Wells, Vermont • 802.325.2829
Over 240 Five Star Reviews ▪ 100% Guest-Focused ▪ 51% Repeat Guests This Year
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Winter's First Appearance... Snow & 19 Hours Without Power! |
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Hello Everyone and Happy December!
COVID-19 has disrupted supply chains around the world, and the curious consideration of more economic lockdowns, more shortages and how to appropriately respond was the impetus of our December Newsletter. The good news is, Vermont products are abundant; we have everything you need right here. We have selected thirteen different products—all of which we use, most with a story, and all of which we highly recommend. We could list another fifty items, but we listed only those products that you can easily purchase online. If you need help with gift ideas not seen here, just give us a call and we’ll help you find that special gift.
Kay joins me in wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!
All our best – Kay & Glenn
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All my socks are either Darn Tough or from Orvis, which I think are made by Darn Tough. I have over 20 pairs and counting, and, yes, they’re all merino-wool. I wear these socks all year long—especially in the summer! My sister once said, “Wearing these socks is like having a party for your feet.” Their comfort is simply indescribable. The best part, they are unconditionally guaranteed for life! |
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Whether working remotely or relaxing at “the inn”, you want to be dressed as comfortably as possible. We have found the best comfort combination for lounging about while staying Vermont-warm. We love our Green Mountain Flannel Lounge Pants, they're incredibly thick and luxurious—a must have. And, that’s the original Champion Reverse Weave Sweatshirt.
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All my clothing essentials come from Orvis—everything, almost without exception. Everyone in the area wears Orvis clothing; it’s easily discernible. Classic rugged sophistication with a hint of outdoorsman is the perfect Vermont combination for any occasion. If you haven’t visited their flagship store in Manchester, which is stunning, visit their website this holiday season!
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Perspective Comes from Encountering Something Completely New... |
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Jasper Hill Farm... Award-Winning Cheese |
We received a curated collection of artisan cheeses a few months back, and vowed then to share our experience with everyone. This was both elegant and delicious; and exciting to open and share. Let their cheese monger help you put together an incredible assortment for your family and friends! The cheese-tower in the photo is their Whitney cheese, a Jasper Hill Creamery original, inspired by the classic mountain cheeses of Europe. |
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Dorset Daughters Fine Artisanal Soaps |
We’ve been using Dorset Daughters soap for 6-7 years—we once offered this soap to our guests. We spoke recently with Carrie, the owner, and decided to begin offering her soap again next year. Carrie’s soaps are formulated with her signature blend of organic oils to be tough on dirt, and a full 10% shea butter to be gentle on your skin—scented with 100% pure essential oils, and are free of sulfates, artificial colors, artificial fragrances, phthalates, and palm oil. |
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Dankin Farm • Ferrisburgh, Vermont |
You already know that we now exclusively serve Dakin Farm Cob-Smoked Bacon & Big Link Smoked Sausage. The Boston Globe made it a top pick from sources east of the Mississippi. Take a look at their incredible range of gift samplers—all great holiday gifts! Our favorite is the, Most Impressive Gift. This is what Vermont tastes like...
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Connecting Our Guests to New Experiences… |
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Danforth Pewter • Middlebury, Vermont |
In 1755, in what was then still a British colony, Thomas Danforth II opened a pewter workshop in Middletown, Connecticut. Thomas passed the family business down to his children, who passed it along through the generations for over a century, until the last of the first line of Danforth artisans, Thomas Danforth Boardman, worked in his pewter shop until he died in 1873.
For the next one hundred years, the Danforths’ metalworking tools lay dormant. But in 1975, something remarkable happened that would give new life to the tradition. Today, at Pond Mountain Inn, we are delighted to share our love for their hand-spun Skipper oil lamps that are always lit for breakfast on cloudy days and their Seaport oil lamp (above) that sits in our gathering room waiting for the next snowy night. Their President’s Beer Mug with George Washington Coin is among my favorite pieces—it’s a work of art; please have a look!
Some of the pieces made by colonial and early American Danforths now live in the Smithsonian, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and many other historical museums. To learn more about Danforth Pewter, they invite you to visit their workshop in the heart of Middlebury.
Our photo. Abbreviated content from the Danforth website.
