Woodstock Magazine - Spring 2020

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SPRING 2020

Happy Spring!

Clover Gift Shop Barn Restoration Music Group OldBoys

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CONTENTS

56 32 Top Acres Farm Sounds Like Vermont Spirit 48

48

by Cassie Horner

Keeping it in the family.

by Stephen D’Agostino

Old-time music, ‘90s rock, and the Green Mountain State turn five musicians into OldBoys.

56

Rooms

with a View

by Dian Parker

The unparalleled Grahall estate.

Cover photo: Dreamstime.com by Agneskantaruk

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CONTENTS

30

38

64

In Every Issue

Departments

15 Editor’s Note 16 Contributors 18 Online Exclusives &

20 Everyday Essentials

71 Happenings 79 Advertisers Index 80 Last Glance

Business Directory

Tips for healthy living.

24 Around & About

44

Unique Shopping, Dining & Services In & Around Woodstock

70

Shop, Stay & Play In & Around Quechee This Spring

by Cassie Horner

30 Seasonal Foods

Spring veggies are here!

38 Fantastic Finds

by E. Senteio

Clover Gift Shop and Apothecary.

64 Great Outdoors

by Lisa Ballard

Sand Trek: Hiking in Great Sand Dunes National Park.

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Mountain View Publishing, LLC 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 643-1830

mountainviewpublishing.com

Publishers

Bob Frisch Cheryl Frisch Executive Editor

Deborah Thompson Associate Editor

Kristy Erickson Creative Director

Ellen Klempner-Beguin Art Director

Brad Wuorinen Ad Design

Hutchens Media, LLC Web Design

Locable Inbound Marketing Manager

Erin Frisch Advertising

Bob Frisch

KEEP US POSTED. Woodstock Magazine wants to hear from readers. Correspondence may be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Woodstock Magazine, 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755. Or email us at: dthompson@mountainviewpublishing .com. Advertising inquiries may be made by email to rcfrisch1@comcast .net. Woodstock Magazine is published quarterly by Mountain View Publishing, LLC Š2020. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Woodstock Magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

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E D I TO R ’ S N OT E

IAN RAYMOND

Gentle Spring

Spring’s long-awaited warmer temperatures and longer days are coaxing tiny buds to emerge, and the season’s gentle showers are working to green lawns and fields all over the region. Take advantage of the pleasant weather to head out to enjoy hiking, biking, or an afternoon car ride through the countryside.

The McCuaigs of South Woodstock are sharing their barn renovation experience. Top Acres Farm has been owned by only two families since its beginnings around 1800, so they were dedicated to the effort of saving the big old barn. Read their success story beginning on page 32.

If you’re looking for a gift for a graduation or a wedding or baby shower, stop in to see PJ Eames at Clover Gift Shop (page 38). Her store offers a variety of locally crafted products, so take time to browse every shelf and display.

We’re excited to tell you about the music group the OldBoys, who will be releasing an album this spring. Find all the details in Stephen D’Agostino’s skillfully written story beginning on page 48. We think you’ll also enjoy exploring the Grahall estate, a one-of-a-kind home with unique features and panoramic views of Vermont’s mountains. It’s being offered for sale, so read all about it on page 56.

While you’re out and about, keep up with local events at www.wood stockmagazine.com. The staff and I wish you a beautiful spring filled with daffodils, tulips, and all your favorite things. Enjoy!

Deborah Thompson Executive Editor dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com

like us www.mountainviewpublishing.com/facebook S P R I N G 2020

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C O N T R I B U TO R S

A full-time freelance writer and photographer, Lisa is the author of 10 books, including Ski Faster! Guide to Ski Racing and High-Performance Skiing, Hiking the White Mountains, and Hiking the Green Mountains. When she’s not skiing or hiking, she covers other types of outdoor recreation, travel, and conservation topics for more than 25 magazines.

Lisa Ballard

Lynn began her photographic career in Boston, studying at the New England School of Photography, assisting commercial photographers, and color printing in photo labs. Originally from West Virginia, she worked her way north, finally landing in the hills of Vermont, where she has a studio in Woodstock.

Her current assignments include photographing people, art, and architecture.

Lynn Bohannon

Stephen D’Agostino

Stephen is a freelance writer living in Reading, Vermont.

Though he specializes in marketing writing and brand promotion, he loves writing about people, especially artists.

His work has appeared in local publications in Boston and New York City, museum catalogs, Night Sky magazine, and weekly in the Vermont Standard. He’s always writing a novel and is working with an agent to get his first book published.

When he’s not writing, he’s knitting, gardening, baking, or struggling with his ukulele.

Cassie is a writer, editor, and publisher and the author of a historical novel, Lucy E.—Road to Victory. Her roots in Vermont go back almost 200 years and inspire her love of the natural world and history. She lives in Plymouth, Vermont, with her husband and two dogs—an English Shepherd and a mini Dachshund.

Cassie Horner

Dian is a freelance writer published in a number of literary journals and magazines. She is also an oil painter and is curator for White River Gallery in Vermont. A solo exhibit of her paintings and drawings was at the Zollikofer Gallery in Vermont last summer. She has traveled extensively, including to Syria before its heartbreaking devastation.

Dian Parker

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ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY Check out these local businesses in our directory.

CLICK ON www.woodstockmagazine.com

AMBROSE CUSTOM BUILDERS, INC.

LITTLE ISTANBUL

ANNEMARIE SCHMIDT EUROPEAN FACE

LOCABLE

AND BODY STUDIO

MARTHA E. DIEBOLD REAL ESTATE

ARTISTREE/PURPLE CRAYON PRODUCTIONS

MASCOMA BANK

BENJAMIN F. EDWARDS & CO.

MB PRO LANDSCAPE

BLOOD’S CATERING & PARTY RENTALS

MORNINGSIDE ADVENTURE FLIGHT PARK

BRAESIDE LODGING

MOUNTAIN VALLEY TREATMENT CENTER

BROWN’S AUTO & MARINE

NATURE CALLS

CALDWELL LAW

NEELY ORTHODONTICS

CARPET KING & TILE

NEW ENGLAND BEAUTY & WELLNESS

DATAMANN

NEW LONDON INN & COACH HOUSE

db LANDSCAPING DEAD RIVER COMPANY DORR MILL STORE DOWDS’ COUNTRY INN DOWDS’ INN EVENTS CENTER ENNIS CONSTRUCTION EVERGREEN RECYCLING

RESTAURANT NORTHERN MOTORSPORT LTD QUALITY INN QUECHEE RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN OF VT RICHARD ELECTRIC RIVER ROAD VETERINARY CLINIC RODD ROOFING ROGER A. PHILLIPS, D.M.D.

FOUR SEASONS SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

THE GRANITE GROUP, THE ULTIMATE BATH STORE

GILBERTE INTERIORS GUARALDI AGENCY

THE HANOVER INN AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

HANOVER COUNTRY CLUB

THE QUECHEE INN AT MARSHLAND FARM

HANOVER EYECARE

THE WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT

JEFF WILMOT PAINTING &

THE WOODSTOCKER B&B

WALLPAPERING, INC. JUNCTION FRAME SHOP KING ARTHUR FLOUR LATHAM HOUSE TAVERN LAVALLEY BUILDING SUPPLY

TUCKERBOX VERMOD HOMES WHITE RIVER FAMILY EYECARE WOODSTOCK AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

For more information about how your business can get listed on our ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY or for other online advertising opportunities, contact Bob Frisch at (603) 643-1830 or email rcfrisch1@comcast.net.

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E V E RY DAY E S S E N T I A L S Tips for Healthy Living

Spring Cleaning Time!

S

pring is a great time to give your house a deep clean and get rid of any allergens that have accumulated over the winter. “A thorough cleaning helps get rid of things like dust, mold, pet dander, and other allergens, which may have been making you miserable all winter,” says Dr. Todd Mahr, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. He continues, “Many people think spring and fall is when their seasonal allergies kick in. They might not realize indoor allergens can also cause chaos with your nasal passages and lungs and that a thorough cleaning can help.”

To eliminate pet dander and dust, vacuum and shampoo rugs. Take cushions outside and gently beat them to remove dust. Use a vacuum to remove dust from walls and ceilings, and dust hard-to-reach places like the tops of ceiling fans and window casings. Change your air filters every three months, and wash bedding in hot water weekly. Spring is a good time to wash any of your child’s stuffed animals too.

Scrub any visible mold and mildew from kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and then dry surfaces completely. Scrub or replace any moldy shower curtains.

Run an exhaust fan after taking a shower or bath. If your basement is damp, run a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air.

Yoga May Boost Your Brain

W

ould you like to improve your memory, boost your ability to multitask, and better control your emotions? Consider yoga.

