Spring 2004

 

Hello again! It’s that wonderful time of year when the bird feeders are full of birds and flowers are poking their heads up for that breath of fresh spring air. Some of our birds are preparing to journey north for the summer and others are returning to spend their summer with us. Beautiful gold, purple, gray, red, blue and rust hues vibrate against the still bleak background of trees that have not yet begun to regain their spring colors. The jonquils are starting to peek through the leaf cover in preparation for their grand entrance. They are almost like actors that peek around the stage curtain before the show starts to be sure the house is full and they will soon have an audience. We’re looking forward to the return of the beautiful wood roses that delight us with their quiet beauty each year. Before too long the ferns will start unfurling their long green stalks and the trees will take on that fuzzy look that makes you wonder if you need to have your glasses changed. Grass will turn from brown to green, the forsythia will send out its yellow clothed branches and the robins will return to scavenger the yard for worms and bugs.

Those are a few of the indicators that spring is at least well on it’s way if it hasn’t already arrived. Another indication that spring is here is the re-opening of the restaurant and fishing at “The Crosseyed Cricket”. That event takes place on March 1st each year and the time is rapidly approaching. Even now we are preparing for your return and anticipating it as joyfully as we welcome the coming of nature’s harbingers of the season. The grounds are being raked, mulched, and planted in expectation of your return. We will soon be stocking the Trout lake for your fishing pleasure and the restaurant is being improved and polished for your arrival. Each year we plant over 1,000 pansies to welcome you on your you on your return ( at our age that’s no easy task for the old back)! Combined with the return of the trailing vinca, wood roses, white nancy and forsythia we hope that their display in your honor makes you feel as special as you are. We eagerly look forward to your return on March 1.

As always, winter has been a busy time for us. As soon as we closed down for the season, it was time to decorate and open the Christmas Tree Plantation. Christmas is a very special time for us and we always enjoy celebrating the season with you, our friends. Christmas decorations, music, hayrides, hot chocolate, cookies and a fire to warm your hands around —– what better way to make memories for you , your family and for us. In March of this year, we will extend our Christmas Tree plantation with the addition of some Fraser Firs. These will be pampered, mowed, and trimmed for the next 6 years just for your enjoyment. They make a lovely Christmas tree and will be a grand addition to our tree selection.

When the holidays were over it was time to get down to the serious business of repairs. Bill, Anthony, Tyler and Jim got to work. The kitchen floor had to be sanded down and a new coat of floor covering applied. The next job to be tackled was to take up a part of the old porch at the cabin and replace the front post, rails and floor . The replacements look a little new right now, but they will soon weather and the results of our handiwork will blend with the old. There have been a few changes in the kitchen and servers area. These are all designed to be able to better serve you and enhance your memory making time with us.

We have some great news we want you to help us broadcast! Most of you know Michelle Minton. She came to work with us in 1991 as a kitchen worker. She soon mastered every station in the kitchen from plate maker to fry cook to grill cook. The opportunity to become a server arose quickly and as you know if you’ve ever had her as your server, she became one of the very best!

Over the past 13 years she has done just about everything here at “The Cricket” — and I do mean everything! She drives the tractor for the Pumpkin Patch hayrides, works at the fishing lakes when the need arises, registers campers, acts as hostess at the mill, cooks, serves and is a whiz on the computer! Most of the last 13 years she has been with us full-time, but the few years she has been away she has always returned to help us at some point during the season. This year she is taking over the restaurant for us, and we couldn’t be more delighted. She knows “The Cricket” way of doing everything, so there won’t be many changes except in the number of hours we have to work.

The two changes Michelle is making are going to be very popular. First, the restaurant hours on Friday and Saturday will be extended. On those days, the restaurant will open at 4:00 P.M. and close at 10:00 P.M. The hours for Monday thru Thursday will remain 5:00 P.M. till 9:00 P.M. Second, Michelle will be accepting credit cards at the restaurant (Have patience though — it may take a week or two after we open for this to be in place). See, we knew you’d like the changes! .

