SCRAP RETREAT AT THE LINDEN TREE INN

It's time to Crop-port in Rockport again!! Thanksgiving has come and gone, and soon the winter holidays will be upon us. I am so excited about the third annual scrap retreat here at the Linden Tree Inn! We had so much fun the last two years, I can't wait to see what this year will bring! Come and scrap all those Holiday pictures uninterupted with no kids, no needless phone interruptions, and no need to worry about the cooking and cleaning! We try to promote a relaxed, fun, scrapping atmosphere, with lots of good food, friendship and a fab scrapping goodie basket to take home. And don't forget all the scones you can eat for breakast!!!! Arrangements can be made with area spa services for massages, pedicures or manicures. Let us know when you make your reservation if that is something you would be interested in.

This year I have decided to have more days available for the Scrap Retreat. I am going to offer retreat time from January 10th through January 21. Come for any two or more days that fit your schedule. You will have your own scrap space to set up for the whole time you are here with 24 hour acccess, use of a Sizzix die cutter with at least 10 alphabet sets, and over 100 dies and embossing dies, punches, rubber stamps, and a variety of other tools. The cost for 2 nights is $220, which includes tax, meals, drinks, snacks, your own guest room with private bath, and an awesome goodie basket. Special pricing for extended stays or for adding an extra day or two to your 2 night reservation! Because of our affordable pricing, we do not discount for shared rooms, nor do we assign shared rooms, every scrapper has their own guest room with private bath. We require a 50% non-refundable deposit to hold your place, with the balance due on arrival. On reciept of payment, you will be sent a questionnaire to fill out regarding any food allergies and preferences for drinks and snacks. If you would like to register, you can post a comment, email us at ltree@shore.net or give us a call at 1-800-865-2122 or 1-978-546-2494.

So when dropping your "What I want for Christmas" this year hints, don't forget to add the "Crop-Port in Rockport" in January to your wish list!!! Bring along a friend or two, or maybe a family member....make it a girl's weekend crop! So take some time for yourself, and make it a getaway to the Linden Tree Inn Scrap Retreat!

And now for some photos from last years retreat:

The living room all set up for the scrappers to arrive, with goodie baskets on chairs! Each scrapper has half of a 6 foot table, their own light, wastebasket for scraps, pencil holder, and a small caddy for tools....


A fully stocked snack table for all your afternoon or late night munchies! Let us know your favorite scrappy snack, and we will try to have it available! The chocolate is always in abundance at a Linden Tree Inn scrap retreat!


Sizzix machines and dies available for you to use, I have over 10 alphabets and lots of different sized dies, as well as many other tools that you can use, along with loads of rubber stamps, small sewing machine, paper crimpers, Fastenator stapler, Clickit, Crop-o-Dile, small light table for stencil dry embossing, and all kinds of paper punches.


There is also a computer with scanner and printer for your use if you should need to print out more pictures or journaling. Photo paper available for purchase, or bring your own....hoping to have a new computer this year....but this is last years set up!


Pat and Anne take a break from their scrap projects!

A TIME FOR GIVING THANKS!

Well, so much time has gone by since I have updated our blog! We have been very busy here at the Linden Tree, which is a very good thing! As Thanksgiving Day draws to a close, we want to say a big thank you to all who have stayed with us this past summer and fall! We enjoyed meeting guests from all over the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and many other far reaches of the globe. Already we are looking forward to seeing what the next year will have in store for us!

As we enter a quiet time here at the inn, we are starting to do one of the main projects we have put off the past couple years. For those of you that have heard us talk about it, it has finally happened! Yes, the Carriage House Decks are being replaced! The old decks came off last week, and the supports for the new ones are being built. It is exciting to go out every afternoon and see what progress Roger and Todd, our contractor and his assistant have made! They are going to be a few feet bigger, so that we can put some nice tables and chairs on them! Here's a picture of the Carriage House with the decks ripped off

And, now, one with the 2 decks framed...a side view...


Start making your plans now, I think the new decks are going to have everyone longing for a stay in the Carriage House! I will continue to post pictures of the progress. They will be starting back to work come Monday.

And for those Scrapbookers out there, start planning your January retreat with us. The dates are January 10-21. Details are on my scrappy blog, and I will be posting them here as well. Stay tuned!

WELCOME SUMMER!

Can you believe it? The first full day of summer is today, and Mother Nature has decided to throw us a bit of every kind of weather summer has to offer! Bright sun, cloudy skies, heavy downpour rain and thunder! Our first full house of the season, with many more to come.

The Rockport Chamber Music Festival is in full swing, and we have had some fabulous musicians staying with us. The Linden Tree Inn has always been a haven for the performers and patrons of the festival, as this is where pianist/composer David Alpher and soprano Lila Deis were staying when they mentioned to Penny and Larry, the owners of the Linden Tree, that Rockport would be a lovely place for a music festival. Larry put them in touch with Paul Sylva, a Rockport businessman, and as they say, the rest is history! David Deveau the festival's Artistic Director, and pianist extraordinaire has been staying with us on the weekends. We are looking forward to hearing him, along with Andres Cardenes and Anne Martindale Williams on Sunday June 24. They are all unbelievable, and we always try to get to at least one of Andres, Anne's and David's concerts during the Festival season. Other fine musicians that have stayed with us this year to date have been pianist Sally Pinkus, pianist Anton Kuerti, and the trio Time for Three. We were able to get to Time for Three's performance, and they are so incredibly talented, I was just amazed at their skill, and the sound they produced! At times I thought for sure there were more than 3 musicians on that stage. They were so full of fun, had amazing stage presence to match their virtuosity, and I am certain we will be seeing them again at the festival in the future. We still have lots more musicians lined up to stay with us this year, next week we have the Miami String Quartet coming, and the Adam Birnbaum Trio who will perform a bonus Jazz concert on July 2nd! And we are so looking forward to hearing the Atlantic Brass Quintet! There is still some time left to catch a concert, but hurry, as the tickets are selling like hotcakes, and rooms are filling up quick at the inn! And if you miss it this year, then start planning for next year! The concerts sell out quickly once the program is announced. We'll keep you posted on our website and the blog!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!!

