Photos of Interior Updates: Exterior Door and the Graves' Suite

As we mentioned in a previous post, we have made a few updates in the Main House.


Things have come a long way since my dad, Bob, helped us with the renovation and construction beginning back in 1995.


We recently painted the former front door of the main house (now a private entrance to the Graves' Suite) using a special paint from an American company, Fine Paints of Europe, that sources interior and exterior paints from Holland. The door had some cracks and was not it good shape. I filled the cracks with spackling and then followed the paint directions. Even though it is oil based, it dried very fast. Using their high quality paint, we were able to extend the life of this historic door. We ordered SK36, Holland LAC Brillant finish.


In addition to the front door, the Graves' Suite living room has undergone a makeover. It started with new upholstery on the tufted couch and led to the entire room being repainted in a coordinating shade of green.


Then I made curtains for the window (fabric and trim from Making Ends Meet in Shelbyville, Kentucky) and we made a few decorative accessory changes.


Up Next: Changes to Thomas' Room and Catharine's Room.

Tips for Freshly Ironed Sheets and Saving Energy

When weather permits, we save energy by letting the wind iron the sheets for us. These tips can help you save energy and get the same results at home.

• Whether you will be ironing them by hand or by wind, always wash your sheets on the lowest spin setting. The higher the spin setting, the more wrinkles are set in even before drying.


• When you remove the sheets from the washer, they will be heavier but consider it a little arm exercise!


• You definitely want to fold the sheets while they are wet and before you go outside, or the wind won’t let you. Place them in a basket – we call this letting the sheets rest. Some of the wrinkles will come out through this simple step.


• While the sheets are resting, make sure your clothesline is tight and you have plenty of clothespins. Otherwise the weight of the wet sheets will cause the line to sag. Overlap the ends of sheets if you only have one clothespin on each end.


• If your linens are really wet on a windy day, the wind should take out all the wrinkles. On a good day items can dry in just twenty minutes, but as it gets colder outside, it will take longer.


• If you are taking the sheets off the line on a windy day, let the sheet blow away from you and it will be easier to fold.

And if the weather doesn't hold out, we recommend taking the sheets out of the dryer while they are still slightly damp before ironing by hand. When the wind doesn't do the work for us, my mom, Jean, makes sure that all the sheets are pressed and ready to go on the beds.

(Our dog, Lola, likes to help too.)

Updates Inside the Main House

In addition to the new projects outside, we have updates inside the inn!

We continuously add to our comprehensive DVD collection. We try to collect a variety of genres to please different types of guests. All the movies are conveniently located in the main entry so that guests can have access to the films at any time of day.

Also, if you are a regular guest in Thomas’ room, you may notice subtle changes on your next visit. The private bathroom has been refreshed with a new coat of beige paint that plays nicely off the white trim. We have also ordered a new round mirror for the sink, replaced the shower curtain rod, and found a new white stand. There never seems to be enough extra space for the guests' personal items.

Our goal is to make your visit as enjoyable as possible and to help you get the rest and relaxation you need, so please let us know if you ever have any feedback for us.

Log Cabin Restoration

As you may know, our Willliam Rouse Suite and Retreat accommodations have not always been a part of our property. About ten years after we purchased the main house and turned it into a bed and breakfast, we paid $1.00 for an 1850s log cabin. It was originally owned by farmer William C. Rouse. When we discovered the cabin, it was wrapped in battered white siding and contained layers of old wallpaper.


The following video contains our photographs of the cabin restoration and how it went from looking like the picture on the left to the picture on the right.

Oktoberfest in September

The first area Oktoberfest will occur in nearby Covington, September 11 to 13, at MainStrasse Village. For more information, visit www.mainstrasse.org.

The following weekend, beginning on September 19th, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA will cover six blocks of Fifth Street; from Race Street to Broadway in Downtown Cincinnati.


According to the event website, "Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA is an outdoor festival held in downtown Zinzinnati, Ohio that showcases the rich German heritage of Southwestern Ohio, as well as tasty samples of German-style music, food and beer. First held in 1976, the event has grown to be North America's largest Oktoberfest with over 500,000 people attending each year."

Garden Transformation and Garage Projects

March 2009:

May 2009:

July 2009:

Summer:

As you can tell from the pictures, our garden has grown with the seasons! Even before we were innkeepers, I loved to garden. Our gardens and landscaping are the first impression greeting guests when they drive up to the inn and we try to create welcoming outdoor spaces. The garden that is pictured also features some herbs that we can use in the kitchen.

A lot of gardening is trial and error. The best garden tip that I have right now is to use Osmocote Slow-Release Plant Food. It feeds up to four months and you just sprinkle it on the plants and then wait to see the best results ever. For years I used a liquid fertilizer and now I would never go back to all the effort that it took to feed flowers using a liquid.
 
Another thing that I learned from my friend, Marsha Burton, was to plant purple cabbage in with the purple garden. The purple cabbages look great mixed in with all of the hydrangeas, black and blue salvia, and purple geranium. 
 
Each year there is something new to learn and we are constantly improving our grounds. This year, I promised to get out there and weed more often and the gardens do look better.

Meanwhile, since 1981, Bob (the husband) is still working on the old garage. He finally decided to add central heat and air so that he can enjoy working all year long in garage land.


It sure is nice to have someone else out there while working in the yard. For me, a quick visit into the garage to cool off and to see the progress makes living in this unique place in Boone County even better.

When the inside of the garage is finished, work on the outside to get rid of the old cinder block look will begin. We plan to use a board and baton design for the siding. In addition to the new indoor work space, once and for all our lovely garbage cans will have their own enclosed area.

It is a beautiful time of year to be outside; we hope you are enjoying the cooler temperatures and the opportunity to complete outdoor projects in your own home. As always, feel free to let us know if you have any questions about things you see at the inn.

Mark Your Calendar: Cincinnati's Restaurant Week is September 14th - September 20th

Locally-owned restaurants in the greater Cincinnati area are eligible to join The Greater Cincinnati Independents (GCI) group. Twice each year, this group hosts a Restaurant Week.

Member restaurants invite guests to frequent their establishments and enjoy a three-course prix-fixe dinner for $26.09 (price does not include drinks, taxes or gratuities). The second Restaurant Week in 2009 will take place September 14th through September 20th. Click here for more information and a list of participating restaurants.

Guests interested in a last minute getaway to experience Restaurant Week are eligible for a 20% discount when making a one-night, same day reservation in the Graves’ Suite, William Rouse Suite, William Rouse Retreat, or Thomas’ Room.