Innkeeper's best friend

We have seen the light and it is the Miele B 990E Rotary Iron

It is an absolute dream of an ironing solution for all of our linens and actually makes the task enjoyable and almost soothing the way it perfectly folds the pressed item. It is the perfect middle ground between doing it all with a hand iron and board and spending a small fortune on a Mangle. Plus, I love the marketing images they have on their site. Kind of hilarious in their day spa feel. I mean look how HAPPY and RELAXED this woman looks. No joke, this machine is pure magic.

Our Innkeeper, Chaz, was giddy her first day

Side Story that is kind of funny:
When Mike and I were traveling in Tibet, we needed a couple days to get used to the high altitude in Llasa so we headed out to find a movie theatre (Mike speaks Chinese) and the only one we could find showing was called the "The Mangler" dubbed in Chinese. Come to find out, it was a adapted from a Stephen King short. The tag line is, "A laundry folding machine is possessed by a demon from Hell" and it was horrible and kind of frightening in a fake blood splattering as the machine ate people kind of way. When we started looking at ironing solutions for the Inn and people mentioned a Mangle, I couldn't get the movie out of my head. Still can't but the Miele is the opposite to The Mangle. It's like a laundry folding machine angel incarnate.
-- Chris

Paradise

Another great quote from Berg's biography, "Max Perkins- Editor of Genius," gives more insight to why we call the well loved acreage that spans behind the Inn and around Lake Runnemede (formerly Evart's Pond --Max's Grandfather), Paradise Park.

Max's sister Fanny Cox wrote about Windsor, "In the winter we lived in different settings...but in the summer we gathered together in the big place behind the picket fence where six houses faced the village street and the grounds stretched back across green lawns with clipped hemlock hedges and round begonia-filled flower beds to slope down the hill to the pond." Rising behind the pond was a particularly lovely part of acreage, where streams raced down hills and footpaths wove through stands of pine and birch. The family called these special woods "Paradise".

These historic images give a glimpse into Paradise as they would have known it. I love taking pictures in Paradise Park as the seasons change. It always looks lovely and happens to be a wonderful spot for family pictures! I love sitting by the lake or taking the kids for a walk to watch people fishing. Recently, when our dear friend, Leilani, got married at the Inn, we had a beautiful fall walk/room mate reunion one morning through the paths of Paradise and many laughs were had in the perfect morning sun.

What's your favorite thing about Paradise?

Room 3: Before & After

Before

The wall paper stripping team in front of the fireplace

After

It isn't until seeing before pictures, that you can visualize all the work that went into each and every one of these rooms. We remember this room to be particularly difficult to get the wallpaper off because it had been painted over. In fact, we called it "Satan's Den"--it was that bad. It sure looks great now!

Rooms with a view...of a yellow maple

Room 3

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 7

Room 8

Dining Room

The Inn grounds has some statuesque trees. One of the maples in front turns the most clear and brilliant shade of yellow every year. Today while we were turning the rooms, we couldn't help but admire the brilliance of the yellow reflecting into the windows on the East side of the building. If you are wanting a room with this wonderful view next foliage season, try Rooms 2, 3, 7 or 8.

A few more pictures are available to check out from Leilani and Rob's October 1st wedding.

Happy weekend everyone. Thanks for stopping by this week!

Windsor Foliage shots 2010

These were taken last week around Windsor on Main Street and in Paradise Park. Every year, the color can be so different but it is always beautiful. We live in a very picturesque place. I never tire of taking images around the park. Last year I was still in new born baby recovery mode so I don't even remember the foliage let alone getting a 2009 foliage edition but here are images from the foliage in 2008. I already can't wait for next year!

No matter the season

Summer


Autumn


Winter

All of sudden, it seems, we are layering our warm clothes, drinking hot chocolate, and thinking of our first holidays at the Inn. The weather may change but no matter the season, 26 Main always seems to look majestic.

A guest's perspective

Room 5

We found this wonderful email in our inbox after the Columbus day weekend. These guests chose Room 5 from the website and came up to take in the festivities of Harpoon's Octoberfest. They were also interested in doing some birding and found a perfect spot right behind the Inn on the west side of our very own Lake Runnemede.

Thanks Katie. It was wonderful meeting you both. Good luck with your first winter in Boston. See you next year!

"We really enjoyed our stay at Snapdragon! Your website was easy to use and from the pictures we could tell your Inn would be comfy with a modern twist. When we arrived, the pictures from the website were spot on-- what a classy place to stay, nestled in the most beautiful nature scene with unbelievable brightly colored leaves right outside our bedroom window. We will absolutely come back to Vermont and stay at Snapdragon Inn again! My fiance and I decided it will be an annual thing to go up to Windsor and stay at the Snapdragon Inn for a weekend of hiking and beer tasting. --Katie"

Snow...

It's official. Mt. Ascutney got the first snow of the season over the weekend. The weather is cooling right down but it's exciting to pull out the scarves and smell the wood stoves starting to burn. The days are meant to be sunny this week but the evening temperatures are dropping quickly and before you know it, we'll be living in a winter wonderland.

If you aren't already, you can join us on facebook and twitter.
We would love to have you!

Sunsets over the lake and apple cider

Lake Runnemede at sunset

Hello rainy world! After a string of clear sun shiny days, the sky has opened up and we are getting some serious moisture here in Windsor. Hopefully it doesn't take down all the leaves but we have had a gorgeous autumn thus far. Today is the perfect moody day to stay in with a cup of fresh warm apple cider.

This video is quite fun via CBS news up at Shelburne Farms-- definitely worth a day trip! A 1,400 acre working farm and National Historic Landmark that practices rural land uses that are environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable. Cheesemaking, walking trails, demonstrations, and a farmyard are among some of what is available to see at this working Vermont farm.

Enjoy these beautiful shots of a Lake Runnemede sunset (just behind the Inn) and have a wonderful weekend! Thanks to all who visited us from Design Mom's wonderful write up - and please do come again. We have been thrilled so many new visitors have stopped by.

Final touches: Curtains & Rugs

Room 8



Room 6 (Black sheep skin--not a bear ;)

Putting up the curtains and choosing the right rugs have been the final components to the guestroom designs. They add that much needed finishing touch (and sound absorption). Don't you think? Look at differences in rooms 6 & 8.

Leaf peeping: wide angle shots

In New England, there is a term for those who come to see and photograph the the foliage changing-- "leaf peepers". I did a bit of leaf peeping myself yesterday because it was gloriously clear and sunny. These were some of the shots taken on my wide angle lens. We drove along the Connecticut River on Route 5 and enjoyed the many river valley vistas and historic buildings of Brattleboro and Bellows Falls. This is a perfect day trip from the Inn. Actually the foliage in this area is just starting to turn so there is still time to catch a quick trip to see it for yourself!