Enjoy a Prospect Hill B&B (TN) Getaway

"Cougar" Romance at Prospect Hill

2012-01-10T11:01:00.007-05:00

Winter has been a bit strange this year with snow off and on (mostly off) and odd spring-like days like today (nearly 60 degrees and sunny). I've had the opportunity to prowl the patio and enjoy the fresh mountain air.

Christmas is over and I've had to give up my perfectly wonderful resting area on the heat duct behind the Christmas tree. The Rotary Christmas tour was a success. (I slept through it). People were especially good about traveling this New Years; I found several real cat lovers among them. Now Martin Luther King holiday is fast approaching but people seem to be staying home. Could it be the lack of snow? Or could it be that they are saving their time for the Valentine's holiday ahead? If so, maybe I'll be seeing them at the inn next month!

Meanwhile, I must share this secret. I'm in love.....

Just about a year and a half ago a half grown classic tabby kitten showed up at the inn. They called him Michelin because of the tire stripe pattern down his back, rather than naming him Target since he has a bullseye on his side (per the classic patterns). I was not amused since I've been the ONLY cat since 2001. Call me a cougar, call me an old fool, but I'm beginning to like the youngster. Sure, I still take a swing at his head now and then. But let's face it, his food bowl tastes just as good as mine and on a sunny day like today I don't mind sharing the party room with him. (See photo).

Let me be clear. He's my first so he certainly is NOT going to get in any serious snuggling any time soon. I'm not that kind of girl.... I will leave that to the inn guests who are likely to enjoy it during February when the fireplaces glow, the candles on the whirlpool tub edges twinkle and the guest rooms feel all snug, safe and romantic. I think there will be a special treat for each guest staying at the inn, too.

One more thing: IF he wants to propose I'm up for it. He should check on the special packages the inn provides since I wouldn't mind finding the ring in a box of brownies (with tuna juice on the side, thank you very much!)

One more thing. Least you think I am not romantic.... there's photo proof I attend weddings. Just take a look at me as I leave the receiving line of Liz and Mike's wedding last summer. I am directly to the right of the sign. LINK

Light Up Mountain City

2011-12-05T15:34:00.011-05:00

Rumor has is (you KNOW how cats deal in rumors) that the 20 donated Christmas trees are all up along West Main Street in Mountain City. Light Up Mountain City is a success thanks go our friend Aleta Higgins, of Tributary Restaurant.

I think today will be the test of just how well everyone tied their ornaments on. The wind--even here on the inn's patio where I've been enjoying fresh air--has been kicking up to at least 20 mph. (It sure can howl; glad I'm equipped with my own fur...)

All the "servants" here, plus the innkeepers, went downtown Friday to decorate the tree sponsored by Prospect Hill. I snagged a couple of photos for you. That's Kim, astonished that they did a "Vegas Tree" in honor of her upcoming honeymoon to Las Vegas after her wedding here at the inn. (Yes, I'm looking forward to it, even if I don't like little kids very much.... it's a cat-thang, you know!)

Meanwhile, back at the party room, I've had my choice of boxes for a week! There is nothing more wonderful in the world than a brand new box to crawl into. I've especially liked the big one left over from the artificial tree.

It appears The Innkeepers will eventually get all their decorations arranged around the house. They are keeping all the guest rooms shut so I have had a chance to see them. The 11-foot fresh tree is glorious and I've enjoyed sleeping on the heat duct right behind it. I've also added the "official" living room portrait photo which goes along with the Rotary Christmas House Tour publicity, this Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come find me and give me a pat if possible.

Keep smilin'
I'm dreaming of all those NEW boxes for cat napping coming in just a few weeks. If I don't have a chance to tell you:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Tiger Lily.

Come Enjoy the Dec. 10 Rotary House Tour

2011-11-28T12:15:00.011-05:00

This year we've volunteered to open our inn for the Mountain City Rotary Club Christmas House Tour (and do the PR, too). Today Tiger Lily slept under the tree (pictured) while Judy shot photos for the newspapers.

