Peter Deneen stays and plays at Garth Mansion in Hannibal, MO

Peter Deneen  left our inn the other day.  I think he likes us almost as much as we like him.  For some reason I was able to talk him into donning a celebrity chef coat.  We both had a ball.  From making the dessert (2 times, we didn't make enough the first time) to each of the other courses we laughed so hard we almost cried. Jessie, our gal taking care of serving the food and waiting on the guests actually had to tell us to hold it down in the kitchen.  We did have a few guests eating in the kitchen as well.  They just joined in on the fun.

This is the always smiling Peter

William with his Deneen Mug

OK, so now you ask, "Who is Peter Deneen?"  Well, if you have stayed at a decent B&B chances are pretty high you drank a hot beverage out of one of his mugs.  Deneen Pottery, American Potter, not made in China which is AKA Cloth and Clay, is the top mug carried by innkeepers all over the country, and I am honored to call him and his family friends.  They are based out of Saint Paul, MN and have taken the industry by storm.  They now themselves have a cute cottage with a potter theme and a shop, whatever you call it, on site.  We carry appx 30 different colors of his mugs and sell about 500 per year.

 Until this week, Peter was a potter, but now he is also a Pewter Pourer.  I guess if you are really good would be called a Pewtersmith, but right now we are going to stick with Pewter Pourer.  Thank goodness Peter is a great potter.  We have convinced his not to give up his day job.  After four tries he got a fabulous spoon from a mold made in the 1600's.  Pretty cool.  Peter Potter Pewter Pourer.  Say that five times real fast!

ASL Pewter, just south of us here, are in Louisiana. (Missouri)  They, also, are the leader in their industry.  The 'Hollywood' folks arrived in Williamsburg and asked for the Pewtersmith.  There is not one anywhere near this historic town.  The troops call in Pat and Tom Hooper in our fair state.  They made all the pewter for the mini-series that was featured on HBO, John Adams.  Great people!  It is great feeling when you know good people you can introduce them into other good people.  I think I turned them into good friends as Tom taught Peter how to pour the 700 degree liquid into beautiful plates and spoons among all the other pieces in their store.