Day 5 at Outcrop Manor: An Empty House Filled with Dreams

Today looked a little different.

We were up early and headed to the house knowing it was going to be a busy day. I had a long list of things I wanted to accomplish, but we also had people scheduled to stop by for sneak peeks of Outcrop Manor.

Of course, we made the mandatory stop for cookies and water… because no gathering is complete without a few treats!

But in true Melissa fashion, I completely forgot that the house isn't equipped with even the most basic necessities yet. We had cookies, water, and excitement, but no hand towels or soap! It's funny how your brain can be consumed with contractors, furniture, layouts, booking calendars, and a hundred other big decisions, yet completely forget the little things. I guess that's all part of the adventure.

Throughout the day, about 35 amazing women came through the house, and honestly, the timing couldn't have worked out better. One group would be pulling out just as the next group pulled into the driveway. It was a steady stream of visitors almost the entire day.

I wasn't sure what to expect.

The house is still empty. There isn't furniture. There aren't decorations. There are still projects everywhere and plenty of work ahead of us. I was completely transparent about everything that still needs to happen before our first retreat.

And yet...

The response absolutely blew me away.

Everyone was so kind, encouraging, and genuinely excited. It reminded me how incredibly fortunate I am to be part of this community. Scrapbookers, crafters, and quilters truly are some of the most supportive people you'll ever meet.

The best part?

Almost every single group was ready to book before they walked out the door. Only one group needed to figure out dates with the rest of their friends first.

Can you believe it's only Day 5?

Honestly, I can't.

Five days ago, this was simply an empty house with a huge vision. Today, it's already becoming a place filled with excitement, laughter, future retreats, and incredible women. The amount of support you've shown has completely exceeded anything I imagined. Every day reminds me that Outcrop Manor isn't just becoming a retreat house, it's becoming a community, and that means everything to me.

We're averaging 10 to 20 bookings every single day, which is amazing! When you start with a completely empty calendar, there's still lots of availability, but watching those weekends slowly fill is incredibly exciting.

One thing became very clear today...

There is a huge interest in quilting retreats.

I've always focused on scrapbook retreats because that's where my own journey began, but several groups came through today specifically asking about fully hosted quilting retreats. I absolutely love that idea!

So I need your help.

If you're involved in quilting groups, quilting guilds, Facebook communities, or know where quilters gather online, I'd love your recommendations. I want to make sure Outcrop Manor reaches the quilting community too because I think they'll absolutely love what we're creating here.

Another thing I learned today surprised me.

I've been trying to minimize the number of beds in each room because I assumed everyone would prefer fewer roommates. Instead, the overwhelming feedback was that groups would actually like more beds available, even if every bed isn't used. Having extra beds gives everyone more flexibility to choose where they sleep and creates more options for the group.

I never would have thought of that on my own.

That's exactly why these sneak peeks have been so valuable. Your feedback is helping shape Outcrop Manor into the retreat you've always wanted, not just the retreat I imagined.

Ironically...

I didn't accomplish a single thing on my to-do list today.

No measuring.

No organizing.

No decorating.

No furniture planning.

Instead, I spent the day walking through the house with wonderful women, answering questions, sharing dreams, laughing, and making new friends.

And honestly...

I wouldn't trade today for anything.

While I was giving tours, Chris met one of our neighbors, and together they started cleaning up around the property. They mowed, weed-whacked, and began making the outside look a little more cared for. Watching the property slowly transform has me dreaming even bigger. I even caught myself wondering if someday we could create a circular driveway around parts of the property. Who knows if that's possible, but I love dreaming about what's next.

Athena spent the day filming videos around the house, and I can't wait to share them with all of you soon. She has such a great eye, and I know you're going to love seeing Outcrop Manor through her lens.

Tomorrow will actually be our first day away from the house since getting the keys.

We'll be spending the day celebrating family.

Athena recently earned her internship, and while she keeps insisting she's basically been doing the same work already, I couldn't be prouder. Sometimes it's not about doing something different—it's about having someone recognize the work you've already been doing. She has worked incredibly hard and deserves every bit of this accomplishment.

We'll also be celebrating Ryleigh, who officially earned his private pilot's license! What an incredible milestone. Watching him chase his dream has been so inspiring, and I couldn't be more proud.

Since my birthday is Monday and I'll be spending it back at the house meeting with contractors, we're celebrating a day early with the family. Add in the World Cup Final, go Argentina!, and it should be a pretty perfect day.

Before I wrap up, I have one more exciting update.

We're getting very close to launching online booking and payments through our website. My hope is that soon you'll be able to reserve your retreat without waiting for me to respond to messages. I feel terrible when it takes me longer than I'd like to get back to everyone because things have become wonderfully busy.

We're still deciding whether to launch the system right away or continue using Venmo and PayPal just a little longer while we fine-tune everything. We want to make sure it's simple, smooth, and easy before we officially release it.

Either way... we're getting close!

Thank you to every single person who took the time to visit today, encourage us, offer ideas, and believe in this dream.

Five days in...

And somehow this already feels like home.

Until tomorrow,

Melissa