Monarch butterfly sampling a dahlia 

What a difference a year can make....

Last year we were giving witness to the power of Mother Nature to bring down mountains with some rain. This year we are admiring the whimsy of Mother Nature for creating beautiful butterflies to tease us as we walk by the gardens. The contrast could not be more profound.

Today happens to be primary day in Vermont. Who knew! Mary and I dutifully cast out ballots this afternoon at town hall for some politicians who felt it was in their best interest to hold an election where nobody came. Hopefully it does not work out that way.

We were actually tipped off about the election 2 days ago. A republican state rep for Killington sent out an email asking people to take a democratic ballot and write in his name. He was hoping he could snipe the lone democrat on the primary ballot, thus avoiding any kind of election at all for the house seat he currently holds in the fall. Oops... he was found out. Of course, what he tried to do is perfectly legal, if not a bit unorthodox. The real shame is that the democrat kept such a low profile for the primary that the republican thought he would be able to get away with it. A pox on both their houses.

Which brings us back to the butterflies.

A year ago in the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, the citizens of Vermont put aside their political differences in the face of tremendous adversity. When Mother Nature moved mountains, the people of Vermont responded with the proverbial "is that all you got!". The bonds formed between people all over the state will be a unifying theme for years to come. If only the political class could figure that out instead of trying to game the system for their advantage....so it goes...

And the butterflies are oblivious.

Vermont is a beautiful state. The gardens all around the inn that Mary carefully tends are an example of working with nature versus fighting it. And, at least for a few days, the butterflies have voted with their wings!

Where ever you may be keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!

Tape following my Iliotibial Band 

Like many in the Killington area, I swear by Vermont Orthopedics and Vermont Sports Medicine.

A couple of summers ago now, I had my left shoulder surgically repaired from a ski injury. (Rotator cuff and ruptured biceps muscle). Vermont Orthopedics did the surgery, Vermont Sports Medicine took care of the rehab. In the process, not only did I rehab the shoulder that had surgery, I also rehabbed my other shoulder, which had sustained a separation over 15 years earlier.

Having started playing golf when I was 10 years old, a major component of my summer recreation has always been chasing the little white ball down some green fairway somewhere on the planet. Lately it's been at many of the really nice golf courses in Vermont, mostly in Killington at Green Mountain National. But where ever, golf, like skiing in the winter, has had my attention for quite a while in my life.

Prior to my second second injury, the shoulder separation from years gone by had caused some bad things for my golf swing. Primarily, my golf swing develop a sharp hook from right to left. During the years while I was dealing with this, my golf handicap went from a 7 to 20 something, before settling in at a mediocre 18. (If you can't control the ball flight in golf, you just can't score.)

The good news is that my golf experience is changing for the better. After 2 years of maintaining a physical therapy routine for my upper body, my golf swing has come roaring back this year. I am doing well on all my club matches at Green Mountain National. I am hitting the ball longer and straighter than any time in the last 15 years. And my handicap is coming down appropriately in the process. (Down to a 14 in the last 30 days.)

But sometimes, good news is followed by bad news. With my upper body strong, this golf season I have had to change quite a bit of my swing to get rid of bad habits picked up during the years when I was bothered by upper body injuries. I have gone from an open stance originally adopted to compensate for the sharp hook from my bad shoulder, to a much stronger, straighter stance aligned properly with my intended ball flight. Unfortunately, that has created all kinds of stress on my left knee, which has left me hobbling around Killington, not to gracefully, for the last couple of weeks.

But hopefully that will all change.

After a visit to Vermont Orthopedics to make sure that nothing was injured mechanically, I was dispatched to Vermont Sports Medicine for some physical therapy. After an evaluation, a therapy session, and some training on some new exercises to strengthen the leg muscles, on went "the tape".