Today we celebrate our 5th anniversary as innkeepers. 5 years ago today we became the new owners and innkeepers of the Linden Tree Inn, and it has been 5 incredible years! We are loving the inn life, and enjoy meeting new people every day. We look forward to guests that return each year, and get to hear how their families have grown and have celebrated milestones. Come and celebrate with us as we start our next 5 years, and become a part of the Linden Tree Inn's history. Enjoy some scones at breakfast on the deck, relax under the boughs of our linden tree and feel the soft breeze as it sways the leaves. Take a walk through Millbrook Meadow down to Front Beach and meander through the shops and galleries, stopping along the way at one of Rockport's restaurants for a bite to eat. Go for a boat ride around Rockport harbor on the M/V King Eider. Take a sunset sail on the Schooner Appledore III. Or if you want a bit more adventure, try your skill at kayaking out along the shores of Rockport and Thatcher Island with North Shore Kayak Outdoor Center. Want even more excitement? Hop a fishing boat charter out to Stellwagon Banks and catch that big one, a cod, haddock or maybe even a striper along the way! Prefer walking? Take a walk on the Atlantic Path up to Halibut Point State Park and hike the trails around Babson Quarry. Join a guided tour of Dogtown with Walk the Words, or let them take you on a Rockport hike to see the famous Whales Jaw rock formation. Some of Rockport's other must see points of interest include a short hike out to the Headlands for a spectacular sunrise or sunset, a visit to the Paper House can't be missed, it's a small woodframe construction home that was built in the 1920's of paper, a true gem, it is a 20 year history lesson of what was going on in the era of when the house was built, with the headlines of all the newspapers used to build the furniture and hearth pointing out. Learn about Rockport's history at the Sandy Bay Historical Society and Museum just up the street from the inn, catch a movie at Rockport's Little Arts Theatre....after all the sightseeing, hiking fishing, and boating, take a day to stretch out on the beach, gather some sea glass, take a dip in the Atlantic. Walk back up to the Linden Tree Inn, and have some lemonade or ice tea to refresh yourself. As your visit is coming to a close, you will know why we say, one day is never enough, come and stay, not just for a day....but three or four!

Welcome June!!!

Where has the time gone, just yesterday it was the start of April and unseasonable snowstorms, and now it is the first of June, and we have been enjoying some incredible warm weather! All the flowers are blooming, the linden tree is in full leaf, and soon will be in blossom. I so look forward to the blossoming of the linden tree, as it imparts the most delicious sweet fragrance. I so enjoy the fragrance of our tree in June, and have been exploring ways to bring that lovely scent in to the house, so to preserve the memory throughout the year

After much searching, we found a company from France that makes the most delightfully linden fragranced soaps and bath amenities. As we celebrate our 5th year as owners of the Linden Tree, we are now able to offer this wonderful line of linden fragranced soaps and shampoo in our guest bathrooms. And to remember your Linden Tree Inn experience, we carry a full line of Baudelaire linden fragranced bath and spa products for you to purchase. They make lovely gifts, and are so easy to tuck into your suitcase for the trip home. Check out our new spa shelf in the office, and pamper yourself or someone you love with a special treat for the bath.

WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THIS SNOW?

Just when I was getting used to not wearing the winter coat, and enjoying the smell of spring in the air, ol' Mother Nature pulls a fast one on us and sends along a N'oreaster to keep us on our toes! I think this is the most snow we have had all winter! John and I couldn't resist, and took the truck out for a little ride to the grocery store when the snow was coming down several inches an hour, and swirling all over the place. Yes, the 4 wheel drive works great on the truck, and it was fun to be out in the storm! The wind is still howling and the snow is still swirling, and who knows when it is going to stop....I hope that the rain will hold off long enough tomorrow for me to get out and take some great photos of all the snow. I love the winter wonderland of the snow on all the trees, dressing up their bare limbs with white sleeves of glittering white! Cape Ann truly is beautiful in all seasons...Our linden tree looks especially wonderful dressed up in her coat of white.

STARTING TO FEEL LIKE SPRING!

I think spring is in the air here on Cape Ann! I noticed that the buds on our linden tree are looking fatter, and a bit red, so spring and the budding out can't be too far off. The air definately feels different, and with the clocks being turned ahead this weekend, it will seem like we have more sun during the day. The temperatures are supposed to be in the 50s this weekend, and the ladies retreating here this weekend feel like they have hit the weather jackpot! I am looking forward to getting out in the garden and searching for other signs of spring poking out of the ground! Why not plan a weekend getaway here at the Linden Tree and discover the early signs of spring for yourselves? Come and catch some Spring Fever, we'd love to share it with you!

I took this photo last March at Halibut Point State Park of the first crocus, this is such a lovely time of year to wander around the quarry there, and walk the trails to the ocean's edge.