Enjoy a Prospect Hill B&B (TN) Getaway

Cold and Wonderful

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:25:00 +0000

We are enjoying the holiday season with a fantastic holiday party for the Mountain City division of Nightline Co. I think the guests will enjoy the new blue LED icicle lights we have over the back door. They make a fantastic photo. I used it as a background for my gift certificate offering. Take a look.

A Gentle Snow Today

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:46:00 +0000

They are predicting 3-6 inches of snow. Not sure it will achieve it. My thermometer says its 35 degrees....Here is what it looked like at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Are Your Ready for Some Snow?

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:55:00 +0000

Snow Musings
Last year we had a little snow in November. Not so this year. December is always fair game time for snow but we never promise it. HOWEVER, it sure looks like its coming this Thursday through Saturday! Today (Thursday) will only rise to 41 (hit it at 1 pm). The air is rich with moisture so its really only a matter of time.

I have to admit I'm looking forward to it. Snow is a great way to "pretty up" the landscape. We are also very lucky to be located on Hwy. 67. The road--should we need it--is plowed by City, County AND State trucks. The highway to Boone, NC, is well traveled by many (despite crossing the state line at well over 3,000 ft. elevation) and well-maintained. Both states apply deicing chemicals in anticipation of snow storms. They are a pretty good snow predictor if you happen to be traveling that way!

On a whole, you need not worry about travel issues getting to the inn. Should you have a reservation at our cottage.... 4x4 is a good idea in big storms. We also have the agreement of a neighbor for shoulder-of-the-road parking in the event you feel the small, somewhat sloped driveway is too much for you. The neat thing is that the cottage does get more snow than the inn. It's elevation is about 2950 ft.

Holiday Decorating
Our holiday decorating is coming along. Stockings are hung in the guest rooms and the tree is up (with silver bead garlands going on soon as the finishing touch).

This year we are changing up the decorations a bit. 1. The tree is in the foyer (see photo). 2. The staircase will have LIVE evergreen roping for the first time along with 3. Purple lights. That's right, folks, purple lights. As well as silver ribbon.

I LOVE purple and I think it will go well with the color scheme we are using for a corporate party here Dec. 18. (The colors are purple, red and old gold.)

Also being added for the first time will be "canopy of lights." I've been wanting to do this for a long time. I LOVE the lights above the outdoor tables in the South of France (think white lights at used car lots in 1955 gone upscale...)

Over the patio we plan to string several lines of LEDs between the party room and the Summer Kitchen. This will make a star-filled ceiling to the patio which should be comfortable because we also have a freestanding wood-burning fireplace for it.

Inside, in the Gallery (or foyer) the party will locate its bartender. Above, in the two-story area, I plan some multi-colored lights (or white if I have enough). That will make another twinkling sky.

Lastly, the big, antique table (54 inches across when closed into a circle) will have a 23" wreath and at least three of our tall tulip tea lights which many guests at the inn have seen on the dining room mantle. We will light them, decorate around them and use them in a different way this year. Multiple swags of white pine with bright red fresh berries from the Itea bushes in the yard and ornaments in the signature red, purple and old gold will complete the special decorating this year.

Special Offers
IF you are booking a room just a few days ahead, there is a discount button on the top of the reservation screen where booking online. Look for it. Discounts can be substantial.

If you need a last minute gift, our gift certificates for $250 come with a free Deneen Pottery mug. If your gift certificate is of lesser value, you will also receive a 33% percent off mug purchase coupon for each $100 spent.

We have a Spring NASCAR package which includes dinner for two and a free mug. See our NASCAR page for that.

Our gift selection (generally used while you are visiting the inn) includes a very interesting new offer: Bacon and Chocolate Heart Candy. Would you eat it?

Aletha and Lauren's Wedding 7-16-09

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:56:00 +0000

One Last Step on In the Garden Room 3

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:05:00 +0000

The wallpaper took longer than expected. We did get it back together in time for the March NASCAR racing weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Despite the upgrades we have not raised the price (the economy DOES have problems, doesn't it?) This is the room people choose when they want a great room, don't care about a whirlpool tub (or any tub since it has a large shower only). "Value" is what it is all about--all the same amenities as the more expensive rooms (no bubble bath, sorry!)

