We have been blessed with the privilege of meeting the most amazing people, from all over the United States and the world.  So many times, there is a “spark” or a connection, that makes us feel that our guests are people we have known our whole lives.

This year, our reflections have our hearts heavy.  I would like to share with you the blessing of “our little Alice”.  Alice, was a lovely little lady who stayed with us for 10 days at the end of August, for 8 years.  Prior to staying with us, Alice stayed with our friends Kevin and Anita for well over 20 years, when they owned the Village Inn next door to us.  Alice never learned to drive, so every year she would take the bus up to Woodstock, from Palmer  MA, and Anita, the wonderful person that she is…..would pick Alice up in White River Junction.  Truth be told, Alice became a member of their family.  Alice always stayed in the same room.  Kevin flirted with her, their two sons, Michael and Brian, grew up before her eyes, Anita spent a great deal of time chatting with her….as dear friends do with each other.

Alice loved Woodstock.  A simple statement, but she should have been the poster child for Woodstock.  She loved shopping in the village……she loved clothes and especially jewelry, so she spent many hours in the shops.  Everyone knew Alice.  Alice also loved her afternoon coffee and cookies at the Woodstock Inn.  This adorable little lady would walk into the lobby, and would chat with everyone.  All the staff there knew her.   She also loved having dinner in the Tavern……We actually think it wasn’t so much the food, as it was the flirting she did with the bartenders!! She would also at least once or twice during her visit, have lunch at Simon Pearce with a friend (if memory serves me …..she met this friend while having coffee at the inn).  Her friend, would drive down from Middlebury and off they would go to lunch.  And of course, many nights, she would have dinner in Kevin and Anita’s restaurant in the Village Inn.

So,  as I said earlier, Kevin and Anita, sold their inn……Alice comes to stay with us.  Now, Anita  suggested to Alice, that she would be happy with us, but Alice is a bit nervous.  For 20 plus years, she looked forward to her tradition of staying with them and wasn’t keen on change.   The other concern she had was, if you have stayed with us, you know, breakfast is served at one seating, and all of our guests are together, chatting.  One of the reasons that Alice  felt comfortable at  Kevin and Anita’s, was she could dine alone at her own table.   Her reason for this was…….she felt a bit shy, not thinking she would have anything to contribute to the conversation AND  Alice was an extremely slow eater.  She always said, she didn’t want to hold others up, with her slowness.  The first year she shows up (yes, Anita was still picking her up at the station), at the Canterbury House, she promptly explains this to us.  Bob and I try to reassure her, she will be fine, but we realize that until she joins everyone, there is nothing we can say to ease her fears.

Alice’s first morning of breakfast…..Success!  She tells us she loved the different conversations….didn’t contribute a lot, but I would tell her, you don’t have to, you can just enjoy listening.  Although, all of our other guests, always were easily able to draw Alice into the conversations.  We watched over her visits with us, how  she was coming downstairs, earlier and earlier, to get “her seat” at the head of the table, and  Bob and I watched as Alice came to life……….her cheeks would get all rosy and her eyes would sparkle.  This “shy” little lady was coming out of her shell.   Many a morning, Alice was drawing the quieter guests into the conversations.  Our own Canterbury House Ambassador!

Okay, remember I said her other concern was she ate too slowly…Yes, she did eat slowly, but this tiny, sweet lady, could hold her own in any eating contest in the world!  She ate like a horse!!!!!   And………had a stomach of steel.  She could eat anything

We watched each year, Alice’s energy fade.  Her legs caused her pain and she had limited  mobility.  She was using a cane to walk and she really could not venture into town, like she used to.  Her friend stopped coming for their Simon Pearce lunches and she only went to the Tavern for dinner a couple of nights.  Even her coffee and cookies in the afternoon, were less.  Many nights, we would get her favorite cold cuts and salads and she would have dinner “at home”.  Some nights Bob and I would convince her to have dinner with us.  After dinner, she would wander into the living room, we would pull the wing chair up close to the television, and she would watch Jeopardy (munching on her chocolate stash).  After Jeopardy, she retired for the evening.

Three years ago, Alice stopped coming to Woodstock. We didn’t hear from her.  Anita would call to chat with her and it was evident that Alice was failing.  Summers weren’t the same without Alice.  The end of August, felt empty.  This week, Anita called me to say she had tried to call Alice and her telephone had been disconnected.  She didn’t have a good feeling and did what we all dread doing…….she searched the obituaries.  Sadly, she found Alice’s obituary.  On March 4, 2013, Alice passed away at the age of 89 years old.  For Kevin, Anita, Bob and I, we grieve for the loss of this dear sweet lady.  With our grief, we smile too,…..we were so blessed to have had Alice in our lives.

We miss you, Alice.

