So I wanted to take a moment and outline some of the thoughts that I hope to keep close this year.  Consider these some great ideas to improve your life in 2012!

• Wake up each day thankful for your life.  No matter how good or bad you have it, someone, somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.  Instead of thinking about what you are missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing and be grateful.

• Take Responsibility for your life.  The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  Blaming people or circumstances gives others power over that part of your life.

• Don’t follow the path of least resistance.  Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t take the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary!

• Face your problems head on.  It is much easier to run!  Know that there is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.  It’s okay to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall.  The purpose of living is to face problems, learn, adapt and solve them over the course of time.  This will help mold you into the person you eventually become.

• Be yourself.  One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else.  Someone might always be prettier, smarter or younger – but they will never be YOU!  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

• It’s okay to make a mistake.  Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing!  Every success has a trail of failures behind it and every failure leads you toward success.  Don’t regret any of your life experiences.

• Be ready for a challenge.  Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zone, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.  But when you overcome that challenge – what a feeling!

• Be sure to look at the beauty of small moments.  Enjoy the little things because one day you may look back and discover they were really the big things.  The best part of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.

Here is wishing you the best year you can possibly have!

Until next time, Irene

Weston Playhouse on the Green

Weston, Vermont is a beautiful village and never more so than during the Holidays.  Originally part of Andover and called “West Town” it was incorporated in October of 1979 because Markham and Terrible mountains blocked travel between the town’s halves.  Route 100 South out of Ludlow to Weston has always been referred to as Terrible Mountain – most people don’t know there is an actual mountain named as such!

As beautiful as Weston is while driving through town, there are hidden treasures as well.  Vermont’s oldest professional theater, The Weston Playhouse Theater Company was founded in 1935. This non-profit organization serves a community of artists and audiences through a broad spectrum of dramatic works and educational programs.  Visit www.westonplayhouse.org for the exciting shows scheduled for next season.  

The Kinhaven Music School is celebrating 60 years next July!   They offer four classical music programs each summer providing a music making experience where friendship, mutual support, learning and community are always present.  Find out more about the music classes and workshops for both youths and adults at www.kinhaven.org. 

Do you know about the Benedictine Priory on Priory Hill Road?  Founded in 1953 and inspired by a monastic tradition reaching back to the earliest centuries of the church, a community of Benedictine Monks have created their own community about four miles north of the village.  All are welcome to visit and the Chapel, Visitor’s Center and grounds afford an atmosphere in which quiet reflection and prayer are accessible to all.  More information is available at www.westonpriory.org.

I chose to write about Weston in December because of its small town beauty during the Christmas season.  What could be more beautiful than shopping during the Holidays?!  The Christmas Shop has the best selection of Ornaments you’ll find.  Artistically placed and decoratively arranged, this shop provides an experience you won’t want to miss. 

Then take a walk across the street to the Vermont Country Store.  This is the original store founded by the Orton Family in 1946 along with their first catalogue.  Think of catering to a farmer’s wife back in the day – they still adhere to old fashioned values set forth by Vrest and Ellen Orton.  The Vermont Country Store takes pride in being purveyors of the practical and hard to find.  When you check out their website at www.vermontcountrystore.com you’ll find their Customer Bill of Rights – including a 100% guarantee.  The Vermont Country Store is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts with superior customer service!

There are many Inn’s and places to dine and I couldn’t do justice to them all by naming them here.  If you have never been to Weston, visit the Village of Weston Website for more detailed information.  www.westonvt.com 

The entire village of Weston is listed on the National Register of Historic Places so the “prettiest village in all of Vermont” will be preserved for future generations.  Weston is magical under a blanket of snow!  I hope to see you on a Sleigh Ride in Weston soon!

Vermont Country Store

Until next time, Irene

Cavendish is a very unassuming town.  As you drive around the beautiful Vermont countryside of Cavendish and Proctorsville, at first glance you don’t realize the history and thriving businesses located here.  Would it surprise you to know that Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the Russian writer, historian and Nobel Prize winner called Cavendish his home for many years?

How many times have you driven past Mack Molding, a leading supplier of contract manufacturing service and injection molded plastic parts to companies in a range of industries?  Founded in 1920 and a family run business with headquarters in Arlington, Vermont, it might surprise you to know they have 1,800 employees at 10 locations with annual sales of $300 million.  This is a company with no long term debt and a 5A1 D&B rating – the highest available!  Learn more about them at http://www.mack.com.

Do you know where the Cavendish Canine Camp is located?  If you visit their website at http://www.cavendishcaninecamp.com you’ll find an excellent description of where they are; “nestled within the green mountains of Vermont and just outside the village of Ludlow”.  This wonderful canine boarding facility prides itself on the quality and conscientious care they give your pets while you are traveling or working.  Their canine guests have supervised social playtime and a “quiet time” mid-day.  The feline campers also get playtime to roam and socialize in their very own “cat room”. 

I am so proud to live in Vermont that even three months after the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Irene I feel compelled to mention just one or two storm related items.  First, if you go to their website you’ll never know how my friends at the Cavendish Canine Camp were affected by the storm.  They were closed during the months of September and October and while open now, the main entrance from 103 was washed away by the storm and it is very exciting to see excavators rebuilding now!

There is another business that deserves storm-related mention; The Village Clipper in Proctorsville.  While a huge section of Route 132 was being repaired by the Army National Guard, several Guardsmen came in for haircuts.  Julie and Paula would not accept their money, thanking them for the amazing job they were doing for us here in Vermont. 

I don’t think that you can blog about the Cavendish/Proctorsville area without talking about Singleton’s General Store.  Located just past the junction of Route’s 103 and 131 on Route 131 Singleton’s is known for its Vermont smoked meats, cheeses and other Vermont products.  They also have a great selection of clothing and footwear suited to this area and a sporting-goods section for all of your hunting and fishing needs. 

That doesn’t tell you half the story!  A family owned business since 1948 when Bud and Mary Singleton with their six kids opened Newton’s Store in Reading, it took until 1978 for them to buy the land and open in their current location.  Tom Singleton joined them in 1976 with his brother John – and Sheba – their Doberman Pincer.  All of the children contributed to Singleton’s but only Tom and his wife Linn remained to take over in 1999 when Bud retired.  The Singleton’s take pride in Customer Service – whether it’s servicing the local’s needs or those visiting from out of state.  Visit http://www.singletonsvt.com, or come into the store – you won’t be disappointed. 

I love Cavendish and currently make it my home!  I have so much more that I could say so I’ll settle with – come and experience what I have known and come to love!  Looking forward to seeing you in town!

Until next time, Irene

Snowguns are in place and Okemo Snowmakers have reported for duty! The call has gone out, and our season is set to begin on Saturday, November 19th. The mountain is abuzz with activity, we’ve even seen some early indications from Mother Nature that we are in for a real treat this season.