We met Mr. Stonewood this weekend while visiting our FAVORITE B&B in the world. Not that we are world travelers by any means, but the Inn At Irish Hollow...well can simply be described as heaven on earth. We discovered the Inn about 10 years ago while desperately looking for a weekend away to regroup, revitalize, and reconnect. When you add children, work, finances, and plain ole life you quickly grow farther and farther away from the love of your life. In recent years, Mr. Milo and I have learned the importance of 'getting away' a few times a year and making it a priority in our family budget. A happy, well balanced couple makes for a more well balanced home, better parents, and a better TEAM.
When we first arrived at the Inn 10 years ago, we drove up wondering what kind of 'dump' had be gotten ourselves into. Within minutes our worries were set aside as we were greeted by the kindest 'inn keeper' and shown to our room in the Inn. Little did we know that the food was literally 'to die for', the service impeccable, and by far the MOST romantic dinner we had ever experienced. Upon our second visit, we discovered the cottages nestled back in the woods behind the Inn. A couple from Chicago invited us to take a look at 'their digs'. I distinctly remember saying as we left their 'cottage' to venture back to our 'room'. 'Although the Inn is nice. We will ALWAYS stay at cottage from here on out!'
So for an early '40th birthday celebration' and a much needed respite for our wedded souls, I booked our 'cottage' 8 months in advance and this weekend...we met Mr. Stonewood.
Mr. Stonewood over sees 'all activity' at the Stonewood cottage. We decided that his motto is 'what happens at Stonewood, stays at Stonewood'. And from reading the multiple entries in the journal by other couples who had come before us, I think Mr. Stonewood could probably share a story or two.
Despite a rocky start on Thursday, leaving ailing children in the care of their cousin Richard which allowed for a heavy dose of 'mommy guilt', we set off for our weekend venture. Luckily by Friday morning, news was received that the girls were on the mend and headed back to school. I was able to shed any remaining guilty feelings and 'officially' start enjoying the weekend.
Although inclement weather prevented two of my planned surprise activities, scooter rentals and a hot air balloon ride, we still enjoyed a couples massage, hanging out at our favorite, local establishment for $2 beers and playing shuffle board on a 'vintage' table worth these days, close to $20,000. OK...so I only won 1 of our 9 matches. I still LOVE shuffle board! A stop at the local winery supplied us with our 'favorite' Grape concord for the weekend, plus some to take home. Even a few Christmas gifts were crossed off my list and I found the NEATEST needlework shop, limiting myself to only 15 minutes and wrapping things up as soon as I heard the first 'sigh' from the far corner of the store. Late afternoons were spent hiking the many trails that surround the Inn. A four course breakfast delivered every day around 10:00 to our cottage, plus a gourmet, out of your mind, romantic dinner served in the Inn on Friday evening by the Innkeeper, himself. It was a weekend to reconnect, laugh, and even shed a few tears.
My Thursday evening surprise after we collected our favorite wine, strawberries, cheese and crackers was to cozy up in our cottage next to a warm fire. I had brought all of the letters we had written during our courtship 20 years ago. Of course accompanying us in the background was Air Supply, Barry Manillow, and Lionel Richie.
The letter reading took us well into the night and even through the next morning. We laughed and cried remembering the all encompassing love that brought us together 20 years ago. We were reminded that we were each other's biggest cheerleaders, faithful confidants, and best friends. The past 20 years have brought children, careers, conflict, and the craziness of life. Before you realize what happens, suddenly everything comes before the one thing that brought you together in the first place, each other.
And so we have committed to once again writing love letters to each other. This week we are going to start a 'private' blog site and begin to enter all of these letters, cards, and pictures so that we can create a book. Our intention is one day when our daughters are married and consumed with LIFE. They too will begin to drift farther and farther away from the ONE person, whom they connect the most. Milo and I will wrap up our book, take the grand kids for the weekend, and send them away to 'the Inn'. The Inn, where they can find again the LOVE that gets smothered with LIFE. We hope that someday our love will serve as an example of faith, perseverance, and hope instilling that marriage is NOT easy, always fun and romantic. But anything worth living for is ALWAYS worth fighting for.
And according to Mr. Stonewood, he couldn't agree more.
Enjoy some pics of 'the Inn'.
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