June 2008 News and Views

Please Note : As one of our members, Artist Linda Leonard Hughes from Maine advised in our February issue, you will be wise to prepare a pot of your favourite brew before beginning so that you can sit back, relax and enjoy all of the exciting news as well as the latest adventures and offerings our members have shared.

I hope you will enjoy the excerpts from our Members' Newsletter. If you have a small business in Britain or America that you would like to see featured on our site and enjoy the full benefits of membership in our unique networking community, please send me an email and I will be delighted to make contact with you and answer all of your questions. Send your request to enquiries@countrysideconnection.com ~ I look forward to hearing from you, Heléne 

Dear Visitors to Countryside Connection Village,

It is clear from your emails that whatever part of the world you live in, warm weather has finally arrived for at least much of the time. Many of you report that you are finally able to return to the gardening work that you love and the farmer’s markets and other outside country fairs and events are not always excursions requiring umbrellas or wet weather clothing for protection. In America, where schools end each year sometime around the middle of June (many universities and colleges have already completed courses and exams for the year) children are busy planning their summer adventures. In Britain, the last week of May found most children enjoying half-term, their final week of school holiday for this school year before they returned for the remainder of the semester which will end sometime in mid-July. Families everywhere are busy organizing holidays and activities for the months ahead and almost everyone is struggling to find ways to cope with the difficult economic conditions and uncertainties.

Emails and telephone calls show that May was a busy month for our members ~ a promising forecast for the summer months ahead of us. So, pour a cup or glass of your chosen drink, take a break and enjoy the latest news from our village.

First email of the month was from member, Virtual Assistant, Clare Lock, www.AnyAdmin.co.uk  . As you will remember from last month’s announcement, Clare has left her former job and is now working from home full-time providing a wide range of services. A Virtual Assistant is the perfect answer for so many small and home-based businesses. Why not contact Clare to discuss ways that you can work together to increase your organization and productivity

Hi Heléne

"Gosh, where has the time gone????  I can’t believe we’re already on 1st May and I’ve been self employed for a month already.  I have to say it’s been a hugely busy month and I’ve networked extensively and it’s paying off as I’ve got lots lined up for the coming months.  At the moment I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with everything to be honest.  I need to take stock this weekend and review my efforts and what’s worked and what hasn’t so that this month I don’t run around like a mad woman going to every event I can without really having time to follow up which is key to all networking events.  One thing’s for sure – I am SO loving this freedom.

Anyway, like you – very busy so I’d better get on with earning some money!

Take care and thank you for your thoughts – they mean so much."

Clarexx

Delighted to receive a number of emails and the latest news from member, Dottie Musser at  Bradford Place Inn and Gardens  www.bradfordplaceinn.com   Also look for Dottie’s California Listings in our Bed and Breakfast Inns & Homes for Sale Category and also Country Inns.

                                  CELEBRITY SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT OPENS IN JUNE IN CALIFORNIA’S

                                                                                                   GOLD RUSH COUNTRY

Planning to visit San Francisco or Yosemite National Park this summer or fall?  In the same trip why not explore California’s historic gold rush country?  Away from the maddening crowds in a virtually yet-to-be discovered part of California, the central region is just 130 miles due east of San Francisco.  Named after the gold rush of 1849 (the year gold was first discovered in California), this area lies along State Highway 49 and stretches for nearly 200 miles.  The southern end of Highway 49 is near Yosemite National Park.  It then winds its way northward through rolling hillsides and funky little towns and hamlets ending near the Victorian village of Nevada City an hour west of pristine Lake Tahoe.

You don’t want to miss spending some time in Sonora, California tucked in a narrow valley in the central region of this area and virtually on the way to Yosemite National Park.  This cute little 1850s mining town known as “The Queen Of The Southern Mines” is where you will find Bradford Place Inn And Gardens, one of the area’s loveliest bed and breakfast inns situated smack dab in the heart of the cute historic district.

If the grandeur of Yosemite is not enough, the region’s summer entertainment schedule opens June 13 at the spectacular Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, California (twenty minutes from Sonora) with Sheryl Crow, probably best known for her 1980s song, “All I want to do is have some fun until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard”  Over the summer months and into early October several name entertainers will perform their music on stage under the stars at Ironstone’s 5,000 seat outdoor venue including Steely Dan, George Thorogood and Willie Nelson. Not to be missed in Sacramento, California at the ARCO Arena will be sweet Celine Dion on her world tour. Celine’s date is October 14.

