Speckled Hen Inn » Wisconsin

The boys at The Speckled Hen Inn have a new toy.

Pat Fischbeck — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:14:34 +0000

Can I drive next time?

The boys at The Speckled Hen Inn Bed and Breakfast in Madison, Wisconsin have a new toy to help out with the chores around the Inn. The new UTV is great for getting the garbage cans to and from the curb. The many trips to the stable to feed the sheep and chickens, collect the eggs, find the needed tool or pick a fresh tomato will be a little bit easier now and of course, Happy can go along for the ride.

The chore list at the Inn for the warm season ahead seems to get a bit longer every day. One project always seems to spawn another. We will be constructing a new greenhouse on the end of the stable by the garden and using those great passive solar water tubes that we picked up at the Habitat Re-Store. If we have a greenhouse we can propagate pachasandra cuttings to use a ground cover when we re-design a part of the Japanese garden. Another construction project is a garden ‘shed’ just outside the cutting garden to provide a focal point for the garden and to give a home to all the garden tools that seem to scatter about the property. The design of this building is still in flux as we keep thinking of possible uses of just a little bit more storage space. It seems that we never have enough storage space. Of course, the garden surrounding the new shed will need to be expanded a bit for more flowers to use in the Inn and new raspberry beds and a grape arbor are on the planning list too. The final (at least at this moment) building project for this summer is a garden house very similar to our gazebo. We plan to locate this over by the pool and intend to use it as an outdoor sitting room. It will be a great place to relax with a glass of wine at the end of the day or maybe even a spot to sneak away with a good book and a friendly dog.

The ongoing project is the woodland restorations. The UTV will really come in handy for getting into the woods without doing too much damage to the woodland floor. The UTV is much lighter than our pick-up truck so we will not have to worry quite so much about compacting tree roots and trampeling wildflowers. The bed in the back will be great for hauling out brush and cut firewood as well as for hauling in the tools that we will need to use.

Things To Do In Madison

Pat Fischbeck — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:06:24 +0000

Wisconsin State Capitol Building

Folks who live in Madison, WI or who visited before know what a great city it is. It seems like there is always something to do. But visitors coming for the first time may not know what to do first so here is the list compiled by our staff at The Speckled Hen Inn. There are the Top Ten Madison Experiences inside the city. We will get to that long list of things to do, using Madison as a hub when you explore South Central Wisconsin, later.

Take a tour of the Capitol. Madison is the capital of Wisconsin and the building is truly a treasure. Do take the tour because the wonderful guides know all those fun stories that bring life to the building and they also have the keys to all the locked doors that you will want to see behind. Tours leave from the info desk in the rotunda every hour on the hour. You will miss the school kiddies if you go late in the day. Take the elevator to the 6th floor balcony for a bird’s eye view of Madison. It is free, of course.
Wander down State Street. This is the pedestrian mall that connects the Capitol Square to the campus of the University of Wisconsin. It’s a fantastic place for people watching and doing a bit of shopping. Our favorite shops are the gift shop at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Little Luxuries, Tellus Mater, the Art Poster Shop and University Bookstore. The little ethnic restaurants are wonderful too.
Stroll through Olbrich gardens. Our public gardens are nothing short of amazing for a city our size or for a city of any size. There is a rose garden, a rock garden, herb garden and butterflies in the summer. In the winter the structure of the gardens shine and provide a serene spot for a bit of exercise. The indoor tropical dome will warm you to the core in the winter months. Don’t miss the beautiful Thai Pavillion. Everything but admission to the dome is free.
You must have cheese. Wisconsin is The dairy state so it would be unthinkable to not try our finest cheeses. They are easy to find. Fromagination on the Capitol Square is a great artisan cheese shop featuring many different Wisconsin cheeses. Carr Valley cheese store in Middleton is goat, sheep, and cow’s milk cheese heaven. Why, even most of our local grocery stores have a cheese counter devoted to just the WIsconsin cheeses. Try, buy, and take some home with you. You will be back for more.
Visit the Memorial Union on the campus of the University of Wisconsin and have an ice cream cone for lunch. The ice cream from the dairy at Babcock hall has a really high butter fat content that results in ice cream that is the smoothest and creamiest you will ever taste. I think it is a meal all by itself. Enjoy it on the Terrace overlooking the lake while listening to the musicians there and you have a memorable experience.
Shop the Dane County Farmer’s Market. It’s reported to be the largest true farmer’s market in the nation. What is sold there has to be produced in Wisconsin and sold by the person who produced it (let’s not quibble about tropical plants). Every Saturday moning, rain or shine, year-round (check for location in the cold months) and again on Wednesday’s during the summer. If fact, during the summer months there is a farmer’s market somewhere near Madison every single day of the week. So, don’t dispair if you can’t make it here on Saturday.
Explore the Villas Zoo. It is free, too. Isn’t that amazing? It is a great little zoo with much more than you would expect to find here. Nice exhibits in great surroundings. You can spend an hour or two here or the whole day.
OK, this one will take a bit of advance planning. Come go to a Concerts on the Square. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra plays on the steps of the Capitol building on Wednesday evenings for 6 weeks beginning the last week in June. The music begins at 7:00 but guests start spreading their blankets on the capitol lawn around 3:00 for the largest picnic of summer. This is the essence of summer in Madison. Bring your own picnic or purchase a box supper from one of the vendors.
Experience the UW Arboretum. An Arboretum is a collection of plants rather than a garden and you will find a wide range of plant materials at the Arboretum. The lilac collection in the Spring is amazing, a really fragrant experience. The nature walks on a moonlit night in the winter are inspiring. The natural diversity of grassy meadows, swamp, pine plantations, and the plant collections that the University has established combine to provide a great venue for biking , hiking, and exploration.
Pedal your way around the city. Madison is a very bike-friendly city. A bike trail network connects all parts of the city. Several local vendors provide bicycle rentals and not just some old clunkers either. You can try out some of Trek’s latest developments at some rental places. Just ask us for information. City busses and Green Cabs have bike racks to help you out when the old legs are too tired to go another mile. Many of the Wisconsin State Bicycle trails come very close to Madison too.

