The New Barn House

These last two weeks were dedicated to renovating The Barn House. Our devoted Hidden Valley renovation team conquered this project. We targeted the Ranch Hand Room and the Rawhide room.

New Signs to label the bedrooms

We started by installing fans in all the bedrooms, because we have been having some hot summer days. Now the barn house guests can relax indoors with cool breezes rolling throughout the house!

We painted The Ranch Hand room a beautiful calm blue, and added matching throw pillows. The Rawhide room also received a fresh coat of sage green paint. We found some great original oil paintings and framed them, so each room has its own original piece of art! Each bedroom got new furniture, and all new lamps and light fixtures. All of the windows received a new window treatment, with funky curtains to match each theme. We also framed some great horse photos for the palomino room (we just love themed bedrooms)!

The new and improved Ranch Hand Room

We also added a few new beds, with all new comforters. Now the rooms are soft and cozy with their new bedspreads and fun decor! With our new bed configuration, the Barn House can hold up to 14 people. Each room now has a queen or king bed to hold couples. 

In the Ranch Hand Room, we turned an oil lamp into an electric lamp with a bulb. We will post on how to make your own on our next blog!

The Palomino Room (Left) and Rawhide Room (Right)

The Barn isn't for the animals anymore! It still has all the barn charm with the comforts of home inside.

Secluded Sites Make for Successful Meetings

June's issue of Meetings Focus West is one geared towards eco-friendly meetings and secluded retreats. Companies are looking for retreats and getaways that allow a full focus on their meeting's agenda. They are now meeting at places that offer peaceful powwows without the distraction of other vacationers and professionals that you would typically find at a hotel or convention. This goes to show that larger companies are focusing on their own environmental impacts, and they are finally doing something about it. Whether it is starting a recycling program at the office, or planning office getaways at an environmentally-friendly venue, companies are really making the effort to reduce their carbon footprint. We are very excited about two of Meetings Focus West's feature articles that highlight the importance of green venues and nature-surrounded retreats.


The first article, "Going Wild," emphasizes non-traditional meeting sites. The article states, "Groups can experience green in the truest sense of the word by taking advantage of parks and conservation areas all across the West." 


The second article, "Hideaway Havens," promotes intimacy of a place that allow groups to focus on their meetings rather than be disturbed by outside distractions.

One of our many green meeting spaces

We are happy that green venues are gaining popularity, and we hope that Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa will continue to be recognized as a nature-loving distraction-free venue for any company's needs. Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa commits to carrying on the practices of Dr. Jensen, who owned the property for 60 years and ran it as a world-renowned holistic health ranch.To read about Hidden Valley Retreat and all of our green practices, click here.






Marlene Goldman. "Going Wild." Meetings Focus West.  
Laura Del Rosso. "Hideaway Havens." Meetings Focus West.

Wedding and Event Insurance

We require groups to have insurance when they rent The Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa. Some people ask why we require it, and what the benefits are of having it. We especially recommend event insurance to brides having their wedding at our retreat. We found a great article in The Knot today that describes perfectly the benefits and necessity of having event insurance, whether it is for a wedding or retreat.

Wedding Planning: Wedding Insurance 101

--Julie Kormorn

Though you might not want to think about it, disasters can strike your wedding day. From a sudden cancellation to stolen gifts to a damaged gown, wedding insurance can help protect you against the unforseen, and can also afford you great peace of mind. But what exactly is wedding insurance -- and how does it work? Here's the inside scoop.

What Is Wedding Insurance?

Basically, wedding insurance protects a couple's investment from circumstances beyond their control, and reimburses expenses incurred. For example, what if your limo driver doesn't show up and you have to book another one the morning of the wedding -- for three times the price? Or what if the groom's custom-made tuxedo is lost in airport baggage, and he has to buy a new one the day before the wedding? What if your reception space goes out of business a month before the wedding, and you lose your deposit and have to book another space? These are the types of big-day financial losses that wedding insurance can help to protect.

How Much Does Wedding Insurance Cost?

A basic insurance policy that covers loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings, and deposits usually costs anywhere between $155 and $550, depending on the amount of coverage you want. General liability insurance, which covers up to $1,000,000 for accidents, costs around $185.