We are now offering In the Garden/Room 3 at a basic rate ($99/night) so its affordable to all comers. We also have a 4-day vacation special I posted just a few days ago. It ends up being $87/night plus tax if you come spend a good portion of your vacation with us sometime before Sept. 30.

It's MY favorite room. I think the decorating came together well and it's very pretty. I'm posting a photo. We took the lace down for awhile, just to change it. To see other views of this room check out this room's own web page Room 3 for views, including the fireplace.

What is the most important thing in a guest room, you may ask: good space, easy chair, loveseat, fireplace, TV, own thermostat on the heat and a/c, own ceiling fan, insulation so you can't hear your neighbors. This room has it all. The most interesting thing: you cannot hear the heat/air come on AT ALL in this room. Talk about a good night's sleep.....

Did I mention that Robert and I lived in this room for the second 6 months we lived here (during the last or our renovations.). I LOVE it.

Catching Up

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:41:00 +0000

For a verbal person like me..... well, hard to explain why you didn't get the end of the wallpaper story. So, let's catch up.

I'm attaching a photo so you can see how great the new raspberry colored wallpaper looks in Guest Room 3 bathroom. As to how we got there, let me just say (1) cold/cold water for wallpaper is wrong, just wrong, no matter what the instructions say (2) 30 sec. or less in the water bath (cold water see #1) is also wrong.
(1) + (2) results in paper that won't stick to the wall because the paste is not activated enough.
Therefore (3) Use warm water (feels neither hot nor cold on your body) and leave it in there a bit longer (checking to see that the paste looks like okra goop). THEN mash it on the wall.
And one more thing: for darker backgrounds and papers, paint the walls to match the paper before you paper. That way you don't have to be nearly as skilled as placing it over white primer.

If you try wallpaper: take my advice. Buy lots more than you need, have patience and use a sharp knife

Terrorized by Paper

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:33:00 +0000

The games began when I set to work with warm water, a sponge and a putty knife. [Wallpaper removal is so much fun!] Then I sent Robert out for wallpaper remover (apparently everyone else in town was doing the same thing). He brought home one bottle of bright blue gel. It worked "OK."

Sensing I was never going to remove a piece larger than 2 by 2 inches, I consulted friends online and got the magic potion: water and a tiny bit of fabric softener. We use Downey Ultra. I put it in a single serve size soda bottle for which I had a leftover pumper bottle top.

Then, from noon until 11 pm I sprayed and scraped. With no guests in the house I was able to blast the TV for my amusement, working by the light of a pole lamp outside the door because we removed the vanity light to paper easily over the junction box.

I made a big dent in the job, but it became obvious I could not schedule another full day of removal AND another day for spackling, caulk, clean up and touch up paint. One pair of guests were offered an upgrade because "their" room (this one) was no where near guest ready.

As I worked I decided to take down about 2/3 of the paper, above above the sink, toilet and to the right of the shower as well as over the window and door. Existing paper will remain in a corner where much of it will be behind a pair of cute little quarter-round picket fence shaped shelves.

Honestly, this is a compact room: about 6 feet x 4.5 feet with the door swinging in! This room is unique, with one wall made of 14 inch thick brick covered with horse hair based plaster, one wall of plaster over lath, one wall of plaster, lath and Sheetrock and one new construction wall of just Sheetrock. Old houses do have a history. This room was the trunk room for storing gear when friends/relatives came to visit (for months at a time!)

I'm anxious to see how it looks. And unhappy I can't spend another day stripping. The worst might be falling paper. THEN I'll have to strip the old stuff, wash the glue off the new vinyl wallpaper and re-paste it myself. I've done whole rooms that way.... I've just never stripped standard paper wallcovering before.

Dreaming of Spring (in the wallpaper)

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Freshening "In the Garden" - Inn Room #3

We've always called this room's bath The Rabbit Bath. Drove our contractors crazy when we readied it for guests 10 years ago (the wallpaper border below the rail was the last item to go in....)

In The Garden Room is our least expensive room with some of my most favorite decorating--I really like the bronze bed with lacy valance. The price is based on the fact it has a a large shower and no bathtub. The room is large enough to add a twin bed for a third person.

