Winter Picnics-Linn Croft Experience Packages

On this hot and humid day, I'm comfortable talking about winter. It's what we Midwesterners do. We complain about the extreme weather and long for the opposite season. All year, every year. 

In addition to being able to book the cottage at the farm, our guests will be able to book experiences with their stays, like a winter picnic, for example.

I read about people doing these during the pandemic when everyone was just looking for anything to do outside. How do these look to you? They inspired me to plan one with good friends.

Aside from a cumbersome hike through the snow to the picnic location, and of course me with no socks, it was a truly delightful day. We utilized a camping stove so we could have hot food and a fireplace at the picnic shelter to keep warm.  Almost everyone dressed for the weather. Hot coffee and hot chocolate flowed freely while three Scandinavian women dined on Swedish meatballs with a side of mashed potatoes, refrigerator pickles and lingonberry jam.

When we do these at the cottage our guests won't have to trudge through the snow and their picnic area will be just a short walk outside their door. They will be seated in the evergreen grove, where we will have an outdoor heater and lights for added warmth and ambiance. 

We are even looking at something like this for the grove. What do you think? Could you have a picnic here? 

There will also be picnics at other times of the year. 

What would be included in a "picnic package?" Good question. A catered meal served to you in beautiful surroundings? Add-ons might include wine, flowers, photographs of your picnic? Stargazing? Special music? Live music? Snowshoeing before your winter meal? It will be fun figuring out what our custom packages will include and what our guests will enjoy. 

After your winter picnic you'll be able to take a sauna back in the cottage and then relax in front of the fireplace in the master bedroom.

Maybe you'd like to arrange for a massage? Cooking class? Drone experience? 

I might be able to convince people to stay here. We'll see. 

More at hiddencottageatlinncroft.com

Master Bedroom Inspiration-Cottage Progress

I saw this bed at Anthopologie, painted black for $2300 and a similar one painted dark blue for around the same price. 

I have this bedframe. I'm going to paint it dark blue for $75. 

Here is my vision board for the "Master" bedroom in the cottage. I will definitely update the bed frame project as I go. I think I might need to consult my very talented cousin, Terry, about paint selection. 

I already have the bedframe and the rugs and most of the furnishings for this room.  The Turkish rugs were purchased on one of Roxy's many travel adventures and were given to me by her husband, Lee.

The linens come from H&M and Target.

John Waterhouse is a favorite artist of Andy's and this one worked perfectly with the palette. He loves it. 

Andy will build the high wainscot and the fireplace surround himself. 

This is the fun stuff.

Enjoy more pretty blue bed inspiration here: 

More at hiddencottageatlinncroft.com 

Priorities

After meeting with our builder, Alan, we have a plan for how everything needs to unfold. 

Our first priority will be getting the garage and mother-in-law apartment up and Wanda's apartment finished. That's where our builders will spend their time and Andy will be helping them when he can. 

The next job will be to get the cottage up and running and we hope to get that going by October. Andy and I will be working on that job simultaneously and bringing in contractors when needed. 

Finally, the kitchen. I hope to be operational by early December. It's a hopeful goal, but fortunately for me, I'm a fairly hopeful person. 

Every day, we feel scared and excited for what we are building (literally) in our lives (and our yard.)

I have to remind myself constantly that a vision realized, is simply a finite list of identifiable steps...taken. 

One step at a time with a hopeful heart. 

More at hiddencottageatlinncroft.com

I've Been Trying Avoid Pink Bathrooms All of My Life

I've been trying to avoid the pink bathrooms from the early 60s all of my life. Then I saw these. 

Andy crooked an eyebrow when I suggested pink, but then agreed that these bathrooms feel contemporary, relaxing and romantic. 

I remember pink bathrooms making a comeback in the 80s-90s. Still, those were not for me. 

These feel fresh to me. 

I guess everything that goes around, definitely comes around (again and again and again.)

So, maybe I'll do the bathroom with pink. 

More at hiddencottageatlinncroft.com