A recent review of 11 studies found a link between yoga’s movements, meditation, and breathing exercises and an increase in the size of key areas in the brain involved with learning and memory, thinking clearly, decision-making, and regulating emotions. Grab your yoga mat and check out the yoga studios in our area, including YogaMari Vermont, Central Street Yoga & Meditation, or the Woodstock Athletic Club.

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Put on Some Music and Get Moving

A

ny gymgoer who has accidentally left their headphones at home knows how much harder it is to exercise without music—and there’s even science to back it up.

A review of nearly 140 studies including about 3,600 people finds clear evidence that music not only makes exercising seem easier and more enjoyable but also results in a more productive, efficient workout. Listening to music improves oxygen consumption, which boosts physical performance.

Faster music (120 beats per minute or more) offers bigger benefits than a slow-to-moderate tempo and working out at the same pace as the music produces slightly better benefits. Previous research finds that music can also help improve coordination, make you work harder without realizing it, and delay the feeling of fatigue during a tough workout.

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E V E RY DAY E S S E N T I A L S

A WellStocked First-Aid Kit

Y

ou probably have a first-aid kit handy in case of an injury or emergency. But have you taken stock of what’s in it recently? According to the Mayo Clinic, these are must-have items for a first-aid kit: • Adhesive tape, gauze, elastic bandages, and other bandage strips.

• Surgical gloves, cotton balls, and tweezers.

• Antibiotic and wound care ointment.

• Antiseptic solution, hydrogen peroxide, and eyewash solution.

• Pain reliever and antihistamine.

If it has been a while since you’ve used your first-aid kit, check the expiration date on any medications. The Mayo Clinic recommends keeping a first-aid kit in both your car and your home.

A Yummy Sign of Spring

A

fter a long winter you’re probably craving fresh local fruits and veggies, and by late spring you’ll start seeing asparagus at the Woodstock Farmers’ Market.

Asparagus is rich in fiber, folate, chromium, and vitamins A, C, E, and K. It’s packed with antioxidants and is one of the top-ranked vegetables for its ability to neutralize free radicals, which are linked to premature aging and inflammation. An added bonus?

It’s very low in calories, with only 20 calories in a half cup. So keep an eye out for this nutritious veggie at the market and enjoy it steamed, roasted, or sautéed.

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The Many Benefits of Knitting

D

id you know that knitting, much like meditation or yoga, can help calm the body and mind in times of stress, anxiety, or pain? According to Mental Health America, knitting is linked to lower blood pressure, reduced depression and anxiety, slowed onset of dementia, and a distraction from chronic pain. The social aspect of knitting is also beneficial—it offers a chance to give back, which boosts mental health by relieving feelings of loneliness. And of course, a knitting group can provide benefits as well.

If you’d like to connect with other knitters, drop by the knitting group at Norman Williams Public Library. Every Thursday from 2 to 4pm folks gather to knit together, learn together, and help each other when needed. Bring your current project plus any questions or a pattern to share. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experts. For more information, visit normanwilliams.org.

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A RO U N D & A B O U T

By Cassie Horner

Walled Spring Meadows.

Photographer

Nobu Fuji’i

N

obu Fuji’i began his working life as an architectural photographer for Global Architecture (GA), a publication in Japan. “When I was studying architecture at UC Berkeley, I met a man known in Japan for his photography of venerable buildings,” Nobu recalls. “We struck up a friendship. Everyone was talking about Modern Architecture with a capital M and a capital A. He asked me how much more school I had. I said three or four years. He said, ‘Give

me your summer vacations to look at modern architecture in the United States.’” That was the start of Nobu’s 30-year career photographing modern architecture around the world.

One of the things Nobu became known for was his use of available light. Instead of carrying lots of heavy lighting equipment, he worked with the natural light at a setting. At the turn of the century, he left the GA company and spent time thinking about what he wanted to do next. “I spent my childhood in a mountain area like Vermont,”

Midsummer Road at a Red Barn.

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Stilly Wintry November Road.

he says. The village of Kyowa in Nagano, Japan, where he lived was known for being on the trail that the 17th century haiku master Basho walked. “I used to travel around the landscape with friends as a kid, with an appreciation of nature,” he says.

Nobu’s past experiences melded together into his next career as an artist. His love of Basho and haiku and the natural landscape led to his creation of photographs celebrating the four seasons. Eventually, he created triptychs based on his memory of old Japanese shoulder-high panels joined by hinges so they could be folded and put away. The panels always

depicted paintings on one side, usually a landscape.

The three panels of the triptychs he makes are also inspired by the three-line form of the haiku that is centered in nature.

“I always want to have four seasons,” Nobu says.

“They are very distinct in Nagano. It is a very bucolic alpine village.” This connection to the seasons brought him to live in Vermont, where his wife is from. “It was all serendipitous,” he says.

Nobu’s work is exhibited in Woodstock at Collective on Elm Street and at Epoch in Manchester, Vermont.

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A RO U N D & A B O U T

The annual conference provides an opportunity for exhibitors to engage with NPS practitioners throughout the region.

Water Pollution Conference

in Woodstock

NEIWPCC (NU-E-PIK), a regional commission that helps the states of the Northeast preserve and advance water quality, is holding its 31st Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference on April 23 to 24 in Woodstock. The theme this year is “The Watershed Approach.”

Development of the conference is a joint effort of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and the EPA. The conference features 25 speakers and a series of field trips.

Nonpoint source pollution takes place when rainwater or melting snow picks up pollutants such as fertilizers and bacteria from pet waste and then deposits the pollutants into bodies of water and groundwater. The EPA cites nonpoint source pollution as the biggest cause of water quality issues in this country.

“Environmental professionals come together from across the Northeast to attend this conference,” says James Plummer, environmental analyst for NEIWPCC. “They are from federal agencies, Northeast state governments, and wherever the conference is held. A lot of folks come from local nonprofits and local watershed organizations. What comes out of the conference is the opportunity for organizations to hear about all the great work that is going on throughout

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Above: James Plummer provides welcoming remarks at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls, New York, for more than 120 attendees.

This year’s field trips include Woodstock’s East End Park and Billings Farm & Museum.

“What comes out of the conference is the opportunity for organizations to hear about all the great work that is going on throughout the region.”

Left: Susan Sullivan, NEIWPCC executive director, shares a laugh with Don Witherill, division director for Maine DEP. Susan will be providing opening remarks at this year’s conference.

Below: Exhibitors return annually to the conference to maintain strong relationships with folks in the NPS community.

— James Plummer, NEIWPCC the region.” Attendees hear how other groups tackle problems similar to their issues.

Nonpoint source pollution issues in Vermont include road runoff and stormwater, along with agriculture-related runoff from fields. The latter is a big challenge, and agencies are working with farmers. The Northeast states all face challenges associated with pollution from agricultural runoff, stormwater, septic leaching, pet waste, and a multitude of other human sources.

“The Watershed Approach” idea fits both smaller local areas and very large ones such as the Long Island Sound Watershed that spans multiple states. “We look at how partnerships are made, in the big picture and locally, to address federal, state, and local issues,” says James. “The goal of the conference is to be a forum for people to network and find useful partnerships. A lot of people attend annually and have formed a tight-knit community over the years.”

For more information and to register, visit NEIWPCC.org/NPS31VT.

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A RO U N D & A B O U T

Covered Bridges Tour

Top: Built in 1836, the Taftsville Covered Bridge survived Tropical Storm Irene.

Above: The 85-foot Quechee Covered Bridge features a pedestrian walkway and beautiful views of the dam and waterfall.

In the early days of Woodstock’s settlement, crossing the Ottauquechee River could be a challenge. Bridges were built but often got swept away by high water.

On top of that, citizens quarreled about who should be paying for the construction work, some arguing they didn’t use the bridges much. Today, we take bridges for granted unless a weather event like Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 hits and flooding causes problems. The Woodstock area is fortunate to have four picturesque covered bridges that span the Ottauquechee between West Woodstock and Quechee.

Not only are they functional but they also heighten the beauty of the landscape.

One way to appreciate the bridges and learn about their history is to take a selfguided tour of them by car or bicycle. From west to east, the exploration begins on Route 4 in West Woodstock with the 136-foot Lincoln Covered Bridge, just west of the Lincoln Inn & Restaurant. It was closed in 2019 while being repaired from extensive damage but is reopened. Built in 1877 by B.H. Pinney and R.W. Pinney, it is known in the bridge world as the only existing wooden example of a variation of the Pratt truss patented in 1844 and the precursor of steel road and rail bridges.

The bridge connects Route 4 with a pretty country dirt road.

Next on the tour is the 139-foot Middle Bridge on the north side of the Green in Woodstock village below Mount Tom. A beautiful element in the 21st century landscape, it has an interesting history. In 1877, an iron bridge was built in

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that location. In 1969, Milton Graton built a lattice truss covered bridge, using historical construction methods of using pegs instead of nails. In 1974, the bridge was destroyed by arson. Graton rebuilt the bridge that stands there today. It has a pedestrian walkway and is a pleasant stroll to Mountain Avenue.

