The online publication of House Beautiful just released its list of "60 charming American towns you haven't heard of but should visit ASAP".  Which small town is the first on their list?  Skaneateles, of course!

We have been lucky enough to have played host to over 650 fabulous individuals in the last almost six months since we opened.  There are an endless number of personal stories, hilarious antidotes, crazy coincidences, wild wine nights and warm fireside friendships kindled (pun intended).`

Then today.  Today we were affected.  A beautiful, quiet mother chose our little Inn to host a day in her journey of grief.  Ten years ago, she lost her beautiful daughter to a distracted driver.  She spent her time with us reflecting, journaling, and traveling that long, long road of unimaginable grief.

Mark & I don't need to personalize her loss in order to pray we will never, ever know how she feels.  

It sounds cliche and almost inadequate... but hug your kids, put down the phone and please please drive safe. 

I remember when I was a child I looked at the year 2000 and thought just how old I would be - didn't even consider how old I'd be in 2018 for gods sake! This year taught me just how much life there is to an older woman (and an older man). The young "me" would have been shocked. We surprised ourselves daily on just how much we accomplished each and every day during the renovation of our lovely Inn.  We leapt (...maybe crept) out of our comfortable respective boxes and although we earned bruises and our spirits were bit battered at times, we were eventually rewarded with a fabulous sense of pride and accomplishment. We demo'd, sanded, painted, hammered, scraped and grouted... then we welcomed our first guests, made beds, poured wine & toasted special events, cooked breakfasts and hugged them goodbye.  So 2018, although you have made us another year older we wouldn't change our little slice of you.  We have been rewarded with a great gift - that of a business where most of what we do is make people happy and at times,  are blessed to call them friends.  

Here's to all the future friends 2019 will bring. Happy New Year.

wishing you a season full of joy and a new year full of kindness.

love.... Corey & Mark, The Bond 1835

Today we raked thousands of maple leaves.  Thousands? Maybe a million.  How many leaves can you rake in 3-4 hours?  Definitely a million.  As we raked, ruined our gloves, contemplated the next day's painful muscles, and had whole bunch of self pity - we stopped for a moment.  We were thankful that it was just simple leaves we were raking.  Our thoughts went to our other home of state of California and the terrible losses residents there are enduring because of the horrific fires.  They're not raking leaves but instead are spending their day picking through the remnants of their homes... their lives.
​Our hearts are with you California, get well soon.

Skaneateles is a Christmas Carol come to life (yep - literally).  Think snow, hot chocolate, fireplaces burning, horse drawn carriages, shopping, silver bells, throw in Tiny Tim and Scrooge and its pretty perfect.  Check out this article on the top 11 places in the US to visit for Christmas! Click HERE

Call us for Dickens Specials at The Bond 1835!

what's YOUR druthers? Pumpkin French Toast? Scramble? Fresh Pastries? Avo Toast? Simple Fruit & Fresh Yoghurt? Paired with fresh pour-over coffee?  We gotcha!

Ya know when something starts out as a bit of a joke and then takes off as a super awesome thing?  (think Spanx)  Well, Mark has been literally "pushing" his creations of avocado toast [toasted sourdough, mashed avocado, farmer's tomato, placed lovingly under the broiler with a bit of cheese & sometimes bacon] at every guest who would patronize Mark with his or her attention. Well, 2 months later and many website reviews later, Mark's AVO TOAST is the hit of The Bond 1835 breakfasts!  Go figure - from health executive to morning chef :)
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The Bond 1835 had some welcome crashers....  
Started with our good California buds, Lisa & Don... son Mackian arrived with his boyfriend Michael...then daughter, Madi, and her sorority girlies came out from Syracuse University... followed with the arrival of my brother, Ken, and sister-in-law (& one of my bestie, bests), Christine... and finally our fab B & B construction crew/friends joined in the lake fun.  Mark & I somewhat managed to juggle all the fun, partying, lake afternoons and running the B & B...with a dose of exhaustion... but we wouldn't have traded a second!  We are more than a little blessed to have these friends and family in our lives.  Looking forward to the Christmas visit, counting every minute.... they can crash any time :)