It seems like Christmas shopping starts earlier and earlier every year... now we've barely finished handing out candy on Halloween when the malls start their Christmas sales. Before you know it we'll be buying Christmas cards and suntan lotion on the same shopping trip. But decorating for the holidays is another story. Here at our home, the Apple Bin Inn, decorations are never done too early... we don't do any Christmas decorating until December 1st. And then of course it's a very busy few days while we get everything hung, strung, wreathed, and lit throughout the inn.
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| 10 ft. Living Room tree |
We have a 10 ft. tree in the living room for our guests to enjoy with us, an 8 ft. tree in our own family room, and a special 7 ft. tree in the kitchen that is decorated with Jamie's hand-strung popcorn, kitchen gadgets, and spice jars.
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| Kitchen tree |
And since our guests enter the inn as friends do ~ through the kitchen ~ it's the first thing they see. We always look forward to decorating for the holidays. And even though we don't have quite as many B&B guests during December as we do during the summer and fall, we love watching our guests' faces light up along with our trees, garlands, and Jamie's amazing displays of Snow Village houses and characters. We invite you to come and stay with us during this festive time of year. We promise you a warm cozy bed, a scrumptious breakfast each morning, and fond memories you'll take home with you from Lancaster County and the Apple Bin Inn.
Season's Greetings to All!
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| Buddy the Supervisor! |
The holidays are such a special time for our family, and also for our B&B guests! This week we had a wonderful family from Australia staying with us. They had asked if there was some holiday tradition that they could share with us during their stay, and we thought that making our annual Christmas cookies would be the perfect fun activity for us all. Jamie prepared a large batch of cookie dough the night before, so we were all set for some baking magic when the Kelly family arrived. After Sarah, Emma, Austin, and Lizzie donned their aprons, everyone got their hands covered with flour, as we rolled out the dough and began using our myriad of cookie cutters. Cookie sheets rotated into and out of the ovens, as the pile of baked cookies grew. Next we moved into the dining room, where colored icing and sprinkles had been prepared for decorating. The artistry of children is always an amazing sight, and this evening was no exception. Their mom, Jo, even added her touch of whimsy to the festivities. Of course the best part came at the end, as cookies were gobbled up by everybody. Finally, it was time for the Kellys to retire to the Braeburn Cottage, where we had a 4-foot Christmas tree waiting for them to decorate with some of our traditional family ornaments. We hope that we gave this delightful family some lasting holiday memories of their time at the Apple Bin Inn... we'll certainly remember our time with them fondly. Happy holidays to our family, friends, and guests, wherever in the world they may be!
