Tag: vermont
October in Vermont
We took a bike ride through some of the backroads around town.
Same covered bridge…
Harvest Festival at the Billings Farm… where the “kids” participated in the games…
We visited the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and saw some magnificent rehabilitated birds.
This old place below is absolutely beautiful, stately, located right on the main street near the Inn, and totally dilapidated. It’s the only property in a total state of abandonment in this area and I can’t imagine why no one is willing to fix her up. If only it were within our means to take it on.
Woodstock, Vermont
The main hall….
… and lots of admiring the beautiful scenery.
It was a wonderful three day weekend spent with this crew. I love these kids more than they will ever fully understand. What a blessing it is to be together enjoying each others company. We almost.. ALMOST… got through the mini vacation without talking politics. That lovely town hall debate happened to be on the tube (insert kids hysterical laughter at moms use of yet another DWEEB term, ’cause it’s coming, I’m sure) on our second nights stay… and we watched in utter horror or giddy glee. One thought it was horrendous .. the other thought it – went well-. You can guess who’s who in this house, can’t ya.
Thank you, my family… for a wonderful, wonderful weekend of togetherness. Thank you to my Guy for treating us all. It’s a beautiful thing. Except for the Trump signs. WHY in a Bernie state were there so many Trump signs?! That’s not really a question, I don’t want to know.
Vermont Agriculture
My favorite thing to do when we visit Vermont is to hunt down the old barns with my camera. Back in the day, the houses were small and sturdy and the barns were built BIG, to accommodate the livelihood of the farmers, their livestock and crops. Many are tumbling down now, sad to see.
PS – Blogger is giving me real issues with fixing fonts on this post.. I apologize for the unruly appearance and size of fonts.
Some Agricultural History: (or, skip to the pictures) Farming has always played a major part in the lives of Vermonters. In the late 1700’s, most Vermonters lived on self sufficient farms, which meant they consumed most of the food they produced. Sheep were introduced to Vermont in 1811 and soon they became a major source of income for farmers. The rough hillsides and climate of the state were especially suited for sheep raising. By the 1840’s competition from other areas and economic conditions led to a decrease in sheep farming.
The Luces are the second, third and fourth generations to live on Sugarbush Farm. Jack and Marion Ayres bought the farm in 1945 with a dream to make a go of country living. They were the first folks in Vermont to start packaging cheese in waxed bars so they would travel well without refrigeration. By 1975 the Boston Globe wrote about Sugarbush Farm “At the end of a scenic Vermont road lies a Cheese Lovers paradise.” In 1995 the American Cheese Society awarded Sugarbush Farm a Blue ribbon for the best smoked cheese in the country. Today the farm is operated by Betsy, the Ayres’s daughter, her husband Larry and their sons Ralph and Jeff. Its the Luce family’s goal to keep the farm a working, active operation. The future looks bright for the fourth generation with 7 grandchildren learning good working habits on the farm.
Because it wasn’t far off our path, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to photograph Jenne Farm – the most photographed farm in New England. Jenne farm, located on Jenne Road in Reading, Vermont, has been owned by the same family for generations. The current residents are struggling to keep the farm going, and because of the prime real estate, it is feared they will eventually have to let go of it for development, yet another gem lost to us forever. I hope a way is found to preserve it.
A photo taken by a photographer in fall….
My version on a mid winter day ….
We visited the Billings Farm and Museum, right on the outskirts of Woodstock, walking distance from the Inn… click here for more info.. History of the farm HERE. In brief, it was donated to the state of Vermont as a national historical park by the Rockefellers and serves as a working dairy farm and educational facility/museum on the history of rural Vermont farm life. For $14. you get the full tour, including a walk through the homesteads, the immaculate dairy barns, nursery and a sleigh or wagon ride, depending on the footing.
If he had his druthers… Mike’s dream cabin, where he can get away from it all.. just down the hill from Sugarbush Farm..
Thanks for tagging along 🙂 And whenever you get the chance… buy fresh, buy local.. .support local farmers, producers, farm markets. It matters, and you benefit. Win win.
Quechee, Vermont and the Simon Pearce Gallery
We visited Quechee, just up the road from Woodstock Center – located along the Ottauquechee River in the Town of Hartford. Quechee Gorge is stunning, and forms the southeast edge of the town. I didn’t get pictures of the gorge, as the snow/ice were too heavy on the edges for safe photography climbing. The covered bridge was heavily damaged in Hurricane Irene and had to be rebuilt. The Simon Pearce mill also sustained damage and lost it’s entire glass works floor, on the lower lever. Amazing how that hurricane affected this area of Vermont, hours from the coast.
A must stop in this area is the Simon Pearce gallery and restaurant – the food is divine (accent on fresh, local) and we enjoyed watching the glassworks downstairs. The mill itself is incredible, with a huge waterfall that powers the entire place. Amazing….
Some history on Quechee… This is long, but it’s worth the read – to see a once thriving community turn into a ghost town, and with thoughtful ressurction, it is thriving once again. .. (or.. skip to the pictures)
Quechee was settled in the 1760s when homesteaders were deeded acres for the erection of mills along the Ottauquechee River. The mills became the heartbeat of this community, providing everything from lumber to cider for the settlers. To accommodate growing traffic, a bridge was built over the Ottauquechee River at the current site of the Quechee covered bridge.
I took the picture below from the bridge… the power of this waterfall is indescribable….