Four miles from the village is the Taftsville Covered Bridge. At 189 feet long and with its bright red color, it makes a striking image across the river where the falls tumble down. Three earlier bridges were destroyed by flooding. Solomon Emmons III created a lasting structure in 1836 that has survived Irene as well as a hit-and-run.

Cross the bridge from Route 4 and follow the Quechee Main Street road into Quechee Village for the final bridge on the tour.

The Quechee Covered Bridge is the youngster on the tour, built in 1970. The 70-foot structure was badly damaged by Irene in 2011. The bridge was left disconnected on both sides. In 2012, a redesigned 85-foot bridge was constructed with two lanes and a pedestrian walkway that affords beautiful views of the old dam waterfall.

For more information, visit woodstockvt.com.

Top: Start your covered-bridge tour at the recently reopened Lincoln Covered Bridge on Route 4 in West Woodstock.

Above: Historical construction methods were used to build Middle Bridge on the north side of the Green.

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SEASONAL FOODS

Spring Veggies Are Here!

10 delicious ways to eat healthier

From the American Institute for Cancer Research, www.aicr.org

W

ith the arrival of spring comes the opportunity to enjoy fresh seasonal veggies.

Vegetables are packed full of vitamins and nutrients that protect your health, including reducing your risk of cancer and heart disease. The American Institute for Cancer Research’s New American Plate program recommends filling two-thirds of your plate with plant foods.

Try some of these flavorful options: • Add chopped bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and a few pieces of pineapple to a skewer and grill for a slightly sweet, smoky flavor.

• Drizzle balsamic vinegar over roasted asparagus after cooking.

• Sauté collard greens, Swiss chard, or mustard greens with lemon juice, garlic, and a teaspoon of olive oil.

• Season steamed carrots with fresh dill.

• Add watercress to sandwiches or salads for a refreshing crunch.

• To infuse citrus flavor, grate lemon or orange zest and add to the water when steaming or boiling vegetables.

• Add rice vinegar and black pepper to steamed broccoli for a tasty, flavorful kick.

• Combine halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, fresh basil, and a small sprinkle of reduced-fat feta with balsamic vinegar for a tasty side salad.

• Add a small handful of slivered almonds, sesame seeds, or sunflower seeds to sautéed green beans.

• Grill cauliflower florets seasoned with lime juice and cumin (wrapped in aluminum foil). When done, sprinkle with finely chopped cilantro.

MAKE A TANGY SAUCE For a healthy meal with your favorite spring vegetables, try this homemade teriyaki sauce: Combine two tablespoons of reduced-sodium soy sauce, a half cup of water, one or two cloves of minced garlic, one tablespoon of lime juice, red pepper flakes (if desired), a teaspoon of brown sugar or honey, and a tablespoon of cornstarch. Pour over any combination of carrots, onions, bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, asparagus, or mushrooms in a sauté pan and stir-fry until vegetables are soft but still slightly crisp. Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu and serve over a half cup of brown rice for a balanced meal.

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COMMON SPRING VEGETABLES Eat a variety of veggies for a wide range of cancer-fighting, heart-healthy benefits.

• • • • • • •

Artichokes Arugula Asparagus Fiddlehead Ferns Garlic Scapes Green Beans Green Garlic

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Pea Shoots Peas Radishes Ramps Rhubarb Spring Onions Watercress

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Top Acres Farm Keeping it in the family

By Cassie Horner | Photos courtesy of Mary McCuaig

O

ld barns are an important part of what defines Vermont.

Seeing the beautiful weathered boards and stately cupolas takes us back to a time when small farms comprised a major piece of the economy.

The 85-acre Top Acres Farm in South Woodstock, once known as the FullertonFletcher Farm, is an excellent example of a historical farm. Located on a winding dirt road, its fields, white clapboard farmhouse built about 1850, sugarhouse, and weathered gray barns make it a quintessential Vermont property. Owned and operated today by Mary (Fullerton) and Carl McCuaig and Mary’s father Milton Fullerton Jr., it has been owned by only two families since its beginnings circa 1800.

Above: Milton, Mary, and Carl.

Left: The big barn doors were replaced with new doors fashioned after the original construction.

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Above: The carriage house was moved onto a new foundation, circa 1905.

Right: Seven rafters and roof sheathing in the big barn were replaced.

Eighty-eight-year-old Milton Jr. still lives there in the house where he was born. The dairy cows were sold in 1989 but the sugaring operation has grown to 3,800 taps. A new sugarhouse was built in 2010 and a portion of the former dairy barn converted to a syrup packing room. A 30-acre hayfield is cut over and the bales sold. Some of the hay is stored for customers in the big old barn.

The McCuaigs are even experimenting with growing hemp, setting it to dry in a barn once used for drying corn for animal feed.

PRESERVING A FAMILY’S HISTORY

A big challenge for the family is maintaining the barns. Fortunately, they qualified for a 2018 Barn Preservation Grant. The State of Vermont barn grants, pooled with the required 50 percent of the owner’s funds, are saving barns for the future. “One thing high on the list of qualifications is how the barn is used and is it viable,” says Mary. “We fit that category. Maple syrup buyers, hay customers, and overnight guests visit the farm.”

To prepare the grant application, the McCuaigs drew on the property’s history, some of it recounted in her uncle Erwin Fullerton’s book about Top Acres Farm. It all goes back to Russell and Benjamin Fletcher who cleared the land, built post-and-beam barns, and a house. They planted crops, made maple sugar, and had as many as 300 sheep and a small herd of dairy cows. Three generations of Fletchers farmed, ending with Porter Fletcher who, one day in 1899, took his cart and oxen on the road and vanished, believed to have been murdered. After a few years of neglect, Erwin and Ada Fullerton bought it in 1901.

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Top: When the roofing was removed, rot from water damage was revealed.

Center and bottom: New rafters were put into place.

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The new siding job on the big barn is completed. The carriage house is shown at right.

An important part of the extensive work Erwin and Ada did to improve the farm was building a stone foundation and moving the post-and-beam barns onto it to create a bank barn. This style made it possible for livestock to occupy the lower level and for hay to be stored on the upper level. “My great-grandfather Erwin wanted what was modern and efficient for the times,” says Mary.

“The early barns were English barns built for the sheep business. He built awesome stone foundations for a bank barn. There were about 20 cows, with hay above. You can bring in the hay from behind the barn.” In addition to keeping dairy cows, the farmers grew hay, corn, and other vegetables.

Erwin and Ada worked hard. He kept a diary for many years, recording some of his life on the farm. “Sadly, he had pneumonia,” Mary says. “He died in 1917. My grandfather, Milton Sr., had to leave school and come home. He was very active in the town.” His son, Milton Jr., was away from the area for 15 years, returning in 1962 to run the farm.

Mary grew up there. Her father built a modern dairy barn (the site now of the sugaring processing facility) that had tie stalls and was home to 46 cows. He maintained the old barns where calves were kept and hay was stored.

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A VISITOR WHO STAYED

Carl came on the scene as a young man in 1978 to work on the farm. He grew up on Long Island and was attending the University of Vermont when he answered an ad for the job. He and Mary, also a UVM student, made a connection and eventually married. They run the farm, and Carl is also a commercial pilot.

The State of Vermont Barn Preservation Grant supported extensive restoration of the barn system created by Erwin Fullerton in the early 1900s. The renovations were done in the spring and summer of 2019. The roof work happened first, followed by major structural work and then the siding. The result is functional and pleasing to the eye. Gradually the new siding will weather to the gray of the old boards. Customers visiting to buy maple syrup or hay for their goats, draft horses, or mules will view a farm with its roots deep in the past. Thanks to the stewardship of Mary and Carl, Top Acres Farm remains viable and beautiful.

Top Acres Farm Fletcher Schoolhouse Road South Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3779

FA N TA S T I C F I N D S

Clover Gift Shop and Apothecary Continuing the legacy

By E. Senteio | Photos by Lynn Bohannon

I

The storefront.

t was 1928 when Clover Gift Shop first opened its doors at 10 Elm Street in Woodstock, Vermont. The establishment is as much a part of Woodstock as fall foliage and maple syrup. In its almost century of existence it has always been owned and operated by a woman—the first was Mae Winslow. In 2008, after 25 years, the mantle was passed from Donna Lewis to PJ Eames.

Today the 1,400-square-foot space is filled with an array of “stuff that makes people happy,” PJ says. “There will be a group of shoppers cracking up looking at greeting cards or someone saying to friends, ‘Oh! Look at this!’” There’s a plethora of unique items to explore, including accessories, jewelry, pottery, handmade gourds that light up, home décor, baby gifts, and homeopathic items.