Tiger's Quote of the Day:
I have no idea HOW they thought all that mess was going to turn into a great looking room. I've been walking around it since Saturday....[meow]

Innkeeper's explanation: Takes a lot of little stuff, carefully arranged, to make the place look great. Tiger, get back on your heat duct or in your box and chill while we put on the finishing touches! Here are the results (interim) since I can always find MORE to put on the tree (silver beads are not on yet).

Many of the houses on the tour this year will have theme trees. For myself, I like standing snowmen (for winter) and owls (all year). But no theme for our tree other than ornaments we have selected and loved through the years. Plus ornaments our friends have given us.

Crafts are important to us. Our party room at the inn will be used to display an assortment of locally-made crafts by a half dozen individuals. The items will be for sale with the suggestion that you support the artists AND find some nice gift items. Some members of the band Onefoot Onearth, will perform throughout the tour. Other houses will have cookies and beverages available.

Tour Details
This is a self-guided tour (done in any order you prefer) Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in and around Mountain City, TN. Free light breakfast 10 a.m. to noon at Tributary on Main (118 W. Main St.) with tour ticket. Log cabins, modern and new homes and two historic homes plus log cabin rentals and ShayBrey, the go-to store for Christmas florals, will be on tour.
Tickets: Buy online at the inn's reservation page (Christmas tour tab), at Tributary, 423-727-4150, ShayBrey and at the Welcome Center on Hwy. 421. Prospect Hill is handling the credit card sale of tickets. (judy@prospect-hill.com). 423-727-0139. $12 in advance; $15 day of tour.
Benefits: The Rotary Club Scholarship Fund for high school seniors.
Heavy rain/snow date: Sunday, Dec. 11.

A note from Tiger:
I know things get hectic this time of year so I want to wish you a joyous season and also share with you what I consider to be the JOY of the season: photo below. Hope yours is just as fine a day!!

Seasonal Transformation and Other Changes

2011-11-07T16:46:00.006-05:00

Hello, Stuck Up Cat Lovers! Tiger Lily checking in...

I have had a wonderful summer. The patio, the warm weather, my nest in the leaves near the back patio doors have been fabulous. Now fall is drawing to an end; some really wintry weather might turn up later this week. I'm prepared with a new perch (shown in the photo).

In light of seasonal weather changes, The Innkeepers decided it was finally time to (1) clean the gutters (simply made a mess out of my leaf nest!!!) (2) spray paint the wicker end tables in Rose/Romance Room 2. Pictures can tell the story, so here they are.

Step 1: Bring them downstairs and be sure they are clean
Step (2) - Get out the spray paint given to my by my decorating buddy, Susan..... months ago!!!
(3) Go outdoors when the wind is not blowing and the temperature is closer to 60
(4) Find something to sit the legs up on
(5) Find Goof Off and Mineral Spirits because the first of two cans of spray paint kept clogging
(6) Painted underside first and let a bit of the sage color show through
(7) Let dry a bit then turn upright, sit on cans or 2x4 scraps and paint the top side.
(8) Let dry thoroughly, or until the sun goes down and it is rather cool/cold. Bring indoors and put back into the guest room.
(9) Take photos.

I just read that RED is the hot designer color for the coming season. Well, here we are, ahead of the trend. The red is intended to pick up some read in the bedspread in Room 2/Rose Romance, not that anyone lets me (the cat) into a guest room!

The tables seem more cranberry than bright red. Nice.