If you visit California’s gold rush country, here are a couple of hints: Fly into Sacramento International Airport as this airport has very little traffic congestion – in the air and on the ground. Also, during the summer it is best to visit Yosemite weekdays (avoid national holidays such as the Fourth Of July and Labor Day which always falls the first Monday of September). It is even a better idea to visit Yosemite after mid-September when school is back in session.

To purchase tickets for any of the above events, do not delay!  Simply log on to www.ticketmaster.com    To make lodging reservations at Bradford Place in Sonora, California, visit the inn’s website at www.bradfordplaceinn.com .   Then prepare to have a good time!  Fun is just a click away! 

                        Introducing Our Newest Countryside Connection Listing

Last month, I wrote: Watch this space . . .  Linda's Maine home will soon be featured in our Bed and Breakfast Inns & Homes for Sale Category. This listing is now online ~ take time to have a look at Evergreen Farm and its amazing offerings!

Artist Member, Linda Leonard Hughes www.lindaleonardhughes.com  and her husband, John are selling their beautiful Maine home and relocating to a coastal area of the state popular with tourists and artists where Linda will be able to have her studio open to the public. Leaving their present home will not be easy for them as they have put so much heart and soul into this property. Evergreen Farm built sometime around 1830 is surrounded by more than 15 acres of land, with the additional option of purchasing another adjoining 3 Acre plot. Evergreen Farm would make a perfect family home as a full-time residence or a holiday home and already has planning permission for the creation of a Bed and Breakfast. Linda explained that it would also be perfect for use as an Equestrian Farm. There are so many unique features, inside and out, including a large in-ground swimming pool and a country kitchen that is 35’ in length.

The enticing winter photograph of  Evergreen Farm evokes thoughts and memories of all the reasons New England is such a popular destination for visitors and is so staunchly defended as the perfect place to live. Speak to anyone residing in Maine and they will tell you that there isn’t anywhere else in the world they can imagine that would be better than their corner of heaven. 

Evergreen Farm is ideally located in Southern Maine in the town of Livermore Falls.

                                                                               Livermore Falls

The area known as Livermore was settled in the 1770's as Port Royal, and derived its name from Deacon Elijah Livermore, one of the first settlers in the area.  The town of Livermore was incorporated in 1795, with a county line running through the middle based on the Androscoggin River. The Androscoggin River in this area boasts some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the northeast. Brown trout are also taken, as well as brook and rainbow trout.

West of the river was part of Oxford County and east of the river was part of Kennebec County. The town of East Livermore was incorporated March 1, 1844, was set off from Kennebec County on March 31, 1854, to create Androscoggin County, and eventually came to be known as Livermore Falls Village.

Early in the 19th century the area was still mostly farmland, with orchards and dairy supplying the markets of Boston and Portland. As the century progressed lumber and logging came to the fore as the industrial revolution reached fever pitch. In the late 1800's Livermore Falls was a bustle of mills, large and small.

Though most heavy industry has left Livermore Falls, the town's history is steeped in the lore of railroad, papermaking, lumber, and logging. It is hardly possible to exaggerate the importance of their formative role in this small town on the Great River.

With a current population of approximately 3,500, the town is located at the northern end of Androscoggin County and is situated on the east side of the Androscoggin River . Livermore Falls offers a downtown business district as well as quiet country living.

Livermore Falls lies on State Routes 4, 17, and 133 with easy access through these arteries to other municipalities; approximately 30 miles north of Lewiston and Auburn, 25 miles northwest of Augusta , and 12 miles south of Farmington .  Designated as a minor service center as the town has a health center, a district court and offers the opportunity to shop and receive many services in the area.  The Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce is available as a resource of information about the local area, its people, activities and economy, for businesses and visitors.

Livermore Falls can boast of beautiful year round scenery and an abundance of natural resources.   There is a well maintained snowmobile trail system offering access to other municipalities and also to many stores, restaurants and service stations.  The town is a tri-owner of the Spruce Mountain Ski Slope located just across the river in Jay.  Many generations have enjoyed the locally run slope that offers a range of trails from beginner to experienced. There is also a commercial roller skating rink, a recreation area including a new skate park (in 2003), and a public canoe launch which provides access to many miles of the beautiful Androscoggin River.

