Chives in Bloom

We ventured into starting many more of our plants from seed this year and have been quite pleased with our success. Granted, we could have started them a tad bit earlier, but we’re still going to give them a try. We have started the “hardening off” process, but the past couple of days have felt more like Fall — as it has been cool, cloudy, and rainy. We’re not complaining, though, as we need the rain desperately . . . so we can be patient and hope to get some of our new plants in the ground by this weekend.

Knockout Rose

Hope some of you decided to give gardening a try! If you are ever through Marion, and want to take a peek at our gardens, feel free to stop by. We are located next to the Smyth Bland Regional Library, so it is not uncommon to oftentimes see library-goers stop throughout the Summer and run their fingers through our lavender plants — it’s got to be one of the most wonderful smells on earth!

Sage in Bloom

Some of the things you’ll find in our gardens are Swiss chard, hot peppers of various types, zucchini, an abundance of tomatoes, spinach, lettuces, dill, sage, rosemary, thyme, just to name a few.

So best wishes for a successful growing season and bountiful crop!

One of several raised bed garden areas at The Collins House Inn

Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at people’s homes and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. These gardens were also considered a civil “morale booster” — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. This made victory gardens become a part of daily life on the home front.

Though hopefully times are much better now, I can’t help but notice when going to the grocery store that so much of our produce comes from other countries — not to mention the outrageously high prices we pay. Farming in the U.S. has dropped substantially in recent decades and now we’re all paying the price (literally) for having many of our fruits and vegetables shipped in to this country. OK, I’ll admit, it’s nice being able to buy strawberries and other things in the dead of winter . . . but, on the other hand, you can just tell that most times they are well past their peak freshness and nutritional value.

So, why not resurrect the Victory Garden and grow your own? It doesn’t take a lot of space, especially if you use raised bed boxes and/or planters. Plus, you don’t have to grow enough to feed a small village. It’s just that we’ve all (hopefully) grown up being taught to eat our fruits and vegetables, so what better way than to grow your own and know that when you do, you’re being able to pick and eat things at the peak of their freshness. And, while you’re at it, why not try canning — that way, you’ll have ample items to enjoy throughout the non-growing season. It’s just another way in which you can “make a difference” — for yourself and your family. Besides, you might even discover that it’s a bit “contagious” and that once your friends see what you are doing, they’ll want to give it a try too.

OK, stop rolling your eyes and saying to yourself, “I’ve NEVER been able to “grow” anything!” It’s really quite simple, and just takes a little planning — like making sure you have the right soil type and amount of sunlight needed for whatever it is you want to grow. After that, I’ve found that it’s pretty much about water — and, well . . . OK . . . I confess . . . I DO talk to my plants. Yes, I’m one of “those people” who chooses to believe that all living things have souls, spirits, or some kind of “awareness” about them. So sure, I make an effort to cultivate “plant spirits” in various ways.

I used to use a fair amount of Miracle-Gro fertilizer, but have found in recent years that our plants do much better if I just put compost in their soil (at planting), and then periodically sprinkle a little over the soil throughout the growing season. I also discovered that, in doing so, we had fewer pest infestations. I plan to follow the same routine this year to see if it works again or if it was perhaps just a fluke. My gut feeling tells me, though, that it will be successful again. I’m truly beginning to learn to embrace the “less is better” concept in many facets of my life — synthetic plant fertilization included.

So what are you waiting for . . . give it a try!

Show time is 7:00 PM. Reserved seating tickets ($25) can be purchased at the Lincoln Theatre box office or online at the Lincoln Theatre’s website. This is a popular performance, so advance ticket purchases are recommended.

Song of the Mountains is the Lincoln Theatre’s award-winning bluegrass concert series and is a nationally syndicated public television series aired on more than 170 stations nationwide.

The Collins House Inn is just 1-1/2 blocks from the Lincoln Theatre and offers elegant, yet casual lodging accommodations for your visit to Marion, VA. For reservations, you can visit our “Rooms and Rates” page on our website or call us directly at 276-781-0250. Marion also offers several nice restaurants downtown to round out your stay with us.

It all came about late Friday night. Marion had gotten some ice and snow late in the week and a couple of the original opening groups canceled. Tom Cecil, banjo extraordinaire of the group, joked about having received a phone call about 10:00 PM Friday night asking if he and his fellow band members would like to come open for Kathy Mattea Saturday night. He said he was given about 20 minutes to confirm whether or not they’d be able to come. My guess is that he didn’t have to think about it very long at all.

