Home is Where the Inn Is

Unavoidably the first question people ask me when talking about innkeeping is "oh but it's so much work isn't it?". My answer to them is always "yes, but I'm doing what I love". It's true, innkeeping is a lot of work, but no different from jobs of every profession. There isn't a profession around that doesn't require hard work if you want to be successful. The key is to do what you love and are passionate about. I know for many that is not the case. I feel so fortunate that I get to do what comes natural to me....creating a home. I have always been a nester. My world has always been centered around my home and my family. It just seems fitting that now that my children are grown I still have those cozy beds awaiting a weary head looking for comfort. I'm thrilled when people tell me this is their home away from home. I know that as an innkeeper I offer my guests a place to relax and breathe. Here you will not find formal. Instead, every corner lends itself to putting your feet up and taking in the peaceful surroundings. I know that my guests feel safe and well-cared for. Although this is an old house that has its quirks, it is definitely a home that was meant to have a screen door banging whether it's the front door or an upstairs porch. It's meant to have gardens loaded with perennials and well loved chairs to sit on. For the brief time that you are here, you are home. That is what I try to do here, and it sure doesn't feel much like work.

A New Addition to the Inn

Well, I never thought it would happen, but my barn is finally empty (well, almost). I had my Vintage Market/Garage Sale last weekend and sold just about everything. Of course, I made the prices extremely affordable and just kept my goal in mind. I set out to empty that building and by gosh, that is what I did. I gave things away, too. It was time to purge and begin anew. Now we begin phase two, which is repairing and sprucing up the building to get it ready for my plans. My mind has been alive with ideas as I've scoured through magazines and Pinterest. I am on a very small budget, but we all know that doesn't stop the creativity, but rather brings it out. Once it is all ready inside, I will furnish it and accessorize it. Hopefully by Memorial Day Weekend and the official start of the season here at the shore, I will be ready to open the doors of my new addition....THE BARN AT THE NATHANIEL MORRIS INN. This will be a gathering place for my guests for early morning coffee as well as afternoon refreshments. All the details have not been nailed down yet, but I am very excited about the possibilities. And did I mention that most things in the barn including the mugs you drink from will be for sale? You Betcha!!!!

What the barn looked like before the sale, and a small sampling of what you will find for sale....can't wait....let the fun begin!!!! Keeping Inn touch......

March

The sign of relief around here and in most of the USA is almost audible from near and far. It's March....February is a memory and a not so good one, either. What a beating we have taken this winter, haven't we? I'm so glad we closed the inn for a couple of months and quite frankly will probably stay closed for a couple more weeks because March can be a sneaky month. Yes the sun is definitely warmer and feels so great in your car or on your face while walking. But it can throw a few punches, too as we all know. And I won't even mention those snow storms we've occasionally had in April. Having an inn in a town that is mostly focused on the beach is pretty tricky, too. I love this time of year because the anticipation begins. The planning begins. The repairs begin. I do enjoy the down time but by now I am bored and anxious to get on with it. Sometimes I wish we were busy all year but in all honesty, it's nice to get a break also. Every spring there is a new beginning for all of us. But for an innkeeper in a shore town there is that extra element of excitement in the air and around this old house. What will I change this year. What will I improve on. What room needs to be revamped. Also, who will come back this year and what new guests will cross our path. As I've indicated before, I have big plans for my barn which I am not yet ready to share. I will also be having my Spring Vintage Market in June. So hello March....I'm ready for you! Keeping inn touch......

A New Year

Here we are.....2015.....where did 2014 go???? I started this new blog at the end of 2014 and had every intention of writing a new post every week but it just didn't happen. Part of the joy and frustration of having an inn as in most small businesses....you never know when you are going to be crazy busy or crazy slow. Obviously the former is always better, but it does not allow for much time to write posts. As it turns out, we had a very busy fall and holiday season here at the Nathaniel Morris. A sign that the economy is ever so slowly inching it's way up a bit. It really has been about five years since business after Labor Day was a given. Very thankful that this year turned the corner for everyone in this little town. That being said, the holidays are over, it is a new year, and it is time to renew. In previous years we stayed open all year except if we went away. We would take small blocks of time to do a getaway here and there. This year we have decided to close from mid=January until around mid-March. We live here at the inn, so we will be here but will just breathe for a bit. Our inn is in a small shore town. Although the days of the town totally shutting down in the winter are over, having a bed and breakfast does not lend itself to lots of tourist activity, as you can imagine. I will use this time for projects, implementing some business ideas I am conjuring, road trips, reading and whatever else comes my way. I read something yesterday that said there were 20 Mondays until Memorial Day. That folks is not a lot of Mondays...so I will savor this time and utilize it as best I can. I love that that I live in a tourist area. It is the best of both worlds. I love the craziness and flock of people in the summer. I also love the peaceful little town that I live in in the winter. And there is nothing like snow on the beach!

Keeping Inn touch.....

A Brand New Blog

Welcome to my new blog! I am so excited to be debuting this. I had seen other blogs done by Heather from Life Made Lovely and decided to have her design one for me. My past blogging life fell short of what I wanted it to be. I never could get it quite right....the look and the feel just felt off. When I saw Heather's designs I just loved the look of them. They were fresh and more modern with a vintage flair. So here I am and I thank Heather for all her amazing help. I hope to share with my readers the life I lead as an innkeeper and all the things that go along with it. Also, how I got to this path in my life, as so much has lead me here. As I indicate in my intro, I feel my very first taste of a bed and breakfast started while I was in the womb all those years ago. My mom was pregnant with me at the time she was visiting Nellie's Farm for the first time. After I was born our family continued to go there for many years. My memories of those visits have stayed with me forever and I know that is a big reason for my owning an inn today.

I invite you to sit down at the table and chat with me (oh....I am Gail by the way) and Daisy. Daisy is with me in spirit, as she was so much a part of Nellie's. She made the most amazing breakfasts served on a huge farm table in the farmhouse. She rang a giant bell which was outside surrounded by wildflowers. She rang this when it was time to eat, even though you could smell her pancakes for miles and automatically ran towards that aroma. Grab a cup of coffee, have a seat at my farm table and let's share some stories...........

Keeping Inn touch.....