GETTING STARTED

Becoming owner of Clover, PJ recalls as “sort of random,” yet her background was always moving her in that direction. After graduating college in Upstate New York, she was unsure what she wanted to do. “My sister owned The Red Wagon in Vermont, so I moved here and helped her.” Soon PJ was manager. After meeting her husband Jared, they relocated to Burlington where PJ became an assistant buyer of housewares for April Cornell. “Then in 2005 we came back to Woodstock and I helped my sister open her other store, 37 Central Clothiers.” It was about that time that PJ realized she wanted to spread her wings and came across a “store for sale” ad on Craigslist.

“But I was unsure; it was a huge commitment.” PJ worked with SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives), an organization that matches novices with retired business professionals. It’s a free service. “My mentor was Barry Rotman, who owned a chain of furniture stores in Massachusetts but lived in Norwich. He helped with my business plan and other things I wouldn’t have considered at 28 years old.”

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Above: Patricia Eames, owner, wraps gifts for customers.

From far left: The shop features a selection of quilts, assorted teas, and mugs. Stuffed animals make sweet baby gifts.

Scout jewelry gives back to many causes that support women.

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FA N TA S T I C F I N D S

Clockwise from above: Patricia's brand of CBD products, Clover Apothecary. Fun gifts for the cocktail connoisseur.

Locally made small-batch CBD products.

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Patricia with her favorite line of greeting cards, Shannon Martin Design.

REBRANDING

Once PJ purchased Clover, the first thing she did was a bit of rebranding by changing the green four-leaf clover on the sign to a red clover—the Vermont state flower.

“That was in line with my wanting to bring in more locally made products. The merchandise that was previously being sold didn’t have the feel I was hoping to create.”

PJ swapped out “a lot of quilts and glassware knickknacks” for more contemporary and unique items. “I wanted to bring in items that were special.”

Clover still sells quilts—from an awardwinning local quilter—along with soaps, candles, and other craft items. “There were other changes that I wanted to make, which I’ve done slowly.” Over the last 12 years the store and what it offers continue to evolve in response to customer interest.

One of the most significant changes was in 2017 after PJ’s brother and sister-in-law were severely injured in an earthquake in Ecuador. As their healthcare advocate, her research led her to CBD. At the time there were few places that sold small quantities, so she had to buy it wholesale.

“I had to order 30 bottles. I never thought they would all sell.” When the wholesaler listed Clover as a vendor on their website, people came in looking for it. “Not only did it sell out quicker than I could have imagined, but my entire family was dealing with the anxiety of everything that had happened and all the health concerns.

Both my parents and I tried CBD and found it really helped our anxiety.”

It wasn’t long before Clover Gift Shop produced their own line of CBD and essential oil health and wellness products called Clover Apothecary.

CLOVER APOTHECARY

Clover Apothecary infuses, creates, bottles, and packages their line of products. “We also sell other brands, but 98 percent of our CBD oils are from Vermont. It’s important to me to support the Vermont CBD industry and the farmers and herbalists. And I really believe they make the best products on the market. I trust them.” Knowing the source of CBD matters in an industry that is mostly unregulated and where studies have shown product labels are often misleading or contain synthetics or no CBD at all.

Clover Apothecary for Your Best Bud! Cannon was a 165-pound Mastiff with Addison’s disease. PJ remembers when the family dog they had raised from a puppy was at the point of having to be put down.

“I had been hesitant about trying CBD only because he was on medications, but at that point we had nothing to lose. He could barely get up. Within a day of taking it he was up and moving around like a puppy, rolling in the grass. Dogs have no placebo effect. It improved his quality of life so much. I think it gave us an extra month with him.”

PJ knew she had to add CBD products for pets and created Cannon’s Cannabinoids CBD Drops “For your best bud!” “They’re bacon flavored because Cannon loved bacon.” The line has been expanded and includes CBD-infused salve for minor abrasions and paw care, as well as other items. Studies have shown that CBD can be effective for pain relief in dogs.

Online Extra Find 10 popular gift ideas at www.woodstockmagazine.com.

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FA N TA S T I C F I N D S The Clover Apothecary line offers a range of products from CBD-infused solar soaks to Lemongrass Ginger Sugar Scrub, which was named one of the top 10 local holiday gifts. There are bath bombs, body and facial creams, salves, and tinctures. The list is numerous with quite a few standouts. “Our Lavender Eucalyptus Après Balm is in stick form for easy application. Our CBD Arnica Cream is one of our most popular products. I infuse it with a highly concentrated CBD extract. People really find it effective for pain relief.”

In the last three years Clover Gift Shop has seen an increase in sales, due in large part to Clover Apothecary, whose line of CBD products has expanded from retail to wholesale. “We are in over 30 stores across the United States, from California to Florida to Maine.”

EDUCATION

CBD is a compound found in the cannabis plant, but only has a miniscule amount (≤ 0.3 percent) of THC—the chemical in marijuana that creates the “high” associated with it. It is a legal substance in all states. There are a lot of misconceptions about CBD, says PJ. “But then people come into a little gift shop and see it on the shelves, they realize it’s normal.”

PJ stresses the importance of educating yourself if you are a seller or a customer. “Individuals need to know what CBD is and what it isn’t. We offer educational nights at the shop and have specialists come in to talk about CBD. Also, we regularly have different vendors who set up a table with samples and answer questions about

Women in Cannabis Summit The inaugural Women in Cannabis Summit on Saturday, April 11 is a full-day leadership and business conference taking place at Main Street Landing on the Burlington, Vermont, waterfront. Go to womenincannabis.headyvermont .com for more information.

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Locally crafted CBD products from Healing Rose, Lily Hill, and Luce Farm.

their products,” PJ adds. Either she or her employees are always there to help or answer questions regarding CBD or any products they carry.

As part of the broader education mission, Clover is a sponsor of the Heady Vermont Women of Cannabis Summit taking place in Burlington in April. Women are at the forefront of shaping the CBD industry.

LOCAL AND LOVING IT

Clover Gift Shop is a store with a legacy. “I still get tidbits of history from customers who’ve been coming here for decades,” PJ says. “They tell me ‘Oh, my grandmother used to work here,’ or how they used to shop here with their parents when they were kids. Jared and I have two small children, Caitlin and Hannah. We love being part of the community. Everyone is so supportive.” PJ says she values Vermont’s stream of tourists, “but it always comes back to the locals who support us year-round. Woodstock is a special place. We recognize and appreciate that.”

At its core, Clover Gift Shop is vintage charm with a contemporary vibe.

Customers know what to expect and yet are always surprised. “We have unique products, we have something for everyone, and we are always happy to help. It’s a really fun place to be.”

Clover Gift Shop 10 Elm Street Woodstock VT (802) 457-2527 www.clovergiftshop.com

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Unique Shopping, Dining, and Services

The Barnard Inn Restaurant & Max’s Tavern 5518 Vermont Route 12 Barnard, VT (802) 234-9961 www.barnardinn.com

Splendid Chaos

Gallery on the Green

58 Pleasant Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-7084 www.splendidchaosvt.com

1 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-4956 www.galleryonthegreen.com www.chipevansprints.com

Open Tue–Sat

Mon–Fri 11am–5pm; Closed Wed Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 11am–4pm

Tue–Sat 5–9pm

NT Ferro Jewelers 11 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1901 www.ferrojewelers.com Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Sun 11am–4pm

The Woodstocker Bed & Breakfast 61 River Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3896 www.TheWoodstockerBnB.com

Mon Vert Cafe 28 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-7143 monvertcafe.com Mon & Wed 7:30am–5:30pm Fri & Sat 7:30am–6:30pm Sun 8am–5:30pm

Collective–The Art of Craft

Woodstock Recreation Center

FH Gillingham & Sons

47 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1298 www.collective-theartofcraft.com

54 River Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1502 www.woodstockrec.com

16 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2100 www.gillinghams.com

Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Sun 11am–4pm

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Mon–Sat 8:30am–6:30pm Sun 10am–5pm

In and Around Woodstock, Vermont

The Village Inn of Woodstock

Woodstock Hops N’ Barley

Unicorn

41 Pleasant Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1255 www.villageinnofwoodstock.com

446 Woodstock Road Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2472 www.woodstockhopsnbarley.com

15 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2480 www.unicornvt.com

Check us out on Facebook

Open daily

Mon–Fri 9:30am–5:30pm Sat 9:30am–6pm Sun 10:30am–5pm

Red Wagon Toy Co.

