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