Progress Update
View from the Riverside Bluff
of the Rappahannock River
(Great view for a wedding)
Busy day tomorrow! Brett is heading to King George tomorrow to meet with the Zoning Director and the Building Code Director. He may be meeting with the Engineer who will be doing our preliminary site plan for the zoning package too. We are trying to get as much information on what is needed so we can limit the number of reviews and revisions. We have been told that it take four months minimum for zoning approval. We just want to be prepared.
We are also working on other permits we will need to get once the approval is done. By having the Building Code Director’s recommendations we can be ready to get the occupancy permit shortly after the zoning is done. Brett has also talked to the State Health Department to get an idea of what we are going to need for our Health and Safety certification. According to the contact Brett has spoken to, as a Bed and Breakfast, we don’t have to be certificated. But Brett and I like to make sure that our guests are in the best environment possible. So we are going to complete the all certifications. Plus we are going to be taking a couple of courses for food service.
As for me tomorrow, I have to be in Richmond for my current job. But…. after work, I am going to take advantage of my being in Richmond on a Thursday night. There is an antique auction in Richmond every Thursday night. So I will be going to my first antique auction! I have already seen the preview online for the lots. This is going to be really interesting.
View of the long drive up to the Manor House at Belle Grove
We are working on setting up a date to meet a reporter from the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star. This will be our first public appearance in the media! I hope that there will be a lot more before we open, but this will be a great way for the local community to meet us and know what is coming soon! I know we have had some ask to do a feature on their blog of us. We welcome the invitations!
Lastly, thank you to all for the “Likes” and comments on our 9-11 post. We chose not to comment on the post or relay to comments. We felt it should be all about the “Remembering the Day” instead of about us. We appreciate all the comments and welcome all of you to leave your thoughts for others to read.
Bowling Green in the middle of the circular drive – two white post are the Entry Gate Posts
(Great Place for an Event)
Check back Friday for an update on our Thursday and what we have going on Saturday. Things are starting to get busy!
Thank you for your support!
Brett and Michelle
and Hurley too!
I’m so excited for your opening! I can’t wait to come down and check it out!
Thank you! We are looking forward to our first public opening of the plantation!
Good luck at the auction! I hope, too, that some of these press appearances will be posted online so we can all see them. 🙂
Thank you! Fingers crossed! I will post any media so everyone can see it.
i have gone to plenty of antique auctions here in our area, and the biggies are saved for later in the auction and the boxes and cheapies are sold first. usually here the cups saucers, odds and end types that you look for are in those boxes. i can get loads of boxes with hidden jewels for dollar bills. have fun, and let me know how you do!!!!!
I was told the later I stay the better the deal. Like around 2am. Whew, I need a lot of coffee today! I will let you know what I found tomorrow!
and what you were told is right, the very beginning and the ending! can’t wait to hear what you got!
🙂
Good luck with everything – getting closer every day!
Yup! And the days are getting busy! Thank you!
I am jealous. I want to be in Richmond, too. So happy to hear things are moving along. Waiting for the next installment. Have fun antique shopping. Wish I was there to do that, too. Maybe you’ll find the butter pats? So love that you are going into such detail! Love to you all and to Hurley, my third favorite Golden after Melody and Rhythm.
Thank you! I will be thinking of you today. So you will be here in spirit! I don’t think butter pats are in the lots at least from the preview they aren’t. But I do have my eye on one lot so we will see. Hurley says he is honored to be counted! 😉
Reblogged this on Jaggi.
Thank you so much for sharing our blog with your readers! It really does mean a lot to us!!
If I ever managed to sneak away from the farm…I’d plan a stay at your plantation! Simply breathtaking! Ahhhhh. All you need is a couple of grazing sheep on the lawns.
Wow, I don’t know if I would know what to do with sheep or cows or any farm animals. I think I would end up treating them like a dog. 😉 We hope you can take a break someday to come by and visit!
What a treat to follow along as y’all progress toward your opening! I’m taking great vicarious pleasure in it. We can’t wait until we get a chance to come and stay in what will surely be a destination B&B!
Thank you! We have really enjoyed having every one along with us! It has been a great support to us! We can’t wait to meet you!