Fall Wedding With Lantern Light

2011-10-10T11:01:00.002-04:00

VIEWS OF THE INN CAT [TIGER LILY] - Liz and Mike Poston got married here Saturday. It has long stuck in my craw that "the other cat" attends these affairs. So this time I showed up. Well, I went out on the patio, slept under the rose bush and rolled out on the patio for a few well placed pets. This worked out well (not kids around). What's the deal, anyway (there was no tuna involved!)
By way of details: on Friday the bride and her family and friends set up the party room and decorated the gazebo. I checked the flowers out on the sly and enjoyed some of the fall leaves and the views. The weather has been great--in the 70s with the leaf color getting more and more intense by the day. As some of you know, I was fed filet mignon and bottled water during one of my illnesses a decade ago. I am sorry to say, the wedding party went to The Peddlar in Boone and did NOT bring me any steak!!
Wedding day was pretty quiet until later in the afternoon so I enjoyed a snooze on the warm, sunny patio. The bicycle with the basket on it to hold programs was cute. I stayed out of sight when they photographed the happy couple riding the bike down the hill. Did they look at how steep that was before they started??? It all worked out. Cute photos. Local musicians known as Fidder's Grove played the music for the ceremony and the reception. Very nice. Even the Smashing Pumpkins tune was quite the thing.
I mentioned no tuna... there was, however, a seafood dish by Tributary on Main in Mountain City. That looked good, too, but by 5:30 I was tired of the attention and had retreated to the B&B kitchen to stay away from Chef Shaun's big feet!

The party went on a few more hours. I heard the talk about the sparklers. See the album on Prospect Hill B&B In's page on Facebook.... It was cool, all it up, with both ropes of light and lanterns high above my favore

2011-10-03T18:15:00.002-04:00

Halloween is coming soon and I know you are just dying to learn about ghosts. Well, first off, what terrifies ME more is that I was sitting next to the patio today (recovering from an annual visit to the vet) and I suddenly hear some yelling from inside the inn. Out comes the innkeeper.... she had seen.....a medium size black bear lumbering through the garden. Good thing I sleep with one eye open.

But, if you must ask about ghosts, here's what I know or have heard, in Judy's words:

This is our story. The house was designed by an architect, built by a former Union Army officer who also served in the state legislature. The style is Shingle Style Victorian. The roof was put on Nov. 22, 1889.

Former tenants in our house told us that the back door would open and close by itself. Yes, we've heard the handle and latch turn, many times.
I've felt an energy field inside the hall and outside the original master bedroom door. That is now our Room #5 - The Wagner Bedroom, named for
Maj. Joseph Wagner, who served in the Civil War, on both sides, ending as a major in the Union Army. He then built this house in 1889.

One guest saw 'someone' in a military uniform in the Room 2 window as she arrived at the inn.. Another guest--one who says he often sees ghosts in hotels-- said he saw a man in old fashioned clothes in his room during the night. (Wagner died in 1910 of old age and the house was sold).

At various times guests have smelled peanut butter cookies or muffins baking in the middle of the night. Another got out of his bath in the first floor guest bath (once the
family room and family bath). He smelled spilled bourbon for quite awhile, long enough to dry himself off, dress and go fetch his girl friend from the front porch swing so
she, too, could smell it. It was the middle of the afternoon so I trust he was neither asleep nor drunk.

Another time, rose-flavored perfume was smelled in the same room. The second owners were Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Issac Rambo. We believe Mrs. Rambo lived in this room
in her waning years. A guest who 'feels' ghosts everywhere sensed a woman's presence in this room. Her son may have been the one who spilled the bourbon. The room was HIS bedroom in HIS last years.

The first indication I had of this sort of thing was when we were renovating. My husband, Robert, and our dog arose early and left the house to walk to the mail box for the newspaper.
While they were gone I heard the steady rhythm of a man's leather-soled dress shoes on the front stairs, coming up, walking in the hall, going back down. The thing is--due to renovation--the hallway was filled with buckets of paint and Sheetrock mud, a vacuum cleaner, extension cords and such. No mortal could walk in a straight line down that hall with such consistent footsteps!

In this digital age we sometimes capture odd things on disk (such as fire leaping out of one fireplace). I found orbs on only one of three photos I made of a couple walking down the drive after their wedding. We believe the groom died in a motorcycling accident 6 months later! Out of over 100 weddings performed here, that was the only photo to ever have anything out of the ordinary on it.

A current employee, Angela Norris, says she smells smoke in the house sometimes and wondered if we once had a fire burn the house. No, it never burned. I think it might be the remains of fires in the 10 wood burning fireplaces throughout the house or it might be, well, who knows what?! Children heard scratching and dropped items in the living room ceiling years ago. We are fairly certain that was an invasion of squirrels in winter. However, we have yet to explain away the knock on the door and the "force or pressure" which one guest says pushed her into the mattress and would not allow her to move for at least 15 seconds.