Fox Gallery

The Prince and The Pauper

41 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-9300 www.redwagontoy.com @redwagontoyco

5 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3944 www.thefoxgallery.com

24 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1818 www.princeandpauper.com

Open daily 11am–4pm or by appointment anytime

Cocktails in the Tavern at 5pm Dinner served 7 nights a week starting at 5:30pm

The Yankee Bookshop

Sleep Woodstock Motel

37 Central Clothiers

12 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2411 www.yankeebookshop.com @yankeebookshop

Woodstock’s Budget-Friendly Motel 4324 West Woodstock Road Woodstock, VT (802) 332-6336 reservations@sleepwoodstock.com www.sleepwoodstock.com

37 Central Street Woodstock, VT

Just 8 minutes from Downtown Woodstock

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Springtime Fun Around Woodstock!

The Blue Horse Inn

Anything Printed

“In the very heart of Woodstock Village”

2490 East Woodstock Road Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3414 www.anythingprinted.net

3 Church Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-9999 www.thebluehorseinn.com

Spring

Woodstock Area

EVENTS

Mon–Fri 8am–5:30pm

MARCH 21

Maple Sugar Shack Open House www.woodstockvt.com

MARCH 21

Working Woodlands Workshop iNaturalist Tutorial 9–11am www.woodstockvt.com

Pizza Chef

Clover Gift Shop

Route 4 Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1444

10 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2527 pj@clovergiftshop.com

Sun–Thu 11am–9pm Fri & Sat 11am–10pm

Open daily 10am–6pm

APRIL 10

Baby Farm Animal Celebration 11am–6pm Billings Farm www.billingsfarm.org

MAY 2

Jumper Schooling Horse Show Green Mountain Horse Association www.gmhainc.org

MAY 16 & 17

Spring Hunter Jumper Horse Show Green Mountain Horse Association www.gmhainc.org

MAY 23 & 24

The Village Butcher

506 On The River Inn

18 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2756

1653 West Woodstock Road Woodstock, VT (802) 457-5000 www.ontheriverwoodstock.com

Open daily

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Sheep Shearing & Herding Billings Farm www.billingsfarm.org

JUNE 7

Covered Bridges Half Marathon Hartford, VT www.mybestruns.com

Sounds Like Vermont Spirit

By Stephen D'Agostino Photos by Lindsay Appleton

Old-time music, ’90s rock, and the Green Mountain State turn five musicians into OldBoys

W

hen OldBoys took the stage at Robinson Hall in Reading, the audience of more than 100 people might have looked at this as a beginning, the start of the show. For the five band members, it was the end of a long week of recording their first album, Moon Music. In truth, the concert, recording session, and album are the continuation of a story that started with family and friendship, the allure of Vermont, and a musical genre that has evolved and endured over scores of years.

OldBoys sing a four-part harmony on the Full Wolf Moon in Reading, Vermont, on January 11, 2020.

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I just saw the White Stripes in concert, and that awoke something inside of me.

I had this intense, powerful feeling that I had to do this.

Kevin Wright, guitarist and lead vocalist.

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It is as difficult to pinpoint when OldBoys came together as it is to decipher their name. The band’s eldest member, guitarist Kevin Wright, is 36. Like three of his bandmates, Kevin sports a beard.

His fourth bandmate does not. Kevin’s sister and fiddle player Julia Wright is not a boy.

Puzzling through their origin story might require a detective’s skill and a bulletin board with photos, pages of scribbled lyrics, and portraits of the band members tacked to it. Strings from one person to another or an event would all lead to their performance in Reading.

BORN INTO A MUSIC-LOVING FAMILY

Perhaps it was the musical influence of Will Wright on his children Kevin and Julia and their brother Eric that planted the seed that became OldBoys. When they were kids, Will frequently gathered his musician friends, and they played old-time music into the night. “We would go to bed listening to the music,” Eric says, “safe and happy.”

Letting the music lull them, however, was not enough to make the Wrights musicians. “I had guitar lessons when I was nine years old,” Kevin says, “but I refused to play.”

Julia was four when she began studying violin using the Suzuki method, a classical, strict way of learning. “This was until I was 14 years old,” she says. “Ten years of doing

Above: OldBoys emerge from the cabin after recording their new album Moon Music in Cavendish, Vermont.

Left: Fiddler and vocalist Julia Wright.

Suzuki method extinguished my fire.

I began to deny that side of myself because it was so structured and so rigid and so perfect.”

Only Eric picked up an instrument, the cello, at a young age (seven) and didn’t put it down. He learned guitar at 13, drums at 16, and banjo in his twenties.

Like many young Vermonters, the Wright siblings left the state. Kevin moved to Los Angeles. Eric joined him later, scored films, and worked at EMI as a music consultant.

When he went to Canada to join the band The Fretless, Julia took his place and lived with Kevin for 18 months.

Eventually, things began to change. “On my 23rd birthday,” Kevin says, “I asked my dad for a guitar. I just saw the White Stripes in concert, and that awoke something inside of me. I had this intense, powerful feeling that I had to do this.” With Eric, they began to play clubs in Los Angeles.

Their musical genre of choice was punk. Later, as Kevin neared 30, he became worn by what he called the “psychotic nature of LA.” He returned to Vermont, his true home, in 2015, and started playing old-time music with his dad and his dad’s friends.

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We played some originals and some traditional songs.

We were finding our style and learning this genre of old-time music.

JUNO Award-winning cellist and coproducer Eric Wright.

Online Extra See OldBoys performing their song “Fortune� at www.woodstockmagazine.com.

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CATCHING THE “OLD-TIME BUG”

For a while, Kevin was working at SD Associates, a school in Windsor for children with developmental disabilities. There he met recent transplant Niles Franc, who had moved to Vermont from Wisconsin to complete his undergraduate studies. Like Eric and Julia, Niles began playing music at an early age. Inspired by his grandfather playing polka tunes on the accordion, his first instrument was the harmonica. A few years later, he started playing the piano, and when he went to college, the guitar.

Noticing that a lot of people in Vermont play the guitar, Niles picked up the banjo and taught himself. He mastered the claw hammer technique, a method used heavily in oldtime music. “A new life started when I began playing that instrument,” Niles says. “I had officially caught the oldtime bug.”

It wasn’t long after Kevin and Niles met that they gave their nascent musical project a name: OldBoys. With the handle came the first sense of the band’s identity. “We played some originals,” Kevin says, “and some traditional songs. We were finding our style and learning this genre of old-time music.” In many ways, old-time music was a perfect fit for Kevin and Niles. “The music is communal,”

Above: Raising more than $1,200 for local charity at the Reading, Vermont, Winter Concert Series.

Left: Bassist and vocalist Niles Franc.

Kevin says. “The tunes have a simple chorus, a simple progression, and few chords.”

Though it may be simple in its structure, old-time music is hard to define.

“It is timeless music that continues to live on,” Kevin says. “The songs are always changing and evolving as they’re passed on and misremembered. Adding more historical context, Niles notes that “old-time music is the roots of bluegrass, blues, and country music.”

Given its fluidity, old-time music is open for interpretation. Kevin and Niles, who had taught himself standup bass, started playing punk songs in an old-time style.

Julia, now back in Vermont to be close to her family and heal from her time in LA, heard their playing and was impressed. “I needed to weasel my way into this configuration,” she says. Julia, too, was adept at the bass, but she dusted off her violin, or fiddle to use a less-than-Suzuki term, and joined the musicmaking.

Still, OldBoys wasn’t complete, and none of the three musicians seemed to care. They played and enjoyed themselves at Kevin’s cabin in Cavendish and at local jams.

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The Vermont influence, the way you create, it never felt like that before.

I feel music is part of life, not a project.

Mandolinist and vocalist Justin Park.

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This 1920s Martin is more than just a guitar, similar to old-time music being more than just music.

BONDING BY THE CAMPFIRE

A popular spot in the Upper Valley for musicians to come together and play is Barnard’s Feast & Field any outside pressure or Market, which bills itself influence,” Kevin says, as “a celebration of food noting the benefits of and community.” Justin working in a comfortable and familiar place.

Park, a vegetable farmer, Julia pointed out that attended the Thursday for a band used to playnight gatherings and ing live, recording an brought his mandolin to album crystallized things jam around the campfire. for them. As a group, Like Niles, Justin came they had something to from away. A dozen years focus on. Under Eric’s ago, he visited Vermont direction, they paid more from California to find attention to tempo, playa farm to work at. The ing in key all the time, guitar player and aspiring For More Information and refining their songs farmer returned home For updates on OldBoys, including when Moon Music will be to their essence. with some leads and a released, visit OldBoysMusic.com. You can also follow them on Recording started on mandolin, an instrument, Facebook at facebook.com/oldboysband.

January 3. They put in 12 Justin jokes, that is more The band will be playing at the Engine Room in White River to 14 hours of work each suited to his stature. The Junction on Saturday, June 27. Ticket sales will start in March day, and by January 10, next year, he became a at the Engine Room website as well as the band’s website. they completed Moon Vermonter.

