But the seed had been planted, and the dream refused to fade. Soon the couple was touring lakefront properties with a realtor, focusing on the Lake of the Ozarks where Ed had participated in many bass-fishing tournaments. One Sunday morning, Debbie and Ed drove past the home of an old fishing buddy and noticed a "For Sale, No Realtors" sign in the yard next door. Punching in the number, Ed realized he was calling someone who lived in his old hometown of Granite City, Ill. "I think it was meant to be, " he says. After a day of negotiations, "we walked away with the key, " marvels Debbie. All that remained was to quit their jobs, sell their home, remodel the 1960s cottage on the lake and start a business neither of them knew anything about. "I guess you might call us daring people, " says the gregarious Ed. "Our friends thought we were crazy, " adds Debbie, "because we were leaving good jobs, a beautiful home and moving to a rundown place with no money." Fearless and excited, the pair hired a builder to add 4, 500 square feet of space to the existing 2, 500-square-foot cottage. But after a year, the builder left with the work undone. So the Frankos ended up doing much of the interior work themselves. Cabinets, tile, tongue-and-groove ceilings, hand-planed hardwood floors - they tackled it all. "We didnt have experience before, but we do now!" Ed exclaims. Ed was working on the fireplace in one of the bedrooms on Sept. 11, 2001 when his son, Jonathan, called to alert them to the terrorist attacks. "We stood there and talked about how our business might go down the tubes before we even got the doors open, " says Debbie somberly. Ed actually wrote what went on that day on the inside of the fireplace. Despite delays and world events, the owners of the Bass and Baskets Bed & Breakfast proudly opened in October 2001 and have never looked back. Debbie enjoys decorating the four-guest-room inn with her vast collection of Longaberger Baskets , fabrics and wrought iron accessories, not to mention serving world-class breakfasts on Longaberger Pottery . The "Baskets and Blooms" and "Bed of Roses" rooms tend to appeal to women, while the "Home Sweet Home" room with its Americana theme and the "Old Bass Lodge" room with its outdoor d cor "really appeal to guys, " assures Ed. All rooms feature fireplaces, whirlpool tubs and plenty of Longaberger Baskets. Ed has added old fishing lures and rods to the d cor of the common rooms, including a boat that actually hangs from the ceiling. The avid fisherman loves to take willing guests out on the lake in his bass boat when hes not cooking, cleaning or landscaping. Landscaping has proven to be the toughest challenge. According to Ed, "We brought in 18 tons of dirt and had to carry it down what we call Cardiac Cliff in five-gallon buckets." "Its hard work, but the guests keep it so interesting, " says Debbie. "Last week, we had a five-star chef, an investment banker, a lumber salesman and the owner of a day care center all chatting together at the breakfast table. You never know who will walk through your doors!" Guests have come from as far away as Australia and South Africa, but all enjoy the easygoing atmosphere of the place. "We were part of a home tour that raised $12, 000 for local charities last year, " says Ed proudly, "and one of the guests commented that ours wasnt the biggest place but it felt like a real home built by real people to be really lived in." "Some people come here just for the baskets, " adds Debbie, who first started collecting Longaberger Baskets in 1994, became an Independent Longaberger Sales Consultant in 1995 and joined the Collectors Club is 1996. "I love to share my passion for baskets with everyone who comes here, " she says. "I really use my baskets, and people take home new ideas for using theirs after they visit." The couple makes a donation to Longabergers Horizon of Hope campaign every time a Collectors Club member or consultant stays with them. Its no wond