Wintering

I’ve recently been reading (or rather listening to as I work) the book Wintering by Katherine May.  Audible’s description is that it is about the power of rest and retreat in difficult times.  It struck me as quite appropriate for this beginning of the third year of our pandemic, not to mention for a January day, and it is the first book in my memory where I have regularly turned back to re-read chapters and commit them to my heart. 

The author talks about her own struggles through life and how she has habitually retreated into the dark and cold periodically to heal herself after a trauma or a raging bout of depression.  She even talks about a winter’s vacation in Iceland that she periodically enjoys – as we did a few years ago with some friends.  I can personally affirm Ms. May’s delight in floating in the waters of the Blue Lagoon while it is snowing around you or venturing out in the pitch-black night in the hope of seeing the bright green flash of the Northern Lights.  Both are truly magical and healing events!

In one chapter, “Metamorphosis” - the author relates how winter is also the annual period for nature and the human race to rest and prepare for the fury of activity that will come in the Spring.  Several paragraphs hit me upside the head as if Ms. May was peering into my soul:

“The energies of Spring can arrive again and again nurtured by the deep retreat of Winter”       I internalize this quote as I think of my own brown and barren garden, and my waning energy for running this small business as I lie down to take yet another afternoon nap.  My garden and I are just resting through the Winter to store up fuel for all of our hard work to come.  Spring will come again along with my beautiful purple irises, my white and pink peonies, and my tidied and redecorated guest rooms. 

“The needle breaks the fabric in order to repair it.  You cannot have one without the other.” Those of you who venture out to Lancaster County for the Spring Mud sales will relate to this quote.  When asked about these semi-annual events, I always recommend that guests come out for the Spring sales rather than the Fall sales.  In Spring, the auctions are full to the brim with wonderful new quilts and other handiwork wrought by the women of Lancaster County as they while away the dark winter months. 

“Transformation is the business of Winter”     Oh, does this quote ring true to us this year!   As this time of year is generally slower for our business with fewer requests for reservations, it is also the time when we plan larger maintenance projects and upgrades to the Mill House.  This year the aging roof is being replaced with new, historically-correct cedar shakes.  Our great Amish crew shows up every morning in the dark and cold to transform and preserve our old house, only to retreat periodically to the relative warmth of the Gathering Room for cups of coffee and an occasional treat.  They have an enviable work ethic and stamina. 

But as if a new roof was not enough, we are also preparing for your future comfort in the guest rooms by installing individually controlled heat and air conditioning in all six guest rooms.  When you return to share our home this year, you will be able to cool your own room to your preferred temperature without having to endure the rumble of the window units, or warm your own room to a toasty comfort for you.

Finally, we are replacing the three dormer windows on the south-side of the third floor.  Besides being very hard for us to keep clean, these windows, which always held the monster air conditioners for cooling that attic space, were showing considerable wear and damage.  So, if the Fireside Room is your favorite hideaway, you will be delighted to find a new, easy-opening, sparkly-clean (because they tilt-in!!  so excited !!) window upon your return.

All of this is a long-winded way of apologizing to you if you’ve tried to make a reservation for these first few weeks of 2022 and found that there was no room at the Inn.  Believe me, you don’t want to hang around here right now.  The roof and the heating and cooling installation should both be completed by the third week of January.  Then, after a thorough deep-cleaning, we will begin to have availability as each room is completed.  Give us a call any time, and I’m glad to update you on the progress.  You can also check out some photos of the projects on our website gallery page.

In the meantime, I’m going in to lie down and take another nap!  Nighty-night all!