Friends joined us for a special dinner honoring Joan the Poet and Writer and Ike the Playwright.

See who else was here.

The dinner consisted of Leek and potato soup, then rice and mole beans, followed by pork loin with mole sauce, turkey with Lori's special raspberry BBQ sauce, and our now famous winter squash salad (see the previous blog post).

Pam's apple crisp was a sublime dessert to end themeal.

Of course, there was plenty of wine to satisfy the thirsty palate, espciall Root 1, Le Vielle Ferme, and Fetzer Chardonnay, among others.

We laughed a lot and had a great time.

A new creation at the Birdhouse Inn, our winter squash salad! With acorn and butternut squash, Okinowa blue potato, Chinese cabbage, mesclun green, and a maple-EVOL (ex travirgin olive oil) vinaigrette.

What do you think?

Who are these lovelies?

Answer and win a prize!

We journeyed across the street to our dear neighbors, Joan the Poet and Ike the Coomunicator Loveridge-Sanbonmatu's house for a pre-Mardi Gras dinner with other friends. After an assortment of snacks we feasted on shrimp jambalaya over rice. Along with a "guest" surprise salad!

Ike told us that if we did not have our regular daily supply of white rice we would go into a terrible "rice depression" that is afflicting people all over the USA! Maybe that is why I have been acting "funny" all these years; more rice, less pasta, please!!

Dessert was Joan's special and favorite Lemon Lulu Cake. Wow, what a treat!

Joan and Ike were in town to do a reading-sermon at the Unitarian Church in Rutland as a prelude to their national tour of their new book recoounting Ike's experiences as a young Japanese-American forced into an internment camp during WWII. With all the present abuses going on during this "War on Terror" their book about how the US government created shameful situations in the name of liberty are well worth remembering. I hope we can get them to do a reading here in Poultney.

Stay tuned for more exciting news and interesting information from our local East Poultney authors.


PS: who else was at the dinner? Answer and win a prize!


The Birdhouse Inn B&B
PO Box 646
1430 East Main Street,
East Poultney, Vermont 05741
802.287.2405
reservations@birdhouseinnvt.com


See yourself on our blog at: http://birdhouseinn.blogspot.com/

Heading to the slopes for a second day of skiing, we made sure that the Dears were well furnished with the "fuel" needed to get up and down the slopes with enough energy.

Our breakfast today constited of:
Baked French Toast with apples and craisins
Spanish Tortilla
Bacon
Honeydew melon
Karen's Dee-lish-ush Morning Glory Muffins
Juice, Coffee and Tea

Good luck on your day of skiing!

It was great to have them stay and visit with us.
Come back again!

Who are these lovely guests? Hint: they are from Branford. He is the duly appointed Chairman of the Branford Charter Revision Commission and she is the lovely, recently retired teacher from the Branford Intermdediate School, Walsh Intermediate.

They spent the day touring our beautiful, snowy Slate Valley and Middlebury. Later they dined at the fabulous Red Brick Grill in downtown Poultney.

Today's guest are Charlie and Pam Dear, Phillip, Adam and Meaghen.

They had a nice breafast before going up to Pico for a day of skiing. Luckily, it snowed today! YEAH!

The menu was:
Scrambled and Poached Egs
Hazlenut, Flax Pancakes with Maple Syrup
Vermont Sausages
Karen's Muffins
OJ
Coffee & Tea

A good start to the day's slope work!

Karen is anxiously working to finish renovating the downstairs half bathroom. So far, here is how things are going.

Here’s what some of our guests have said about the Birdhouse Inn B&B:

“You’re both the perfect host/hostess serving the best breakfasts. Comfortable beds & wonderful shower.”
J&LB, Branford, CT

“Thank you very much for giving us shelter at your peaceful home. We had a very rich time meeting friends.”
LP, Sri Lanka

“We had such a wonderful stay. The breakfasts were excellent!”
J&VS, Olympia, WA

“This was such a perfect weekend get away. Everything was perfect 100%, A+. We look forward to a repeat weekend.”
S&MG, New Haven, CT

“Many thanks for your great hospitality!! We enjoyed your warmth and gracious wonderful manor…we’ll see you soon,”
J&TM, New Haven, CT

“We had a most delightful four night stay at the Birdhouse. Your accommodations and location are just perfect! But all that said your graciousness, friendliness and hospitality have exceeded all.”
J&GP, Redding, CT

This caclulus teacher stayed with us. Besides going to the ice fishing derby, we explored some nice trails in East Poultney.