Music’s 10 tracks. Now At Feast & Field, Justin they were ready to celebrate their achievement and have was playing songs from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirfun at Robison Hall in Reading, as part of the town’s benvana, endearing himself to Kevin. They became friends and musical collaborators. It was these nights around the camp- efit winter concert series, the next night. fire with Kevin, Justin, and Julia that Niles pinpointed as the time when things gelled. “Justin joining OldBoys last fall THE VERMONT SPIRIT took the project to a whole new level,” Niles says. “There is Love of music. Family. History. Similar musical inspirano one else that could make such a huge impact on the mutions. Fate. Which of these played the most important part sic that OldBoys create.” of turning these five musicians into OldBoys? According to Kevin, it’s none of these. It’s Vermont. “Vermont is synonyMAKING MOON MUSIC mous with quality,” Kevin says. “Maple syrup, vegetables, As things fell into place, so had the desire to record what cheese. The Vermont influence, the way you create, it never they were doing. Luckily for them, they knew someone felt like that before. I feel music is part of life, not a project. who could help them out. Not only is Eric Wright a talThat is how we met. It’s a lifestyle. It’s not that we are doented musician—“the best musician wherever he goes,” ing it for some goal.” according to Kevin—he is also a skilled producer. He added One member of the band, however, is working toward a the cello and banjo to OldBoys’ sound and his know-how to goal. During downtime while touring with The Fretless, making their album.

Eric is mixing and producing the songs of Moon Music. He Because of Eric’s expertise, they were able to record the expects to be completed by late spring. In the meantime, album at Kevin’s cabin. They didn’t need to go into a studio. the other members of the band are touring the region, playAt the cabin, “there was a freedom to be ourselves without ing their music, and letting Vermont inspire them.

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By Dian Parker | Photos by Jim Mauchly/Mountain Graphics

Rooms with a View

I

The unparalleled Grahall estate

t’s not often that a visual experience shocks and delights all at once. Such was my good fortune when I drove up a winding driveway for more than a mile and came upon a castle with a backdrop of a vibrant sky and sweeping mountain vistas. As the car made a 360-degree circle around the structure, every angle revealed more startling surprises; a round glassed-in arboretum, a towering modern silo, even a stone amphitheater. In front of the castle are two large ponds to either side of the entry, just like a moat. What is this place?

The unique Grahall estate affords panoramic views.

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“At the top, we found the perfect location for a house where a series of ponds were located next to a mossy glen. From there we could position the house to take full advantage of southern exposure with an unobstructed view of the Green Mountains.”

This is the Grahall estate, designed and built by Elizabeth Hall and Michael Graham. Early in the 1990s, before he and Elizabeth were married, Michael had purchased the 241 acres of land high atop Hawks Mountain, above the town of Cavendish, Vermont.

The couple often hiked and snowshoed up the mountain to gaze out at the panoramic views overlooking the neighboring mountains and Okemo ski resort. “At the top, we found the perfect location for a house where a series

of ponds were located next to a mossy glen,” Elizabeth says. “From there we could position the house to take full advantage of southern exposure with an unobstructed view of the Green Mountains.”

Elizabeth is a designer and architect and Michael an engineer, so they began to map out a house plan. In 2000, construction began and continued for the next seven years. And what a feat of engineering it became! The house is built with mica schist stone, or glim-

Below: The southerly view at Grahall.

Opposite, clockwise from top left: The circular library. The marble-lined kitchen. The arboretum.

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Above: The 40-foot banquet table.

Opposite, clockwise from top: The formal living room and granite hearth. The southern main deck.

The master suite.

“We rented the Grahall castle for a week for a family reunion, ages 14 to 88. We were torn between our skiing itinerary and relaxing in the confines of this amazing home —an architectural showpiece with conversationworthy design elements and furnishings throughout.” merstone granite, that comes directly from a quarry on the property (that has since been filled in). Towering above the ponds is a massive north-facing stone wall, four feet thick, crafted by local artisans in the Scottish tradition, celebrating Michael’s heritage. Anchored to the stone wall are the West Tower with six levels and 30 windows, all with commanding views, as well as an attached barn. In addition to underground wiring to the site, the house boasts an array of solar panels and a wind turbine so it can operate off the grid. The property also has two wells.

A HOUSE OF POSSIBILITIES

A tour of the house begins through the 10-foot-high arched double entry doors. With 8,000 square feet, there

are so many twists and turns, so many entrances and exits to rooms, stairways, and unexpected windows, you feel that you could wander for days through this labyrinth as you uncover new vistas and hidden chambers. The startling dining room has a 40-footlong pine table that seats 30—plenty of room for any number of functions. The beautiful glimmerstone kitchen, which includes an old multipaned window from Yale, would make it easy to host large dinner parties.

The estate is currently being offered for sale, but it also makes for a perfect rental property, as well as possibilities for weddings, a conference center, yoga and meditation retreats, and school or office retreats. A recent Airbnb guest said, “We rented the Grahall castle for

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The Grahall northerly view. The solar panel array can be seen from this angle.

a week for a family reunion, ages 14 to 88. We were torn between our skiing itinerary and relaxing in the confines of this amazing home—an architectural showpiece with conversationworthy design elements and furnishings throughout. A space for everyone and every taste.”

There are seven bedrooms, each with its own configuration, and six bathrooms. The circular rooms include a living room, family room, and office/study. Topping it all off is the mahogany-lined library with floor-toceiling bookshelves. The slate over concrete flooring has embedded radiant heat, and on a winter morning is luxurious to walk on in your stocking feet. There are four granite hearths in the gathering rooms with mantels of two-ton slabs of stone. There are numerous balconies including a private one off the master bedroom. There are also sprawling outdoor patios for grilling, sunbathing, and staring at the grand views.

There are so many unique features to the Grahall estate—cathedral ceilings, vaulted ceilings, walk-in closets, walk-in pantry, wet bar, laundry room, air conditioning, security system, wood stove hookups, even a secret 6 2 F I N D WO O D S TO C K M AGA Z I N E AT W W W. WO O D S TO C K M AGA Z I N E . C O M

hidden staircase. The ponds are well stocked with bass and trout and offer swimming in summer and ice skating in winter. There are meandering hiking trails on the surrounding acreage.

A stone amphitheater invites festive gatherings. And the house is only 10 minutes from Okemo, 25 minutes to Woodstock, Vermont, and a few hours from Boston and New York City, making it a wonderful year-round home or a vacation home.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC

The feeling of the entire house is organic, forming and reforming. Angles and curves are juxtaposed in a delightful mix of shape and color, where the light keeps shifting and shadows splay.

Walking the halls and climbing the stairways, your perspective constantly shifts and your imagination lets loose with its own secret fantasies. Narrow curving stairwells open onto lightdrenched circular rooms. Or, rounding a bend suddenly, unexpectedly, you are in your dream library—dark walls, cushy brown leather couch and chairs, floor-to-ceiling books accessed by a rolling ladder, Persian carpets, and a long table for writing tomes or studying ancient texts written in code. I could live in that library!

Elizabeth says, “Our guests return each year and they speak of the welcoming ‘arms’ of the house. The house does feel alive. It makes the guests feel alive, awake, vital, yet also exudes a calm energy. It is a happy house.

Unique and brave.”

For more information, contact David Donegan at Snyder Donegan Real Estate Group.

35 South Main Street Hanover, NH (603) 643-0599 5 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2600 www.snyderdonegan.com grahallvermont.com

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G R E AT O U T D O O R S

Above: A girl prepares to sled down a dune at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Right: Hikers, sledders, and sandboarders take turns sliding down and climbing up one of the many sandy slopes in the park.

Sand Trek

Hiking in Great Sand Dunes National Park Story & Photos by Lisa Ballard

T

he wind hurt more than usual, and I’ve hiked through some serious wind. One time, while descending toward the AMC Lakes of the Clouds hut on Mount Washington, the wind was so strong, each footstep landed six inches to the side of where I aimed it. Another time, I pushed out of the start gate at the annual Bunny Bertram Memorial slalom at Suicide Six into an inhuman -30 degrees (F) windchill. Then there was the time I backpacked eight miles into Montana’s Crazy Mountains to go fly-fishing only to lie in a tent, praying the wind wouldn’t blow the flimsy shelter into the next state with me in it. The wind was so strong, the nylon arch collapsed against my face as an afternoon thunderstorm roared around me. However, none of these horrendous wind events matched the sandblasting I got at Great Sand Dunes National Park, the geological phenomenon wedged between the San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado.

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The dunefield at Great Sand Dunes National Park contains more than five billion cubic feet of sand. About half of that poured out of my hiking boots back at the car, but I didn’t mind.

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G R E AT O U T D O O R S

Clockwise from top left: A dog and his master half glide and half run down a dune. Mount Herard beyond the dunefield. The entrance to the dunefield. A group of friends rips down a dune.

