After days of beautiful weather, with temperatures still above 30 degrees in the first weeks of October, the last few days have truly become autumn: it's raining, the leaves are falling from the trees, and it's cooler. But we've noticed that when the sun is shining, it's still delightful to be outside. So, we are still spending a lot of time outdoors.
We've started our spa project. Last summer, we noticed that when the weather wasn't great for a few days, our guests wanted something to do on the property. So, we decided to create a place where people can sit comfortably outdoors even when it's raining. And what could be better than being able to make use of a sauna and a hot tub! So we purchased these, and they were delivered last weekend. It was a bit nerve-wracking because we weren't sure how to get them in place. Fortunately, our kind neighbors, father and son, were willing to help with their tractors. So, everything worked out perfectly!
In the meantime, we're already enjoying the bubbles in the hot tub and the warmth in the cozy sauna ourselves. It's incredibly relaxing after a day of work, especially for Herman, who is currently busy digging out all the plants around the pool area to make space for the new wooden terrace that will be built soon. Just imagine, a terrace around the pool, hot tub, and sauna, with a nice pergola and a lounge set where you can sit and relax after a sauna session to enjoy the outdoors. We expect it to be very beautiful. And when the pool is renovated and gets a cover in the spring, our spa will be complete.
And what else have we been up to? When we were on vacation after the season, lovely friends took care of our house and cats. They also worked hard to further paint the shutters blue, do some garden maintainance, and continue to clear and split the wood from the felled trees. And just last week, one of our friends even came to help for the third time this year in exchange for a pleasant stay with us.
Next week, Herman will be working on the ventilation in the guest rooms with the help of some friendly guests from this summer who are returning to lend a hand with this. It's really nice to have all these helping hands, as the work here is never-ending.
We're also trying out new recipes and have already brewed two batches of beer for the winter months: a Smoked Porter and an Imperial Chocolate Stout. One is already bottled and aging, while the other is still fermenting. These will go perfectly with the upcoming Christmas season when we gather with family.
Furthermore, Johannetta has started a different kind of job in her old role as an educational consultant, but now as a freelance and remote worker. She discussed everything with the university early October, and it all felt familiar again. It's still great to be able to follow and contribute to educational developments.
So, we haven't really taken the time yet to explore the surroundings more. We're still in our own bubble here on and around our property. However, we do take occasional walks from here. Everything is beautiful, even in the autumn, with chestnuts everywhere and different creatures you come across, like squirrels and the large fire salamander.
So, winter is approaching, the only season we haven't experienced in this place yet. In March, we'll have been living here for a year and will start preparing for the next season with guests. We're already looking forward to it! The first bookings are already starting to come in. We'd love to hear from you!
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