Well, it's a long story, but our time at Inn Boonsboro is coming to an end. We're grateful for our time here, the friends we've made, the memories we have, but we're hoping this new place will be a better fit for us and open up a beautiful new chapter in our lives.
Normally I'd wait to get a few weeks under our belts before opening up about a new place, because you never know how things are going to go. But we feel very good about this and we're so excited, so I thought I'd go ahead and share--come what may!
We've accepted a Resident Innkeeper position at Springfield Manor in Thurmont, MD, just 35 min. away.
They have a winery, distillery, and brewery (which is ironic, as neither of us drink), and mostly functions as a wedding venue (though that won't be our area either).
It's a beautiful property, with acres of hay, corn, and most exciting--lavender.
They use the lavender in some of their alcohol, but I'm also hoping to use it to decorate at the inn, put in recipes, and maybe even some homemade bath products!
They also have an active apiary of 35 hives (honey bees), which I've always had a fascination with. Danny and I are on a bit of a beeswax candle kick--they're supposed to be air purifying. And it would be so fun to learn how to make them.
The Inn is nestled up against a stretch of the Catoctin Mountain State Park, and just in the few visits we've had to the property, I've already seen a black bear and a deer. It'll be so lovely to be surrounded by nature again...
But first we have to settle in and focus on the main job--Innkeeping. Danny has already worked alongside me at 2 inns, and he is particularly excited about this one.
The oldest part of the house is from 1774, built by James Johnson, who with his brothers built the Catoctin Furnace. It's also the site of an apparently delicious limestone spring.
I can't wait to add my little touches and decorate for holidays!
And though the 6 first-floor common rooms and the 8 second and third floor guest rooms are beautiful, we also love the older, rustic parts of the house which feature our new apartment and this stairwell, which leads to the old servants hall. (More on this later...)
It's going to be a very different experience from the other inns, and lots of work, but so much creative freedom, independence, and quiet. Hopefully...