                                   Alpacas. Alpacas and Still More Alpaca News From England

For Countryside Connection and our community, our involvement with Alpacas began with the wonderful arrival of member, Sandra Morton and her company, ‘Perilla” with its wide range of socks and so many other fantastic alpaca products from  www.perilla.co.uk   Then, Sandra’s enthusiasm about her involvement, led to Hilary Shenton of  Zarza Alpacas joining us last month. Hilary is a renowned expert and breeder who offers everything one might desire with regards to alpacas – from guiding you through the process of selecting the most desirable and suitable alpacas for you to own through to courses and so much more. Visit www.zarza-alpacas.co.uk and also revisit our May Newsletter for further information.

An excerpt from one of Sandra’s emails this month:

Hi Heléne

"Delighted to hear that Hilary is on board - she is lots of fun and one of the most knowledgable people in the country when it comes to Alpacas, their breeding and welfare".

Warmest regards,
 
Sandra

Alpaca News continues with the latest email from one of our members who has been with us from the very beginning, Jane Cronin of Sutton Court Farm www.suttoncourtfarm.co.uk   You will find Jane’s accommodation listing in our Bed and Breakfast Category.

   

Dear Heléne, thanks for the email.

”Although life is fairly quiet at present perhaps members would like to know about the Ludlow Festival that is taking place from Saturday June 21st - Sunday July 6th. The festival takes place in and around Ludlow with the castle hosting on open-air Shakespeare play every night except Sunday's. The play this year is Richard III. There are concerts in St.Laurence's church, talks in the Assembly rooms and tours and walks around the local area. More information can be found at www.ludlow.festival.co.uk       Let's hope the weather is good that fortnight.
 
I was very interested to read in the May newsletter that Zarza Alpacas are new members as I am just in the process of buying 3 alpaca to go in our paddock to add interest to our accommodation for our guests to see. Zarza are fairly local to me and I have spent time there learning about the alpaca. I also noted that Perilla are selling alpaca socks, so shall be contacting them shortly to find out if they are also involved with the fleeces and yarn and spinning, etc. or if they can point me in the right direction.

Once we have our new 'pets' I will take some photos and let you know about them”.
 
Once again, thanks for keeping in touch,  Regards, Jane.

Note : I immediately sent emails to all three "Alpaca Members"and will keep you informed on their experiences in working together.

Another lovely email arrived from Clare Lock after receiving her newsletter. I so appreciate the wonderful comments about them and always want to ensure you that although time-consuming, they are a labour of love as they give me an opportunity to share members’ news and encourage all of you with examples of how the information you contribute and the networking you do results in more business for all!

Hello Heléne

“I am officially amazed at the wonders of the universe – I was literally thinking about you around 5pm tonight and wondering if my email reply to your lovely note had got lost in the never ending world that is ‘cyberspace’ and I thought that tomorrow I would resend with a note apologise that the first copy hadn’t got to you – I was also slightly worried as I hadn’t seen a newsletter this month.  My husband is an IT bod and he’s been fiddling with the email recently so I was all set to blame him for losing it!  Lo and behold I come back to my computer to switch it off for the night and the newsletter is there.  I’m so sorry that you’ve been unwell and I really hope you are well on the way to recovery.  Our bodies are amazing things and sometimes they have to do something drastic to make us sit up (or lay down in your case perhaps), listen and take note that we are perhaps pushing ourselves too hard. 

Anyway, I just wanted to say I loved the newsletter as always – the story about the children on the farm with the hen laying an egg in the farmer’s hand bought so many memories back of our childhood when my grandparents had a small holding with chickens, sheep and cows – the time I used to spend in the hay loft hunting for eggs.  The taste of a freshly laid egg is hard to beat.  I also loved the story about your daughter’s school and it sounds like she’s doing some good work in London with the children.

Finally, as always my best wishes to you and I hope you’re fully back to fitness soon.”

