Yes, We're Still Here and Still Having Great Workshops

I can't believe it is a month since my last blog post. I guess we've just been having too much fun with the workshops.

Now let's see . . . where did I leave off.

Yes, the wonderful weekend with Larkin Van Horn (she'll be back in 2012!)

Following Larkin, was another fantastic workshop taught by Rayna Gillman - Deconstructing the Screen.

This is Rayna giving a little trunk show of her own work.

This was a wonderful class made up of both fiber artists, wearable art artists, and print makers. A marvelous convergence of ideas and talent.

If you're wondering about the pile of white fabric on the tables, it is the mother lode of machine-made lace. It was donated to us by an inn guest of ours who was downsizing. The piles use to fill 4 tables, but now it is down to just 2. It is free for the taking, so if you're in the area stop by soon before it is all gone!

This is a print done on fabric and on watercolor paper.

The railing on the North Cottage was turned into a drying rack / display!

The rope lines strung between trees in back of the studio also featured a colorful display every day.

Rayna and Calli talk about screen printing. Calli is the sister of Koo Schadler, who teaches an egg tempera class for us (Koo is coming next year - sign up early as her class always fills quickly).

Mice in Greenville!

No, I'm NOT talking about the scurrying, furry kind! The Greenville Arms gift shop now carries Wee Forest Folk, wonderful and whimsical mice figurines hand-crafted by a family company in MA.

Wee Forest Folk just announced a couple of new customizable figures that are just the cutest!

They are customizable with the type and number of toys on the mousey's bed and on the floor around the bed.

I'll be ordering my favorite combo to have in our shop, but would be happy to order a custom one for you!

Summer Flowers

The zinnias are outstanding this year. They are one of my favorite flowers because they come in such wonderful color combinations.

Snapdragons are another favorite, probably because as a child I loved making the flowers "talk"!

I am in the process of redesigning the garden in front of the main inn. I want to add more flowers and color. So out came the evergreen shrubs and in when lupine, zinnias, foxglove, and bearded iris.

It looks a little bare in this photo, but everything has already grown in quite a bit and the foxgloves are blooming in ernest.

As budget and time allows I will be filling in more of this bed with additional perennials, but will probably use more annuals this year for their "instant" color appeal.

The Pool is Open!

The eagerly awaited pool opening has happened -- in time for its usual Memorial Day opening. Whew. ;-)

The water is sparkling and inviting.

We had just about a full house over the Memorial Day weekend and had quite a few guests enjoying the sun around the pool.

Leaving the Nest

Two of the robins from the nest on our front porch have stretched their wings and gone off on their own.

One was intentional and the other accidental. We were sitting on the front porch having coffee (well away from the nest, of course), when one of the robins slipped from the nest. He made a good try at flapping his wings, which at least slowed his decent. He was soon hopping around on the porch calling for his mother!

Then a moment later, not be be out done by his sibling, another baby robin flew out of the nest. This one hopped around a few minutes and then flew off into the trees. He was definitely ready to leave the nest.

It was funny to watch the remaining robins eyeing the two who were out of the nest, trying to decide if they should do it too, or wait til mother was back to give them another meal or two.

They finally setting on waiting.

The Robin Babies Are Growing!

Everyone has been enjoying sitting on our front porch to watch the robins nesting on top of the croquet mallets hanging on the wall by the front door.

They are growing so fast that they hardly seem to fit in the nest.

If you sit real quietly for a while, the mom or dad robin with come to feed the babies.

I wish I had a better telephoto lens!

The Dog Days of Spring

Our inn dogs like just about any kind of weather, but with the Spring sunshine finally drying out the back lawns, Hudson, our Dalmatian, is very happy to be taken out to play fetch.

The lawns and trees are that lush green of early Spring. It is a joy to just stroll along taking in the fresh air and bird songs.

The lilacs are still in bloom near the cottage, but soon the lavender and roses will be coming flowering.