You may remember from the just completed London Summer Olympics that many of the athletes were taped with "Kniesio" tape. A flexible adhesive tape, it is meant to provide some extra external support to muscles and tendons to help recover from (or prevent) injuries. While the Olympic Athletes sported tape in all colors of the rainbow, mine is just a simple flesh toned.

(On the side, when Mary saw the tape she asked if the therapist "shaved my leg". I told her she did not... to which Mary replied "oh..that could be nice to take off in a couple of days!" So it goes....)

Wether or not the tape works remains to be seen. Is it a fad.. who knows? But it is an example of a little bit of olympic medicine that is trickling down to the hinterlands to try to help keep aging baby boomers bodies moving in the right direction, or in this case to help me walk without a limp while still enjoying a good game of golf.

Where ever you may be keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!

An ancestor from a "Simpler?" time. 

Some random contemplations as I look out my office widow to a gray, overcast, sky.

We got lucky!... The weather has been gloomy every Saturday in Killington since the beautiful weekend of July 20/21/22 when we had the Killington Wine Festival. The Town of Killington and the Killington Resort really worked hard to produce this years Saturday Concert Series "Cooler in the Mountains". The first two concerts in the series were literally pummeled towards cancellation when heavy thunderstorms raked the mountains on Saturday July 30 and Saturday August 6. They need to catch a break!

Golf courses in great shape!... The weather pattern in Killington over the last month has moved to a traditional summer pattern of late day rain showers. While it has hurt early evening events, like the previously mentioned "Cooler in the Mountain" Series, it has left the golf courses in the area in absolutely great shape. If you enjoy chasing "the little white ball" then by all means plan a late summer/early fall trip to Vermont for some golf.

Fall Foliage should be pretty good!... While you can never divine the exact characteristics of an upcoming fall foliage season, if history is worth anything this years colors should be pretty good. While the area was a little light on rainfall in the early summer, Vermont has not suffered the severe drought conditions seen by many other places in the country. The long period of temperate weather (starting in late March) combined with reasonable amounts of moisture have provided a good growing season for the leaf canopy in Vermont's forests. If history holds true, and barring another weather aberration like last years Irene, fall foliage viewing in late September and October should be very good this year.

Speaking of Irene!... Irene good night... Irene good night. Good night Irene... Good night Irene... I'll see you in my dreams. Can you believe it is a year since Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene raked the East Coast and almost destroyed Vermont. The recovery has been phenomenal. Fall foliage visitors touring the state this year will seem some vestiges of last years calamity, with the operative words in that last fragment being "touring the state". Last year, of course, that was impossible. This year is another story. The recovery effort has been nothing short of stunning.

Early ski season deal... Ask anyone who runs a business in Killington and they will tell you that a lot of work taking place right now is to prepare for the upcoming ski season. Marketing programs for the upcoming winter season are being put into place. Creative are being finished prior to publication. Internet campaigns are being finalized. The Killington Resort has pumped out the first "Deal" of the 2012/2013 ski season. It is a buy one/get one free program for early season skiing and riding. If you want to take advantage of the deal, you must do so by August 31, 2012 and use the tickets at the resort before December 16, 2012. Follow the link on Killington.com for more details

This weekends "Cooler in the Mountains" concert features Entrain. And if you can not make it to the mountains, where ever you may be keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!

Tight lie on hole 12 at Green Mountain National last Tuesday 

Fortunately, it has been a relatively quiet week at Killington

By definition, last weekends wine festival saw some very late nights, and some consumption of the "juice from the grape". Sleeping in Monday morning, after playing golf on Sunday evening during the festivals closing event, "Wine and Nine" was "glorious".

We have had a nice week for golf in Killington. All or our mid-week guests managed a round or 2. I played in the Tuesday quota group, and a presidents cup match at Green Mountain. On Quota... not so good... I took too many points the week before the Wine Festival. The Lord giveth and the lord taketh away, so to speak... Or in this case it's Spyder McGonagle. But my game is improving. My shoulders are much stronger from all of the rehab. I am hitting the ball pretty good for this time of year, although my putting could be a little sharper; so it only makes sense that my handicap will trend down accordingly. So it goes.

