Meadowlark Inn Bed and Breakfast

Heifer Stroll

2008-05-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

We are only five weekends away from a wonderful event - The Strolling of the Heifers. The newborn cows from all the surrounding farms are the center of attention and actually head the parade. Following the cows all decked out in flower wreaths is a stream of vintage and modern tractors. A real celebration of the rural way of life here and something you will never forget- is always held the first full weekend in June! This is actually a three day event with festivities, local food and interesting conferences -this year the highlight is ‘Live Green’ Theme of 7th Annual Strolling of the Heifers Parade & Festival; "How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Help Protect Planet ". Live music, fabulous art and lots of activities (and free ice cream) for the young and not so young. Wear your overalls!

...check out the website http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/event/index.php

Time Away

2008-04-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

We just returned from the ocean! We took some time off and visited some B & B's on the Cape...neat to have someone make us breakfast and make our bed- (well we actually made the bed most days to keep in practice)! We did alot of walking along the ocean shore and just listened to the waves. We found sea glass and shells and took it all in.
We came home to STILL find snow on the ground and huge mounds remain from coming off the roof. BUT bulbs are popping up out of the ground and I am getting hopeful. The forsythia bushes are yellowing up too!
But for you ski and boarding enthusiasts, Mt. Snow has no official closing date yet for this spring!
With over 14 feet of natural snowfall coupled with the vast amounts of snow produced by the fan guns there, there is a healthy base layer on the mountain and why Mt. Snow has decided to set no official closing date.
So come to southern Vermont, have a great spring ski day and rest your weary heads at the Meadowlark Inn.
Cheers!

Salamander Crossing/ Bonneyvale Environmental Education Center

2008-03-25T05:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Well spring IS here, but it was 10 degrees last night,with snow in the forecast for tonight. But I did hear the robins singing yesterday morning and I did see a flock of bluebirds in our giant pine tree out back a week ago, so there is hope.
Last week we took our young neighbor Julian to the Bonneyvale Environmental Education Center's talk on how to be salamander crossing guards. We may be the only B&B next to an official salamander crossing site! Every year neighbors gather by the pond next to the Inn with rain gear on with reflective tape, flashlights, a pail, a spatula and snacks, in the dark to help amphibians cross to the vernal pools to reproduce. Sometimes they must cross busy roads to get to the ponds and that is where crossing guards get into action. The guards warn cars to slow down their travel to allow these little guys to get to their destination. There is usually a coordinator at each site and we count the ones that get across as well as the ones that do not make it. The conditions have to be just right though! This special time usually occurs between mid March to late April. The ground needs to be thawed, it has to be above 40 degrees and raining or very wet. The most common amphibians likely to be out are the Spotted Salamander, the Jefferson Salamander, the Spring Peeper and the Wood Frog. For more information about this special event go to: www.beec.org and click onto "special events". See you at the crossing!

2008-03-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hi there...Lucia here. WELL! We sprung ahead last weekend one hour and WOW I feel like I am still recovering. But believe me, I am a spring, summer, autmun girl with a wish for plenty of sunshine and wanting the best of the days!! OK am I anxious for spring? Well when it comes to this point of the year after greater than 180 inches of snow I feel rightful in saying YES!!
Last week I went to our favorite farm Lilac Ridge Farm, where we buy eggs and their 2008 maple syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. So we must understand what the farmers do, in the midst of milking cows, then moving on to the sap boil down for syrup. . . Sun up to sun down and then more hours beyond, the farmers and friends make syrup. It can be a great family get together, where mom and daughters and husbands and son - in laws and grand kids get together to help with a very healthty activity with lunch right in the midst of the sugar house, then just continuing on to boil down the sap. Dedication to the entire process from the family is key. The season is very short and the whole year's suppl must be made while the sap is flowing. What a wonderful liquid gold over the whole wheat pancakes with blueberries gathered and frozen last fall!
When I went to the farm the other day, Bev, the matriarch, was sitting with some of her grand boys. They were busy playing a board game, but Bev pulled us out of the intenseness of the game to point out that WOW daffodil bulbs were popping out up the sunny side of the house. Yes of course, the sunny sides of the houses! Well we still wait, as we have still so much snow on the ground, but still a great place to come and visit. Ciao my friends!

Having Faith!

2008-03-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

Ah, springtime in Paris, oops I mean Vermont. Well as I type this, just two weeks from the spring equinox, the ground is covered with alot of crunchy snow and the wind is howling at 40 mph! Doesn't feel like spring when you run down the road in the morning with the dog for her morning ritual dressed in layers, all hunkered down. But, the birds are singing their springtime songs and the days are longer and it feels like it is getting closer. Once the snow melts we make daily walks around the grounds to see what bulbs are emerging from the ground. It makes the planting in October all worthwhile!
We look forward to the warming days, the first spring bulbs to bloom (We have planted hundreds every year for the past five years!), the leaves and flowering trees to open and of course the nightly serenade of the peepers and bull frogs in the pond next door. We hope to welcome you to the Meadowlark Inn to experience the beauty of springtime in Vermont! But for now it is still a winter wonderland around here.
Lucia and Debbie, Innkeepers

Women's Film Festival in Brattleboro!

2008-03-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

March brings a wonderful event in Brattleboro to break up the urge to hibernate! The Women's Film Festival is a benefit for the Women's Crisis Center of Windham County. There are many wonderful films this year including the Special Feature "PERSEPOLIS-( a 2008 Oscar Nominee). All in all there are 30 films by and about women from all over the world. You can see more information about this years festival online @ www.womensfilmfestival.org
We are offering a special midweek rate of $109/night plus tax during the festival Sunday - Thursday . Grab a friend and plan to attend!