Firmstone Manor Septemeber 17 and 18th, 2010

The quote at the bottom of this sign:  " Life is made of ever so many partings melded together."        Charles Dickens Great Expectations

This picture in front of Firmstone with Barbara and her dogs China and Snoopa + Spot (the white puppy) she was watching this weekend.  China is named for the country because it is one of her favorites.  And of course we talked about our impending adoption.  Barbara has only owned this house for 8 years and oh my gosh does she have an interesting story.  Starting with the fact she was born in a POW camp in Germany.  Buying this inn and restoring it is her retirement job from an exciting but  stressful government career.  She is an amazing cook and oh my gosh the renovations she has accomplished. 

At this point you still are not even in the house yet.

The front hall.

The dining room.  Really terrific stencils and nothing is overdone like in so many Victorians.

Quirky solarium hot air balloon hanging from the fan in the solarium.  

Gazebo off the solarium.  There was a wedding the day before we arrived and one next week too.

Barbara made all the drapes and they are just stunning!

Blurry picture going upstairs but it shows the interesting ceiling.

On the railing at the top of the first set of stairs.

View of the room we stayed in, the Firmstone, from the bed.

And looking up.

And this picture, from the bathroom in our our, shows some of the creativity used in this renovation.  See the drapes...

... they are covering a pipe in the corner.

And this picture is a random room on our floor which fortunately the door was wide open.

Amazing ceiling!