I always expected the ghost of Mr. Rambo to show up when I removed part of a wall he erected to turn the back porch into a bathroom. When we did it, all was quiet. Apparently our ghosts do not arrive on demand. Given the smells and sounds, we think they are still the happy people who very much loved living here after having their funerals conducted in our living room, which was the old rural tradition.

So, that's the story. But, if that ghost really does open the back door, why haven't I been able to slip out???

New Bureau While I'm Napping

2011-09-19T11:56:00.008-04:00

What goes on while I'm sleeping happily in the sun during the last days of summer.....The Wagner Bedroom/Room 5 at Prospect Hill contains a bureau Judy the Innkeeper bought at an estate sale--for her first BandB in Atlanta. Over time, wet glasses and drinks made rings. Frankly, it was unattractive.

This weekend and on into this week Judy has been decoupaging the bureau top using striped brown paper bag type wrapping paper (from WalMart) and Modpodge adhesion and sealing material (from Michaels). Add a 1 1/2 inch paint brush, a razor blade, scissors and a sanding block (Lowes) and you have the tool kit. Here's what the process looked like:

(1) lightly sanded the messed up top. Note that the irregular shape of the top made it too difficult to get glass cut. This room is popular so there is never enough time to carry it down one flight, sand, refinish, air out and move it back upstairs. Bureau is in Room #5/Wagner Bedroom.

(2) Cut straight edges on the paper. IF this paper had not has a distinct line pattern, the factory edge of the paper would have been OK up against the back edge of the top.
White streaks are the modpodge "glue and sealer" which Judy painted on the back of the paper with a paint brush. It was easiest to lay the paper on the bureau top and coat it there, then smooth out the excess (white streaks you see).
Ripping the paper's edges makes a more interesting pattern for this bureau. All irregular squares or perfect squares are also possible. Judy wanted this job to move was fast as possible so paper was ripped randomly but making sure the stripes would go "every which way" when assembled.

The humidity was low at the start of this project so Judy had to work quickly. She poured a small amount of modpodge on a disposable plastic plate then closed up the bottle and worked from the "glue" on the plate.

Where the edge of the bureau rolled over she stopped the paper and cut it with a razor blade as needed.

To finish up the initial install, she coated the top.

Problems:
a) the paper bubbled slightly because she was unable to get the paper perfectly saturated with modpodge (rush to not let it dry too fast). Some bubbles remained. She popped some of them with a pin and cut a few with the razor blade. For this install a few imperfections are OK. IF you are doing carefully cut squares or geometric s (especially for 1950s-1960s furniture) you need to get it perfectly flat. Use a better quality paper and TEST it by gluing a piece to an old wall or board (very smooth surface) to check for any wrinkling/bubbling issues.

When it dried the effort was certainly worth while. Because the furniture was dark brown, any spots not covered show up dark brown (three in photo at right) which is OK. Totally unanticipated were the brown edges which form a nice pattern

Also unanticipated were the grey/black spots randomly all over the top which seemed to leak through the paper. We think it had to do with the original (restored) finish OR maybe some way or Endust product used on the bureau since we bought it in 1992. Anyway, it looks even more aged, which is fine.

In two days, Judy will have added a total of five top coats, slightly sanding in between. This will give the top a thoroughly waterproof and matte finish. (Modpodge also comes in gloss. Since glossy finisihes show all imperfections, she didn't choose that one!)

Here's a photo of it finished, with the last coat curing.
That was a pretty fun project but NOT one Tiger Lily and Mich were invited to join in (too much hair!)

Newer, Fresher Approach to Decorating

2011-09-14T17:13:00.005-04:00

The Wall Street Journal this week carried an article about B&B decorating, contemporary design and potpourri-free lodging. WSJ. The innkeepers here are already onto the idea that Victorian is NOT hip, cool or sweet--just overly busy.