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Vermont Wagyu • Springfield, Vermont |
Seasoned modestly with salt & pepper, and grilled to perfection as we all slowly savored steaks so delicious that each could easily exceed $150 at any premier New York City restaurant. We sliced through each piece of Wagyu with less effort than it takes to cut a wedge of soft Camembert. Without getting into the chemistry of beef flavor, it’s nearly impossible to describe the tenderness, slight chew and juiciness of what now has become the best steak we’ve ever tasted. Each steak had consistent well-developed marbling throughout, with an interesting outer-layer of savory fat that most certainly contributes to the overall unique flavor composition. See Their Curated Series of Gourmet Gift Boxes.
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Simon Pearce • Quechee, Vermont
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Our guests love Simon Pearce! Voted one of "America's Most Romantic Restaurants" by Travel and Leisure and recipient of the Wine Spectator "Best Award of Excellence" is one of the many ways to experience Simon Pearce.
Best known for exquisite hand-crafted glassware and hand-thrown pottery. We watched glowing raw glass being transformed into necessary luxuries using centuries-old traditions by skilled artisans… The Hydro Power Plant harnesses the natural energy of the falling water to produce the power that drives the glass furnaces – Fascinating. There’s something here for everyone... click on the photo to see everything!
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J.H. Forge Custom Knife Maker • Pawlet, Vermont |
These knives are awesome, but wait until you see them in person! Several of our guests have purchased custom knives from Jim, and we have too. And, many others simply visit the website and buy online.
Jim Hurlburt, the owner, not only creates custom knives, but a variety of other tools. Jim is incredibly interesting and has a full machine shop on Route 30 in Pawlet, and a few years ago Jim built a 1930s era 30’ Chris-Craft Mahogany Runabout.
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Stave Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles • Norwich, Vermont |
“Christmas in the City”… That’s New York City!
Artist, Bill Bell
Click on the photo to see the completed puzzle.
The Ultimate Puzzling Experience… The Rolls Royce of wooden jigsaw puzzles... Luxurious, Unique, Devilish, and Fun. Stave's mischievously dazzling puzzles keep you coming back for more. Collected and treasured as unique and precious heirlooms that are museum quality!
Each wooden jigsaw puzzle is meticulously hand-cut, one piece at a time using lots of imagination and a little bit of magic, they handcraft each puzzle, piece-by-piece, using precision jigsaws with blades no wider than an eyelash. After the cherry back is carefully sanded and polished to a soft gleam, the puzzle is placed inside a beautiful keepsake handmade box. There's no other puzzle in the world quite like a Stave and there's no other experience like solving one.
Business management guru Tom Peters named Stave Puzzles "Product of the Year" in 1991, saying, "The folks at Stave Puzzles represent a class of unsung companies that do things right—deliver superior service, on time, in a way that satisfies and even delights customers. Although Tom now lives full time in Massachusetts, he and his wife still have property here, just over the mountain.
Retail price for this puzzle starts at $1,256, and a 1,000-piece puzzle will set you back $9,995!
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WhistlePig • Shoreham, Vermont |
The WhistlePig Farm spans across 500 acres of rolling hills in Shoreham, Vermont, where it's home to one of the world's finest rye whiskeys… A band of dedicated Rye enthusiasts transformed an old dairy farm into a Whiskey-making paradise. WhistlePig is committed to crafting the world’s finest and most interesting Rye Whiskeys…
The Vermont Oak Barrels are made from trees harvested from the property and the surrounding area, which adds tremendous depth and complexity to our favorite whiskey—the 12-Year-Old World Rye aged in 3 separate casks: Sauternes, Madeira, Port. Kay makes an incredible “WhistlePig Lower Manhattan” not found anywhere else...
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Dorset Maple Reserve • Dorset, Vermont |
Making life a little sweeter takes hard work, dedication and strong work ethic to produce delicious Maple syrup—that’s Austin! Rather than show the pristine 570-acre sugar maple forest located in the beautiful Green Mountains, we decided to show you some of that hard work required to manage over 40,000 Sugar Maples that produce thousands of gallons of the finest gourmet quality maple syrup—Dorset Maple Reserve.
If you want to see beautiful pictures, please visit their website by clicking on the photo above—the family photos are unforgettable. You may want to check out their Maple Cocktail Recipes… think about including WhistlePig and their Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup the next time you’re looking for a new cocktail.
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After-the-Snow Cottage Photo |
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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!
Thank you for reading our newsletter!
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