Woodstock, Vermont is one of our favorite destinations. The Norman Williams Public Library on the Woodstock green was established 1883 is on our list of places to visit. It is a beautiful pink sandstone building with stunning architecture and rich history. They promote the love of reading, lifelong learning and serves as a gathering place for all ages. This is a must see especially after a $5M restoration!
The “Goodrich Grist-Mill” one of the oldest buildings in Wells dates back to the 1780s… I’d love to go inside!
Daniel Goodrich an early settler had a large family and one of his sons Roswell Goodrich built the grist-mill that was operated years later by his brother Halsey and he worked it until he passed away at 60 years of age in 1857. The mill was then run by Halsey’s son Orville Goodrich.
We joined our neighbors at Silver Lake Trail just outside Middlebury… our favorite trail. Also, Abbey Pond Trail, Middlebury / Ripton is a wonderful hike that steadily climbs 2.2 miles past Abbey Pond Cascades and ends at Abbey Pond. The cascades and the pond offer delightful winter scenery making this a great snowshoe option. We have a comprehensive list of over 50 great Vermont winter hikes.
The Birdseye Diner is a 1940s Silk City Dining Car manufactured in Patterson, New Jersey. Just had to get in the New Jersey reference… Jersey is everywhere in Vermont – it’s hilarious! There are a few other interesting spots in Castleton… The Village Store has a very good wine selection, and the Blue Cat Bistro has a good menu. All of which are less than thirty minutes away.
Our neighbor makes the best “sauce” from home-grown San Marzano tomatoes on their property, but this time of year those tomatoes originate from a can, likely from New Jersey, but not always. Cicc’s Sunday sauce, his mother’s recipe, Andreé, is indescribably delicious and equally as delicious week after week, but with subtle nuances. Last week, we bashfully asked for his recipe and Cicc spent almost an hour walking us through the process with Kay taking detailed notes… “This is the basic recipe.” Cicc said, and graciously went on to say, “If your guests want the complicated version, they’ll just have to come for dinner.” Those that had the great fortune to meet some or all the Ciccarellis on Pond Mountain know they’ve met an incredibly gracious family.
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Serves 8
Total cooking time: 8 Hours or 2 Days
Ingredients
2-35 oz. Imported Pastene San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes, crushed by hand and reserve juice
12 oz. Bellucci Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil
1 Bulb of Hardneck Garlic, finely chopped (about 8 cloves) Rinaldi Garlic Farm • East Corinth, Vermont
½ Medium Red Onion, diced
1 Bottle Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (use 6 oz. for cooking, the rest for later)
Coarse Black Pepper
Kosher salt
2 Bay Leaves
Coarse Red Pepper Flakes
Fresh Parsley
Dry Oregano
Dry Basil
Grated Fresh Romano Cheese
Directions
In 12 inch heavy pot, add 10 mm or 1/2 inch olive oil (when in doubt add more olive oil so garlic and onion are floating)
Sauté garlic and onion until translucent
Add 6 oz. of red wine, reduced over medium heat for 2 minutes
Add tomatoes and reserve juice, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low for 1 hour with top off
After 1 hour; add bay leaves, salt and pepper to taste, then reduce heat to low for 1 hour with top off
After additional 1 hour; add salt, if needed, black olive, red pepper flakes, dry oregano, dry basil and chopped fresh parsley, simmer with the top on for 6 hours.
Serve over wide noodle and grated Romano cheese
Notes
Adjust your sauce by tasting every 2 hours.
To enjoy for Sunday dinner at 6:00PM, you should start at 6:00AM.
If you have time and would like to have richer and thicker sauce, begin the day before.
I was recently asked, what makes Silver Fork special? It’s undoubtedly, one of the most important restaurants in the area. The effortless and relaxed, but flawlessly charming style of service is a perfect fit for the setting. Their new Manchester location, inside the old Mark Skinner Library in the heart of Manchester Village is absolutely stunning—mid-century décor with comfortable space that’s aglow in natural light. Beyond expansive windows, the upstairs bar pictured above has a long dining bar that offers intimate dining possibilities.
Silver Fork is a fine-dining restaurant with extraordinary attention to detail. Through the sharply focused culinary lens of award-winning Chef Mark French lies his remarkable ability to coax out the intrinsic natural flavors of local and seasonal ingredients. Mark’s dishes draw on global influences that blend beautifully with this quintessential New England town of Manchester.
The menu enriches the senses, our favorite first-course dishes—beef tartare, duck eggroll, and lump crab salad are absolutely delicious! The wiener schnitzel is outstanding—our server told us that a couple from Austria said it was “just as good as home.” And, we agree! The rack of lamb, Maryland crab cakes and slow roasted brisket are among our favorites, and our guests too.
