Archives for April 2015

By Jo Mixon

Henrik & Lone Krarup & Jo

Have I told you recently how very much I love my job? I love my job! I get to write these stories. It affords me the luxury to gain the most awesome experiences and meet incredible people. In order to get the full guest treatment and be able to share with you first hand, I was invited over to spend a night at the Wildflower Bed & Breakfast. It was a sleep over deluxe!

Upon arrival, Henrik and Lone Krarup, met me at the door with hugs and smiles as they welcomed me into their home. (This is the distinction between bed and breakfast lodging and a hotel. Travelers are actually invited into someone’s home for their stay. The guests also enjoy homemade breakfast the following morning.) After they took my coat and introduced me to another guest, Meg, we sat down to enjoy an evening of wine and cheese and fruit and crackers and wonderful laughter and conversation!

When I was ready to retire for the night, I was shown to my room. Their home has four upstairs bedrooms for rent. Two on them are on the east side of their home and two are across a catwalk, over the living room, on the west side. All of the bedrooms have queen size beds. On the east side are two spacious bedrooms that share a large bathroom. These would be ideal for people traveling together. The other two bedrooms have their own bathrooms. Each bedroom is named and themed after a wildflower. I stayed in the Wild Iris room. It is a cozy corner room with an amazing view of the mountain. I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the bed. I slept peacefully wrapped in luxurious Egyptian linens that felt like satin. It was fit for royalty. Later I found out the freshness is attributed to the fact that Lone line dries them. And there was even a separate recycle container in my room. Pampered!

Awakened by the aroma of coffee and something cooking, I eagerly got ready for the morning. I was not disappointed! A beautiful meal was already set on the table when I came downstairs. The breakfast served consisted of homemade Quiche Lorraine and flaxseed bread (Lone’s own recipe), fresh fruits and cheeses with coffee and juices. It was a delicious way to start my day. All of the meal was prepared with the idea of making me feel special. Even the grapefruit wedges were precut. They do not take shortcuts in the kitchen, they cater to the dietary needs of their guests and are very conscious about serving healthy menus. The Krarup’s definitely go the extra mile!

Henrik and Lone met in Denmark while attending undergraduate school. They dated for five years and have been married for twenty seven years. Early on in their marriage, they decided to come to the United States for a few years, but that turned into the rest of their lives. Having spent most of their time in eastern states, I asked why they moved to Angel Fire. They wanted a business they could work together at this season of their lives, a segway toward retirement. They love the outdoors and skiing. So they were thinking maybe Washington, Oregon, or even Taos, New Mexico. So they had came to check out Taos eight years ago with one of their two sons. During that visit they somehow ended up on the Enchanted Circle Scenic By-way. Lone said when they emerged from the Taos canyon pass and saw the majestic beauty of the Moreno Valley open up before them, they had to pull the car over and get out to experience the breathtaking view and breath in freshness of the mountain air. They knew at that moment, this was the place they would one day call home. Their goal became a reality last fall when they purchased the Wildflower.

Since opening December 26, 2014, they have already hosted 48 room days! Together this lovely personable couple are the perfect host and hostess for a bed and breakfast. They have a genuine care and respect for people. Servant hearted, is the word I choose. They served as local chairs of AFS for ten years. Second only to the Red Cross, this organization engages the largest worldwide volunteer pool. It is an organization that promotes world peace and healing between nations by a student exchange program. “Diplomacy at work”, Henrik said with a smile. Working from home with a little travel, Henrik is still Vice President of an engineering company in Moorestown, Pa.

I highly recommend the Wildflower Bed & Breakfast. It is a non-smoking, no pet facility. With two live-in dogs and one cat, they feel it best. Expect free Wi-Fi and spectacular views and children over twelve are welcome.

Visit their website at www.wildflowernm.com for more information and photos of the other rooms. Or call them at 575-377-6869.