Hard to believe, but we will soon have been here at High Meadows for 5 years! Still lots to do, but it's nice to sometimes be able to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the inn and vineyard.

Amazing also this 'winter' weather! Sorry for the skiers who are losing valuable time - and this can't be good for the ski resort industry...but from a purely selfish standpoint - it has been lovely to be able to be out in the garden, and by the pond tidying the trails and trimming back the spent flowerbeds...often, we are so busy and so cold - work that should be done in the fall gets put off to the spring - not this year! Even with a cooloff this weekend - it will be nice weather for walking.

This week - Charlottesville Restaurant week! http://cvilleyum.com/ If you are coming to see us - don't miss these great deals.

The 'quest for quiet' has always been here...

Just saw a blurb on the 'Today" show regarding travel trends...the newest 'in' thing is being unplugged! Really??!! Yes, really - it seems people are finally realizing they need what we are offering: an opportunity to unplug yourself. The show highlighted amazing resorts that offered the visitors the option of no tv's, no cell phone service, no wi-fi, and most dramatically - no electricity. I like all of those things - and have enjoyed time myself at places such as these - and have found a nice happy, medium for our guests. Nearly everyone lauds our 'no tv' policy, and loves rediscovering puzzles, books, and games; I am not so sure everyone would or could leave their cell phones behind: we have a few square miles of 'dead zone' here in Central Virginia, and you'd think people were in the middle of the dessert with no food or water, judging by some folks' reactions to not having cell service! And then there is electricity: I admit I am not willing to forgo that here - this is also our home, as well as an inn.

I do think that we might be a good start for someone who craves some quiet, but can't quite be completely disconnected (I'd be uncomfortable with that myself - I have children I worry about). Come see how nice it can be to fall asleep reading instead of to the hum of a tv. Or how relaxing it is to take a walk in the woods, not watch daytime television. Or just to sit and really talk - in person - instead of facebook posts or tweeting!

I was raised in Florida. There is nothing I like more than a long walk on the beach, listening to the waves...now, here in Virginia, it's almost as satisfying to sit in the woods and listen to the quiet of the leaves falling, or the birds - even in winter - fluttering in the underbrush, near the small pond.

High Meadows is so close to DC and Richmond...if you are on a 'quest for quiet' look for us to help you find it in 2012.

The Holidays are officially here at High Meadows! The decorations are up (and almost finished), the fountain has frozen at least once, parties are happening - and guests are shopping!

We have some wonderful local boutique shops - and a great new restaurant here in Scottsville...if you haven't visited us since spring, you should plan a visit this winter - see some new things, visit some new wineries or breweries, and try the new dining spots. SO much going on - including the Scottsville Festival of Lights thru this weekend - our Peacock Tree will be back at HMVI on the 12th - and in the dining room for all the guests to enjoy.

If you are looking for something fun for New Year's - look no further - we are planning a lovely weekend, with picnic lunch to tour the wineries, an evening dinner at High Meadows, complete with local award-winning sparkling wine, and late check-out on New Year's Day...rate is 750. for any room - and after Dec 15th, if we still have any rooms left available - check back for other special offers. Menu still to be determined, but will certainly include King Crab, Beef Tenderloin, and other fancies...

We hope to see our old friends in the new year - Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah - from all fo us at High Meadows Vineyard Inn.

pumpkin photos - and Carving Contest info!

well, the rains weren't so good for the pumpkin crop in Virginia - but we did manage to get hold of some beautiful ones! Lots of fun gourds, too - goosenecks, which will dry hard and can be oiled or made into birdhouses; and fun colorful decorative little guys for Thanksgiving tables. I will say that we have been really needing to keep them up and dry - the last few days of rain have put several to rot - but the deer seem to like those when we put them in the field - and maybe they will sprout next season...

The weekend is going to dry out, and we have a couple of weeks left til Pumpkin Carving in Scottsville! This year, anyone who would like to enter can drop their pumpkin downtown at Victory Hall on Halloween anytime between 10am and 5pm...we will have a nice place spread out, starting from Victory Hall's main doors, and going down Valley street as far as our entries will go! The rules:

1) Bring your pumpkin, already carved, to the drop off site.
2) Provide a battery powered light inside - with batteries - we are avoiding candles this year, please!
3) Fill out a card and number your pumpkin - their will be several fun prizes - we are still rounding up our local judges, we need 3 unbiased locals to help pick the winners.

Categories are yet to be determined...we will need to see what we get - but probably something like: Most Original, Scariest, Best Classic Jack, etc.

Be creative - maybe we will invent a category just for you!!

October...http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Pumpkin time! Our Pumpkin Patch is open - and a great spot for picture taking. It's raining today (so I have time to write) and pictures wouldn't really capture much except...well, rain. So photos will come soon, I promise. In the mean time - the happenings for Scottsville are picking up!

Last week I enjoyed a Hill & Holler Farm Dinner at Blenheim Vineyards and I am looking forward to the next one at Caromont Farms...and hopefully, we will host in the spring! I will have a great package for our guests that will include dinner for two at the table - I am looking forward to participating with such amazing foodie and farmer women, and as a fundraiser for a local non-profit to boot! When the November details come out, I will post - hopefully we can entice a few guests to join us for the experience.

Also coming up - the Virginia Film Festival...lots of events sold out already, Oliver Stone will be here for one; if you are coming anytime from Nov 3 to 6th, check out their webpage - you might score something wonderful!

so - pictures of the pumpkin patch and fall 2011 coming soon. In the meantime, check out the Hill & Holler photos...happy fall!

Fall planting!

Getting the fall garden ready...I can't believe how many weeds took over this summer - more weeds than veggies, really. We did get a few really beautiful butternut squash, one I am saving for Thanksgiving. And of course, through mid July we had a little zucchini...but August? I think I just let everything get taken over - and now I am paying for it! The worst is the long, strong grasses that send runner even under the heavy path mulch layers. There is not a good way other than just pure muscle to get it out...I am digging out the paths and building up the beds a bit, and we have LOTS of lovely compost! Thank you bunny...

So this week, putting in garlic, greens, and maybe a small bed of asparagus crowns...pictures will come soon!


In other High Meadows and Charlottesville news... The first Fluvanna County Wine Festival is coming up - I can't wait to taste the wines from our friends at Thistle Gate!

Pippin Hill continues to be a favourite place to visit - most guests don't want to leave! The wide porches, the beautiful views - and of course the wine and food - I didn't want the day to end when I was up there last time either!

So - life continues on with all of it's beauty, here and everywhere...see you soon!

fall is in the (morning) air!

September...rain has been about all we have seen for a week - my daughter Sophia said just yesterday as the clouds began to break, 'wow - blue sky!'. I love the clear blue autumn skies - and they are in our forecast for the coming week, thank goodness. Nights are in the 60's, early mornings a bit foggy and cool. Days in the high 70's and low 80's - you can't get better apple picking weather!

Carter Mountain Orchard has been really working hard all summer - the peaches were the best ever, I am sorry to see them go - but the APPLES! Gala, Jonagold, Mcintosh - I don't think I have a favourite, til the Pink Ladies in October anyway. Morning crepes are now drizzled in Caramel Apple sauce, and the smell of gingerbread in the kitchen at dawn is so cozy. I am sure it won't be long til the hot cocoa requests are coming in...which leads me to my dream October kitchen purchase: a new cappuccino machine! Frothing milk for hot cocoa and lattes makes me happy, and I hope it will make our guests happy too.

Now, if we could just move a little faster to the crisp nights so we can light the fireplaces!