The old kitchen, built in 1946, use to be in the dining room. The space will again be the dining room by Memorial Day. First the wood floors have to be refinished that we're under the old linoleum.

Sent from Nanc's iPhone

The flowering crab tree is in bloom in Rockland. It's a pretty pink, although not as full as some years. It's good to see the green grass, even the dandelions.

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Just down the road from Rockland, Michigan, where the inn is located, is the site of Old Victoria, a collection of restored cabins once used by the copper miners in the 1800's.  The site gives a good idea of what conditions were like in those days, and what it took to survive and raise a family.  Old Victoria Days are held every year (this is the 39th event) in mid-August.  Not to be missed are the hot cinnamon buns baked in the wood-fired stove in one of the cabins.  Plenty of crafts are displayed and for sale as well.

Old Victoria Days

The images are of the various cabins at Old Victoria as well as images showing the loft of one cabin where five beds made up the sleeping quarters.  Other images show a visitor signing in in the kitchen of one of the cabins, a wood stove much like the one used to make the cinnamon rolls, visitors getting information on one of the more elegant cabins, complete with plaster walls, and a local woman dressed in period costume weaves rugs on her loom.   

I've spent six weeks in June and July finishing up the bedrooms (still need some window dressing!) and here are two of the bedrooms, the north bedroom, called the Brady Suite, has a king-size bed, and the dormer room, called the Dottie suite in honor of Kip's sister.  The Dottie Suite has three twin-size beds.  The old main bathroom is now dedicated to the Dottie Suite and features the largest claw-foot tub!  The other two bedrooms, the Brady Suite and the south bedroom have their own bathrooms as well.  

I'll be going back in October/November to check out the new kitchen and dining room.  Come back and visit to see my latest additions.  Target date for staying at Old Orchard Hill B&B is Memorial Day, 2012.

I moved my 1916 Model T to Old Orchard Hill from Phoenix. Since the house was built about 1905, the car looks wonderful there.

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This is the last photo of the spruce tree on Easter weekend, 2011. The large and very old spruce tree just south of Old Orchard Hill is gone. Two similar sized spruce have collapsed in the yard, and with this one so close to the house, it was decided it would be prudent to remove it.  A new tree will be planted in its space this summer, maybe a maple or ginko if they survive in such a cold climate, or some hardwood tree with beautiful color in the fall. I hope there weren't any bird nests in that spruce.