I look forward to your posts, its an education knowing what goes into starting a bed and breakfast. I know it’s a lot of work and your joy and excitement is palpable in each and every post.
Thank you! Now that things are picking up, the post should get a little more interesting! 😉
If we are ever visiting Virginia, we will make a point to stay there. It looks awesome.
Thank you! We hope that you do find your way to Virginia some day! It is a wonderful place to visit. And we hope to see you at the plantation one day! By the way, I love your icon! 😉
That is a gorgeous view!
Thank you! It will look so much better once we get the landscape done.
Congratulations! So nice to see all your efforts coming together so beautifully!
Thank you! We are really getting excited for what is next!
You’re getting there! Thank you for letting us go through the journey with me via your blog! Great photos, always!
Thank you! We love having everyone along! It has been such a great support knowing others are there with you!
Good Luck and God’s Blessings!
Thank you! God’s Blessing you too!
Great pictures – I can see the carriages and the beautiful dressed ladies and gentlemen of years past… Good luck and God’s blessings for success!
Thank you! We were thinking about a “Gone with the Wind” event, where for one day, everyone can come and enjoy the plantation and dress as Scarlett and Rhett would have!
Tell me when!! I was making my own dress but never did get to it, now the material is curtains! I will have to make a trip to Gettysburg to get a dress made – darn!! 😉 The last time we were there, Gettysburg had at least 3 shops that custom made Civil War era clothes and uniforms.Sounds like that will be a fun event.
Ok now, I think you have that backwards there Scarlett! You were suppose to take the curtains and make a dress! 😉 It will be an event sometime next spring or summer!
LOL I did not think of that…that is so funny. Last Christmas Tom found a Carol Burnett doll in her Gone With the Wind Costume….curtain rods and all, that would be how I would make the dress!!
I’ll have to watch of you to get out of the car.. that would be a sight!
😀
There is simply nothing more fun than an Antique Auction. Speaking from experience one has to be careful not to get carried away. But that’s the fun of it. You two are doing so much paper work and dealing with bureaucracy you need a little fun too. Virginia
I have to say it was a blast! I did good and didn’t get too carried away. However I spent just a little more than what I had in mind. But it was worth it!
Sounds like things are moving right along. I’ve been in a hospital room with my 91 year old father all week long and feel like I’ve missed out on a lot.
I am so sorry. I hope that this finds him doing better. I do have to tell you that I haven’t gotten back to Gloucester yet to get that other plate. In order to get there, you have to go through one of three tunnels. But for some reason this weekend our transportation department in Virginia has decided to do road work on two of the three tunnels, leaving just one for traffic to move through. Last night on the way back from Belle Grove, we spent 2 hours to go ten miles through the tunnel. I will have to wait until next weekend if we have a chance. But I will get it soon.
Not to worry – you’ve got a lot on your plate.
Hi Michelle & Brett!
I love those photos. What a wonderful progress with the B&B! Can’t wait til opening day! 🙂
Best regards!
PS Give Hurley a hug for me!
Hey! We can’t wait either! Hurley says here is a hug back!
Awww! 🙂
Wow! You guys are very busy! Hope all goes well for you 🙂 Lovely photos, what a beautiful place 🙂 Time’s against me tonight but I’ve been skimming through your previous posts in the W/P reader and I’ve obviously been really really missing out on some great posts! You have so much of interest in here and subjects I wasn’t expecting to find – great blog!
Thank you! We have enjoyed every minute of it! We are glad you have joined us on this journey and hope to see you one day a the plantation!
That would be wonderful! Something to aspire to achieving 😉
Thank you for visiting my Blogs. What a fabulous place you have – in our work as homesitters we have just returned from 5-week sit in a 10-bedroomed early 17th century property with lots of original features. The young owners have only just bought it and are busy scouring auctions and the countryside to find antiques. I wish you every success in your venture – it is great to actually own a piece of history!
You are so welcome! We look forward to seeing more of it! I bet that was so much fun! We love old homes and tons of history! So your owners are in the same boat as us as we search for just the right pieces! Thank you for stopping by!