Warm wishes
Clare

One of our original members, Richard Harbord and his wife Caroline of  Daisy and Co
www.daisyandco.co.uk  in Somerset has been so generous with his time during the past year to share a wide-range of farming issues with us. He is someone who has helped all members and visitors to our site to understand current and historic problems faced by farmers and farm producers. In recent months, Richard and Caroline have been incredibly busy with personal matters of their own and it was wonderful to receive a series of emails from Richard during the month of May and his encouragement to share them with all of you. (The final email responding to my concern about which portions were for me and which could be shared is something for all of us to take to heart and the reason why his emails are always treasured) 

Dear Heléne,
 
“Just bringing you up to date with the totally manic life of Richard and Caroline.
 
Since I can't remember when I last sat down to write to you, I may repeat myself here, so apologies in advance.
 
We have sold the farm but retained the cheese business as earlier this year we received several calls from people wanting to stock our cheese and we can never resist a challenge.  The biggest challenge proved to be Tesco who finally decided that they wanted to stock our cheese.  To help protect the small delis etc, we have formed a new company "The Organic Soft Cheese Co" and the cheese in Tesco is sold under that brand name.  After prolonged inspections or our premises and Caroline's paperwork, we "passed the Tesco test" and were accepted as suitable suppliers.  Their original estimate was for 25 stores in the Southwest to stock the peppered variety.  They ended up saying that 40 stores would stock the peppered cheese and a further 11 the plain one.  (More panic printing of labels!).  The system is that we send the cheeses to a depot in Birmingham and the stores order from there. (This is supposed to be "local").  So we sent off 51 boxes of cheeses as requested.  The stores then ordered from the depot over last weekend.  Unfortunately 84 stores placed orders and their system ground to a halt!  So another load had to be sent up today!  Caroline is now lying down in a darkened room.
 
All our cows went to live on one farm and that is the farm we buy the milk from to make the cheese, so in a way, it's still the milk from our cows!  Spooky.
 
Our farm has been bought by some lovely people who unfortunately keep horses; not cows.  I don't dislike horses, but there is a pattern of farmland being swallowed up to provide horse homes across the UK and the fight over whether we need GM foods to feed the world might not arise if farmland was all used for food production.  Just a thought.
 
Back to cheese turning”
 
Richard

And then, on the 21st of May, this follow-up arrived in my Inbox:

Dear Heléne,
 
“Thanks for your reply.  I am so sorry that your back is bad.  I have been through various "cures" with mine, but the only one which has had any effect is to do less heavy lifting.  It's a good thing that we make a soft cheese, not a 50 kg hard one!  Since I stopped farming my back has been "in abeyance" but a good night's sleep is only produced by a little of that wonderful yellow medicine from Scotland!  Otherwise I wake with pains in the early hours and have to get up and walk about a bit till it settles down.  Then I'm too wide awake to go back to sleep!
 
Still, the dogs appreciate a midnight romp!
 
On the topic of the farm, we have sold the farm etc.  (completion mid July) but have retained a 12 month lease on the cheese making building to give us time to find an alternative.  We are still living here at the moment, but come July, all being well, we will be living near Chard.  Still in Somerset, but further West.
 
Our long term aim is still to sell the cheese business as a going concern, but with Tesco and possibly soon Sainsbury's on board it will be much more valuable, so these hard working times won't be wasted.
 
All the best for a speedy recovery”
 
Richard

On the 27th of May, the final email was received ~ this was the one referenced in the last line of my paragraph about Richard:

Dear Heléne,
 
“Thanks for your email. Firstly, Anything I write to you can be shared with others unless I specifically say so.  I believe passionately that if we were all prepared to share thoughts and feelings more, there would be more understanding between us all and thence less murder and wars.
 
The magic painkiller from Scotland is a ten year old malt whisky - I am not an expert, so cannot grade the different companies, but most are better than aspirin!
 
Write again soon”
 
Richard

So pleased to hear from member Wendy Blair of  Rose Hill B&B in Roanoke, Virginia with fantastic business news! Like many of you, there have been some quiet times at this new Bed and Breakfast and although they were very early days, it is easy for concern/panic to set in. Visit Wendy’s listing in the Bed and Breakfast Category or  www.bandbrosehill.com  

Dear Heléne,

”I am so sorry to have been so silent.  Business has been unbelievable.  I turned down 25 room requests just this month because I was full.  I have been getting rave reviews on tripadvisor.com and the Roanoke city magazine just had a four page spread on Rose Hill that has brought guests and requests that I do Interior Design work.  Things are going along quite well, thank you.  I have attached a piece on Roanoke for your perusal.  If this is not what you had in mind, please let me know and I will create something new for you.  I have two sets of guests coming in from across the pond and I owe that to your web site.  I have to run and finish up cooking breakfast now.”