Owner, Melody French and Sommelier, Olivia Stoehr have crafted a well-balanced wine list with recent upscale wine selections that complement the always popular regular wine list. Melody and Olivia have adroitly focused on matching tastes and flavors on the menu that share the chef’s palate making wine selection far easier and less intimidating.
Kay joins me in thanking both Melody and Olivia for the special attention shown to all our Pond Mountain Inn guests.
Have you ever wanted to go ice fishing but don’t know where to start? Or, you have no interest in ice fishing whatsoever, but love the idea of experiencing something entirely new and exciting outdoors, then let our friends Carrie & Kevin be your guide to successful ice fishing. We went ice fishing twice last week and caught 25 fish—perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, and a big brown trout.
Carrie and Kevin, do it all… They setup and prepare everything; all you have to do is show up, catch big fish and enjoy the incredible Vermont outdoors while eagles soar above waiting to steal an unattended fish laying on the ice! That’s something to see! What’s better than spending a picturesque day on the lake fishing for trophy fish or for dinner that evening back at Pond Mountain Inn. The best tasting fish we’ve ever had!
What if it’s too cold? No problem. They provide an insulated ice shanty equipped with a portable heater that keeps the interior nice and toasty. Hungry out on the ice? They’ve got that covered too… last week they prepared venison steaks and burgers, their homemade kielbasa and ham steak from one of the pigs they raised. And, there’s all kind and snacks and drinks too.
Carrie and Kevin supply all the gear for ice fishing. All you need is to be dressed for the weather—hats, gloves, thermal socks, under layers, winter boots, and sunglasses for the reflection off the ice and snow.
We purchased a Vermont fishing license for the entire year—you can get a one-day pass, but we had so much that we’re planning to be out on the ice for the rest of the season.
There’s more good news… Saturday, January 30, 2021 is Vermont’s next free ice fishing day; a day when anyone, resident or nonresident, may go fishing in Vermont without a fishing license.
Ice Fishing Day on Lake St. Catherine Cost: $100 / person.
Join us out on the ice for the best outdoor experience you’ll have this winter!
Equally as interesting is The 251 Club of Vermont. If you’re seeking an authentic Vermont experience, you are invited to join over 6,000 members of the 251 Club in exploring the state while visiting its 251 towns and cities. Travel at your own pace, in a season or in a lifetime, by car, on foot, or whatever conveyance suits your style. There are no rules, no records to keep, no requirements. The expectation is that you will be inventive and adventurous in following the road less traveled to Vermont’s little-known corners, as well as its more popular destinations. And, where best to begin… at Pond Mountain Inn.
Period of Activity: Tonight, through January 10th, 2021
The Quadrantids have the potential to be the strongest meteor shower of the year, however the bright waning moon and a Winter Weather Advisory in affect, it’s quite likely that we won’t see much this year, but the weather forecast is changing, so keep your fingers crossed. The meteor shower is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere because its radiant point is so far north on the sky’s dome.
On the bright side, pun intended, the Lyrid Meteor Shower is not far off, April 16-30, 2021. The Lyrids are a medium strength meteor shower that has the potential of producing brilliant fireballs, and is also best seen from the northern hemisphere.
Star Gazing is especially good at Pond Mountain Inn with a big ski overhead and the absence of artificial light. Hope to see you in April!
The image, Quadrantid Meteors though Orion, is courtesy of Petr Horálek
Vermont’s Calvin Coolidge was the first president to extend a White House Christmas celebration to the American people. During the Coolidge’s first Christmas in 1923, he began the tradition of the National Community Christmas Tree. And, of course, the first Christmas tree came from Vermont as a gift from Middlebury College—a 48-foot Balsam Fir from the heart of the Green Mountains.
At 5:05PM on Christmas Eve, President Coolidge illuminated 3,000 light bulbs on the first National Community Christmas Tree symbolizing the spirit of Christmas and that the celebration of Christmas had begun.
Today, the White House Sends More Than 1 Million Annual Holiday Cards. President Calvin Coolidge sent out the first official White House Christmas greeting to the nation in 1927, penning a card on White House stationary that was reproduced in newspapers around the country.
“Silent Cal” received his nickname from his stoic and serious demeanor. However, in 1926, after receiving so many heartfelt gifts and Christmas cards from the American people, President Coolidge was so emotionally affected that he gave a gift of a gold coin to all the White House officials and staff members.
The Calvin Coolidge Homestead is less than one hour from Pond Mountain Inn. One of the most scenic drives through the Green Mountains of Vermont that takes you through historic villages, mountains, valleys and along white-water rivers—you’ll pass by farms and meadowlands. Take a look at our Day Trip Itineraries to discover your next adventure!