I'm a cat, so Those Innkeepers won't let me into Sunrise Romance Room #1 to see it, but this week they changed out the former Mediterranean - style headboard on the king bed for a big hunk of contemporary walnut. (I saw it when they unpacked it in the party room.)
The photo shows what I'm talking about. Gone is the wildly patterned spread (along with the mattlesse one). The new duvet cover has exotic birds --yum! Last year they added a deep green rug without fussy pattern (I saw it when I sneaked in there one time last spring while they were painting the walls the palest of khaki pink and the ceiling very pale blue.)

Now there is talk that that they will soon paint out the faux finished bath. They are saying "Lovely but dated; has to go." I hear it will be beige with moss wainscoting, white trim and another pale blue ceiling. They might even shop for a shower curtain with birds on it. (Double yum!)

Those Innkeepers seem pretty proud of themselves, redoing the room even before the Wall Street Journal suggested simpler rooms are more restful and more desirable. Promise to check it out and report back. You'll find me on the patio during the day as long as the warmer fall days hold up.

Pardancanda norissii

2011-08-02T23:31:00.005-04:00

OK, bet you don't know what that is. It's pretty much the speckled/striped flower They had in mind when they named me. Apparently, it goes by Candy Lily. The internet shows a common orange day lily as a Tiger Lily. Oh, well.

Our thanks to Gardenhood Plant Atlanta! for the flower photo.

Well!!!! There Came That Kitten!

2011-07-31T23:09:00.004-04:00

You may notice I laid off the pen for a year. I've had a lot on my mind. In addition, my life has changed a lot in the past 12 months. Late last July a half grown tabby kitten (male, wouldn't you know??) showed up on the inn's patio. I saw him through the door. Remember, I had spent the last 8-9 years isolated from all cats because I have feline leukemia in my bones.

Well, there he was, lolling around, begging a meal of what could be MY food! After a bit They fed him. And after he ate for two full days..... he stayed. Grrrrr. By August he'd been to the vet, been picked up by inn guests (I NEVER let guests pick me up unless they swear on 10 Cat Bibles they Love Me!) AND they named him Michelin. Imagine, a CAT named after car tires. (He has a stripe down his back.)

So I was sharing breakfast time with HIM. He plays a lot. He's an acrobat or something. I don't remember doing much of that (except the day I went up the weeping cherry tree.....) Lucky me, he sleeps outdoors or in Judy's back-door office.

Spring rolled around. Sometime--when the weather warmed--the innkeepers started letting me go out in the party room. They heard I won't give my disease to others. Wow, that Mich blew by me like he's king of the inn. What to do: hiss and snarl, of course. I take a swing now and then.

I know you won't believe this but as spring turned to summer and summer, well, has hung around awhile, I've let Mich get closer to me. Don't tell him, but I enjoy his company. And IF you ask me, I'll just say I really like sleeping under the new patio table in the fresh air with him 1-2 feet away.

Sometime this spring the innkeepers started letting me go outdoors again. I surprised them by remembering how to use the dog door after all those years. (You can't leave a girl outdoors when it starts to rain!!) I like the warm patio; I don't especially like it cold or rainy. I don't go far and I still like kitty litter over pine straw.

It's hard to cover all the emotions I've had with all the weddings we had here this spring and summer. I've checked every one out, if at a far. While most of the guests can't catch me to pet me, let me say, dear cat lovers, I knew who you were and I loved every minute of it.

This is enough catching up. I'll just post a photo of Mich and I. You can judge our relationship for yourself. PS He's now 1 year old and still thinks a chair is a jungle gym--honestly....

Where ARE those birds???

2010-07-06T20:35:00.005-04:00

All week before July 4 I ignored those big booming fireworks. DURING the show I hid in the attic. In the daytime I've been stalking those song birds I know are nesting near this bench and fluffy bush to the left (pictured, or maybe under the rose bush). Thus far I've not been successful. I sure do need a snack.

Right now I'm trying to get back out in the yard at 8 pm where the sun hits this historic building like a bullseye.

