Valley Gives!

Valley Gives Day is a fun opportunity to donate to local nonprofit organizations and to watch the donations add up.  You can follow the action on leaderboards and hope your favourite nonprofit comes out on top.  This is the third year for VGD, and to date more than $3million has been raised for our community!
Valley Gives Day this year is Wednesday, December 10.  Don't forget to give!

Two Hearts Beet as One

When I was younger, I remember my mother making heart-shaped meatloaf for our family for Valentine's Day.  She says she only did it once or twice, but I seem to remember more frequency than that -- it obviously made quite an impression, with that heart-shaped border of ketchup.  When I moved out of the house and started living on my own, I took up the heart-shaped meatloaf as a yummy, simple, and slightly odd way to celebrate the holiday, and I've been making heart-shaped meatloaf semi-regularly for Valentine's Day for years.
This year, however, with sickness in the house and lots of appointments and errands, I didn't have time to make meatloaf.  Instead, I made:

That's right -- heart-shaped beets!  I sliced them thin, steamed them, and then used a cookie cutter to cut small hearts out of the beat slices.

These were fresh, local beets and they steamed up soft and sweet (oh, so sweet!).  They were quite a success and may become a new favourite Valentine treat. 
(And just think of all the clever "heart + beet" valentine quips that could be developed. Two hearts beet as one!)

Valentine's Day isn't just about beets and meatloaf, though, and for those of you who need more post-Valentine's cheer, here are some beautiful roses Mr. Madley brought home for me.

Aren't they lovely?  And if you need your holiday chocolate fix (I know I did), check out last year's post (worth every single bite).


*Mr. Madley suggested the title for this post.

Breaking Fast at Stables

Stables is an unassuming restaurant on Rt 9, just across the street from Whole Foods.  With a parking lot in front, the restaurant is set back from the road, and if you're driving by on an afternoon or evening, you might just think the place is closed.

Luckily for all of us, it's not!

Stables is open for breakfast and lunch, 6am-2pm.  It serves up affordable home-style breakfast foods (I haven't been there for lunch) from a 3-page menu.  (Click on those menu pictures to see them in extra-large glory.)

Stables has a comfortable country-dining atmosphere, with homemade cookies and breads, a counter and booths, newspapers available near the register, and coffee refills.  The waitresses are always nice, even when busily rushing about.

  

Besides their menu "specialities," Stables also has daily specials.  These specials are sometimes seasonal (pumpkin pancakes in autumn, for example), sometimes from special homemade breads, and are written on the chalkboards in the restaurant.

Coupons for Stables can often be found in the Valley Quarterly, but be forewarned -- the restaurant does only accept cash.

Stables seems to have been around for a good long while, and if you go, you'll see lots of locals.  But you'll also see bunches of college students who have discovered that if you want a hearty breakfast on a budget, you definitely want to go to Stables.  You might even see some out-of-towners skipping the continental breakfast at the chain hotel for some breakfast-diner-cooking.
At our house, Stables has become the go-to breakfast restaurant for Monday holidays (and New Year's) -- because going to breakfast at Stables is just fun (plus, it's close, local, affordable, and filling).
There's a Monday holiday coming up soon.  Treat yourself to breakfast out.

Ring Out the Old

I've dubbed 2012 the Year of the Kitchen, because of the refinishing and remodeling I did, and because of all the new food experiments -- what will 2013 bring?

Happy New Year!

Black Cat Friday -- or -- Black Friday Felines

If you've been wondering how to fill that hole in your life, you may not need to look any further -- this Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) the Dakin Humane Society is sending cats (6 months and older) to happy new homes for only $5!  It's Black Friday $5 Felines!  Visit one of the Dakin adoption centers Friday, November 23, between 12:00 & 5:30 to find your new friend.  Dakin is working with other animal shelters in the region to house and find homes for animals left homeless after Sandy struck the East Coast.

Take this opportunity to help pets in need of homes and give them (and yourself) something to be thankful for this season.

Adopted cats come spayed/neutered and with their shots.

Delicious, Delectable

The flourless chocolate raspberry torte by Portabella Fine Foods in Amherst.

A delicious and highly worthwhile Valentine's Day present.  Eat your heart out!

Reading in the New Year

Being a book enthusiast and an ardent reader, I have long wanted to start a "recommended reads" column on the blog and have given much thought to the various ways it could be done; in order to speed things up, I've decided to go with one of my simpler options.
Five books I read in 2011 (though one I actually just finished today) that I recommend for 2012:

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm: a wonderful family read-aloud about a young girl who goes to live with her cousins in Key West during the Depression, and all of the adventures they have together

Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: a young adult novel of mythical water horses, the strength of family bonds, the power of competition, and first love; thoroughly absorbing and compelling

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick: by the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret comes another novel in words and pictures for all ages, telling the intersecting stories of Rose, a deaf girl of 1927 who longs be part of world outside her window, and of Ben, a deaf boy of 1977 who runs away to New York City to find the father he never knew

Icefall by Matthew Kirby: war has broken out in the north countries and the kings has sent his household to a secret fortress hidden amidst mountains and fjords, but even the soldier guards can't halt the treachery of a traitor; a middle-grade fantasy novel

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger: a novel of love, baseball, family, high school, Mary Poppins, and friendship told in IM chats, school writing assignments, memos, emails, newspaper editorials, journal entries, and theatrical posters

These books are all available through the Hadley public library (and therefore through C/WMARS); check the Hadley library catalog here.

