Visits from old friends during the summer is a great way to think back on what you have accomplished in life. Childhood summers were filled with gardening, jelly making, shelling limas, swimming lessons, Bible School, family camping vacations and trips to the bookmobile. Recent guests from Texas reminded me that during my career as a choral conductor, summers were times for European choir tours, incredible singing, fantastic places to see, life lessons to be learnedd. This year, summer is a time of weeding, gardening, canning vegatables, leading tours for the New Market Walking Tours(www.new-market-virginia-walking-tours.com), making preparations to meet new guests at the Apple Blossom Inn (www.appleblossominn.net) and gearing up for a new season as Artistic Director of Masterworks Chorus of the Shenandoah Valley.
We are starting our sixth year as innkeepers, during which we have had 458 bookings. If you can guess when we will reach the 500th booking, we will give you one FREE NIGHT's at the Apple Blossom Inn. Email me your guess at appleinn@shentel.net
Friday, August 6, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Mid July at the Apple Blossom Inn
When you live in an agricultural area, the talk is always of the weather. This has been true for many years. I live near the Civil War New Market Battlefield. A local farmer, Silon Henkel, kept a journal in 1864, the year of our famous battle. He did not have much to say about the battle, but lots to say about digging ditches, planting potatoes, and harvesting crops. Rain or lack of it was a big topic. To Silon, the battle was inconsequential.
Tonight, we have had our first rain in about a month. The beautiful green hills and dales of The Shenandoah Valley have turned brown. Somehow even in a drought, weeds continue to thrive and I have sent many weeds to the garbage pile. We have not had need of a lawnmower at the Apple Blossom Inn in more than three weeks, so Charlie is not complaining.
Yet,summer trudges on. The garden is beginning to produce squash and tomatoes and we have already harvested cabbage, carrots, spinach, peas, strawberries, gooseberries, and raspberries. We use the berries in our breakfast menus at the B&B and sell the herbs and veggies at the new New Market Farmer's Market on Rt 211 on Saturday mornings.
Come see us at the Farmer's market or wave to us in our 1864 costumes as we guide guests taking the New Market Walking Tours. Call the Apple Blossom Inn for July and August discounts.
Tonight, we have had our first rain in about a month. The beautiful green hills and dales of The Shenandoah Valley have turned brown. Somehow even in a drought, weeds continue to thrive and I have sent many weeds to the garbage pile. We have not had need of a lawnmower at the Apple Blossom Inn in more than three weeks, so Charlie is not complaining.
Yet,summer trudges on. The garden is beginning to produce squash and tomatoes and we have already harvested cabbage, carrots, spinach, peas, strawberries, gooseberries, and raspberries. We use the berries in our breakfast menus at the B&B and sell the herbs and veggies at the new New Market Farmer's Market on Rt 211 on Saturday mornings.
Come see us at the Farmer's market or wave to us in our 1864 costumes as we guide guests taking the New Market Walking Tours. Call the Apple Blossom Inn for July and August discounts.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Snow and Tulips
Snow is still the story here for the winter of 2010. On Feb 5 and 6 we received another 25 inches of snow and then on Feb 9 another 6-10 inches of snow. On Feb 15th, it snowed for 2 hours adn I cancelled Masterworks Chorus rehearsal. I finally left on Feb 9 on one of the last planes out of Virginia and headed for sunny Texas and Texas Music Educators Conference in San Antonio, only to find sleet and later 10 inches of snow on the tarmac at DFW. My time in Texas, as always, was great with friends, food and music. The owner of the Apple Blossom Inn in Va. is an official "Yellow Rose of Texas". You'll have to visit to see Gov. Perry's commendation! I really enjoyed the COLOR, reds, blues, oranges, pinks, that I saw in San Antonio and it lifted my spirits
Today the Apple Blossom Inn hosts a birthday getaway and the flowers and chocolate cake are waiting for our guests to arrive.
I can't wait until spring arrives and I see my tulips bloom again. We have over 2,000 bulbs at the Apple Blossom Inn in the spring time. So, book your March, April, May vacation soon. April is nearly full. You can find your date for your special celebration by going to www.appleblossominn.net and checking on our availability. Ask for the Bloggers Special when you book
Today the Apple Blossom Inn hosts a birthday getaway and the flowers and chocolate cake are waiting for our guests to arrive.
