The recent cold weather has a benefit -- Bryce Resort opened its ski slopes today!
Happy skiing and snow-tubing, everyone!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Busy Saturday with Something for Everyone
We enjoyed a whirlwind tour of our favorite attractions on Saturday.
We began with a "Introduction to Fly Fishing" class for my husband at Murray's Fly Shop in Edinburg. Now that the cabin is finished, he needs a new hobby! Luckily, Harry Murray is the best person to go to for fly fishing and we are blessed to have him nearby and eager to assist newbies! Jeff had a great time and is eager to sign up for future classes.
While Jeff enjoyed his introduction to fishing, the boys and I had fun at Edinburg's playground. If it was raining, we'd planned to go to the town's very nice library, but the sun was shining, so we spent a couple of hours swinging, sliding, and climbing.
After we picked Jeff up, we went to one of our favorite spots for lunch, Woodstock Cafe & Shoppes. The food is great & they love kids....what's not to love?!
We then headed to the cabin to take a walk by the lake and work off some of the wonderful pumpkin swirl cheesecake that we'd enjoyed at lunch. The trees were "naked" as my older son said, but it was still quite beautiful down by the water.
We then picked up some apples and cider from Paugh's Orchard and headed off to my favorite knitting store, Fibersmythe, in Woodstock before we drove home.
I happen to live near several knitting stores, but I am loyal to Fibersmythe. Not only do they have a wonderful selection, but the owner Elizabeth is a true gem, eager to help with patterns and yarn, and then show you how to actually knit the pattern! She even rescued me one day when my son's special blanket developed a hole and needed to be fixed before bedtime! Perhaps realizing that I was in way over my head to fix the problem quickly, Elizabeth went out of her way to fix his blanket herself. I don't go anywhere else.
So, with our apples, cider, yarn, and plans for future fishing trips....we had a great day.
We began with a "Introduction to Fly Fishing" class for my husband at Murray's Fly Shop in Edinburg. Now that the cabin is finished, he needs a new hobby! Luckily, Harry Murray is the best person to go to for fly fishing and we are blessed to have him nearby and eager to assist newbies! Jeff had a great time and is eager to sign up for future classes.
While Jeff enjoyed his introduction to fishing, the boys and I had fun at Edinburg's playground. If it was raining, we'd planned to go to the town's very nice library, but the sun was shining, so we spent a couple of hours swinging, sliding, and climbing.
After we picked Jeff up, we went to one of our favorite spots for lunch, Woodstock Cafe & Shoppes. The food is great & they love kids....what's not to love?!
We then headed to the cabin to take a walk by the lake and work off some of the wonderful pumpkin swirl cheesecake that we'd enjoyed at lunch. The trees were "naked" as my older son said, but it was still quite beautiful down by the water.
We then picked up some apples and cider from Paugh's Orchard and headed off to my favorite knitting store, Fibersmythe, in Woodstock before we drove home.
I happen to live near several knitting stores, but I am loyal to Fibersmythe. Not only do they have a wonderful selection, but the owner Elizabeth is a true gem, eager to help with patterns and yarn, and then show you how to actually knit the pattern! She even rescued me one day when my son's special blanket developed a hole and needed to be fixed before bedtime! Perhaps realizing that I was in way over my head to fix the problem quickly, Elizabeth went out of her way to fix his blanket herself. I don't go anywhere else.
So, with our apples, cider, yarn, and plans for future fishing trips....we had a great day.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Peggy's Recipe and Paugh's Orchard
The Shenandoah Valley has numerous orchards, and we are blessed with a wonderful, family-owned orchard right near the cabin. We stop at Paugh's Orchard (off of 42) whenever we are in the area. This fall, Mr. and Mrs. Paugh have a wonderful selection of apples, cider, pumpkins, mums, and even butternut squash. They've recently expanded their operation and are even offering "pick your own" apples this year.
Earlier in the season, we bought bushels and bushels of apples to make our own applesauce. On our last trip, we bought Gala and Stayman apples -- perfect for apple pies. And, I don't make apple pie without having my Cousin Peggy's recipe close by. Cousin Peggy makes the best apple pie.