I have many many traditions that are important to me, but one in particular is my annual  making of the Pizzelles.  Those wonderful, crispy, light anise tasting waffle cookies that my Italian family (and millions more) grew up with.  These cookies weren’t only served for Christmas.  You would find them at “life’s monumental events”.  Baby Christenings, First Holy Communions, Confirmations and of course, Weddings.  There was always a tray of them out, looking beautiful with the Jordan almonds scattered over them.

My earliest memory of Pizzelles was as a young child (maybe 5 or 6 years old), going to my paternal grandmothers’ house in South Philadelphia.  Adeline, my grandmother, was an amazing lady, whose culinary talents were extraordinary.  She would cook amazing meals.  She would never sit down with the family to eat….you pretty much ate nonstop.

So, there I was sitting in her kitchen, as she was making these wonderful cookies.  Now, when SHE made her cookies, it was NOT with an electric iron that made 2 cookies at a time, she was using an iron that made 1 cookie at a time over the gas burner.  She would make the cookie, and when it was done, (she knew exactly, that moment when it was perfectly colored!) she would turn around and open the iron and lay the cookie on a kitchen towel to firm up.  Her iron made a snowflake shaped cookie, that had beautiful points around its edges.  I would quietly sit there, watching her cookie making rythm and as she would turn towards the stove…. I would break off the points of each cookie and eat them! Each cookie would lose its snowflake shape and become very rounded.

Now, the OTHER thing you should know about my Grandmother Adeline…..she was an incredibly generous lady, whose  salty language could give a Gordon Ramsey, or a Housewife of (your choice, pick the city!) a lesson or two in ahem, salty words.  When she realized what I had done to her cookies…..an interesting stream of words flowed!  I should add though, I knew by the big smile and the laughter that came with those words, she wasn’t really angry with me.  So that year, when everyone in the family was sent home with their box of pizzelles….they were pointless, AND everyone knew why and who was responsible.  From that point (pardon the pun) forward, those cookies became an extremely important part of my holiday experience.  That simple moment of sitting in her kitchen with her and the pizzelles was a lifetime memory.

So, all these years later, as I make my pizzelles, for family, friends and Canterbury House guests, I have a smile on my face, remembering that wonderful Grand mom Adeline moment.  Yes, Tevye…..Traditions, are wonderful.  Happy Traditions everyone.

The Santa that started it all!

Here it is, the day after Thanksgiving and Bob and I are continuing traditions that were started when we were both kids….decorating for Christmas.  The lights were strung outside, decorations were taken out and the decorating began.   Now, in those days, the Christmas tree didn’t go up until Christmas Eve, aah, life WAS simpler.  Our goal now is to have our tree up and decorated by Sunday.  It looks like we are on schedule……Lights are up outside, decorations are being placed  about the house, and for me…..that means my Santa collection comes out….Yea!

Many, many years ago, my best friend, Kathy, was living in Michigan and I went to visit her….We were shopping in one of the little shops in her town and  I bought my first Santa.  The following year, my mom and I were shopping at the Cherry Hill Mall (Cherry Hill, NJ) and there was a seasonal kiosk set up selling Santa Claus figurines.  They were made by the same company as my Michigan Santa.  I, of course, had to add a Santa, to go with my Michigan Santa,  thus beginning my treasured collection.  For many years, (even after moving out of South Jersey) my mom and I would go to the Cherry Hill Mall to the same little kiosk to buy a new Santa.  When we moved to Vermont, I was able to find my Santas in Weston and Manchester  and the collection grew.  My collecting has slowed down because I have quite an assortment of them, so…I am more selective in my choices.  For me, it is all about their faces……if I find I am drawn to the “twinkle in their eye”, then I buy one.  I also have the problem of where to store them.  We already have a HUGE Rubbermaid storage box,  to store them, and closet space in this 132 year old house is at a premium, so I haven’t added every year.  That is okay though, cause, I truly look forward to reacquainting myself, every year with my “family of Santas.”

These guys, always bring a smile to my face and flood me with memories of wonderful holidays that Bob and I have shared with each other and our families and friends.  Especially all of our Canterbury House guests, who have become family.    We would love for you to spend time with us and my Santas, during the holiday season.  By the end of this weekend, the Canterbury House will be all decked out.  Come visit with us this holiday season and of course, enjoy the magic  of Woodstock.   Give us a call and book your stay.

PS….I only posted a few pictures of “My Guys”.  There are many more to see!

This is what I saw coming through the village of Woodstock this morning, Monday November 19th @ 8:00 am.  It is official…..the holidays are coming, the holidays are coming !  Chippers a local tree service company again has graciously donated their time and equipment to give Woodstock it’s holiday twinkle.

This is such a great time of year in Woodstock Vt.  This community doesn’t mess around with decking the halls with cheer.  By Wassail week-end, Santa will want to live here instead of the North Pole.   If you have never experienced a Woodstock (or for that matter Vermont) holiday season….you are missing out on a heartwarming, holiday of a lifetime.  Wassail week-end is just the beginning, and it goes straight through to the New Year.

