Snapdragon Open House Day!

Two years ago when we bought the property now known as the Snapdragon Inn, we were full of enthusiasm, vision and hope. While the night did get dark at times, we are once again filled with all of those emotions and more as we near completion and opening to the public. Yesterday was the "Soft Opening" open house for friends, neighbors and workers. It was great with many in attendance and all raving about how it looked. Here are a few pictures.


Entry, with the next picture showing Kenni doing our name tags!



Dining Room. In the next picture, Chris Vial and his mission companion Adam are standing with the special metal art window featured in the background. Adam is hiking the Appalachian trail. He started several months ago in the deep south and happened to be hiking on a portion of the trail that goes close to Windsor last night. Chris picked him up, fed him, gave him a bed to sleep in, and sent him back out on the trail early this morning!







From the entry looking into the Maxfield Perkins Library.


In the library, note another great use of mirrors for dramatic effect.


The library became a gathering spot during the party. Here is Jim Lyall (McKay Larson's dad) and her mom and sister.


One other pic of the dining room is necessary. In this picture local Windsor resident and friend of Bert Frothingham (granddaughter of Maxfield Perkins) is writing in our comment book. I thought it would be appropriate to record what he wrote here:

"Dear Bert, Thank you for sharing over the years, your friendship and generous spirit. I think you would be pleased with the change. You always thought of Windsor as a dear community, and gave much to us. This Snapdragon Inn will add vitality to Windsor. You so loved this town. We can feel you here today. "The fancy does not cheat so well as she is fained to do." Keats
Douglas and Rosemary Hall"

The Inn really is not all that fancy, but I can tell you that it is one of the most restful places I have ever laid my head!!!

So let's look at some rooms.


We will head up the stairs.


To the second floor landing.


Room 1


Room 2 with it's clawfoot tub.


Room 3 I missed yesterday!!


Room 4


Room 5 deserves special mention! I am sure Chris Cammock tried at least 3 or 4 lamps that she had painted (or had Brig paint) yellow in that spot, and all looked great!!



Room 6


And up to the third floor!!



Room 7 (Where Paula and I have been staying).


Room 8



And Room 9


Each unique, each beautiful and each very peaceful and restful feeling.

I suspect in the next few decade, many like Lars and Zuri will be right at home here!


Even just sitting in the entry hall is restful.


Or on the front porch.


Finally, one of the highlights of the day. The Seale family was living in this house when we bought it from them. As neighbors of Nate and McKay's, they we already friends, but needed to move closer to Perry's work and the kid's school. They came yesterday however, and each of the girls made a point to tell their folks that they wanted to be married at the Snapdragon!! I can't help but wonder how many more families will love this house!!

The Night Before

Tomorrow is the big day. The Snapdragon Inn, known to the town of Windsor as Bertha Frothingham's home is going to greet its first guests for an open house since it's renovation. If you have not yet visited the site, take a look at www.snapdragoninn.com. Also look at www.snapdragoninn.blogspot.com. Anyway the word around town is that the homes former occupants from Maxwell Evarts and his family to Maxfield Perkins to good old Bert will be on hand. We are down to about 15 hours, and even though it is midnight, there are at least a dozen people working here at the Inn tonight. Paula and I have been sleeping here for the last week, and the place has a great spirit about it. Even at nearly two hundred years old, it seems tickled to have the energy that this bunch has showered on it.

Unbelievable amount of work, but there has been fun around here as well. Mike Cammock's friend Kieran from New Zealand has been volunteering and he has been a champ. He and the Chrisinator (as he calls Chris Vial) together with Jordan and others have been cleaning up the landscaping. In the process, they found that the ivy vines had grown so big and high up the trees over the years that they could literally hang and swing on them, just like the jungle!


Kieran was testing it's strength, so Chris decided to give it the ultimate test.


It is just a peaceful place!




Tonight was the Windsor Chamber of Commerce sponsored fireworks. Nate Larson is the Chamber President, and no less that 4 of the clan are on the board. They did a great job on the show, and many from the town came out.


The Inn looks great with the fireworks in the backdrop. The next two pictures are Chris Vial's, taken with the D3.



Ok, now for the mystery critter. This was taken near the Connecticut River in Cornish, New Hampshire. I know it is a baby deer, so that guess doesn't win. What deer would be found with a baby fawn this time of year in Cornish?


So now it's down to less than 14 and a half hours. Chelle in on her knees scrubbing tile, Paula is cleaning individual stair rails, and I am blogging. Hmmm.





Stay tuned for the unveiling!

On the Right Coast

Seems like just a few days ago that we loaded Mia, Lyann and Vivian into the Pham Van (Hoa and Thuy borrowed my Lexus to attend a wedding in downtown Portland) and headed out to the drive-in with Nic's family for Toy Story 2. I haven't been to a drive-in for a while and needless to say, the crowd is interesting.


We stayed up way too late, and just a day later took the red eye to Vermont! On arrival in Windsor, we were shown to our new room at the Snapdragon Inn, and didn't have hot water for the first 6 days! But we will have this baby ready for the open house this Saturday, and it is actually kind of fun working the 12 hour days to get there!


It does get a bit overwhelming at times, but Paula is great about watching kids, cleaning and just making sure everyone is fed so they don't kill each other!

On Saturday the ladies took some time out to take the kids swimming. I took a few minutes to run by and take some pictures.


Princess Maddie and her famous dive!



Anders was really learning how to dive from Grandma, and was doing great!


Chris and Kenni are up from Virginia working while school is out. Zuri seems to be another tadpole just like the rest of them.




And of course as number three, Eddie thinks he is a big boy and is keeping right up with the others. This picture could have been Paula and Kevin, Chris, Nic or Nate just a few years ago.


Meanwhile, back on Main Street, Chris, Mike Cammock and Brig were trying to sort out why the mower was throwing sparks every time the blade was engaged.


It is looking good. The new walkway up to the porch is a great addition.


The rooms are already being used. Nursery? Sewing Room?



Stuff is arriving every day.


In the middle of it all, Nate is already booking rooms!


We really have enjoyed sleeping here. It feels really homey.


But there is much to do, so gotta get to it!





By the way, has anyone seen Lars?


See you in a few days when it really looks like an Inn!!!!