The North Star Suite has a nice glow in the winter night. But I can hardly wait for summer!
The Hazelnut Inn has a magical quality at any hour of the day, but it seems to glow softly with romance in the evenings!
We carved our second figurehead for the North Star suite’s bedroom on a rotary CNC router this week. This video shows her being carved from an enormous block of HDU. I am really looking forward to hand sculpting the final details on these two figureheads!
The Fairytale...
Some folks say that the Copper Crown is the ancestral home of the 'Crown' family, an ancient line of aristocrats. Apparently, no less than 11 princesses lived here at one time or another. Other folks claim that it was the 'Copper' family that built this little castle after making their fortune farming hazelnuts or tarragon or some such.
Both versions of the story, however agree that whether they were princesses or paupers, the family had a curious affinity for dragons. In fact, at least one local claims that their great-great-aunt once spotted a person riding across the sky on the back of a "giant lizard."
Regardless, the Copper Crown takes its name from the motto found on the coat of arms which reads "coronati apud aercus" or "crowned with copper." Our family acquired this magnificent manor some time ago and we have been diligently restoring its former glory for our guests to enjoy.
The Truth...
The Copper Crown Suite will be our final room to open and we are really looking forward to seeing it completed!
The Myth...
The Under Hill is the residence of one P. H. Burrows. Indeed, it seems like Mr. Burrows' family has lived there for time out of mind.
Some suspect that the Burrows’ are descended from rabbits because they built there home under the ground and carved into the lintel above the front door is the phrase:
eɪ hoʊl ɪn ðə ɡraʊnd miːnz ˈkʌmfət
Which, roughly translated, means something like "a comfortable hole in the ground" and the Under Hill really is a grand little gem, stuffed full with the little comforts of home.
Now, old Mr. Burrows has gone away on an adventure (or some such nonsense) and while he is away he has asked us to look after the place for him. Seeing as it is the perfect spot for visitors, you are more than welcome to stay for a night or two. We are sure Mr. Burrows wouldn't mind!
The Truth...
The Under Hill Suite will be the Hazelnut Inn's second room to open. And importantly, because our other two suites have quite a few stairs, we designed the Under Hill specifically to facilitate easy wheelchair access. We can hardly wait to open this room!
You can see the entrance to the Under Hill tucked between the Copper Crown and the North Star.
The Legend...
Temperance Longbottom was a formidable woman!
According to local folklore, she was raised by her father, John Middling. Little is know of her mother, barring a story that she had disappeared into thin air leaving only an old shoe behind. By all accounts a happy child, Temperance showed an exceptional aptitude for both horticulture and cryptozoology. The North Star's garden still provides ample evidence of these twin passions.
Upon reaching her majority, Ms. Longbottom took her mother's maiden name and set off to make her fortune. Tales abound of her explorations and adventures. Eventually she became captain of a privateer ship, the Avellana. After a particularly daring adventure chasing down a small fleet of bloodthirsty pirates, Temperance found herself in possession of a rather large collection of relics from the far corners of the earth. Apparently, Temperance claimed that much of this collection was magical in nature — though she claimed not to be able to use any of it herself. She was determined to return these curiosities to their proper homes and set out on a series of fantastical voyages to do just that. There are even tales of an ill-fated visit to the lost city of Atlantis! No one knows what happened to Temperance, or exactly how the stern of the Avellana became lodged in the side of her house — according to one story it literally flew (as if by magic) into the North Star's tower! However, the North Star and its grounds are littered with ancient statues and arcane paraphernalia — remnants of her collection.
Many long years later, our family acquired Temperance's ramshackle house and (after substantial renovations) opened it up as a guest house for travellers and passers-by.
The Truth...
The North Star Suite will be our first room to open for bookings and we can hardly wait!
