Wells, Vermont • 802.325.2829
Over 240 Five Star Reviews ▪ 100% Guest-Focused ▪ 51% Repeat Guests This Year
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Vermont Autumn Road Trip... The Colors Were Spectacular! |
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Hello Everyone!
Paying Attention to the Moment is to say, pay more attention to the subtleties of presence. Don’t let deep-mind distractions interfere with why you’re here in Vermont. We routinely take the time to immerse ourselves in the moment, to be mindful of our surroundings and experiencing what's happening in our senses right now.
Each photograph in this newsletter expresses a connection to life… the pine tree aroma while standing precariously on an outcropping of rocks, being in the presence of George Washington, sounds of rushing water below while inside a covered bridge or the fragrance of Kentucky bourbon, but nothing more in-the-moment then being surrounded by The Great Masters—Renior, Degas, van Gogh, Homer, Cassatt, Manet, Monet, Pissarro, and Goya... at The Clark Art Institute.
All our best,
Kay & Glenn
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This was a great year for picking fruit at Champlain Orchards! And, we always picked near perfect ripeness… cherries, raspberries, plums, peaches, pears and apples—the apples were delicious this year, we only picked 6-8 different varieties. |
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The Most Interesting Men
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The Most Interesting Man in the World, seen here at the Dorset Inn, with our guest, The Most Interesting Man in Chagrin Falls, Ohio… we all can remember those Hemingway-esque Dos Equis beer commercials… "Stay thirsty, my friends." |
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It has been said that Peacham, in the northeast kingdom, is the most photographed town in New England. In its September 2005 issue, Yankee Magazine designated Peacham as the best village in New England.
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Perspective Comes from Encountering Something Completely New... |
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George Washington at The Clark... |
George Washington’s image first became popular in America around 1775, the year he was named commander in chief of the Continental army. This portrait is among many variants that Stuart based on his famous, unfinished study of President Washington done from life in 1796. Magnificent Painting!
Gilbert Stuart, George Washington, 1796–1803, Oil on canvas. Acquired by Sterling Clark, 1911. The Clark Art Institute, 1955.16.
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West Arlington Bridge • Arlington, Vermont |
Sunday drives are magical especially in Vermont whether you're destination-oriented or just like to tour the rolling hills alongside a meandering river. No matter how many times you’ve seen a covered bridge, each visit is met with a new sense of exhilaration. |
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First Fill Spirits • Saratoga Springs |
We visited this new boutique whiskey shop with our guests last month. Charles, one of the owners, comfortably distilled the complicated world of whiskey in less than an hour—pun intended. Speaking in plain language, he easily moved from single malts and blends, to grain and world whiskies. We purchased a bottle of New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon (65% corn) and a bottle of 12-year-old Glenfarclas Single Malt Scotch. This was truly a wonderful experience!
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Connecting Our Guests to New Experiences… |
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Lake Willoughby • Northeast Kingdom • Vermont
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Wandering in wonderland… Nothing quite prepares you for the magnificence of Lake Willoughby; also known as the “Lucerne of America” for its similarity to Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne. Our Vermont fjord is only second to those found in Norway—this glacial gash with crystal-clear water is listed as a National Natural Landmark. Aerial Photographer and new friend, Derrick Mills, not only captures the lake at absolute peak, but captures its beauty like no other. This is going to be a winter visit for us in the coming months!
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Hiking Bald Mountain • Bennington, Vermont |
We began our 4½ hour, 5-mile hike on the east side of Bald Mountain (Woodford Side) where we accessed the Glastenbury Wilderness with our neighbors, whom are accomplished international hikers. We reached the summit in just over two hours where we were socked in by fog and dense snow flurries that completely obstructed our view of Bennington. During our descent, now on the western side of the mountain, we reached the “white rocks”, a dramatic rocky outcrop easily visible from Bennington. The views of Bennington farther down the mountain were absolutely breathtaking and well worth our vigorous journey… we’re planning more hikes this winter!
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Pierre-Auguste Renoir • Venice, The Doge's Palace • The Clark Art Institute
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When Renoir first visited Venice in 1881, he was drawn to one of its most famous sights: the façade of the Doge’s Palace across from the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. This view was very popular with artists; Renoir joked that “there were at least six of us queuing up to paint it.” The buildings are painted with considerable accuracy, the soft pinks and creams of their sunlit walls contrasting with the rich blue of the sky and reflecting in the undulating waters of the canal. (Our photo, The Clark's content)
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Quechee Gorge – “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon” |
Derrick Mills gives us a stunning view of Vermont’s most spectacular natural wonder, Quechee Gorge. Enjoy the beautiful vistas 168 feet from the bridge above the Ottaquechee River. Many of our guests visited “The Gorge” this year, but Derrick gives us a unique view that includes the Vermont autumn at its best! And, last week’s guests traversed the easy 2.7-mile Quechee Gorge Trail below! |
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Winslow Homer • Playing a Fish • The Clark Art Institute |
When Homer began this oil painting in 1875, he based it on a watercolor he made of his friend Eliphalet Terry during a fishing expedition to the Adirondack Mountains in New York a year earlier. While Terry is recognizable in the watercolor, in this painting he has become the quintessential outdoorsman—alone in a serene landscape, focused on reeling in his catch. Homer reworked this picture twenty years later, turning the original rowboat into a canoe and giving the blue sky the pink and ivory glow of twilight. (Our photo, The Clark's content)
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Homer-esque... Lake St. Catherine • Poultney, Vermont |
If Winslow Homer were alive today, and wanted to stray from his beloved Adirondack Mountains, we might have found Winslow in the wilderness here on Lake St. Catherine, perhaps late in the day, between felled trees, secluded just off-trail with enough lake to make it onto the canvas… weeks before visiting “The Clark”, I took this photo at the Lake St. Catherine State Park campground area where we had cocktails with new Airstream friends from New Jersey... this was there view!
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The Brilliance of Lake Willoughby Comes Alive... Again! |
New Hampshire drone and night photographer, Abhijit Patel, gives us an intimate perspective of the lake—a Sunday drive we must all take! The Willoughby State Forest encompasses 7,300 acres in northeastern Vermont, and the lake itself is 1,643 acres with a depth in excess of 300 feet. Click on the photo for Abhijit's Instagram page—all the photos are stunning!
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Dutch Baby... Is On Our Menu
Sometimes called a German pancake, a Dutch Baby is a big, puffy, soufflé-like, family-style pancake with a custardy center that’s baked in a sizzling-hot buttered skillet. It’s like a crêpe, a pancake, and a popover all rolled into one. Let us know if you want the recipe!
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Happy Thanksgiving & thank you for reading our newsletter!
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