Happy reading and happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving

The Rocky Hill turkey was out this afternoon wishing all the passersby a happy Thanksgiving (the larger turkey family was out this morning with similar well-wishes).

I hope you are thinking of many many things to be thankful for this holiday.

Calendaring: Festivals, Fairs, Bazaars

Please check the calendar for the most recent information I have on holiday fairs, festivals, and bazaars!
I've noticed recently an increase of visits to last year's "Holiday Festivals and Bazaars" post.  Sadly, that information is now a bit out of date.  However, in its place is the Local Calendar (see the link to the right, just under Hadley Grass and Valley Ice Cream).  Information on the Local Calendar is regularly updated, and I make additions to it whenever I hear of something appropriate to add (or see the signs along the side of the road).  Included are holiday bazaars, craft fairs, autumn festivals, local Hadley events, and other events in neighbouring towns. 
Included on the calendar page is a link to submit local events (it reads like a comment box but submissions don't get posted until I've looked at them -- this is true for all comments on the blog) and a small collection of links wherein one can find other local activities. 
Coming soon (and already posted on the calendar) -- the chyrsathemum show, a fall craft fair, and the Twist Fair....

Anniversary + a Week

One year and one week ago, I posted my first MadleyHadley post, featuring the 2010 Hadley Memorial Day Parade.  Since writing my first post a year ago, MH has had over 2000 pageviews, with the record two days being the day and day after the article was published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, I've added 4 pages with useful (at least I think so) information, and have posted almost 70 posts.

This year, to celebrate the anniversary, I thought I would post a few pictures from the 2011 antique tractor show that happened on the same day as the parade.

 

 

 

 

There was a farmer's market, an ice cream truck (Scoops), a live band -- and Local Burger was there to provide the food (yummy burgers, great fries, though we didn't have any that day).  All in all, a happy Memorial Day weekend and one more brand-new experience for us in Hadley.
Happy June!

Welcoming in the New Year!

I regret that a sticky winter bug has kept me from compiling a decent list of things to do in the Valley for the New Year's celebration.  Nevertheless, I have taken a few minutes to compile a shortlist:

One obvious option is Northampton's First Night Celebration.  I have not yet taken to the cold frosty streets to enjoy First Night festivities, but this poster by Brooke Dyer is so charming and reminiscent of childhood imaginations that I nearly feel inclined to try it out this year.

Many restaurants are featuring special New Year's Eve dinners, and many of the local stores are sponsoring New Year's Eve celebrations for families, kids, and/or adults.  (See The Blue Heron in Sunderland and Chandlers in South Deerfield.)

If staying out late on New Year's Eve isn't your thing, try for something on New Year's Day.  At my parents' house, New Year's Day is a day of football and taking down Christmas decorations and finishing off the Christmas cookies, but there are so many other options.  One of these is Duke Ellington's Nutcracker at the Cultural Center at Eagle Hill (this may be a bit of a trek, but the venue is worth it -- and what could be more fun than Ellington to welcome in the new year?).

Happy New Year!

My Recipe for a Happy Holiday

For me, the holiday begins today, with a vacation that stretches into the New Year.  I am very thankful for a little downtime during this season. 
I have a standard recipe for happy holiday vacations.  As the years pass it gets refined, and I don't always have access to all the ingredients every year.  Nevertheless, here it is:

My Recipe for a Happy Holiday

1 Gingerbread with Hot Orange Sauce
4 dozen Grandma's Norwegian Krumkaker
1 Box G&G's Homemade Flatbread
1 Fireplace for Multiple Fires
1 Collection of Classic Movies
1 Large Pot Clam Chowder (sometimes replaced with Beef Stew)

1 Large Stack of Books; holiday reading must include one or more of the following:

• Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
• East by Edith Pattou
• Snow-Walker by Catherine Fisher

1 Frosting of Snow to cover the ground
Blankets & slippers & wool socks (as needed)
1 or more Dear Ones (these may include but are not limited to spouse, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, cats, dogs)
3-7 Days Away from Work
Birds at Outdoor Bird Feeders

There are, of course, other little things that help make the holidays special and relaxing -- all those little decorations and traditions.  What is your happy holiday recipe?

Trees from Zaskeys

Time for picking out a Christmas tree is drawing to a close, but there still may be a few of you out there lacking that particular bit of cheer in the corner of your living room.  If such happens to be the case, you may want to make a trip to the Zaskey Christmas Tree Farm on Mt Warner Road.

