots, lemon juice and lemongrass in a stainless steel sauce pan. Bring to a boil and reduce until the liquid just covers the bottom of the pan.

Add white wine and reduce again by half.

Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil. Strain immediately and season with salt and pepper.

Set aside until the scallops are cooked. (The sauce can be prepared ahead up this point in advance.)

To complete the sauce, bring it back to a simmer, add the chervil and tomato, then remove from heat.

Pour over scallops and serve.

Recipe: Raspberry Kuchen

2010-09-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

This recipe is very easy to make, and very delicious. It’s pronounced “koo-khen” which is a German word for cake.

I found this recipe in one of our many cookbooks. I love to serve it to our guests because it’s a lot like my mom’s recipe that I grew up on ... yummy!

Raspberry Kuchen

1 large egg
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup milk
3 tbsp. veg oil
1 ½ cup flour
3 tsp. baking powder
Sliced strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries

Topping:

3 tbsp. butter
½ cup flour
½ cup sugar

In a medium mixing bowl beat the egg, then add the sugar, milk and oil. Beat together well. Add in flour and baking powder, and mix well.

Pour batter into a greased 8x8 inch square pan, or a round springform pan.

To make topping, cut butter into ½ cup flour and ½ cup sugar.

Spread sliced berries over the dough and sprinkle topping over the berries.

Bake at 375ºF for 25-30 minutes, or until center springs back to touch. Let cool slightly before cutting.

Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or just by itself.

Enjoy!

Last Ladner Village Market

2010-09-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that fall is already just around the corner. The signs are becoming abundant with the leaves starting to turn lighter and the cooler air in the mornings. However, we are still enjoying warm, wonderful days.

Another sign that summer is coming to an end is the final Ladner Village Market on Sunday, September 12th. Each year, Ladner hosts an outdoor street market on 48th Avenue in the heart of Ladner Village beginning in June. The market runs every 2nd Sunday until September and features Artisans from all over the province, local farm fresh produce, live music and entertainers, crafters and food galore.

The Ladner Village Market is an event the whole family will enjoy. The admission is free and it runs rain or shine from 10 am to 4 pm.

Why not plan a weekend getaway at River Run Cottages and head to the Ladner Village Market on Sunday. The market is only a 10 minute walk from the B&B and it will give you an opportunity to walk off the two course gourmet breakfast you just enjoyed!

Recipe: River Run Eggs

2010-09-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

The fun thing about recipes is that they constantly evolve. This started out as a copy of Alley Way Eggs from the Alley Way Café in Tofino. It has evolved into this over eight years … and we like our version way better!

For this recipe we use my own homemade salsa. It is slightly sweet but tangy, with a slight heat. But you can use your own salsa (cooked works better than fresh) or a favourite store-bought brand, and create your own variation to enjoy at home.

River Run Eggs

2 English muffins
Miracle Whip
Home-made salsa
4 eggs
Sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Split muffins and toast lightly.

While muffins are toasting, poach the eggs.

Place toasted muffins side by side on a pre-warmed plate.

Spread each muffin half with Miracle Whip, and then 2 tablespoons of fresh salsa.

Top each half with a poached egg, and sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.

Place under broiler until cheese melts and serve immediately.

Serves two.

Recipe: White Chocolate and Cranberry Scones

2010-08-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

This recipe is a favourite with our guests at River Run Cottages Bed & Breakfast, so we serve it often. It's also a favourite of ours. The tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the white chocolate create a contrast that drives the tastebuds wild!

White Chocolate and Cranberry Scones

3 cups flour
½ cup white sugar
6 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

¾ cup cold butter

1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chunks/chips
1 cup milk
1 large egg

Mix all dry ingredients in first group of ingredients. Cut in butter. Add in cranberries and white chocolate.

Add milk and beaten egg. Mix until combined, DO NOT overmix!

Divide dough in half. Pat the first half into a ¾” thick circle and cut into 6 wedges. Do same with second half.

Bake at 375ºF until golden brown (about 20-25minutes).

Cool on a baking rack.

Enjoy with fresh preserves, clotted cream ... or just by themselves!

Watch our new video!

2010-08-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

We just had a new video done of River Run Cottages Bed and Breakfast.

We love it! Tell us what you think!

Barb and Will Celebrate 10 Years at River Run

2010-08-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

In June this year, we celebrated our 10th year of living on the river and sharing River Run Cottages with friends and guests. It's hard to believe that the years have gone by so quickly. Since our move to the river, we have been blessed to receive guests from all around the world. We've even had neighbouring guests visit from only a block away. When you enter through the gate at River Run Cottages, you truly feel like you are away from it all. With the sun dancing on the river and the eagles flying across the mountain views, it's a completely different surrounding. Yet, if you like the theatre or sports, we are only 30-40 minutes from downtown Vancouver.

The weather this past July and August have been fabulous. June was a rain-out. But, the sun and the heat finally arrived and we have been enjoying the days kayaking and biking, and the evenings sitting on the deck and having a cool glass of wine. There always seems to be a slight breeze coming off the river so it never feels uncomfortably hot.

Also, this summer, Will had an ankle replacement surgery to repair an old work injury that occurred 20 years ago. The surgeon was pleased with the outcome but Will was told no weighbearing for at least 8 weeks! This has proven to be one of Will's greatest challenges! The novelty of sleeping in bed all day wore off within the first week post surgery. Then out came the wheelchair so Will could supervise the daily activities here. He is still somewhat limited in the amount of time he sits in the chair as his ankle begins to get sore if his leg isn't elevated. As they say "time heals all things" so it's only a matter of time and he'll be walking our daughter, Andrea, down the isle at her wedding in December.

We hope to share our a little paradise with more of you this coming fall and winter. Curl up in the chair reading a novel while you are warmed by the heat of the woodburning fireplace. It is a perfect winter getaway.

Hope to see you on the river soon.
Barb

Changing Seasons

2009-11-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

Well, it's time to take down the fall decorations and get ready to put up the Christmas ones. This month has turned out to be a wet one but we've all enjoyed spending quiet time curled up with a good book and feeling the warmth from the wood burning fireplace. My favourite phrase this past week has been "The weather outside is frightful, but the rooms inside are warm and delightful".

Getting into the Christmas theme, the carol ships will be sailing by in front of the cottages on the 4th and 5th of December. What a great way to start getting into the Christmas spirit watching the decorated boats sail by and joining the carollers singing Christmas songs while we nibble on appetizers and sip mulled wine or hot chocolate. I'm really looking forward to this. It's like the official kick-off to Christmas for me.

This winter, Will and I plan to run a special prior to the Olympics. Since Valentine's Day falls during the Olympics, we are hoping to have a romantic getaway special in mid January. Stay tuned for further details.

Barb Watkins
River Run Cottages

First Blog from River Run Cottages

2009-11-15T17:24:00.000-08:00

This is my first blog from River Run Cottages. My husband and I own a bed and breakfast in Ladner, BC. We have four unique, private, riverfront cottages. Three of our cottages are nestled along the river bank and the fourth one is a delightful, floating cottage. We have some spectacular scenery which includes various wildlife such as ducks, swans, geese, eagles and seals; as well as breathtaking water and mountain views. A stay at our b&B includes a two course gourmet breakfast (such as cranberry and white chocolate scones followed by local wild smoked salmon eggs benedict) served to our guests in the privacy of their room and use of our tandem kayaks and bikes. We are located near the Reifel Bird Sanctuary and only a 10 minute walk into Ladner Village where we have many unique shops and restaurants.

I enjoy living on the river and like sharing my piece of paradise.