Things have worked out much better with the cat people who have visited the inn lately. I even let Liz from Philadelphia touch my tail. I think she had a great visit. I know I'm enjoying the really low humidity of late, even though temperatures have been creeping up to the high 80s late in the afternoon. I can manage it in MY fur coat!!!! :-)

This weekend the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain will see a lot of other people wandering around in wool outfits. I can't wait to see Ron and Ann from Asheville in their tartans! There are several other interesting events this weekend if you don't want to enjoy the crowds near the mountain.

Jonesborough TN International Storytelling Center's Teller-in-Residence - 2 p.m. daily Tuesday - Saturday. (1 hour. 15 min.)
MusicFest 'n Sugar Grove (NC) with ties to Doc Watson 14 mi.
I think I'd go riding in the shade on the Virginia Creeper Trail (17 mi. away) or take a gentle little tube ride down a cool (even cold) mountain stream in Damascus, VA.
Revolutions, a play at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA-- As their dreams from the past collide with their present reality, long-hidden secrets emerge redefining their relationships and their perceptions of what was and what is. This is a unique and highly theatrical examination of The Big Chill generation--those folks who call themselves my masters....(40 min. away). www.bartertheatre.com

If you are coming this way, bring me some ice cream. What is better than a little taste on such a pretty patio?

Searching in the Garden

2010-06-10T20:50:00.004-04:00

Today I decided that chasing moths on the patio wasn't quite enough so I walked around the skirt of brick to the window end of the party room. Here I am contemplating the flower bed..... doesn't that rose bush look great? THEY need to trim it some more...The Annabelle hydrangeas are coming along as you can see behind me. I have to admit the lawn looks good. It is ready for Kendall and Kagen's wedding next weekend.
That's "smoke" on the mountain seen in the background is why other parts of the Appalachians are called the Smokys!
Today reached a whopping 78 degrees. What a summer! Before I forget: don't miss the rhododendrons on Roan Mountain. Now is the time to see them. We are only 45 minutes away (not that I drive...)
Mast General Store--a great place to shop for many interesting kitchen and home items and Yahoo in a bottle-- is celebrating its 30th anniversary this Sunday afternoon at the original store in Valle Cruces, NC. It is quite likely THEY will attend, only 23 minutes away. Personally, I plan a nap.

**THEY are the innkeepers at Prospect Hill, Judy and Robert, who call themselves my owners.

That woman is outta here!

2010-05-26T15:51:00.008-04:00

Hi, I'm TigerLily. I have just kicked innkeeper Judy OFF this blog! She may have a journalism degree, time worked at a major metro newspaper or two and fingers to type with but I'm the one who knows what is doing on around here. I plan to fill you in!

First, my bio: I was born in Mountain City in April, 2001, and found on Flag Day in a big juniper bush beside the inn driveway. I refuse to tell you how my mother moved me from the little blue house down the street (near the traffic light) all the way to that bush. Let's just say, it was a good strategy on her part to get rid of me at about age 6 weeks! I learned that very day squalling a lot really will get you your own way. Those people with their dog picked me up and brought me in the house.... aka MY house ....aka The Inn. I use squalling a lot every morning to get my breakfast served up fast and as quickly as I can get it after 6:53 a.m.!

As a kitten I suffered from a terrible illness that made me feel tired and pale. Often I hid under the attic floor because I felt so bad. Eventually some man in a white suit stuck me in the hip then got me hooked on "reds." Yum... the steroids Roger Clemmons may or may not have taken. I take it ever day now. I even managed to maintain my "addiction" when reds went off the market. My fix now comes in tuna flavored liquid which I pretend not to taste on my first dish of food every morning. I feel good now and my anemia is at bay. I'll never have really great red blood counts but I'm good....

This week's story: I was minding my own business (keeping the feral cats in the yard away from the patio ) when some ladies in nursing outfits (ooooooooo, do THEY work for that man in white???) came to the door, yelling for Cloe!

Cloe had been to the vet but got out of her cage next door at the medical offices. She ran up toward MY garden and MY yard. Those ladies flushed the grey and white wild cat while they banged around in the bushes. But no Cloe. I stuck my head in the air and came in the house! Whatever. They did not go home with a cat so I'm not sure IF Cloe is still around. I have not smelled her.