This room was once the bedroom of the Rambo daughters, complete with French provincial furniture. From the beginning, I saw it as having a flower and garden theme. It's large (about 16x16') and has a fine, heart pine mantle with high tech (electric) fireplace, a love seat and a bathroom which might have been the Victorian trunk room (for their long-term visitors).

The bathroom is our target tomorrow...

I LOVE the 29-inch tall border around the bottom featuring a white picket fence, black and white rabbits and lots of flowers, including sweet peas. It is very sweet.

The background of this paper is vanilla, not readily available today. It also has a good bit of teal and olive in the plant leaves (have you tried to find anything teal anymore?) Besides, I want a fresher, younger feel to this room.

The bathroom's upper wallpaper tended to curl from the start so it's time to change it. My inspiration is a tea towel from the Mast General Store which has tiny stripes in a dark eggplant (purple), a limey green and a lighter raspberry. Wish there were matching wallpaper! So, with the help of Lowes I selected a Sunworthy wallpaper which is a medium raspberry color with a texture like hand-troweled plaster. It goes with raspberry touches in the sky above the picket fence.

Now, I KNOW this is my small bathroom. I've read a darker color will NOT make a small room smaller.... I hope so. Tomorrow the flowers above the rail will come down. It's only two rolls. Stayed tuned!

Let There Be Fire

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Last night, after husband Robert and I enjoyed a steak dinner at The Peddler in Boone, NC, we were thinking "We're cold.".... The day never got above 37 or so despite the nice sunshine! So we dropped in to Lowes and bought a really cute, upright firepit or patio fireplace. (see picture)

Robert is delighted we'll be able to burn all the little branches which seem to keep falling out of the trees all over our three acres here at the inn. (We simply HATE the idea of putting them in the trash.)

I'm looking forward to a weenie roast, or maybe some toasted marshmallows and just hanging out by a nice, warm, crackling fire.

We once had a chimenea (which we dragged home from Atlanta stuffed in the small back seat of a sedan!) But the weather got the best of it and it cracked. This one is metal--think of it as a fireplace with four sides, able to be moved all over the back patio at the inn when the fire is out. I think our guests are going to like it even more than they did old ceramic model. This one also comes with a cover so we won't be draining icky, ash-filled water out of an open dish. It does rain in this climate.

The back patio is a great place to hang out. It is protected from the wind and tends to be a moderate temperature most of the year because the concrete pavers form a microclimate with a sweet heat sink using the paves and the gravel below as the storage mass. Still, those cool summer nights will be enhanced by this little fireplace.

Maybe there's a romantic fire in store as early as tomorrow night. I can't wait.

Let There Be Fire

judy@prospect-hill.com (Judy Hotchkiss) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:35:00 +0000

It's cold out.... sunny, but cold. The woolly worm (the great winter weather predictor last October) was right: Winter was hard in the beginning and likely to be hard toward the end. I think the grace period of nearly 70 degrees is gone.... so, in honor of my birthday yesterday we bought a portable fire pit or fire box. Soon, when husband Robert has it assembled, there will be fire on the patio. Actually, I'm looking forward to a little weenie roast, maybe some toasted marshmallows and some hanging out time.

The patio--which is out the back door of the Prospect Hill Inn--has a microclimate all its own anyway. It is always warmer than elsewhere, perhaps because buildings protect it and because it is south facing with a concrete paver "floor" to act as a heat sink. Anyway, it stays nicer than many parts of the property most of the year. Still, a little fireplace action on cool nights, even in summer, would be nice.

We picked a model from Lowes which has a roof (and a cover). It rains a LOT here and I cannot imagine having an actual fire pit which might require bailing icky, ash-laiden water! So, it's an upright model with four sides for viewing--think of a four-sided fireplace, if you will.

So, that is our project for the week (assembly) as we mop up after most of the Valentine's Weekend revelers have gone home. They had wonderful weather Saturday and really enjoyed the Cranberry Stuffed French Toast. I'll leave that new recipe for another time.

Now, let me head up to the back where we have a BIG pile of little tree limbs and sticks. I think we'll have fuel for the patio fireplace for a long time to home!