Ta Ta,

Wendy

Then, while I was responding, another email came in from Wendy saying she had just received another three night confirmed booking from Kent that she was sure also came from our site. I am always so delighted to learn of the new business members receive from their membership to Countryside Connection. I hear from you directly and also from people who take the time to telephone or email to say how much they love our site and the wonderful community and offerings we have – for me, this is some of the best possible medicine available!

Here is Wendy’s delightful contribution about Roanoke, the beautiful American City she now calls home:

Roanoke is nestled between the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains in the stunning Shenandoah Valley. Roanoke is the perfect resting point for the thousands who make their annual pilgrimage to view the beauty of the fall colors. The mountains appear to be on fire with their showy display of red, orange, burgundy, maroon and gold foliage.  In nearby Blacksburg, Virginia Tech dons its own maroon and gold as fans flock in from near and far to cheer their Hokies on to gridiron victory.

Because it is so centrally located in the state, Roanoke is often a stopover point for those who are travelling through. It offers the usual assortment of hotels and motels, but a wide variety of Bed and Breakfasts are available in the surrounding areas and Rose Hill Bed and Breakfast is minutes from downtown.  These one-night guests often become destination visitors as they realize that Roanoke has more to offer than simply a soft pillow for the night.

If you fancy architecture, the Old Southwest Historic District is a must.  This neighborhood of turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival, Victorian painted ladies and Early American farmhouse styles began its re-gentrification project 12 years ago and shows what a lot of love and hard labor can do to restore our heritage homes.

The center in the square in downtown Roanoke houses science, cultural, and art museums and can be reached after you mosey through the daily farmers market, displaying local arts and crafts, produce, antiques, flowers and plants.

Antiques abound at Black Dog Salvage, New To Me, the Antique Mall, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity and a variety of boutique shops in the surrounding area. So prepare to back up your truck or bring along an extra suitcase to fill with the treasures of yesteryear.

Into natural foods and green living?  Roanoke boasts the State’s largest natural foods co-op, just minutes from downtown, where vacation doesn’t mean you have to change your healthy lifestyle.  The Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op offers many local organic foods and the Happy Belly Deli invites you to sample their variety of organic, vegan, or just plain delicious foods.  They will be happy to prepare a picnic for those who prefer al fresco dining in one of the many local parks or along the Roanoke River.

Roanoke is the local cultural arts center, with ballet, the opera and symphony seasons. The Mill Mountain theatre produces live, professional theatre year-round on two stages. Underground Roanoke will delight you with the Big Lick Conspiracy Improv troupe or an opportunity to strut your own stuff at No Shame Theatre.  Broadway road shows and concerts are available year round at the Roanoke Civic Center.  For a slightly more intimate musical experience, the Jefferson Center offers a variety of musical presentations during the year.  With Roanoke as your base camp, you can spend the day in the artsy community of Floyd and join the locals at for Friday night Bluegrass, wander further a field and visit area wineries, or historic homes, battlefields, monuments and museums, explore caverns or old mills and covered bridges.

Forty minutes away is a water lover’s paradise at Smith Mountain Lake.  Boating, water sports, waterfront dining, fishing and rentals are available if you can take your eyes off the fabulous architecture of the waterfront homes and scenic beauty of this man-made lake and the adjacent state park. For those with disabilities, the great outdoors is yours to conquer at the Roanoke Mountain Campground, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway (milepost 120 W.) The campground has wheelchair accessible sites and several paved pathways.

So if you are the discerning traveller or a die-hard camper, nature lover or in need of a cultural fix, merely travelling from home to somewhere or plan to make Roanoke your vacation or business destination, the city and surrounding countryside have much to offer.

In closing, I wish to leave you with a very important issue to consider:

There has been so much in British Newspapers and on television recently about food wastage. I wanted to bring your attention to an excellent website I have discovered:   www.lovefoodhatewaste.com    As someone who loves creating new meals from leftovers and delights in the amazing creations from my husband and daughter (separately and collectively!), I found the statistics and news items quite shocking and upsetting. This site is filled with wonderful ideas and suggestions to benefit all of us and definitely will help consumers to discover ways to cut down on the waste of good food. Enjoy!