The rest is now history and hopefully their performance here at The Lincoln Theatre will give this young group a jump-start toward a very successful future. Rounding out the band were Cara Oliphant playing fiddle and Adam Worley on guitar. All four band members currently attend East Tennessee State University and are pursuing degrees in the school’s Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music curriculum. So if you hear the name “Buc Ridge”, and have an opportunity to hear them play, you won’t be disappointed.

I also must mention the absolutely WONDERFUL performance given by Kathy Mattea. Aside from her and her band members’ exceptional musical talents (both vocally and instrumentally) she was just a HOOT!! (From where I come from that is a BIG compliment!). Seriously, though, Kathy Mattea was hugely personable, funny, witty, warm, and above all genuine. She sings with great passion and soulfulness and it quickly becomes evident that she not only sings songs because they “sound” good, but because they oftentimes have a deep and personal meaning for her. The audience loved her! We, being one of the official “Marionettes” (as she so cleverly referred to her Marion audience at one point), can only hope that she and her band enjoyed Marion, and performing at The Lincoln Theatre, as much as we enjoyed having them here.

The Song of the Mountains performances are taped, and the February 6, 2010 show kicked off their new season. The taped performances are aired on more than 170 public television stations throughout the country. Though this past weekend’s taping won’t actually be aired until sometime next year, keep on the lookout for it as it will be one you won’t want to miss. Oh! And if you get to see it . . . be sure and check out Kathy Mattea’s boots — they were stunning!

The Collins House Inn in Marion, VA

We’re conveniently located just off of I-81 (at Exits #44 and #45) about 45 miles north of Bristol, TN/VA and about 65 miles south of Roanoke, VA and only 30 miles south of the intersection of I-81 and I-77 in Wytheville, VA.

No, you won’t find a Saks Fifth Avenue or Macy’s here, nor will you find loud nightclubs and bumper-to-bumper beltway traffic. What you will find is a quiet, friendly small town, several really nice restaurants within easy walking distance of our inn (1-1/2 to 3 blocks), an abundance of natural beauty with a bunch of “outdoorsy” kinds of activities (We ARE in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest VA!) and just a very, V-E-E-R-RY slow pace. Marion is home to The Lincoln Theatre in case you’d like to take in a show. Visit their website at www.thelincoln.org for a complete list of upcoming performances.

As for our inn, we renovated and designed it with guests in mind. The furnishings are warm, comfortable and elegant – in a non-pretentious way. The color scheme and soft background music throughout the common areas invoke a sense of relaxation the minute you walk in the door. All of our guestrooms have in-room private baths, reading chairs with ample lighting (in case you decide to curl up with a book), TVs with DVD players, and luxuriously comfortable beds with memory foam toppers and high thread count linens. We also have wired and wireless Internet access in all of our guestrooms, as well as, wireless throughout the common areas – just in case you absolutely HAVE to check your email.

When you’re a guest at The Collins House Inn, you can be as sociable or private as you want to be — this is the “pressure-free” part. We have ample common areas and designed our dining area to allow guests to have their own table. Even though B&Bs are known for encouraging guests to interact during breakfast (thus often times providing only one large table at which everyone is seated) we realize that not everyone who chooses a B&B is a “morning” person. I know, that’s maybe a hard one to believe, but it’s true. So, we opted to give our guests some space while still making it easy for everyone to visit and socialize if they so choose.

Natural beauty abounds in this part of Virginia and provides several terrific places for hiking, biking, and scenic drives. Hungry Mother State Park is just 5 miles from our inn and has a beautiful lake surrounded by hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as a swimming beach. Paddleboat and canoe rentals are also available. Grayson Highlands State Park and Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area are also nearby. You can make a full day’s outing with a hike to the top of Mt. Rogers (the highest peak in Virginia). If the weather doesn’t cooperate for outdoor activites, we’ve got you covered! We have books, magazines, jigsaw puzzles, cards, board games, crossword puzzle books, and a small but evolving DVD movie library to name a few. Bottom line, coming to The Collins House Inn is all about comfort, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

So the next time you’re looking for a quick getaway, we hope you’ll think of The Collins House Inn and Marion. If getting away from a hectic day-to-day pace is what you are after, you won’t be disappointed.