Along with us, Michelle and her staff are looking forward to seeing you. again — and they are busy getting everything ready for your arrival.

Speaking of staff — Michelle has a great one! Many of her kitchen staff have been with us for several years — some off and on, some straight through. Returning with her will be Ryan Childs (Ryan will be starting his 7th year at “The Cricket”), Toby Minton (Toby started the same year as Michelle, so this will also be his 13th year as a valuable part of “The Cricket”), Michael Minton (Michael has worked with our outside crew as well as with the kitchen staff for about 5 years total), Tracey Cooper (Tracey started in the kitchen and moved on to server making this her 4th year), Christine Burwinkle (she too has been with us for three years and we are delighted to have her back as a server for her 4th year) and Maggie Qualkenbush and Andrea McPeek (last year was their first year with us and we are delighted to have them return as servers.)

One new addition to the staff will be Chris Everett (no, not the tennis player). Chris has trained as a chef at Johnson-Wells Culinary Inst. in Richmond, Va. Having been a part of the restaurant business for the past 8 years, he brings not only experience but a new perspective to our business. Two other new faces will be Sara Blair and Jeff Daniel. Both have worked with Michelle in the restaurant business previously. When you see them around be sure to say hello and welcome them to the “Cricket” family. Along with us, Michelle and her staff are looking forward to your return

Spring brings the birds, flowers and leaves back, and it also bring the yellow school buses into our parking lot again. Starting in April, the mornings will be filled with the sight of the big yellow buses bringing their loads of excited children to “The Cricket”. Jo Ann, Nancy and Bob will again be our co-workers as we fulfill hundreds of kids dreams of catching a fish. To hear “I can’t do that” turn into “Look! I caught a fish all by myself!” is one of the pleasures of our work.

Speaking of fishing — the hours from March 1st until school is out in May will be Monday thru Friday from 4:00 P.M. until dark and Saturday 9:00 A.M. until dark. During the summer months we will of course be open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 A.M. until dark. If you would like some information we don’t have in our letter, you’ll find all sorts of good stuff on our website at www.crosseyedcricket.com or you can call us at 865-986-5435.

Can you believe this year will be our 34th year in business? It’s hard to believe, because, in my mind at least, I’m only 29. We have been and are so blest by the Lord. We have such a beautiful place to live and work. The Lord has sent us some wonderful people to work with and we are healthy enough to be able to do the work.

Spring brings the birds, flowers and leaves back , and it also brings the yellow school buses into our parking lot again. Starting in April, the mornings will be filled with the sight of the big yellow buses bringing their loads of excited children to “The Cricket”. Jo Ann, Nancy and Bob will again be our co-workers as we fulfill hundreds of kids dreams of catching a fish. To hear “I can’t do that” turn into “Look! I caught a fish all by myself!” is one of the great benefits of our occupation. Then there is the added excitement of getting to feed the fish at the hatchery and grind corn at the mill — what a day!

Some wonderful people to work with and we are healthy enough to be able to do the work. You, our guests have become our friends and extended family. Many of you have cried with us over our losses and rejoiced with us over our triumphs. All of these things working together make ours a truly wonderful world and we praise the Lord.

Now, we’ve shared our news with you and written to you about our winter. We look forward to seeing you and hearing about what is going on in your life and how you spent your winter. That means you need to come see us. Remember, you’re the reason we’ve been here 34 years .Come see us ——– anytime after March 1st that is. If you come before then we just might put you to work!

“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

We hope you enjoyed reading our “Cricket Note” before, during or after dinner. If you would like to receive our “Notes”, please fill out a form asking to be placed on our mailing list and we’ll be glad to send you our “Notes” in the mail. You can ask your server for the form; or, there is a display at both the cabin and the mill.

 

Charlie Cricket says, "Come to the Crosseyed Cricket!"