Come share this magical time with us.  We are full for the Wassail Week-end festivities, but we still have availability for Christmas and Christmas Week through New Years.   Make your plans now…don’t wait.   And of course, the probability of a “White Christmas” is pretty darn good.  In our 15 years here, we haven’t had a holiday season without snow on the ground.   In fact, there hasn’t been a Christmas Eve that there hasn’t been  a few (or more than a few) snowflakes falling!

We have been indulging (actually, OVER indulging) in the Caramel for quite awhile.  Pretty decadent on just about ANYTHING!  Of course, we are on their email list, so we hear about anything new going on at the Farm.  Well, we recently got an email about their new Salted Bourbon Caramel and we couldn’t wait to try it.  Of course with it being Foliage season, I just didn’t have a chance to get out to get some.  It didn’t stop me from talking about it at breakfast each morning with guests.  So much so, MANY and I mean MANY of our guests, wanted directions to the farm to do a bit of sampling.  There wasn’t a day that someone didn’t come home in the afternoon, saying that they went to FAT TOAD FARM.  They took the tour, sampled cheese and of course, all caramel flavors.  Each person would hand Bob or me their cheese purchases to store in the fridge for them.  Being the good innkeeper, we would, happily.  They would tell us about how good the caramel sauces were, and how yummy the new Salted Bourbon Caramel was.  Now, I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way, BUT…..NOT ONE PERSON OFFERED US A TASTE OF THE SALTED BOURBON CARAMEL!!!  I turned them on to it in the first place….just kidding, truthfully, I don’t want to share mine!!

So, we took our tour, met the goats and various other animals and then we SAMPLED cheese and of course, caramel.   Even though we have had their cheeses and caramel before, we didn’t want to be rude, so we tasted everything.  Wasn’t anything we didn’t like.  Now, tasting the Salted Bourbon Caramel……oh  my, it was oh so good!   Lastly, we shopped, and shopped some more…..cheese and caramel (especially caramel) came home with us.  It was a fun afternoon.

Now, remember, when you come to visit the Canterbury House…..Fat Toad Farm should be on your “Things to do list”.  Truly, a Vermont Classic experience.   Oh, and might I offer this little tidbit of advice……Check the bottom of your shoes, BEFORE you get into the car…..I didn’t…….a memento I didn’t quite want!!!    Check out Fat Toad Farm website…..you can order online AND they have a list of stores that carry their products, so there might be one near you!   www.fattoadfarm.com.

Hope you enjoy the tree…..Stay tuned, I am hoping to get out over the week-end and snap more pictures.  I know I am a bit partial, but Woodstock is just gorgeous in its fall finery!

September 29, 2012

October 2, 2012

October 4, 2011 Right before Sunset

The restaurant….Worthy Burger, is a new concept in this area.  They are doing Craft Beers and Burgers.  Everything served is locally sourced, which is pretty cool. Beer, beef, cheeses, produce,  etc., you name it….it comes from Vermont.   The building is an old Freight Building.  Not fancy, but perfect for beer and burgers.

We ordered Burgers….both of us had blue cheese, Bob added bacon, I added heirloom tomato.  They come with lettuce and onion.  You can build pretty much whatever you want on your burger.  We also split an order of french fries.  We didn’t get beer (those of you who know us, we aren’t beer drinkers), but we did try their house made cream soda (Bob)and their orange soda (me). 

Now for our impressions……Cream soda was tasty.  Orange soda didn’t have  enough of a orange taste for me ( I DID grow up on Orange CRUSH soda).  French Fries were really good…..yes, they were a bit greasy AND salty….EXACTLY how  french fries should be.  Come on, once in awhile greasy and salty are okay!!!  Last but not least, THE BURGER…Burgers were good…..juicy and fresh, nice bun, we liked that the lettuce was crunchy, not wilted.  Blue cheese was very good…could have had more….but maybe that is us…we like LOTS of blue cheese.  Bacon, flavorful and crispy,  Heirloom tomato was excellent.  Their menu states that burgers come pink inside….ours were a tad more to the medium well side (we tend to like ours more medium to medium rare).  I wasn’t terribly upset about the burger doneness, cause, they are only open a little over 3 weeks, and everyone and everything is new…..I know this little kink will be worked out.  The staff is friendly and willing to chat, which is nice.  You feel the excitement of this new venture.

So, our overall first impression…..we will be back, need to try the other burgers.  It seems to me to be a place, that would be fun to go with a group.  Laid back, fun atmosphere, and burgers and beer.  Winning combination.

Anyway, I digress, even though Bob didn’t have his hiking buddy, Dan….he ventured out, took the short walk into town, and hiked Mt Tom.  Here are a few of the pictures he took along the way up and at the top.   Enjoy!!