The Simon Pearce Mill/Gallery/Restaurant is on the right.. the glassworks on the lower level…
We watched a Martini Glass come to be… the teamwork and the speed at which they have to move to work with the fired glass is incredible… It takes about three years for a team to come together and work really efficiently at this trade.
We came home with a set of ivory crackle glaze dishes, very sturdy and beautifully made. Next post.. the rural beauty of this part of Vermont – We’ve explored the state some over the years.. and have to say, it’s our favorite spot.
Woodstock, Vermont – It’s a beautiful thing
The Mr. and I spent a lovely weekend in Woodstock, Vermont – lodging at the Woodstock Inn. The accommodations are luxurious, the staff very friendly and the food divine. We had uncommonly warm weather for February in Vermont, but even if you were snowed in, the Inn has so much to offer and is so expansive, there’s room to wander without ever stepping outside. There is a spa, two restaurants and tavern, a gift shop, swimming pool in summer, a full game room for the young and young at heart, many sitting areas throughout, a huge fireplace to lounge in front of in the lobby, wine and cheese tasting in the evenings… It’s not cheap, but for a few night stay, it’s well worth the money even if it’s a big indulgence. If you ski, golf, snow shoe or xcountry ski, they have packages for that too.
The Town of Woodstock is absolutely beautiful. The Inn is located right on the Green, their address is 14 The Green, so no need to get in the car to walk in the village. There are many well maintained older and stately homes, not something you see a lot of in Vermont, so this surprised me. Main Street and the Green have many shops, boutiques, restaurants, artisan galleries, a very old movie theatre and long standing businesses like the Pharmacy and General Store, established in the late 1800s –
If your’e interested – a brief history of Woodstock HERE –
Heirloom Vermont
I’ve figured it out, don’t ya know. What is it about the state of Vermont? It’s the feeling of going back in time a little… it’s the enjoyment of the simpler things in life. It’s the less crowded highways and byways and back roads.
Or.. it was.
Yesterday, everyone and their sister, aunt, third cousin twice removed, ex-in laws and all of their fraternity and sorority brothers, apartment neighbors and church fellowship showed up. Vermont has been discovered, times ten.
We took our annual road trip to Scott farm in Dummerston, (I’ve blogged about that before if you want to read more on it.. put Vermont in the search box on my blog and the post will come up.) … where this year unbeknownst to us they held their Heirloom Apple Festival on the same day as the Heritage Festival in Newfane, just up the road. So.. there were many people at the Orchard. It was lovely, though, and we brought home some delicious Heirloom apple varieties (hidden rose, it’s rose colored flesh!) and sampled and bought some hard cider.. and my favorite.. apple cider made from many varieties of heirloom apples…Liquid Gold, I’m tellin ya!
Then we headed over the hill and came across an Apple Pie Festival that apparently is also a favorite place for about 2,000 motorcyclists to descend upon. That’s just a little slice of it….
Took us a bit to get through the swarm and down to the river, across the beautiful covered Dummerston Bridge (also in previous post). Then about five miles up Vermont Route 30 to The Heritage Festival in Newfane. What I love about Newfane, nestled at the base of some low lying mountains… it’s beautiful. It’s unassuming. It’s a quiet town that pays homage to the way life was years ago.. simpler. The houses, churches and Union Hall well made with attention to detail, most cared for, porches now piled high with firewood for the coming winter, tractors in many yards, whether ornamental or still in use… standing the test of time. We actually came across some friends from Connecticut, enjoying the day in the same way.
It’s a beautiful thing.
Road Trip! Vermont
A drizzly morning turned into a wonderful day as we weaved along Vermont Route 30 and on into Manchester to do some land looking, leaf peeping and apple, cider and pie hunting.
After a hearty breakfast at Cracker Barrel on I-91 in Massachusetts, we headed into Vermont via Route 30, stopping in Dummerston (oh, that beautiful covered bridge.. see previous post HERE).. While in town, we visited Scott Farm. I read an article in this month’s Yankee Magazine about an old state owned 571 acre farm and orchard lovingly cared for and overseen by a fellow named Zeke Goodband who believes in cherishing the heirloom gems of the past that few of us get to experience in todays mass produce world -(think your standard Red Delicious, McIntosh, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious). 100 years ago there were at least 100 other varieties of apple, all with distinct and unique flavors.
While we were at the farm buying some delicious jams, crisp tart Hidden Rose apples and the best apple cider you’ll ever know, Zeke walked into the farm stand. He’s easy to recognize with his gentle expression and long beard. I was thrilled to meet him and told him I so enjoyed the recent article in Yankee Magazine. He is a lovely, quiet, gentle soul and appeared embarrassed at the recognition. The dedication and hard work year round it takes to do what he does, preserving these gems that for a while were all but abandoned, serves us all in an immeasurable way. I wish there were 5,000 more like him.
To read more about Zeke Goodband and the centuries old farm once owned and loved by Rudyard Kipling… article HERE.
Next stop along Route 30 was the Heritage Fair in Newfane. I’ve blogged on it before… the apple pies the church ladies make are divine, as is their corn and potato chowder. Crafters come from all over and their work is beautiful. There is a charming house I am in love with, it’s right on Main Street and I’ve photographed it before.. but it’s worthy of another shot. We also got to listen to the down-home folk music of The Bourbon Shuffle… and there was some tractor lust.
On to Manchester, an upscale Vermont town with many fine shops, dining, book stores, ski slopes such as Bromley and Stratton, … and some gorgeous mountain views. We did some land searching just for the fun of it and found more than one spot we could fall in love with.
See what I mean? *sigh*
Thanks for coming along for the ride –