Today's breakfast consisted of Karen's Fresh Made Granola, srcambled eggs and ham, roasted potatoes, tomato juice and coffee.

Who is this famous man?

Answer and win a prize.

Scenes from the Lake Bomoseen fishing derby.

Which fish is your favorite?

Who's walking on Lake Bomoseen?

Answer and win a prize? E-mail us!

Who's 91st birthday is it?

Liz and Byrne stayed with us last night because Byrne's family in Manchester had no power yet! From the seacost of New Hampshire, Liz and Byrne, who are both computer software writers, were here to visit family in nearby Hampton, New York to celebrate Byrne's father's 91st birthday. Happy Birthday!

Joining them was Mr. O, the fabulous Rob Orcuich, our friend and teacher, from HSC in New Haven.



Our breakfast this morning was:

Homemade hazlenut and flax pancakes
Scrambled Eggs
Bacon
Fresh pineapple with tropical fruits
Cranberry scones
Tomato juice
Coffee and tea

The power was out in Saratoga Springs, New York...the dancers could not find suitable accommodations! Peg Hall and her friend Lois, accomplished dancers extraordinaire, came to the Birdhouse Inn where we had electricity and bathrooms in 100% working order.

The storm of Friday brought down lots of trees across power lines knocking out at least 22,000 Vermont homes plus many others in New York state. There was recorded 143 mph winds at Stratton Mountain, so you can see why ther may have been some dificulties with power. A tree fell in the front yard of Marsh's neighbors, killing the telephone connections for a couple fo days. In Poultney we were spared massive power outages, luckily.

Peg and Lois enjoyed their stay with us and we with them! Peg had to have a working bathroom and Saratoga could not provide the proper facilities in light of their power failures. What were the 6,000 dancers who came to Saratoga going to do? With Friday's dances cancelled and a limited number of venues available for the dancers on Saturday, Peg and Lois decided to head over to Greenfield, Mass. later to see some sights and visit a friend. They are disappointed that the Big Show is not happening, but will find joys in other things. Next year???

For breakfast we made:

Poached eggs with shitake mushrooms and cheese
Pancakes with maple syrup
Bacon
Coffee cake muffins
Orange juice
Milk

No Coffee or tea!

Go luck in their travels!

Who are the Chileheads?

All comments are welcomed!

Who's chile is the spiciest and hottest at the 14th Annual Manchester Chili Challenge. After tasting 14 different chiles, it was hands-down, Hassan Chani's African Devil Chili!!!! Using a wild blend of many different spices and his famous African Devil Chili pepper, Hassan is getting Zachary ready to be a chilehead soon!

The Panhandlers played the sultry sounds of the Carribean on the steel drums to accompany the spiciness of the chile challengers. Led by Scott Paulson and Barbara Smith the sounds of a far away place were brought right into the Equinox as we enjoyed all types of chiles.

Thanks to Paula Liner for introducing me to the group!

What is there to do in the middle of winter? I went to the 14th Annual Manchester Chili Challenge today to see what Vermonters could do with the precious pod. Eleven competitors made fifteen different chiles for the crowd to sample and enjoy.

I really liked Gatewood's Mexican Chocolate Chile with Jalapeno Ice Cream. So wondefully chocolaty and rich in flavor, it was my favorite. The ice cream really complemented the dark chile. John had made a winner out of this unique blend of flavors for this chile. This was voted Most Unique Chile...I thought it was the best tasting, too!

Held at the beautiful Equinox Hotel, procedes go to the Manchester Recreation Department, a worthwhile cause. Come next year at this time and savor the flavors of Manchester!

Happy Valentine's Day to All.