Do You Really Need Wedding Insurance?

Before you buy wedding insurance, check with your each of your vendors to see how well they're covered -- your reception site or your caterer may already have their own insurance, so you wouldn't want to pay for overlapping coverage out of your own pocket. Ask your vendors for a copy of their policy, and then figure out where you aren't fully covered.

When Should You Get Wedding Insurance?

The sooner the better. Let's say you put a deposit on your wedding reception hall 12 months prior to your wedding date and then it burns to the ground a few weeks before the big day. With wedding insurance, you'll be sure to get your deposit back. But note: most insurance companies have limitations on how far in advance you can purchase insurance.

What Does Wedding Insurance Cover?

Problems with the site, weather, vendors, key people, sickness, or injury are the top concerns come wedding day. There is usually a specified maximum amount, which can be claimed under each section, and a deductible also applies. Be sure to find out the details of your insurance plan.

•          Site: Check to see if your ceremony and reception site is already insured. If it's not, wedding insurance can cover the cost arising out of unavoidable cancellation (such as damage or inaccessibility to the ceremony site), if your reception hall is unable to honor your reservation because it has burned in a fire, experienced an electrical outage, or just plain closed down. Sometimes this policy covers the rehearsal dinner site, too.
•         Weather: Any weather conditions which prevent the bride, groom, any relative whose presence at the wedding is essential, or the majority of the guests from reaching the premises where the wedding is to take place. Insurance covers rescheduling the wedding and all the details involved -- such as ceremony flowers, tent rental, and reception food.
•          Vendor No-show: What if essential wedding people -- the caterer or the officiant, for example -- fail to show up? A wedding insurance policy usually covers cancellation or postponement of the wedding for these reasons.
•           Sickness or Injury: Wedding insurance may also include sickness or injury to the bride, groom, or anyone essential to the wedding.
•          Military or Job: It's true, military personnel may be shipped out at a moment's notice. Wedding insurance can cover postponement of the wedding due to the bride or groom suddenly getting called to military duty. This can also apply to a last-minute corporate move -- i.e. the bride's company suddenly relocates her to another city.

Things to Consider

Every insurance policy and every wedding scenario is different. Be sure to talk to your insurance agent -- and have him or her explain the nuts and bolts to you. You want to make sure you and your sweetie understand every detail of your policy.

CLICK HERE to see the whole article

So think of event insurance as more of a necessity than a requirement. We are asking you to secure your event so you feel protected against any mishaps. You can find an easy online event insurance option at http://theeventhelper.com/.

Our First Harvest

At the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa, we have compost gardens where we grow fava beans, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, beans, various greens, potatoes, and more! We were excited to visit the retreat last week and we harvested these potatoes and fava beans! Yummy!

We dug up the potatoes out of the ground, and let me tell you, fresh potatoes are delicious! Although we planted the fava beans late in the season, we have an abundance of them!

We are excited to see what else is ready to harvest!

Rebecca's 12th Birthday

all bets in

friends

turning the compost

stop and smell the flowers

slumber party

rock climbing

poker anyone?

What a wonderful celebration that we had for Rebecca's 12th birthday. Lots of her friends and many of their families were able to join us for a celebration. You can see the girls working the compost. They also enjoyed lots of great food, hanging out in the jacuzzi as well as late night Karoke. Thanks Nomi for the great pictures,

Garden Markers

You may have noticed the cute plant markers in some of our recent pics.  These are so cute and easy to make!  Not only will you know what seeds you have planted but they add some color and whimsy to your garden.  We took paint stir sticks (free at Home Depot or Lowes) gave them a coat of paint and used a sharpie to write the plant names.  That's it!  They are sturdy enough to last the season and are tall enough to be seen amongst the tall tomatoes and zucchinis.

Here is a close up pic of our radish sign.

Garden Anxiety

Every year I go through this!  We work and clear weeds, repair the irrigation, plant the seeds then wait...  Will my seeds germinate?  Will they survive the gophers, rabbits, slugs?  Will they be fruitfull?  Then I go up there and see that something new has emerged and I rejoice that all our work was not in vain!  Here are a few pics of the most recent arrivals in our garden.