tomorrrow

busy.

that's the only word i have for today. i wish i had more time to share all the exciting things happening around here but things are a bit crazy. a good crazy ... but still crazy.

please stop by my facebook page to see new photos of what i've been up to in preparing the gift shoppe for the pie social tomorrow and saturday.

here's to a great weekend. i can't tell you how much i appreciate your support. be back soon!

an update on the hall

remember last week i painted my hall ... and then painted some trees? well because of the craziness, things have been at a stand still since. i really want to finish up a couple things in the hall to make it look somewhat complete but i'm just not finding the time. anyone know where i can buy extra hours for the day?

i did hang some artwork though. when i bought the bed and breakfast the original owner gave me a bag full of the original blueprints of this house. they are beautiful. the color. the detail. there is even some pencil markings on them where the architect or contractors made adjustments and such. very cool.

i felt they needed to be removed from their bag and put on display. and with the hall painted i knew it was the perfect spot! the green and blue is amazing. i love it!

i found the frames at wal-mart. they were actually on sale for $10 a piece! amazing. and there were three of them! it was meant to be.

see that window to the left? this is where my curtains are going to go. (when i get around to making them.) remember that amazing fabric i found? that's where its going to go. curtains flanking the window. there is a little blue in the curtains. it's not an exact match, but that's okay. i don't really like being too matchy-matchy. slight variations of shades add more character ... at least i think.

i also got that beautiful antique sign above the window (sorry it's hard to see ... it says 'love one another') from one of my favorite etsy sellers. that's where i got penelope. (and thanks to jen for the name choice! love it.)

this vintage open sign is above another door at the bottom of the staircase. i had it for a while, but never had a place for it. the color is a darker shade of the blue from the blueprint images. it works perfect.

so the hall is coming along, but nowhere from being finish. i'll be excited when its done ... and don't worry i'll share pictures.

bulbs and chocolate

thanks again for all your support in my absence. last week was just crazy and i couldn't find the time to do anything expect focus on 'business.'

for the time being, i am my only employee. i make the breakfast, clean the rooms, laundry ... lots of laundry, all the associate paperwork with owning a business (my least favorite part), 'entertain' my guests ... plus the gift shoppe ... ordering (which takes a lot longer than you'd think ... i'm too picky[which is good i suppose]), unpacking, pricing, displaying, dusting ... plus i make baskets. you get the idea.

thankfully i love every minute of it and can't imagine doing anything else. but when i'm busy ... i'm busy.

i actually really missed interacting with you all. i wasn't even able to read the blogs i follow. my google/reader had 800 posts! yikes! it's going to take me a while to get through them all.

today i took some time to plant tulip bulbs. the weather was beautiful this morning (and still is this afternoon) ... a  slight chill in the air, and the sun is shining as bright as it can. it was lovely and relaxing and really, really needed. i love getting my hands in the dirt.

anyway. as i mentioned yesterday i've added some new items to my etsy shop (should be up later today). homemade hot chocolate mix. yum!

i made the standard hot chocolate which is delicious of course. but then i got creative.

this is one of my favorites. white chocolate. yum! each bag makes about eight individual cups of yummy and amazingly rich cocoa.

i also have three different flavors too. the first is spicy which has cayenne pepper, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. i was actually worried about making this one. i thought i (and most people) wouldn't like it. but i kinda love it. it's not too hot and the extra spices create a really interesting flavor. yum.

and i also have vanilla milk chocolate and hazelnut milk chocolate.

i'm not going to share the recipe here for obvious reasons, but if you'd like it shoot me an email and i'll see what i can do.

and for those of you that can visit the 'brick and mortar' shop ... these mixes are also available here.

what have you been doing to prepare for the fall and winter?

blogcation

hey guys and gals. sooo ... i guess i've sorta been on a blog vacation. not a vacation i planned or wanted ... but unavoidably necessary.

if i began to explain to you how crazy last week was i don't think you'd believe me. unreal. anyway i'm back and i actually have so much to share with you. i'm so excited!

new fall decor, new items for my etsy shop, new fun events happening around the inn, maybe a giveaway, and lots of other exciting things.

so thanks for hanging in there with me. i knew you'd understand.

glorious!

hope you had a nice weekend!! i certainly did.

so there are three things i wanted to share with you today and all of them are glorious beyond glorious.

first and foremost the second issue of Country Home is out! remember i mentioned a month ago they were back. well, the second issue is just as good (if not better ... since it's fall themed) than first.

these are some (and i do mean some as i think i love something about every single image in the magazine) of my favorite images...

so simple, but dynamic! right?

love gallery walls!

a country kitchen at its finest!

a magazine rack/console table made from three old chicken roosts. i must have this!

love the things on top of the cabinet. they are vintage train reflectors! so cool!

and yes, i do love the old railroad signs (or whatever you call them). then, in front, is one of those acrylic tables (which i love). this is so me. a mix of old and new. i'm actually considering recreating this in my hall. i have the perfect spot!

anyway, so pick up a copy. it's a bit more expensive then your typical magazine... but totally worth it!


second. do you follow eddie ross? if you don't you should. honestly ... you really should. you won't be disappointed. anyway,  i am in love with this table setting he just featured on his blog. i love lime green. then, put it with orange and i have goosebumps. then add in larger than life pink taper candles ... and i think i need a respirator.

stunning. love the runners as placements.

beautiful.

gasp. it's like summer meets fall. falmer.

maybe if i ask really nice i can come to the next dinner. you think? all images can be found via.

