Good​ ​Fences​ ​make​ ​Good​ ​Neighbors​ ​and​ ​Great​ ​Guests

We’re​ ​always​ ​thinking​ ​about​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​welcoming​ ​and​ ​relaxed​ ​environment​ ​at​ ​Peacock House.  

 

They​ ​say​ ​that​ ​curb​ ​appeal​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​first​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​great​ ​first​ ​impression​ ​when​ ​selling​ ​a home.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​definitely​ ​not​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​sell​ ​Peacock​ ​House,​ ​but​ ​we​ ​do​ ​want​ ​to​ ​enhance​ ​its​ ​curb appeal.​ ​They​ ​also​ ​say​ ​that​ ​good​ ​fences​ ​make​ ​great​ ​neighbors… 

 

Our​ ​resident​ ​wood​ ​craftsman,​ ​Jim,​ ​had​ ​been​ ​itching​ ​for​ ​a​ ​new​ ​project​ ​and​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​get​ ​back​ ​to working​ ​with​ ​wood.​ ​So​ ​he​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​put​ ​this​ ​into​ ​action​ ​by​ ​extending​ ​our​ ​picket​ ​fence​ ​to​ ​the front​ ​yard,​ ​using​ ​a​ ​pineapple​ ​motif​ ​started​ ​long​ ​ago​ ​by​ ​a​ ​previous​ ​innkeeper​ ​along​ ​the​ ​side​ ​of the​ ​property. 

 

After​ ​he​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​take​ ​on​ ​the​ ​project,​ ​I’d​ ​catch​ ​Jim​ ​studying​ ​the​ ​scenery​ ​outside​ ​the​ ​kitchen window​ ​as​ ​we​ ​were​ ​making​ ​breakfast​ ​for​ ​our​ ​guests.​ ​Thinking​ ​he​ ​was​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​the ever-changing​ ​waters​ ​of​ ​the​ ​bay,​ ​I’d​ ​comment​ ​on​ ​what​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​dawn​ ​was breaking,​ ​only​ ​to get​ ​an​ ​absent-minded​ ​grunt​ ​as​ ​a​ ​reply.​ ​After​ ​days​ ​of​ ​me​ ​commenting​ ​on​ ​the​ ​view,​ ​I​ ​finally​ ​caught on​ ​to​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​of​ ​his​ ​scrutiny.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​planning​ ​how​ ​to​ ​build​ ​the​ ​fence​ ​with​ ​his​ ​need​ ​for exacting​ ​precision​ ​despite​ ​our​ ​sloping​ ​front​ ​lawn. 

 

The​ ​project​ ​was​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​of​ ​much​ ​speculation​ ​by​ ​folks​ ​in​ ​town.​ ​We​ ​received​ ​many​ ​questions, (most​ ​of​ ​them​ ​asked​ ​with​ ​great​ ​concern).​ ​“Why​ ​was​ ​Jim​ ​leaving​ ​the​ ​fence​ ​posts​ ​so​ ​long?”​ ​(They were​ ​six​ ​feet​ ​tall​ ​and​ ​would​ ​eventually​ ​be​ ​cut​ ​to​ ​size​ ​in​ ​the​ ​last​ ​stage​ ​of​ ​the​ ​job.)​ ​“Were​ ​we building​ ​a​ ​fortress?”​ ​“Why​ ​did​ ​we​ ​need​ ​a​ ​fence?”​ ​Eventually​ ​they​ ​were​ ​reassured​ ​as​ ​the​ ​job came​ ​together. 

 

We are, ​​no,​ ​I​​ ​am​ ​enjoying​ ​the​ ​finished​ ​product.​ ​After​ ​a​ ​coat​ ​of​ ​a​ ​super-primer,​ ​Jim​ ​painted​ ​the fence​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​it​ ​to​ ​perfection.​ ​At​ ​least​ ​perfection​ ​for​ ​me.​ ​Jim,​ ​the​ ​eternal​ ​self-critic​ ​can​ ​find​ ​some imaginary​ ​flaws​ ​in​ ​it.​ ​Our​ ​guests​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​like​ ​it​ ​and​ ​are​ ​amazed​ ​that​ ​Jim​ ​made​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​thing himself​ ​from​ ​start​ ​to​ ​finish. 

 

Why​ ​not​ ​schedule​ ​a​ ​visit​ ​to​ ​Peacock​ ​House​ ​to​ ​decide​ ​for​ ​yourself? 

 

So,​ ​our​ ​good​ ​fence​ ​with​ ​a​ ​wide-opening​ ​entrance​ ​is​ ​making​ ​good​ ​neighbors…and​ ​is​ ​welcoming great​ ​guests to the Inn.  

 

Next​ ​job:​ ​continue​ ​the​ ​spruce-up​ ​by​ ​painting​ ​the​ ​exterior​ ​shutters​ ​and​ ​front​ ​door!

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