On the Presidents cup I did a little better. On my match this morning, after 20 holes I won with a par on the second hole of sudden death. I have now won my first 3 matches in the elimination tournament. The brackets are definitely getting tighter.

Both Killington golf courses have so far stood up to the summer heat. We have had a little rain this week to keep everything damp. If you are planning a golf vacation in Killington the next few weeks, you should be very happy with the condition of the courses in the area.

This weekend kicks off the "Cooler in the Mountains" music festival. "Rusted Root" kicks off the festival this Saturday at the Umbrella Bar venue at the K1 base lodge. The concerts run from 3:30PM to 6:00PM every Saturday in August, with promotional consideration provided by Long Trail Brewery to hold the events.

If you can make it to Killington, the concert is worth the stop. And if you can not make it to the mountains, where ever you may be keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!

Tents in place at Killington's Roaring Brook Umbrella Bars for the Killington Wine Festival 

After a year of planning, we are just hours away from the start of the 11th Annual Killington Wine Festival. And it is a beautiful day in Killington to complete final preparations for this weekends event.

This morning, with several volunteers, I was at the Umbrella Bars at the K1 Base Lodge completing final prep for tomorrows Grand Tasting. 4 tents have been erected around the umbrella bar complex to support the event which is expected to draw hundreds of people to the mountain tomorrow afternoon. With music provided by members of the Adam Ezra Group and a weather prediction of beautiful sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70's, the umbrella bars look like they will provide a perfect venue for tasting wine all afternoon at Killington.

Tonight there are wine events scheduled all over the Killington region. The Estate Tasting, which is sold out, takes place at the Killington Grand Hotel starting at 6:00 PM. The Killington Wine Trail is a new addition to the festival this year, with virtually every restaurant in Killington offering a wine and food special this evening in conjunction with the wine festival. In restaurant kitchens all over Killington right now, chefs are preparing for tonight's festivities. At Birch Ridge, in addition to our regular menu, Chef Frizzie has prepared a special appetizer to pair with a delicious Cameron Hughes Sauvignon Blanc. Dinner service begins tonight at the Birch Ridge Inn at 6:00 PM with seating available in both our restaurant and our Great Room Lounge. Mary, Merisa, and Lisa will be holding court in the front of the house this evening, as I will be performing my "official duties" for the Killington Chamber of Commerce at tonight's Estate Tasting at the Killington Grand.

Tomorrow is the big day for the Killington Wine Festival with the Grand Tasting starting at 12 noon for Wine Festival Patrons, and 1:00 PM for general admission. At the Birch Ridge Inn, we follow that up in the evening with our 11th Annual Killington Wine Festival Wine Dinner. Chef Frizzie has a great menu planned to match with some really nice wines from Cameron Hughes. Many other restaurant in Killington also have special wine events planned for Saturday evening as well.

To all of those who have put in hundreds of hours planning this years wine festival, thank you in advance for your support and assistance.

To those of you who are coming to Killington this weekend to enjoy the Wine Festival...have a great time. If it is one thing we know how to do well in Killington it is how to throw a party. Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy all of the great wine and food that people have prepared for the festivities.

And if you can not make it to Killington this week, where ever you may be keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!

Cameron Hughes Wines at Birch Ridge Inn Wine Dinner 

On Saturday Evening July 21st, the Birch Ridge Inn is pleased to partner with Cameron Hughes Wine to present an evening of fine wine and dining in conjunction with the 2012 Killington Wine Festival. For this special evening, Birch Ridge Inn Executive Chef Stephen Byrne has created a menu to delightfully complement a selection of wines from the Cameron Hughes Lot series.

Cameron Hughes Wine is a modern day international negociant that specializes in domestic and imported super premium wine. The company was founded by Cameron Hughes and partner Jessica Kogan. They have been dedicated to delivering truly exceptional wine at real world prices since starting their company in San Francisco more than 10 years ago. Further information about Cameron Hughes Wine can be found at www.chwine.com.

