The Crucible Presented by The Dorset Players the weekends of March 8-10 and 15-17. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2pm at The Dorset Playhouse. Tickets are $20 and are available at The Dorset Playhouse box office at 802-867-5777.

Marchdi Gras Festivities at Stratton Mountain Saturday, March 9 from 3pm – 10pm. Celebrate March in Mardi Gras fashion! Enjoy live music, street performers, delicious food and give aways in Stratton Village at the base of the mountain.

Bird Walk at Hildene Sponsored by The Vermont Bird Place & Sky Watch, local birders meet to conduct a survey of birds on the Hildene grounds. Meet at the Hildene Welcome Center at 8am on Saturday, March 16th; free to all birders.

The Saturday Series at Burr and Burton Academy World renowned performing artists presented in high definition broadcasts. Saturdays at 7pm in the academy’s Riley Center for the Arts, cost is $18 per adult.
March 16 – JEWELS, a George Balanchine ballet presented by the Mariinsky Ballet Company from St. Petersburg, Russia.
March 30 – PEOPLE, a comic play by Britain’s celebrated playwright, Alan Bennett, from the National Theater of London.

Off the Shelf Series sponsored by the Northshire Bookstore Author Jodi Picoult presents The Storyteller in this author in conversation series at The Maple Street School. Thursday, March 21 at 6:30pm.

Sugar on Snow The Vermont Country Store presents this time honored tradition of indulging in sweet maple syrup drizzled over snow! The store is also offering Maple Syrup sampling. Join the VCS on Saturdays and Sundays in March from 12pm – 3pm (through March 24th).

Vermont Maple Sugar Open House Weekend This annual event is statewide and being held on Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24. Visit sugar houses as they boil maple sap. Learn how goods such as maple syrup and maple candy are produced. Watch the boiling process and sample different grades of syrup.

We have just had our first major snow storm in Manchester, VT. The Inn at Ormsby Hill has been transformed into a winter paradise. The view from my kitchen desk is truly remarkable. That being said, I can already envision a different scene out this window: green leaves on the crab apple, a soft breeze blowing through the screen, multi-hued green on the Taconic mountains…in other words – SPRING! The days are already getting minutely longer; the darkest days are behind us. I am celebrating the new year with beautiful cymbidium orchids purchased at Equinox Valley Nursery, the place I sneak off to when I need to feed my soul.

So, when you visit us here, you can enjoy the actual climate outside, or you can join me inside for a hint of warmer days to come.

Before we could comfortably move into our owner’s quarters at the inn, we needed something to move out. It was a collection of approximately 100 year old taxidermy specimens perched on the walls and ceiling beams of our living area. According to the previous owner, they were historic to the house, and thus belonged there. I just could not warm up to sharing our space with those guys. We had yet to begin researching relocation possibilities, when Rocky appeared at our door bearing glass tops for our new dining tables. Being acquainted with the property, he knew about the creatures and asked if they were still there. Yoshio told him we were trying to find them a new home, and Rocky offered to take them. On Saturday the move was completed. Thank you Rocky and family. Your respectful removal of the elk and birds assures us they will be in good hands. That very day, with the help of our daughter Kelly, we began setting up our new home.

The last three days have brought much needed rain to the Manchester, Vt area. I could feel the earth gaining back its vitality, getting ready for a growth spurt. With the right balance of rain and sun, nature thrives.

Our guests at Ormsby Hill took the downpours in stride, one minute sitting outside on the patio eating cheese, fruit and cookies, the next, sipping tea in the living room. Other guests made themselves at home in the gathering room, testing out the lemon cooler cookies I’ve been trying to perfect. Even the old board games came out, and it really felt like home.

The reputation of this property speaks of its beauty and elegance. These last few rainy days have shown that it is also a comfortable, friendly, happy place, where guests can put their feet up and chill.

I’m not sure what kind of weather is coming this week, but we and guests alike can just go with the flow and not worry about it. It will all be fine.