Just when i begin to think “It doesn’t get any better than this” something new comes our way.
The Cottage Knits adventure took a new turn….On Sunday afternoon 12 women joined me at the Inn at Irwin Gardens for an overnight retreat.
We arrived with our bags packed with knitting projects, pj’s and plenty of midnight snacks to share.
The Inn at Irwin Gardens opened as a registered Bed and Breakfast in Febuary 2010. Located in the heart of downtown Columbus, IN across from my home church, i have long been intriqued by this wonderful corner of Columbus.
So imagine my excitement as i walked through the gate, knowing i was about to spend time with a group of my friends who were gathering for a knitting retreat!
Inside the garden walls…
Eve and Jim Jackson call themselves the Innkeepers, but they are so much more than that. They have done their homework in learning the history of this wonderful place. We gathered in the library and after brief introductions we were taken on an informal tour of the magnificent property. Built in 1864 and updated in 1910 it has been wonderfully maintained. The character of the home is unique and the modern architecture and wonderful gardens was inviting and a perfect retreat for those of us who came together for a night of knitting and fellowship.
We were given our room assignments, wandered around the vast hallways and nooks…and then came together in the garden. We brought our knitting to the veranda and spent much of the evening there. It was a perfect setting, overlooking the gardens while listening to the sounds of the fountains and laughter as friends began to unwind and settle in. Eve, also a knitter, was able to join us. We shared stories and got acquainted.
We stayed up too late, ate too much, told tales we have heard before and knitted through the night into the wee hours of the morning. Then, one by one we headed off to bed for a restful night of sleep.
We woke to the smell of coffee and breakfast and again gathered on the veranda for a bit more socializing before we headed to our homes and work, feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.
The first “Knit-Inn” was a success! And just watch out for what comes next! Lucky me!
