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.....

The Heart of the Inn.........

Today I have repeat guests coming to stay. Often times I will host people that have a special connection to the inn. I host two gentlemen every summer who come to attend Monmouth Racetrack. One of these gentlemen used to play in this house as a boy when it was a private home. I love to hear these stories and enjoy so much the fact that this beautiful home has such a long and storied history. It has been many things over the years. It originally was a summer home built by a man named Gilbert Marcellus. This was in 1882. After that it became a rest stop for weary travelers. At one point during its long history it was a millinery shop. A few years ago I had a lovely couple come to stay. The gentleman gave me a little history about Marcellus Ave. which is the street the inn is on.

He lived a few doors down from the inn when it was the shop and his mom used to work here. Every day after school he would come to the inn to be with him mother. He would do his homework and play in the field across the street. So many people have told me about playing in that field with someone that lived in this house. And children still play there to this day. Later this afternoon I will open the door to welcome guests. The same gentlemen whose mom worked here all those years ago. To me, this is the heart and soul of the Nathaniel Morris Inn....its stories, its past, and the people that passed through that front door. And they are still coming, year after year. Keeping Inn touch.....

How I Got The Treasure Bug

A big part of having my bed and breakfast is my vintage treasures. I have been buying and selling for many years. I started in high school by going out on Saturdays with my parents to hunt for antiques. They did antique shows and I used to help them set up. That is how I got the bug. I would tag along with them as they went to barn sales in the beautiful countryside of northwestern New Jersey. They would look for glassware and I would look for old boxes and rustic looking things for my room. They always stopped at some little country inn for lunch. I loved the whole experience and never stopped. When my husband asks me when I am going to stop buying this stuff because we don't need anything....well it's in my blood and will be forever. But that is why I have always sold things too. I buy what I love which makes it hard to part with, but eventually most things can go out the door to make room for the next wonderful find. Having a bed and breakfast has been a really great way to utilize and display my "junk". Guests really enjoy the treasures which fill the inn in every nook and cranny. I have a lot of stuff, but I try not to overdo it. But it is a big old country beach cottage built in 1882 which lends itself to old things tastefully arranged. This page will share my treasure hunt adventures as well as list items for sale, so check often so you don't miss anything!

Some of my favorites in the inn now....a quilt from the thrift shop, an old Whitmans Sampler candy crate, and a Bee Soap sign. These are staying for a while as I am not ready to part with them yet! 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.....