I’m a national park nut. I’m especially fond of the large-landscape parks in the Western United States. I love to visit them to ogle the panoramas, see wildlife, learn about their histories and ecosystems, and explore their backcountries. Last October, my husband, Jack, and I planned a trip to South Fork, Colorado, to cast for trout in the Upper Rio Grande River. When I spotted Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve nearby on the map, I put it on our “must-see” list for the trip. Then life got busy. No time to plan beyond the list, but I figured I could at least hike up a sand dune for some exercise prior to a long day in the car on our way back to Denver airport. Preparing for a sandblasting never occurred to me.

BEACH WITHOUT WATER

As we traveled across the flat plain toward the visitor center at the park, I peered at the dunefield to our left from the shelter of our rental car. The base of the dunes resembled a luscious beach without water. In fact, some people walked along the strand without shoes on, digging their toes into the pliable, pale grains.

Beyond, the dunes rose layer after barren layer in mesmerizing patterns. They grew like thousand-foot waves rolling toward Mount Herard, a prominent 13,000-footer in the Sangre de Cristo range at the far end of

the goliath dunefield, which blocked their northeastward flow.

Prevailing winds continually pushed sediments from San Juan Mountains, 65 miles away to the southeast, toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, that framed the dunefield.

Around 400,000 years ago, a lake covered the valley between the two ranges. As the lake evaporated, the prevailing southwesterly winds picked up and bounced sediments and pebbles against the Sangre de Cristos. Then storms blew them back toward the plain, piling them on themselves and creating the tallest dunes in North America.

Ninety percent of the national park (33,549 acres) and adjacent national preserve (41,676 acres) is designated wilderness. It’s not entirely sand. There are actually seven ecosystems: alpine tundra, subalpine, montane forest, sand sheet/grassland, salt-encrusted plain or “sabkha,” and the wetlands beside the seasonal Medano and Sand Creeks. These two streams not only support a surprising array of wildlife despite the otherwise Saharalike conditions but also help maintain the dunes. During spring runoff, they carry sand to the south, where the wind blows it back into the dunefield. Ah, the wind . . .

HIKING STAR DUNE

The dunefield spreads across 30 square miles. It’s a place of extremes. During the

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Safety Tips • Carry water. The climate is arid, the elevation is high, and the wind sucks moisture out of you.

It’s easy to get dehydrated.

• Watch the weather. Afternoon lightning strikes are common.

Storms and cold temperatures can occur year-round.

• Wear sunscreen. At elevations from 7,500 to 14,000 feet in the park, the air is thinner than in Vermont, and the sun’s rays magnify off the sand.

• Protect yourself from the wind.

• Check your pet’s paws. If you bring your dog, check its pads frequently for abrasions.

• Watch for symptoms of acute mountain sickness. If you feel nauseated and/or have a headache, slow your pace and go lower.

Travel Planner • When to Go: The park is open year-round, though mid-spring (after May 1) is prime time.

That’s when the snow melts in the mountains filling the creeks.

During the summer, temperatures on the sand can reach 140 degrees. If you plan a summer visit, hike early in the morning or late in the evening.

• Getting There: From Woodstock, fly to Denver or Colorado Springs from Burlington or Boston, and then rent a car. From Denver airport, it’s about 240 miles (4 hours) south on I-25 to Walsenburg, then west on US 160, then north on State Highway 150.

• Gear: Wear close-toed shoes, preferably hiking boots. Also wear long pants, long sleeves, and a hat for both sun and sand protection.

Use sunglasses that wrap around your face or goggles to protect your eyes. A scarf, bandana, or neck gaiter can shield your face from the pelting sand when the wind picks up. Boot gaiters help keep the sand out of your footwear.

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summer, temperatures of 140 degrees bake the sand. During the winter, that same spot might be -20 degrees. On my dune-climbing day, it was chilly, in the 30s, and the wind howled.

At the entrance to the main dunefield, Jack, who’s not much of a beach guy, opted to take a nap in the car. “I’ll see you in an hour or two,” I said, as he reclined the back of his car seat. I laced up my hiking boots, excitedly anticipating a hike to the top of Star Dune (8,617 feet), the tallest dune in the park and thus the tallest dune in North America, but my enthusiasm waned almost immediately. As I stepped onto the pale, talc-like surface, the wind nearly knocked me off my feet. Not one to

Online Extra Find more photos at www.woodstockmagazine.com.

A couple walks across the sandy plain after hiking the dunefield.

shirk a challenge, I zipped up my collar to protect my face, then put a shoulder into the wind.

It was tough going. The fine grains underfoot gave way with each step, similar to soft sand at the beach. The first

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quarter mile was pancake flat, then the climb began. Though the climb sounded modest, 3.8 miles and about 755 feet of vertical gain, it felt three times higher due to the loose footing. Luckily there was entertainment along the way.

Much like a snowy slope, some people sledded down the dunes while others stood on snowboard-like boards without bindings. I watched one gal face-plant, as her friends laughed from the launching point. “Want to try?” asked one of the onlookers offering me a sandboard. “No thanks. I’m good,” I declined, continuing my climb.

A little farther up, a dog chased his master in a controlled skid from the top of one hump to another. Then a group of 10 friends cartwheeled off a sand cornice for kicks. Though gritty, the sand was soft and melted away under foot, or body, as the case might be.

When I finally reached the top, I marveled at the waves of sand that flowed around me, with the impressive rock face of Mount Herard as a backdrop. Grit was in my eyes, up my nose, and in my ears, but I ignored it, wowed by the waves of sand. As the sun dropped lower in the sky, shadows accentuated the dramatic swells.

The landscape was devoid of everything but sand, yet alive with vivid lines that hypnotized me with their graceful curves and dramatic dips.

After taking it all in, I boot-skied back to the sandy plain, continuing to brace myself against the tenacious wind. The dunefield at Great Sand Dunes National Park contains more than five billion cubic feet of sand. About half of that poured out of my hiking boots back at the car, but I didn’t mind. What a memorable, unique hike! And the wind . . . it was a necessary part of the adventure.

Without it, the dunes would not exist.

Next time, I’ll just remember to bring a bandana.

For More Information • Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, nps.gov/grsa.

• Recreational opportunities, historical sites, lodging, and restaurants around South Fork, Colorado, southfork.org.

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Shop, Stay & Play In & Around Quechee this Spring

Shepard Interior Selections 9295 East Woodstock Road Route 4 Quechee, VT

Public House Pub Public House Diner

The Vermont Spot Quechee Gorge Village Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 281-6274

For appointments call (802) 457-1116 or email Eleanor@shepardvt.com

Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 295-8500 www.publichousevt.com FB: PublicHouseVT | PublicHouseDiner

Quality Inn

Artifactory

Radiant Wellness Massage

5817 Woodstock Road Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 295-7600 qualityinnquecheegorge.com

Quechee Gorge Village Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 369-2153

Professional Therapy in a Tranquil Setting

Quechee Pizza Chef & Mini Golf

Quechee Home

The Skinny Pancake

5893 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 296-6669 quecheepizzachef.com Sun–Thu 11am–9pm Fri & Sat 11am–10pm Instagram @ gethoppy

Quechee Gorge Village Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 281-6274

7161 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 291-6111 www.skinnypancake.com/quechee

Open daily 10am–5pm

Sun–Wed 7am–3pm Thu–Sat 7am–8pm

Open daily 10am–5pm

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Open daily 9:30am–5:30pm

Farmhouse Professional Building 176 Waterman Hill Road, Suite 3 (on Route 4) Quechee, VT (862) 205-1678 www.RadiantWellnessMassage.net

HAPPENINGS

Spring 2020

MARCH | APRIL | MAY

May 23–24

Sheep Shearing & Herding Billings Farm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

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HAPPENINGS

Pentangle Council on the Arts 31 The Green, Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3981

March 21 Maple Sugar Shack Open House

WWW.PENTANGLEARTS.ORG

March 16–27 After School Dance Program

The King Farm, 10am–2pm WOODSTOCKVT.COM

Town Hall Theatre, 4–6pm

March 26 Fantastic Fungi Town Hall Theatre, 7:30pm

April 14 Ice on Fire Town Hall Theatre, 6pm

April 29 An Evening with Frances Moore Lappé Town Hall Theatre, 5pm

May 24 Lamartine Quartet Town Hall Theatre, 4pm

March 19 Sharing Stories and Breaking Bread

May 26 Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution

Woodstock History Center, 12–1pm WOODSTOCKHISTORYCENTER.ORG

Town Hall Theatre, 6pm

March 19 Mix, Mingle & Make ArtisTree, 6:30pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

March 19, April 2, 16, 30, May 14, 28 Open Mic Night ArtisTree, 7pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

March 19–22 Love, Loss, and What I Wore Grange Theatre ARTISTREEVT.ORG

March 21 Working Woodlands Workshop: iNaturalist Tutorial Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, 9–11am WWW.NPS.GOV/MABI/ LEARN/NATURE/WORKINGWOODLANDS-WORKSHOPS.HTM

March 21 Artist’s Toolbox: Color ArtisTree, 9am–1pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

March 21 The Art of Lettering on Clay ArtisTree, 9am–1pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

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March 21 Reiki I Certification Workshop

March 22 Reiki II Certification Workshop

ArtisTree, 9am–4pm

ArtisTree, 9am–6pm

ARTISTREEVT.ORG

ARTISTREEVT.ORG

March 22 The Evolution of the 20th Century Silhouette

March 28 Watercolor Weekends: Underpainting and Glazing

Woodstock History Center, 2–3pm

ArtisTree, 10am–4pm

WOODSTOCKHISTORYCENTER.ORG

ARTISTREEVT.ORG

March 21 Woodstock Vermont Film Series: JFK: The Last Speech Billings Farm, 3 & 5:30pm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

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HAPPENINGS

April 10–11 Baby Farm Animal Celebration Billings Farm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

March 29 Artful Meditation Retreat

April 4 Artist’s Toolbox: Dry Media in Drawing

ArtisTree, 9am–4pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

ArtisTree, 9am–1pm

April 1 Valley Improv at the Grange Theatre!