Today it is nearly 80 degrees and I'm sleeping under the chairs on the patio. I suffered getting a flea dot last night and now I'm having fun in the sun. It feels great. I tried my claws on a log in the yard.... You see, it has been many years since They let me go out side. Probably only letting me go now because that big brown cat who hung around the back door died last winter. He was such a kiss-up, always sitting on laps and attending both weddings and meetings! I don't miss him one bit.

Well, That Woman has let me take over this blog but I will NOT go join her on the chaise lounge in the garden like that kiss-up Max Big used to do! Let me sleep. I still have several hours of nap time before dinner.

I'll give you a tour of the inn the next time I talk to you. Until then, here's (not) looking at you, kids!

Transformation of the Back Hallways Begins

2010-01-28T11:03:00.003-05:00

We have launched a new project this week! We are sanding and painting the white portions of the back stairs and installing designer-colored (kind of teal green) "rubber" stair treads. This staircase is suspected of being much older than the house. Maj. Wagner (our first owner) may have had it in his house downtown (now the site of the First Baptist Church). It is clearly all handmade. It received all the wear throughout the last 120 years since it runs approximately from the kitchen-bath area (pre-B&B floor plan) to the bedrooms upstairs.

This staircase is much steeper and the treads much narrower than today's standard. Therefore, we can't give it a cute (possibly slick) paint job and call it a day. We will cut as much as 4 inches of depth off the tread covers to make them fit.

With 1/3 of the pickets already painted, it is already looking very sharp. I'll post the before photo at this time. =>>

Check back as we decide on more and more ways to make the back halls very interesting and fresh. I'm sure you've heard this called the domino effect...

February is for Romantic Marriage Proposals

2010-01-22T10:05:00.007-05:00

One large aspect of being an innkeeper is facilitating the "best of times." Those times are often marriage proposals. This week we are proud to mention that the world's largest online B&B directory has posted both photos and the story of our guests' proposal in the garden. This is the LINK
I included a couple of photos for the story, among them a cute photo of a little ring box in the snow. Really, there are so many memorable ways a guy can pop the question. If you aren't sure, an innkeeper is standing by to help with great ideas and locations.

Couples also come to the B&B to celebrate an anniversary or that universal one: Valentine's Day. This year we are also featuring chocolate brownies in a heart shaped box. It's a large, very colorful one that I think guests will enjoy. While I was at it I made a photo of these goodies which are party of our Yummy Love Package.

We will post the brownie recipe soon. Please check back soon.

It's a Blue Moon Rising

2009-12-30T15:34:00.009-05:00

That's right, for the first time in decades, a second full moon will occur in a month (called a blue moon). And this time it happens on New Year's Eve.

It's usually quiet here (not everyone needs a big party!) And it might be snowy, but certainly NOT as bad as Dec. 18-20. I' posting a few photos just to prove how covered up we were. Now it is simply pretty cold.

A week ago we went to Asheville to visit old friends. I had a lot of fun photographing the scenery beside I-26 going 50-60 mph. Top left is one of the more astonishing photos made by snapping it, editing it and changing the contrast so it is almost black and white.

Prospect Hill B&B Inn will be open on New Year's weekend. We have a $250/two night stay special which is a big discount for rooms with whirlpool tubs AND fireplaces. We think people who want to snuggle will come visit.

Santa brought me a new lens so stay tuned for new photos. Today we posted a shot of the cat asleep in her bucket of catnip. Look for that one soon... Stay warm. Enjoy winter!

Cold and Wonderful

2009-12-16T18:25:00.003-05:00

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

2009-12-05T11:46:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-12-03T12:55:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-18T22:56:00.001-04:00

One Last Step on In the Garden Room 3

2009-06-10T23:05:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-10T22:41:00.002-04:00

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

2009-02-20T17:33:00.003-05:00

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)

2009-02-18T23:02:00.006-05:00

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

2009-02-17T17:00:00.003-05:00

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

2009-02-17T15:35:00.000-05:00

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!