We had an intimate dinner with New Zealand Sparkling wine, fresh, homemade pasta that I made with real semolina flour with a shrimp, shitake cream sauce, roasted whtie asparagas, and a mesclun salad accompanied by baked bread and roasted whole head of garlic. One of our favorite wines, Valley of the Moon Chardonnay complimented the food.

Since Karen has been ill, we retired early after watching some of the Winter Olympics.

Hurray for Hannah Teter's win in the Halfpipe! She's from Belmont in Rutland Coounty, Vermont!!

The Nelson-Boyd breakfast menus:

Day 1:
Apple Pancakes
Spanish Tortillas
Vermont Maple Ham
Karen's Apricot Cream Cheese Scones
Grapefruit Juice
Coffee

Day 2:
French Toast
Lavsh Rollup with eggs, potatos, sausage
Apple Riccota Muffins
Orange Juice
Coffee

Was everyone satisfied? We think so!

Vermont Sweetwater is the best! The tastings continue. Which one is your favorite?

Gung hay fat choy in East Poultney, our first!

We had quite a Festa's Feast with our friends...can you name who's in the pictures?

The menu consisted of pan fried gyoza, yakitori, chashew chicken (cashews, compliments of the East Poultney Geeral Store!), baby bok choy with shrimp in oyster sauce, roasted pork loin with char sui sauce, pasta, whole baked cauliflower with cheese, fried rice, almond cookies (thanks, Karen!), and fortune cookies. All were refreshed with plenty of food and wines paired to the meal. This happened AFTER the Vermont Sweetwater demonstration and tasting! Things go better with VT Sweetwater!

Join us next year for gung hay fat choy II in EP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Church supper preparation... The chicken and biscuits with home made gravy was dee-lishush!

Plus, all those great desserts!

Name the people in the pictures and win a prize!

Be sure to send us your name and address.
go to kachina@birdhouseinnvt.com

Youth group at FHCC awaits goodies made by Karen.

What did she make?

Where is Karen at and what is she doing?

Here's Wendy from Vermont Sweetwater! Those crazy names for sodas and beverages have that GREAT taste! Enjoy all the delicous, natural flavors of Vermont at the Birdhouse Inn and elsewhere.

Name your favorite Vermont Sweetwater beverage and win a prize. E-mail us.

Who is sitting in the back? Answer and win a prize, too!!

Jon and Valerie Nelson and Linda Boyd enjoy Vermont Sweetwater beverages during their stay at the Birdhouse Inn. Where is Jim?

Did they have enough time to go shopping?

The Chinese are coming to Vermont! We went to Castleton State College and saw the Strange Candy Presentation of "Tales from the Beijing Opera".

The two tales were "Autumn River", a romantic comdy about a nun who escapes from an order to pursue a young scholar whom she loves and the elder boatman who helps her across the Autumn River. It's a comedy skit!

"Monkey and Pigsy" is one of China's most beloved stories. After the naughty Monkey King and the gluttonous Pigsy commit crimes agains heaven, they continue to make trouble by stealing a magic weapon from a dragon. Hillarious! And great make-up on the Monkey King!

Yang Hong Wu, Zhang Hui, and Merrianne Moore were the performers.

At the Mark Skinner Library in Manchester Center, Vermont we were treated to a series of native, ethnic-minority Chinese dances by Mau Mau Leibert. She dressed in different native apparel for the different dances which represent native peoples of China. She even has all of us in the audience try to replicate the candle Dance of the Dai People.

Care to try some of the dances? We did...

Who is the author of those famous Joe Gunter mystery novels talking with?

Green Mountain College audience listens to the Asian Rural Institute presentation about sustainable agriculture and helping rural people around the world.

Afterwards, we had a light meal with the presenters and other visitors and informal discussions at the Birdhouse Inn.

Ristorante Faustini in East Haven is where we met our friends.

Who are they?

E-mail us and win a prize.

Asian Rural Institute, Japan , and Sri Lanka visit the Birdhouse Inn!

It's snowing again. Come to the Birdhouse Inn B&B!