On Saturday, the first day of the next guest week, Margreet and Lisa briefly checked the guest rooms and bathrooms. Everything looked well cared for. Only the flowers needed to be renewed. They tied the blown-out hydrangea branches together and hung them in a corner of the landing to dry. They cleaned the vases well and went into the garden together with pruning shears, where they were happily greeted by Sjaak.

"Ladies with pruning shears, that means new flowers in the guest rooms!"

"You thought that up well, and also for the dining room and living room. We are entering a new period with fresh flowers. The old hydrangea branches have completely lost their color. We bundled them up for a while and hung them up. Do you have any good advice for new branches?"

"I'd recommend those winter lilacs, but I don't know how long they'll last in a vase. Try as you might, the bushes have grown well beyond expectation, so there are plenty of branches to use now."

"Cool, I love that smell so much. And with two branches per room, I'm sure it won't be too overwhelming, right?" Lisa asked.

"I don't think so, but if it does, you can always change it. I guess it's different for each person, too. Everyone experiences smells differently. Just do it, two per vase."

Together they went to work, choosing some branches from different bushes so that the bushes wouldn't look bare afterwards. After they finished the vases upstairs, they did the same in the dining room and living room.

While they were busy, Annerieke came in. She sniffed the fragrance: "How lovely those lilacs smell! We just have to make sure that they don't affect the smell of the food, otherwise we'll have to think of something else in the dining room."

"You're absolutely right about that, Annerieke. We have also put two branches in the vases in the guest rooms and will ask the guests about that, whether they like the smell."

"Nice of you to keep such an eye on that! Is everything else ready for the guests?"

"Yes, absolutely, as far as I'm concerned they can come!"

"Not as far as I'm concerned! I'm not ready yet, but that doesn't matter, it's still morning, they only come from 3 o'clock. I'll continue with my cake!"

"What are you making today?" asked Lisa

"Apple cake, for once just simple, I don't have to think about it so much. I'm also going to bake a cake for Monday. Then Monday night all I have to do is whip cream for whoever wants it."

"Convenient!" Margreet thought.

"And delicious!" supplemented Lisa.

To chapter 213. Christmas vacation in a guesthouse...bah!

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