Between eight and nine o'clock tomorrow morning a full complement of pre-season staff will begin working on the property in earnest. We're excited to make the Inn as comfortable and beautiful as many of you remember. However, before we start the final push towards opening we decided we should take advantage of the gorgeous weather. And what better way then by flying a kite on a warm, sun-drenched day? Below are a few pictures from our adventure, as you can see Lily really got into it!
Spring has finally made it to Rock Gardens Inn! Warmth has returned, plants are starting to bloom, and we have begun our yearly spring cleaning of the property with help from Andrew Rice and Kurt Baker. For those of you who might be interested we have posted a few pics below (including two with Andrew and Kurt). Enjoy!
Fall at Rock Gardens is a quieter time, but certainly not one devoid of labor. After the Inn closes we set to work, making sure the cottages and grounds are ready for next summer. Painting, roofing, and redecoration are all on the list at the end of the year, along with any minor repair that might be required.
In addition to the work on the cottages, we have to make sure that the gardens are protected with layers of pine branches. The overlapping needles diffuse the effects of frost and offer a framework for layers of protective snow later in the year. We also drain the plumbing system, as well as the pool, to prevent freezing damage. And we take advantage of the lovely fall weather for all our projects, including Julie's race to paint as many decks as possible before it becomes too cold.
One of the biggest projects this fall was Randy's focus on repairing the roofs, with help from Chris, and from Rob Stevens. They worked atop Cool Ledge, Broadview, the Main House, the 19th Hole, and Trail's End. We are thankful both for the good help, and for the long stretches of beautiful fall weather, and now both the cottages and the grounds are ready for next year. We are looking forward to next summer, when you can see the results for yourself.
At the end of every season, after the guests have gone home, and the Inn has been closed up, we gather all the summer's staff together for one final meal before we all go our separate ways. This year we celebrated the completion of another great summer by hosting a dinner for our staff here at the Inn.
Our chef, Bill Hanley, prepared a favorite of many of our guests, his beef tenderloin. Laura made a tasty spinach and artichoke dip. Cindy brought a salad with fresh, edible flowers from her garden. And Donna finished the meal off with an incredible chocolate cheesecake. Throughout the night Paul Hanley showed off his recently acquired bartending skills. The meal was delicious, and having a chance to relax and talk with everyone who was able to make it was a nice change of pace.
While the beginning of every summer sees both new and returning members of the staff here at the Inn, by the end, inevitably, we leave feeling like family. We had a wonderful time, and one final, terrific meal; and before the evening ended we watched a beautiful sunset over the water, and the rise of a crescent moon.
Growing up at Rock Gardens, the part of the summer I most looked forward to was the return of familiar faces, friends from previous summers returning to the Inn either to work or to play. While new faces are a consistent, and vital, part of every summer, the Inn is privileged to retain both employees and guests who return each subsequent year to their favorite hidden corner of the Atlantic coast. Whether they do it for a love of the sun dappled water, the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, or the camaraderie of fellow returnees, they comprise one of the core elements of a summer season at Rock Gardens.
This year we have quite a few staff members returning. Happily our kitchen remains in the talented hands of brothers Bill and Paul Hanley who will be serving up a combination of old favorites, and a few new, tasty dishes. Our cottages will continue to shine thanks to the efforts of our housekeepers, Ruth, Ellen, Jessey, and Billie Jo, who, between them, have over one hundred years of experience taking care of the Inn. In the dining room our wait staff will be comprised of veteran servers Donna, Molly, and Paige, as well as newcomers Tori and Craig. While most of the time guests will be able to enjoy the delicious breads and desserts of bakers Ellie and Randy, once a week they will be treated to the culinary creations of former baker Aurora Joseph, who will serve as guest baker this summer. And of course, as for the last twenty five years Ona Barnet will be welcoming guests to the Inn.
Of course, many of those guests will be new to Rock Gardens, and are in for an unforgettable experience. However, quite a few will be immediately recognizable to Ona, and many of the staff members here. Returning guests run the gamut from couples that have been coming to the Inn for over fifty years, to families whose children's growth is almost as familiar to us as it is to them. It is this mix of experience and novelty that make Rock Gardens such a unique place to stay. Those new to the Inn will find new friends with years of experience to show them the ropes, and returning guests have the opportunity to see the familiar locale they love through new eyes.