I haven't managed to make a decent homemade pie crust yet, but I rely on Peggy for the filling. Here is her simple, but wonderful, recipe:
Sometimes, I make a crumb crust. Other times, I use a double-crust, like last time.
It's a beautful, fall day and more apples are waiting on the kitchen counter. Apple pie, anyone?
Earlier in the season, we bought bushels and bushels of apples to make our own applesauce. On our last trip, we bought Gala and Stayman apples -- perfect for apple pies. And, I don't make apple pie without having my Cousin Peggy's recipe close by. Cousin Peggy makes the best apple pie.
I haven't managed to make a decent homemade pie crust yet, but I rely on Peggy for the filling. Here is her simple, but wonderful, recipe:
Sometimes, I make a crumb crust. Other times, I use a double-crust, like last time.
Either way, it's good!
It's a beautful, fall day and more apples are waiting on the kitchen counter. Apple pie, anyone?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Fall Activities for October 25th
There are a couple of fun events in the area this weekend:
Fall Fest at Bryce Resort is from 10 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, rain or shine. It's a day filled with kids’ activities, mountain activities including mountain boarding, grass skiing, and the zip line. If it isn't raining, the day will start with a family hike to Hunkerson Gap at 9am. From 10am to 3pm there will be all sorts of kid's activities in the ski lodge – crafts, pumpkin carving and decorating, and even the moon bounce out back! There will be hot cider and cookies.
http://www.bryceresort.com/events.html
Halloween on Woodstock's Court Square is from 1 -2:30 p.m. on Saturday October 25th. Activities include Trick-or-Treating at Participating Businesses, Mask Making, Pumpkin Painting, Scarecrow Building, Great Pumpkin Contest and MORE! (Please bring clothing for your scarecrows-we will provide the rest.)
In the event of rain outdoor activities will be canceled.
Admission Free
http://va-woodstock.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=176
Fall Fest at Bryce Resort is from 10 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, rain or shine. It's a day filled with kids’ activities, mountain activities including mountain boarding, grass skiing, and the zip line. If it isn't raining, the day will start with a family hike to Hunkerson Gap at 9am. From 10am to 3pm there will be all sorts of kid's activities in the ski lodge – crafts, pumpkin carving and decorating, and even the moon bounce out back! There will be hot cider and cookies.
http://www.bryceresort.com/events.html
Halloween on Woodstock's Court Square is from 1 -2:30 p.m. on Saturday October 25th. Activities include Trick-or-Treating at Participating Businesses, Mask Making, Pumpkin Painting, Scarecrow Building, Great Pumpkin Contest and MORE! (Please bring clothing for your scarecrows-we will provide the rest.)
In the event of rain outdoor activities will be canceled.
Admission Free
http://va-woodstock.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=176
What a Beautiful View!
We love to visit the town of Luray, right near the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. It also offers great food, wonderful shops, attractions like Luray Caverns, and beautiful views like the one above.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Don't Miss Route 11 Chips!
Our cabin is a wonderful place to relax, reading in front of the fireplace or sitting in one of the deck chairs admiring the beautiful scenery. However, with two young kids, I don't get a lot of "down time" to enjoy that aspect of the cabin. Instead, I get to do lots of fun activities, like visit the Route 11 Potato Chip factory.
Route 11 chips are great, and we are lucky to have a factory with a new retail section just down the road from the cabin. Off of I-81 (exit 269), the factory offers self-guided tours (& lots of samples!).
We checked it out on a dreary Friday afternoon, and my kids had a wonderful time watching the chip-making process from the picture windows around the factory. They also tried out lots of chips, finally deciding that Sweet Potato was their favorite. We bought a bunch of mini-packets of the different varieties to make everyone in the family happy!
Route 11 chips are great, and we are lucky to have a factory with a new retail section just down the road from the cabin. Off of I-81 (exit 269), the factory offers self-guided tours (& lots of samples!).
We checked it out on a dreary Friday afternoon, and my kids had a wonderful time watching the chip-making process from the picture windows around the factory. They also tried out lots of chips, finally deciding that Sweet Potato was their favorite. We bought a bunch of mini-packets of the different varieties to make everyone in the family happy!
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