A day rarely goes by that we’re not amazed by the negativity that dominates mainstream media – be it television, radio, the Internet, or newspapers. Maybe we’re just idealists at heart, but are things REALLY as bad as what the media portrays? Do you ever wonder what would happen if for one day, the news reports would focus only on GOOD things? Would it completely freak out the viewers? I’ve always enjoyed Don Henley’s music, but PLEASE tell me that his song, “Dirty Laundry” is an exaggeration!

So where does this leave the rest of us – who believe that if any kind of positive change is going to take place (either in our personal lives or globally) — that it has to start at an individual level. There can be no substitute for our being held responsible and fully accountable for our own decisions and actions. Come on! You’re bound to have had any number of conversations with family, friends, or total strangers about what seems to be a disturbing shift within the overall mindset of our society and the world. And how often, when referring to the cause of that “shift”, do we use the infamous yet ambiguous “they” when we talk about who or what is to “blame” for it? NEWS FLASH folks – WE have ALL contributed to it, collectively! We ARE the “they”!

So just “think” about it. You don’t have to take a day off of work to dwell on it – we’re just trying to plant the seed. But as you go through your everyday life, and when you are presented with opportunities to make a positive change or to have a positive influence on someone or to just DO THE RIGHT THING – DO IT! Don’t let complacency, cynicism, egotism, or self-doubt prevent you from making a difference.

The Collins House Inn in Marion, VA

It’s not too late to make your reservation for a warm and snuggly weekend getaway for Valentine’s Day — or any other weekend for that matter.

We invite you to come to The Collins House Inn and enjoy the quiet, elegant, yet comfortable surroundings you’ll find here. Snuggle up by the fire and enjoy a nice glass of wine or hot chocolate and just relax in knowing that you can spend a couple of days away from email, phone calls and work in general.

We’re located in the heart of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia and are conveniently located in historic downtown Marion, VA within easy walking distance (only 1-1/2 blocks) of excellent restaurants.

We encourage you to visit our website, at http://www.collinshouseinn.com for additional information or you can call us at 276-781-0250 to make your reservation today.

Turned Natural-edged Wild Cherry Bowl by Dave Fields of Marion, VA

It’s a nice feeling to create an atmosphere where guests can relax and unwind from the noise and chaos of everyday life. We believe we have succeeded in creating that atmosphere here at The Collins House Inn in Marion, VA.

Our inn is equipped with all of the “nice-to-haves” and creature comforts any traveler would expect and appreciate. In addition to our many amenities, we also wanted to offer something unique for those guests who like to take home a memento of their stay with us or for those looking for a special, one-of-a-kind gift for a friend or family member. So, we created an artisan Gift Gallery in our inn – highlighting the beautiful and unique one-of-a-kind woodturnings created by innkeeper, Dave Fields.

Dave is an accomplished woodturner specializing in one-of-a-kind creations made from salvaged woods oftentimes destined for fireplaces and wood stoves. Family, friends, and even inn guests have given many of the woods to him. It’s not unusual to have guests bring Dave wood, for which they have a sentimental connection, and commission him to make something special out of it for them. So, it has been a rewarding experience for Dave to be able to channel his skill and creativity into making one-of-kind items for which others are able to share and enjoy for many years to come.

Many of Dave’s turnings are also displayed at other artisan galleries and gift shops throughout Marion – including The Black Rooster Lounge and Gallery, Appalachian Spirit Gallery, Handsome Molly’s Bistro and Small Wine Shoppe, and Main Street Gifts and Eatery.

Handsome Molly's Bistro and Small Wine Shoppe

Handsome Molly’s Bistro and Small Wine Shoppe is located on Main Street in the heart of downtown Marion, VA. This restaurant is a favorite of ours and many of our guests. The atmosphere is relaxing and intimate, yet casual and unpretentious. The menu consists of fresh salads, gourmet pizzas, wraps, paninis and more. In addition, they also have wine and beer available along with espresso and freshly brewed, locally roasted coffee. 

Indirect lighting and soft jazz in the background make Handsome Molly’s Bistro a wonderful place for lunch or to unwind after a long day of work or travel.

Come check out their newly expanded menu and hours. Lunch and dinner are served Monday-Saturday 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM. You can also view their menu and find out more by visiting their newly launched website at http://www.handsomemollysbistro.com.

The Collins House Inn is conveniently located and within easy walking distance (only 1-1/2 blocks) of Handsome Molly’s. So if you are looking for a quick but relaxing getaway, our Inn and Handsome Molly’s makes a perfect pair.