ARTISTREEVT.ORG

April 4, May 2 Family Clay

Grange Theatre, 7pm

ArtisTree, 10am–12pm

ARTISTREEVT.ORG

ARTISTREEVT.ORG

April 2, May 7 Juvenile Book Club

April 6 Along the Ottauquechee River

Norman Williams Public Library, 3pm

Woodstock History Center, 7–8pm

NORMANWILLIAMS.ORG

WOODSTOCKHISTORYCENTER.ORG

April 2, 9, May 7, 14 Pages Club Norman Williams Public Library, 3:45pm NORMANWILLIAMS.ORG

April 4 Woodstock Vermont Film Series: Moynihan Billings Farm, 3 & 5:30pm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

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April 7, May 5 Recite!

Norman Williams Public Library, 5:30pm NORMANWILLIAMS.ORG

April 18 Woodstock Vermont Film Series: The Pollinators Billings Farm, 3 & 5:30pm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

April 9, May 14 YA Book Club Norman Williams Public Library, 3pm NORMANWILLIAMS.ORG

April 10 Drum with Sayon Camara ArtisTree, 6–7:30pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

April 13 Opening Day Billings Farm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

April 14, May 12 What’s on Your Nightstand?

The Not-a-Book-Club Book Club Norman Williams Public Library, 10:15am NORMANWILLIAMS.ORG

April 18 Paper Clay 101 ArtisTree, 12–4pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

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HAPPENINGS

May 10 Draft Animal Day Billings Farm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

April 19 Author Reading with Bruce Coffin Woodstock History Center, 2–3pm WOODSTOCKHISTORYCENTER.ORG

April 25 Watercolor Weekends: Negative Painting ArtisTree, 10am–4pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

April 24, May 29 Branch Out: Creative Events for ALL Teens!

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Foodie Fridays

ArtisTree, 6pm

Billings Farm

ARTISTREEVT.ORG

BILLINGSFARM.ORG

April 25 Introduction to Papermaking ArtisTree, 9:30am– 12:30pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

May 1 West African Dance from Guinea ArtisTree, 6–7pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

May 2 Glass Fusing: Mother’s Day Hearts ArtisTree, 10am–12:30pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

May 3 Hypertufa Garden Planters ArtisTree, 10am–12:30pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG 7 6 F I N D WO O D S TO C K M AGA Z I N E AT W W W. WO O D S TO C K M AGA Z I N E . C O M

Norman Williams Public Library 10 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2295 NORMANWILLIAMS.ORG

March, April & May, Mondays Baby and Toddler Story Time 10:30am

March, April & May, Tuesdays Needlepoint and Embroidery Group 2pm

March, April & May, Wednesdays Breakout EDU 3pm

March, April & May, Thursdays Thursday Knitting Group 2pm

March, April & May, Thursdays Play Bridge at Norman Williams!

3:30pm

March 18, April 15, May 20 Culinary Kids 3:15pm

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HAPPENINGS

May 15–16 2 Days in May: A 10-Minute Playwriting Festival Grange Theatre, 7pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

May 9, 16 Berry Bowls ArtisTree, 12–4pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

May 18–19 Gesture Painting: Quick Studies from Photographs ArtisTree, 6–9pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

May 23–24 Sheep Shearing & Herding Billings Farm BILLINGSFARM.ORG

May 30–31 Building as a Team: Making Sculpture for the Community ArtisTree, 10am–5pm ARTISTREEVT.ORG

Online Extra Find more events online at www.woodstockmagazine.com.

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ADVERTISERS INDEX 37 Central Clothiers................................................. 45

Jackson House Inn................................................... 73

The Blue Horse Inn.................................................. 46

506 on the River Inn................................................ 46

Jancewicz & Son...................................................... 37

The Carriage Shed..................................................... 8

APD Lifecare/The Woodlands................................. 43

Jeff Wilmot Painting............................................... 63

The Daily Catch........................................................ 78

Anichini.................................................................... 17

Junction Frame........................................................ 69

Anything Printed..................................................... 46

The Gilded Edge...................................................... 16

Kedron Valley Inn.................................................... 47

Artifactory............................................................... 70

Landshapes.............................................................. 22

The Prince and The Pauper..................................... 45

ArtisTree................................................................... 23

LaValley Building Supply.......................................... 7

Billings Farm & Museum......................................... 22

Mertens House........................................................ 69

Blood’s Catering...................................................... 77

Mon Vert Café......................................................... 44

The Public House..................................................... 70 The Quechee Club..................................................... 1 The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm..................... 75 The Skinny Pancake................................................. 70

Braeside Lodging..................................................... 16

Montshire Museum................................................. 63

Bridgewater Raft Race............................................ 78

Mt. Ascutney Hospital............................................. 75

The Vermont Spot................................................... 70

Brown Furniture........................................................ 6

N.T. Ferro Estate & Custom Jewelers..............42 & 44

The Village Butcher................................................. 46

Carolyn Egeli Fine Art............................................. 11

Neely Orthodontics................................................. 63

The Village Inn of Woodstock................................ 45

Clover Gift Shop..............................................46 & 78

Piecemeal Pies......................................................... 62

The Village at White River Junction......................... 3

Collective—The Art of Craft................................... 44

Pizza Chef of Woodstock........................................ 46

The Williamson Group............................................ 13

Crown Point Cabinetry.............................................. 4

Quality Inn............................................................... 70

The Woodstocker Bed & Breakfast........................ 44

DHMC......................................................................... 2

Quechee Home, Porch & Closet.............................. 70

The Yankee Bookshop............................................ 45

Elevation Clothing................................................... 14

Quechee Pizza Chef & Mini Golf............................ 70

Ennis Construction..........................Inside back cover

Unicorn.................................................................... 45

Radiant Wellness Massage...................................... 70

F.H. Gillingham & Sons............................................ 44

Rain or Shine Tent and Events................................ 21

First Impressions Salon & Spa................................. 77

Red Wagon Toy Co.................................................. 45

Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty........... 5

Shepard Interior Selections..................................... 70

Fox Gallery............................................................... 45

Simple Energy.......................................................... 47

Upper Valley Haven................................................ 62 VINS.......................................................................... 43 Vermont Eclectic Co................................................ 19 WISE......................................................................... 36 Wagner Hodgson.................................................... 68

Friends of Norris Cotton/Prouty............................. 42

Sleep Woodstock Motel.......................................... 45

G.R. Porter & Sons................................................... 77

Snyder Donegan Real Estate Group...........................

Woodstock Beverage.............................................. 21

Gallery on the Green............................................... 44

......................................................Inside front cover

Woodstock Chamber of Commerce....................... 69

GeoBarns.................................................... Back cover

Splendid Chaos........................................................ 44

Woodstock Farmers’ Market.................................. 14

Gilberte Interiors....................................................... 9

Terrace Communities.............................................. 23

Woodstock Hops N’ Barley..................................... 45

Hull Maynard Hersey Insurance.............................. 15

The Barnard Inn Restaurant & Max’s Tavern......... 44

Woodstock Recreation Center................................ 44

For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact Bob Frisch at (603) 643-1830 or email rcfrisch1@comcast.net.

GET CONNECTED Get listed on the woodstockmagazine.com BUSINESS DIRECTORY and you will also be included on our printed list in every issue of WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE. (See page 19.)

HERE’S HOW! Email Bob Frisch at rcfrisch1@comcast.net, or call Bob at (603) 643-1830.

Find out how you can connect with our readers. It’s easy, inexpensive, and another way to reach an affluent and educated audience.

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LAST GLANCE

Blossom by blossom the spring begins. — Algernon Charles Swinburne

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