Wisconsin Top Ten Eco-Elegant Inns

Pat Fischbeck — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:53:44 +0000

Crab Trees at The Speckled Hen Inn

The Speckled Hen Inn is delighted and proud to be named one of Wisconsin’s Top Ten Eco-Elegant Inns by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. We take our participation in Wisconsin’s Travel Green certification program very seriously and want travelers to know that “traveling green” doesn’t mean having to forgo some of the very nice things in life. It often means making the best choice available and that choice is often delicious, delightful, and downright fun.

Here is what they had to say about us:

Speckled Hen Inn, Madison, www.speckledheninn.com

Their Green Story: Here’s a B&B that pampers guests with easy-going elegance while supporting principles of sustainable living. This 50-acre property of Patricia and Robert Fischbeck features pastures with sheep and llamas, orchards, gardens and walking trails. According to Pat Fischbeck, “We’re committed to green but also sustaining the culture and sense of place travelers enjoy in Wisconsin.”

Of Special Note: Pat was the grand prize winner of the 2008 Wisconsin B&B Association recipe cook-off for her recipe for Wisconsin Breakfast Panini featuring cranberries and lots of other Wisconsin goodies.

Innkeepers’ Recommendations for Other Green Businesses Around Town: Guests come to the inn specifically to visit the Farmer’s Market on the Capitol square, the largest true farmers’ market in the nation. As an aside, Pat used to have a booth there selling homegrown herbs. For a taste of Wisconsin art, the Absolutely Art gallery features all Madison artists and the Bindley Collection gallery features all Wisconsin artists. Harvest restaurant is a top choice, thanks to their all local, in-season menu.

Photo of Downtown Madison Wisconsin

Pat Fischbeck — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:27:14 +0000

Downtown Madison is one of the prettiest, most romantic, places a person will ever see. The lighted capitol dome pictured here ,is like the centerpiece of a bountiful banquet table.

WBBA Cookbook is Here

Pat Fischbeck — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:28:12 +0000

The new Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association cookbooks, with The Speckled Hen Inn on the front cover are here and ready to wrap up for Christmas. We have a good supply at the Inn and will hold one for you to pick up at the Inn or we can also ship them to you.

The cookbook is more than just the recipes that have been contributed by over 150 different Wisconsin B&B’s. It could even be used as a travel guide because there is information about each B&B that submitted a recipe and there are lots of fun facts about the food scene in Wisconsin.

The contents are not just focused on Breakfast, although there is a wonderful array of breakfast dishes. There are appetizers, soups, luncheon and dinner entrees and marvelous deserts.

It is a fun read and a great gift for the foodies or cookbook collectors on your Christmas list.