Ruins Update

As many of our guests have discovered upon visiting the B&B, most of our summer has been taken up with converting our 150 yr old bank barn ruins into a place where marriages begin and parties are held. We have been doing about 98% of the work ourselves with a few outside helpers . All of it has been done by hand with the exception of our little tractor as we discovered quickly that large machinery vibrates the walls down! Its coming along. This past week we finished the aisleway and the step up to the platform for the wedding party and started work on the brick columns that frame the two entrances. We've all become masons including Eva, who is getting great at mixing mortar as you can see from the pictures. Its certainly a labor of love for love. Each of the couples who are being married here this fall is unique and fun. We can't wait to be part of their big day. What amazes us most is that they managed to look at the ruins last year when it was covered in thirty years worth of moss and detritis and see the same potential we did! Those three couples will truly be part of history, both the farm's and ours as we enter our fall season with wedding bells ringing.

Everything Aches!

Hello treasured guests and friends! We are about 4 weeks out from our first wedding to be held in the ruins, and we are working at a feverish pace to complete the project while still attempting to take good care of the guests. Thank goodness for family who are practically raising our two girls, Maddy 6 and Eva, 4 as we endeavor to finish this project. While I complain about how much my back aches, Brent keeps mentioning how we will have "nothing" to do next summer, all projects will be complete... I haven't mentioned about the flagstone patio and breezeway I'd like to put on the barn and laying a brick patio where the current pea gravel area is... probably best to keep those ideas to myself for now. The good news... the ruins are really coming along. I am attaching a few photos.... The original floor was a mixure of dirt and concrete. We are laying flagstone excavated on the property during the ring project in the "pit" area . Next comes the brick runner up to the pergola area. The rest of the concrete will be level out with stone dust and packed down. Eventually we might decide to flagstone all out of but it will mean demolition of the existing concrete. You can see by the photos I have built my own walls(like a very heavy jigsaw puzzle to house raised flower beds). Next up is installing the arched trellis' over two of the entrances and building the brick columns for the main entranceway. We are installing some lanterns in the corners as well for some ambient lighting. Its going to be great... Hope everyone is staying dry( all it does is rain here.)

Some other Fallen Tree News. We partnered with Ski Roundtop for the ski season this year. Keep us in mind for snowmaking weather. We'll be doing some ski and stay packages as well as offering discount lift tickets. Also, I am heading a committee to organize a Bed and Breakfast Christmas House Tour featuring the B&B's of the Cumberland Valley Bed and Breakfast Association. We are partnering with The Cumberland Valley Visitor's Bureau and Project Share on this endeavor. I really think it is going to be a wonderful opportunity to raise money for some of our fiscally challenged local families while giving local patrons a sneak peak at the B&B's in our area. Don't forget us as a lodging choice for your loved ones when they visit the area to spend time with you. Let us keep your home from being overcrowded so you can concentrate on the important parts... reminiscing and food! Look for more info to come regarding the tour, scheduled tenatively for Sunday December 6, 2009.

Its really been a great year for us so far. While the economy has presented its challenges, we were very fortunate to see a strong growth trend from our first year to our second. I believe the new saying is " Even is the new Up!" In that case, thanks to all of you, we are doing better than expected. We have had many repeat visitors from 08 and several who we've had the priviledge of hosting multiple times in 09. We are blessed you have found us and continue to revisit us.

Have a great end of summer...

Kim