and finally i just bought a vintage paint by number image from an etsy seller with the coolest stuff. it was funny. i actually emailed her before i bought the painting. i was on the edge about whether it was creepy or not. she said she loved it, and so did i, so i risked it and bought it.

it arrived today and i have to tell you i just love it. the frame it came with was sorta week and lack luster, so i bought a new one and i think it make a huge difference.

the intent is to hang the picture in my newly painted hall. the colors are perfect! i just need to figure out where. she will be the keeper of my hall forest.

what should i name her?? (yes, i like to name things) the squirrel that eats my birdseed is 'charles'. the planter in my gift shoppe shaped in a woman's bust is 'vivian' ... and the list goes on.

a preview ... and a winner

so remember yesterday when i said i had made a decision about the wall decal? well. i changed my mind. (shocker!) and i'm so happy i did.

while a couple of you suggested i just paint the image on the wall it wasn't until i received a message on facebook from a friend that give me the inspiration and courage to give it a shot.

she said, "Michael - Why would you even want to buy a decal when you are talented enough to paint your own? Come on, you can do it - you just need to me encouraged! Never be afraid to use your God-given talents - you have so many!!"

so literally minutes after i read her message i grabbed my white paint and started painting ... free hand. i decided to go with the trees. and if i must say so myself i am super pleased with the results. (and i saved $85 plus shipping.)

so the trees need another coat, touch-ups, etcs ... i will share more photos and details next week.

ok, now on to the winner .... drumrolll please ... leslie from the DIY diaries!

congrats leslie!! please email me your mailing address and i will get your goodies out asap. it's funny that leslie was the winner because she was/in also considering some decals too! check it out.

again ... thanks to everyone for your advice! you guys rocks!

it's early ... i know

thank you all so much for your amazing comments yesterday. i really, really appreciate them. so much so that i've actually made a decision i'm pretty happy and excited about. and i will be sure to share that decision with you soon enough.

in the meantime, i still appreciate your comments so keep leaving them through today to get your name in the hat for the giveaway. you have until midnight tonight and i will announce the winner tomorrow.

despite the crazy wind and drizzle yesterday i visited my favorite greenhouse to get some fall decor. and i know what your thinking ... 'michael, it's kinda early ... you are weird.' ... but it's all good. i love fall and i like to make it last as long as possible. so i got some cornstalks. (they even cut them fresh for me ... now that's service!)

the most beautiful 'cinderella' pumpkin.

i have no idea what this is (i assume a gourd or pumpkin or squash of sorts) but i love it.

some ornamental kale/cabbage. pretty, pretty! i love the way it changes colors throughout the fall.

and of course. mums. i love the yellow the most because it shows up best from the street.

and works well with orange pumpkins. what is your favorite color of mums?

so, it's official ... at least here ... goodbye summer. hello fall. i'm so happy to see you. i hope you can stick around for a while.

wall decals: thoughts? {and little giveaway}

yesterday i mentioned i painted my hall. (more on that later.)

so now i'm considering a wall graphic. you know ... those big stickers for the wall. anyway, i go back and forth on whether i like them. so, i'm interested to hear what you think. since some of these decals are a pretty big investment your opinion is important!

here are a couple i like and would be appropriate for the space. my walls are a green color so i would choose a white for the decal.

tulip

dandelions

more dandelions (these taller ones may work better for me)

leafy branch

trees

bird cages

so, two questions here.

1. what do you think of wall decals in general? love them? hate them? think they look cheap? think they are genius?

2. what do you think of the ones i selected? too big? too small? too weird? have a link for one you like better?

and for the giveaway part of this post ... on friday i will randomly pick one comment and that person will receive a jar of my red pepper jelly (which, if i have to say so myself is quick delicious ... my sister-in-law told me it could make me a millionaire! [oh and it's best served on a cracker with cream cheese]) and a bracelet from viva beads (which i have more arriving in the gift shoppe friday! yay!)

and, thank you so much for your time and help. you know i love you guys!

ok, it's not amazing, but it works!

how was your long weekend? mine was busy. i actually (and finally) painted my stairway/hallway. this has been on my to-do list for quite some time. remember that vintage material i found a while back? well, i'll be using it to make curtains for the window in my hall. once they are done i will be sure to show you how it looks!

anyway which the change of season just around the corner i'm slow changing things over from spring to fall. remember my chair cushions? i showed you them here and here. well, i though they were a little too summery so i decided to give them a new look for the fall.

tada! how'd i do? i know it's not amazing ... and it's only temporary. but i think it looks pretty good and very appropriate for the season.

i just used an old coffee bean sack i had. i cut it in a square. then wrapped it around the pillow. i put a couple hand stiches in the back to hold things in place. then  i wrapped it with this super cool ribbon i found at wal-mart.

it's like a burlap ribbon with red ticking in it. and it was super cheap! love it!

how are you getting ready for fall ... or are you still holding tightly on to the summer?

moon dancer winery

the day before our amazing dinner we visited moon dancer winery in wrightsville, pa.

the day was beautiful. blue skies. no clouds.

we sampled  wines.

we explored the vineyards.

we pretended to be professional photographers ...

... but with such beautiful subjects it wasn't too hard.

the day with my nephews and niece, my brother and sister-in-law and my mom was priceless.

we even sampled the grapes. they were delicious.

we searched the weeds for dinosaurs. we didn't find any.

but that didn't stop us from having fun.

the day went too quickly.

i can't wait to go back.