Peggy Smith

The best part, he’s my Step-son, Shapleigh Smith Jr!

Last week I attended Shap’s swearing in at the Vermont State House. I was accompanied by my Husband, Shap Smith Sr, my other Step-son Chapman, along with Shap Jr’s wife Melissa and children, Eli and Mia and his half brother Spenser Weppler. Listening on the radio were:  Michel and Stuart Weppler (Shap Jr’s Mother and Step-father), his step-siblings McKee and Maggie Macdonald and half-brother Coulter.

Gathering together with the mishmash clan we call family, to mark this momentous event, made me realize just how great an accomplishment it was. We are all so proud of Shap, he’s had a goal of being successful in politics since his youth and he’s managed to do just that!

Click here to listen to Shap’s acceptance speech for Vermont Speaker of the House

Click here for the WCAX’s coverage on Shap’s nomination as Vermont Speaker of the House

Congrats Shap, we are all so proud of you.

Shap with son Eli, Photo taken from Burlington Free Press article Jan 6 2008

The Stowe Mountain Film Festival kicks of it’s 6th Annual this Saturday. Held in a number of local Stowe venues this is a week-long celebration of mountain sports and culture. You can’t beat the price since more than half the events are free and the rest only have a $5 cover charge, which includes Piecasso Pizza. The week long event has something for everyone. For more details check out their site here: stowefilmfestival.com

Winter on Mt. Mansfield

This is what it looked like in Stowe this week-end. The mountain is open and from all accounts has great skiing. I am going to take a tour of the new base lodge this week and get my season’s pass. It seems that Stowe Mountain Lodge is rented for the holidays and from all accounts the rental properties are filling up with holiday rentals. Gas prices are down, the airlines are impossible to travel on and Stowe is getting dressed for the holidays. I can’t think of a reason not to come to visit us. Oh and should I mention, THERE ARE THE BEST REAL ESTATE DEALS TO BE HAD SINCE THE 90′S.

Check out the conditions at the Stowe Mountain Resort here!

The Smuggler’s Notch road has been closed for the season. This is one of the first signs that winter is just around the corner. Of course reaching this conclusion is not much of a leap when it’s already snowed enough for a few brave skiers and riders hit the hill. Along with that, temperatures have been cool enough for the Stowe Mountain Resort to have the snow guns going. You can see the mist raise off the top of the Mountain like fog.

The surest sign is my daughters constant praying for snow and praising of her new skis. Oh and how she’ll need a helmet this year, so she doesn’t knock herself out upon her return to downhill skis from teley after 18 years.

Yes, winter is knocking at the door in Stowe, Vermont. And if the early snow is any signal, we’re in for another good year of snow!

Last weekend my son & daughter-in-law came up for the weekend. For something different to do, I took the whole family to see Indoor/Outdoor at the Waterbury Festival Players. It was a funny little play about the relationship between an indoor cat (Samantha) and her owner. The play-write throws in a savvy outdoor cat for Samantha to fall in love with and the events that follow remind me of having a 13 yr old daughter!

The play was hysterical, the second act did outshine the first act, but overall it was a fun way to spend an evening. Of course my son & his wife had already seen the play in NYC, but it still got them chuckling out loud! It is still playing through tomorrow, so if you are looking for something fun to do check it out.

You can get all the details here: Waterbury Festival Players, Indoor/Outdoor

Enjoy!

The antique car show is a long standing summer tradition in Stowe VT. Going into it’s 51st year this year at Nichol’s Field. We’ve been watching cars roll into town that were built as far back as 1961!! The car show is one of my husbands favorite things to photograph, if you haven’t been I suggest you stop by Nichols Field right of Route 100 on the way into Stowe this weekend.

The Antique Car Show starts today and runs through Sunday. For more information check out their website by clicking here.

Looking for something to keep you busy this weekend? I will be attending the Taste of Stowe Arts Festival, put on  by the Helen Day Arts Center. Shap, my husband, is on the board at the Helen Day, so of course we will get out to support the event, but that is not the only reason why, they actually have great stuff! Who could think of a better combination of events than all the finest restaurants from the Stowe Area and fine crafts from all over the area. It is my idea of heaven. We are big fans of the Stowe Craft Fair in October, but this new Art Show is proving to be a good competitor.

Hope to see you there!

If you are in Stowe this weekend and looking to enjoy the beautiful setting of the Green Mountains; what better place to do it than the meadow at the Trapp Family Lodge. This Sunday the Vermont Mozart Festival comes to Stowe, featuring Beethoven on the Mountain. Ticket are $30 a person and can be purchased online at www.vtmozart.com

Pick up some yummy picnic items and a bottle of wine at the Harvest Market on the Mountain Road in Stowe, grab a blanket and head to Trapps. Watching the sunset over the hills with Beethoven in the background, is a fine way to end the week.

I just happened upon this information and thought how perfect wine tasting and chocolate sampling on the same day! Not a drinker myself, I’ll be heading straight for the chocolate.

If you are looking for something to brighten this gloomy Vermont day, right here in Stowe, check out these two events today, June 6th:

Wine Tasting in the Trapp Family Lodge Wine Cellar, 4-6PM
Indulge in a selection of wines from Washington State’s Columbia Valley. A sign up sheet is available at the front desk, call 253-5742 or 800-826-7000 to sign up! There is a $15/person fee for this event.

Laughing Moon Chocolates Benefit Chocolate Tasting, 3-7PM
This event benefits the African Food Aid and Water treatment programs in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. A $5 donation is requested, in exchange you will be treated to make your own chocolates, plenty of samples, give aways and dipping demos! Enjoy.

After drinking all that wine and eating all that chocolate you may want to walk or run it off… what better way to do that then to join the NCAL MUTT STRUTT on Saturday June 7th. It is too late to register online, so head over to the event at 8AM tomorrow to pledge or donate. Now you are supporting 2 great cause in 1 weekend. Check out my daughter’s NCAL Mutt, Gizmo, below!

Next weekend June 13th - 15th the Stowe will be hosting the Green Mountain Corvette Classic! You’ll find these rides hard to miss as they weave their way up and down the Mountain Road in packs of 3-10 cars at a time!

Interesting in buying a Corvette? The Green Mountain Corvette Classic is a great place to start. On Saturday, June 13th they Corvette’s will be corralled at the Ye Olde England Inne for your convince!