At the wine dinner on July 21st, Cameron Hughes Wine will be represented by Christine Zecker, New England regional manager for the company. Christine will be on hand to discuss each wine with guests during the evening.

The menu for the wine dinner includes 5 courses, each paired with a fine wine. The evening begins with summer appetizers in the Great Room of the Birch Ridge Inn chosen to compliment Cameron Hughes Lot 330 Arroyo Seco Monterey Chardonnay. Upon moving into the dining room, guests will then be presented with a ceviche of sliced halibut, scallops, and shrimp, paired with Cameron Hughes Lot 217 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc. This will be followed with a black and blue surf and turf duet of oriental peppercorn crusted sliced beef tenderloin and sesame rimmed rare tuna, paired with a Cameron Hughes Lot 301 Lodi Zinfandel; and a duo of lamb chops sliced from the rack with a port wine glace d'agneau, paired with a Cameron Hughes Lot 251 Arroyo Seco Monterey GSM. To finish the evening, a Cameron Hughes Lot 247 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will be paired with a house made chocolate box filled with Bing cherries and white chocolate mousse accompanied by a plait du fromage of fine Vermont cheese from local fromagiers.

The first wine will be presented at 6:30 PM, followed by dinner starting at 7:00 PM. The price per person for the evening is $89.00, not including tax or gratuity. This price is inclusive of the evening's wine and dinner. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling the Birch Ridge Inn at 802.422.4293, or 800.435.8566. The full menu for the evening can be found online at birchridge.com.

The Cameron Hughes Wine dinner at the Birch Ridge Inn is being served in conjunction with the Killington Wine Festival. In it's 11th year, the Killington Wine Festival is produced by the Killington Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Killington Resort.

We hope that you can make it to Killington for the wine festival from July 20-22. But where ever you may be this summer, keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!

Killington Wine Festival - July 20-22, 2012 

You might not know it from todays weather conditions at Killington, but the summer season is entering high gear at Killington. With the summer solstice behind us, a wide array of events are on tap for the summer months at Killington.

At Birch Ridge we opened our restaurant for the summer season last week. We serve dinner during the summer months Tuesday thru Saturday evenings starting at 6:00 PM. There are a couple of exceptions to that schedule, including the 4th of July and Labor Day weekend.

This year, the 4th of July is on a Wednesday. If you are in Killington on the 4th of July --- that means one thing --- you ARE going to attend the Fireman's BBQ and 4th of July Celebration put on each year by the Killington Volunteer Fire Department. The festivities take place at the Town Pool on River Road starting with the traditional 4th of July Parade and ending with a spectacular fireworks display. This is an absolute don't miss if you happen to be in central Vermont over July 4th!

Labor day weekend is a different story. Being the "end of summer", our restaurant WILL be open for dinner on Sunday September 2nd in conjunction with the holiday. Also that weekend, the Killington Classic Motorcycle Touring Rally returns. Last year this event was cancelled because of the impacts Hurricane Irene had to the area. This year Killington looks forward to greeting thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts as they use Killington as their hub to tour Vermont's Green Mountains.

With the July 4th celebration and Labor Day weekend as bookends for the summer, there is a lot going on in between as well. Right now, planning is entering the final stages for the 11th Annual Killington Wine Festival scheduled to take place between July 20 and July 22nd. The wine festival this year will take place in and around the Roaring Brook Umbrella Bars at the K1 base lodge. The Killington Resort has graciously donated the Umbrella Bars to the Killington Chamber of Commerce for use during the festival. If you want to attend the festival, Birch Ridge has a full range of packages which including tickets to the festival and reservations for the inn's Wine Festival Dinner. You can go to our Wine Festival page for full package details.

Killington is a great place to visit this summer. Where ever you may be, keep the ball in the fairway and don't forget your sun screen!