Many thanks to all who participated in our first New Year’s party! (We think now it’s an annual MUST DO). It was more successful than we anticipated and more fun than we ever imagined. Amazing food from Jamie, to die for chocolates from Pete, Jeff’s peppermint marshmallows were a hit, and of course, none of it would be a party without the wonderful storytellers!
We had 37 guests and 10 storytellers to help ring in the New Year. Oh what marvelous stories they were. The bar has been set! One participant confided in me that she had practiced with Toastmasters. That’s getting serious folks. We like it.
10 came to the mike and told their “winter survival” story and it was magical.
Enjoy the stories below. We sure did. Have a wonderful 2011!
To listen, simply click on the “play icon” 
and the story will begin to entertain you in a few seconds.
Here’s Bobby with the first place prize. By the look on his face, I’d say he likes it!
Hi there! We really had a great time on New Year’s Eve -
loved the appetizers, the wonderful dinner and the chance to hear
all the fun stories and to get the nerve up to tell one! thank you
so much! Everyone was so nice – what a great thing to get a bunch
of people together and by the end of the stay, we all felt like we
knew each other! We’ll be back! Anna and Alan
Anna,
Thank you for your kind words! I think it’s nearly a crime that Samantha and I had as much (and possibly more) fun as our guests.
The entire evening surpassed our expectations. We will definitely be doing another “Moth Storytelling” night at the Balch.
~Jeff
Jeff and Samantha,
For all the storytelling capacity I fail to find the words that will express what a great time I had on New Year’s Eve.
For most of my life – and I suspect that I am not the only one – New Year’s Eve has been an anticlimactic celebration at best, crowded bar full of strangers, overpriced drinks, and awkward hugs at midnight to the musical replays of a bad cover band.
That, or sitting in the living room watching Dick Clark and wondering what the preservative is in his hair tonic.
Then there was New Year’s Eve at the Balch – Gracious hosts, elegant hotel, awesome multi-course food and hand-crafted deserts, entertaining guests, laughter and solidarity, all set in the gentle sloping hills of lithe winter wheat under azure skies and diamond stars of shimmering cobalt blue.
There was no one as fortunate as your guests that night.
Thank you Jeff and Samantha for the very best New Year’s celebration of my life and an evening I will never forget.
Your friend,
Bobby Daniel Castaneda
Bobby,
Reading your comments convinces me that your ability to write is certainly on par with your gift of storytelling.
Thank you very much for the wonderful compliments and thank you for such wholehearted participation of our first stab at a “Moth” storytelling event. Your story certainly was the icing on the cake!
We were thrilled beyond our wildest expectations of how much fun our guests and we would have on that night. We were humbled by everyone’s willingness to join in and make that night a life-long memory to be cherished.
We hope to see you again soon.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Dear Samantha and Jeff,
I was just reading a Guidepost Magazine from 2008 about the beginning of your Hotel/Wedding Adventure. Being very curious to know if your unique venture was and still is successful, I found your website and was awed by the pictures and stories, etc.
You have such very creative events and I loved the stories. I doubt we’ll ever be in your area, but if we are we’ll certainly plan on a stay at the Historic Balch.
Diane Lewis
What a delight to listen to the stories from last year. Every bit as good as I remember them.