I can't wait until spring arrives and I see my tulips bloom again. We have over 2,000 bulbs at the Apple Blossom Inn in the spring time. So, book your March, April, May vacation soon. April is nearly full. You can find your date for your special celebration by going to www.appleblossominn.net and checking on our availability. Ask for the Bloggers Special when you book
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Fifth Snow of the Season
New Market and the Apple Blossom Inn B&B have just received another 5 inches of snow, our fifth storm of the winter season. TV weather people reported that we have had more snow this winter than the total accumulation of the last three years and that we are now entering the realms of the top five snowiest winters on record! But here at the Apple Blossom Inn we are warm, cozy, and serving freshly baked brownies to our guests. We are still serving homegrown foods for breakfast. Today we served strawberries (frozen from our summer crop)on top of homemade waffles sprinkled with confectioner's sugar and a dollop of whip cream. Are you smiling already?
The ground hog could not see his shadow here and the calendar points out that in about 48 days, spring will arrive. Jonquils in the Shenandoah Valley should be blooming around March 18.
January has been a good month: two new recipes, 3 books read, a trip to DC, an arts conference, and good health
Come celebrate the joys of your life at the Apple Blossom Inn
The ground hog could not see his shadow here and the calendar points out that in about 48 days, spring will arrive. Jonquils in the Shenandoah Valley should be blooming around March 18.
January has been a good month: two new recipes, 3 books read, a trip to DC, an arts conference, and good health
Come celebrate the joys of your life at the Apple Blossom Inn
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year
Happy New Year from New Market, Virginia
We still have snow on the ground, with fresh powder of 3 inches appearing New Year's eve morning. So, if you are into skiing, come visit us at the Apple Blossom Inn and then take off to Bryce Ski Resort, about 20 miles away. Ski all day and come home to the cozy inn for cocoa and quilts!
We are already looking at seed catalogs for spring vegetable garden
Remodeling in our end of the Inn is going nicely.
For those of you who have taken the New Market Walking Tours, I am writing a novel based on the lives of people who lived in New Market 140 years ago. I should conclude the novel in about a year. If you are curious, let me know and I will share snatches of the novel in the blog
Auld acquaintances are not forgot at the Apple Blossom Inn!
We still have snow on the ground, with fresh powder of 3 inches appearing New Year's eve morning. So, if you are into skiing, come visit us at the Apple Blossom Inn and then take off to Bryce Ski Resort, about 20 miles away. Ski all day and come home to the cozy inn for cocoa and quilts!
We are already looking at seed catalogs for spring vegetable garden
Remodeling in our end of the Inn is going nicely.
For those of you who have taken the New Market Walking Tours, I am writing a novel based on the lives of people who lived in New Market 140 years ago. I should conclude the novel in about a year. If you are curious, let me know and I will share snatches of the novel in the blog
Auld acquaintances are not forgot at the Apple Blossom Inn!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Snow at the Apple Blossom Inn
Today it snowed 22 inches at the Apple Blossom Inn in about 24 hours. The Valley of Virginia has not seen snow like this for about 40 years. Guests from England staying at the Apple Blossom Inn were treated to a beautiful winter wonderland. Traffic on I-81 is scarce and all major roads are listed as severe driving conditions. We are warm and snuggy in the B&B with cookies, Texas style chili, and lots of covers. The Masterworks Chorus Christmas Tea was cancelled today. The ski resorts at Bryce and Massanutten will be smiling for weeks. Merry Christmas to all
Monday, October 5, 2009
Repairs Nearly Completed
On June 3, 2009 we had a hail storm in New Market, Va for about 20 minutes. When it was over, about 3 inches of hailstones were on the ground. Needless to say, damage occurred at the Apple Blossom Inn. We are almost finished the repairs and the exterior of the inn is looking bright and cheerful with new red shutters. Help us celebrate our new look and visit us in the slow season (Nov- January).
We are in our fifth year of operation and to celebrate our lodging anniversary and the "new look," we are offering a $25 discount off our nightly rate. So come enjoy the apples, the Skyline Drive, and the fall colors at the Apple Blossom Inn
We are in our fifth year of operation and to celebrate our lodging anniversary and the "new look," we are offering a $25 discount off our nightly rate. So come enjoy the apples, the Skyline Drive, and the fall colors at the Apple Blossom Inn
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