On Saturday the Mr. and I woke up at our usual time, 5:00 am ……why? We have no idea, but it’s just always been our way, to be up at the crack of dawn. In that way we are well suited for each other. With perfect temps and sun on the horizon, no big obligations for the day we decided … Let’s go to Woodstock.
With K living right next door now, a simple text ….. can you feed and turn out horses and dogs today, etc. so we can take a day trip?… and because she also gets up at the crack of dawn religiously, the answer was immediate.. sure thing!
And off we went. The colors are so glorious this year, conditions must have been just right. We hit our favorite places along this route – Scott Orchard first in Dummerston where I grabbed a few bags of heirloom apples you don’t find anywhere else, and their delicious heirloom apple cider. I love their farm buildings, too… hundreds of years old. The slate roofing.. just beautiful.
Then into Woodstock, were we walked on the green, visited the Woodstock Inn, inquired to see if there was possible just one room left so we could stay overnight – nope. Bummer. This is the weekend we usually come with the family and stay for a few days, booked way in advance. With other travel plans next spring, we decided to forgo the expense this year, with just a day trip for the Vermont Fix we crave.
We had a delicious lunch at the Mountain Creamery – a lovely old shop that retains it’s simple farm style charm (they raise their own livestock for their signature meals and ice cream) A better sandwich or ice cream float you will not find in Woodstock, I can attest to that. Their mile high apple pie is so good, I took an entire pie home in a box for later enjoyment, just a slice would not have been enough.
Turkey Bacon Cheese Pesto sammy with a side of potato salad like no other (shredded veggies in it, what a perfect addition)
Then we headed over to Billings Farm to visit our cows. I say our cows because I’m hoping one day to convince the Mr., who loves them as much as I do, that our little farm needs two cows, and two cows need our farm. I’d like to buy two bull calves who would otherwise be sold most likely for veal and let them live their lives out on our farm the natural way, as pets. If you have to be a dairy cow, the Billings farm is a good place to be, as they take excellent care of their herds. But.. the realities are still what they are – any boy calves born are not needed unless you’re one of the lucky few who are kept for breeding purposes.
Our Woodstock trips aren’t complete without a stop in the old Gillinghams General Store, not much has changed here either in many years, and we’re so glad of it.
This good dog did not move one inch, didn’t gaze anywhere but directly into the store where his mom was right inside the door for just a few minutes. I loved his intensity of duty.
Till soon, friends…
Hello, the Autumn trees and colors are beautiful. what a lovely day trip and getaway. The lunch looks delicious. I love the barns, farn animals, horses and the cute dog waiting. for it’s human. Lovely post and photos. Wishing you a happy day and new week!
What a lovely day you had! I am looking forward to our trees changing color. We are a few weeks away here in NC.
So many beautiful colors, and places to enjoy. Yep, that sandwich looks delish, and the float? Makes me want an A&W root beer float. Thanks, pal for putting those in my head. 🙂
Oh Oh Oh October- Lucky you : D
Wow, you guys are having a spectacular fall! Our color seems to be slow developing or not coming at all. The extremely dry weather may be the culprit. Anyway, glad you had your trip. Woodstock is a lovely little village.
Thank you for the road trip! We were down Woodstock way 15 yrs ago. It was lovely.
Fantastic photos! Maybe a leaf-peeping jaunt IS in order.
Nancy from newyorkitus
Nancy, I’m laughing out loud after reading your latest post. and why… can I not comment? No comments? Oh, you must allow, you’re missing out!
Anyway… love your style. As a native StatnIslander, I can attest to the “other country” being just that. A trip on the Ferry brought us to the New World … the “City”. No matter where I am, if I refer to “the city” it’s NYC. Here in CT, when people say I’m heading into the city to shop.. and I discover they mean New Haven or Hartford or New London… what the what? That ain’t no city, girlfriends. There’s only one. And YOU know what I mean. Growing up right next to it but not IN it, I was sure early on the concrete jungle was not for me. I enjoy excursions in… but I do that as tepidly as you venture OUT. So I headed out.. at the age of 19 with my ancient horse adopted off the west shore expressway… for greener pastures, pun intended.
Thank you for stopping by! And while your foliage is indeed stunning in the big apple, I hope you venture out.. at least up the Hudson… to see more of it – and pick those apples off the trees and pumpkins out of the patch yourself. You won’t regret it.
Oh Karen, your pictures are so lovely. We also escaped from Connecticut this weekend to enjoy some leaf peeping up at Lake Winnipesaukee. My pictures certainly did not turn out as well as yours. The area was beautiful but I shudder to imagine what it must be like in the heat of summer. I am surprised you didn’t stop at the Dummerston Church for pie this year. My brother is a chief pie baker and deacon of the church. I do believe Scott’s makes a generous donation of apples.
We are taking excursions to try and figure out where we are to land when the husband retires in 4 years. It’s become impossible for many of us to stay in this state in retirement. Now with the talk of tolls which, hello were only supposed to be for the tractor trailers, it’s another nail in the state’s coffin.
I am also a born and raised New York girl. Putnam County. We often went into town and took the train from Brewster into NYC. And I too will always refer to her as THE city even though we live a stone’s throw from Hartford.
Arlene, darn it I forgot about the Church Fair near the orchard! We didn’t head over to the Newfane Heritage Festival this year, which is how we drive by the church, we turned back the other direction after orchard shopping and back to the highway straight up to Woodstock.Do you keep an instagram account or Facebook or blog? I should try to find you for real. The tolls and this state… I am no fan of what they are doing here, it seems they are truly blind to the fact that more and more people are leaving this state for more affordable options, especially young people and retirees, which are both vital to a community’s health!