Mr Madley and I visited the Christmas Tree Farm last Saturday -- our first outing to a tree farm for our first Christmas tree in our new home in Hadley.   I had picked out a number of trees from the road, after walking past the farm several times, but there were plenty of trees available.  We spent a little while roaming through the pines (it smelled so good!) and finally settled on a Fraser Fir of 5.5 feet or so.  One of the employees/cousins (it's a family farm) had it down in about 30 seconds; then he trimmed the bottom flat and snipped off a few stray branches.  We got the whole thing for under $30 -- a fantastic price for a fantastic fresh tree and impeccable service.  Friendly folks, festive trees (and wreathes). (Prices are posted on their website.)

What I learned from this experience -- Christmas trees grow about a foot a year -- and Zaskeys have acres and acres of new baby trees getting their growth in for future Christmases.  I also learned that I love picking out a fresh-cut tree from just down the road and bringing it home. (My cat loves it, too.....)

Our tree now sits in the corner of our living room, all decorated with white lights and a variety of ornaments.  It makes me happy.

Happy Holidays!

Next Barn Over for the Holiday!

The Next Barn Over CSA is carrying on the Hadley Food Bank tradition and will have its Thanksgiving store open today from 10-2.  This is great news -- you still have time to stop in and get some delicious local Thanksgiving treats!
For more information, visit the Next Barn Over website or read the news in the gazettenet.
So good -- I'm looking forward to learning more about the Next Barn Over, now that I've found it!

Small Business Saturday

As Thanksgiving approaches more and more emphasis and advertising are given over to the feared "Black Friday" -- when all kinds of stores will open their doors to hoards of anxious shoppers who both dread and long for the morning they will rise from their beds at an indecent hour to seek out the biggest and best sales around.  Armed with wallets, credit cards, coupons, and bags, of course.
That's Black Friday.

Saturday is an entirely different story.
This Saturday, November 27, is Small Business Saturday -- a day set aside to support the local small businesses that keep our communities diverse and varied and not like one big strip mall (though Hadley does indeed have one).
There are plenty of reasons to participate in Small Business Saturday -- small businesses reinvest more money into our communities, employ our friends and neighbours, grow more jobs, and are staples of our society.
There are lots of small unique businesses in our valley -- hope you can get out and support a few on Saturday!  I know I'll be out at at least two, maybe even three or four (restaurants count!).  Essentials, Atkins, Local Burger, Rt 9 Diner, Amherst Books, Scandihoovians, Hadley Garden Center, The Gift Chalet, Modern Myths, Ben & Bill's Chocolate... so many options!


So tell me: what is your favourite local small business?

Holiday Fairs & Bazaars!

6/30/13: This post has been getting a TON of activity (some of which is referrer spam), but it's quite out of date.  If you are looking for events and fairs, please visit the calendar page, linked on the right side of the post.

---

Updated!
Fair & Bazaar season has arrived!  It started last weekend with the fun Twist Fair and will be continuing on into the holiday season.  Here is a short list of some of the local fairs going on.

November:
Amherst Harvest Festival: Nov 20, 5:30-7 p.m. (potluck harvest supper). Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst. Free. 256-6754.

Amherst Sleighbell Fair: Nov 20, 8-2. South Congregational Church, South Amherst.

Cranberry Fair: Nov 20, 9-3.  First Congregational Church, UCC of Amherst.


4th Annual Craft & Vendor Fair: Nov 19 (5-9) & Nov 20 (10-2).  Schoolhouse Commons, 1085 Park Street, Palmer.

Hadley Holiday Vendor Fair (Hadley Mother's Club): Nov 20, 9-2. Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley.

Hartsbrook School Holiday Fair: Nov 20, 10-3. Hartsbrook School, Hadley.


Old Deerfield Christmas Sampler Craft Fair: Nov 19-21 (hours vary by day). Better Living Center, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield.


December:
Holiday Marketplace: Dec 4, 10-3.  Shutesbury School, Shutesbury.

Leverett Christmas Craft Fair: Dec 4,9-3.  Leverett Congregational Church.

Northampton Winter Craft Fair: Dec 4-5, 9:30-4:30.  Northampton High School

Snowflake Bazaar: Dec 4, 9-4. Unitarian Meetinghouse (121 N. Pleasant St.), Amherst. (Thanks, Jenny!)

Sunderland Gingerbread Fair: Dec 4, 9-3. Sunderland Congregational Church.

Winter Fair in the Hilltowns: Dec 4, 10-4.  Brassworks Building, Haydenville.

**If you know of other local fairs that are not included on this page, please post a comment!  I'll update as I find more.**

Where are the Fireworks?

If you like fireworks and Fourth of July celebrations, there are plenty of local places to go this weekend:

July 2:
Beacon Field, Greenfield: celebration; 9:30pm fireworks

July 3:
Stanley Park, Westfield: Lights for Liberty festivities begin at 5:30pm; 9:15pm fireworks
Michael E Smith Middle School, South Hadley: music and games at 6pm, fireworks at dusk


July 4:
Lake Wyola, Shutesbury: boat parade at dusk
City Hall/Memorial Bridge, Springfield: Star Spangled Springfield concert at 7:30pm; fireworks at 9:30pm
Amherst: 3pm parade, Stars in the Sky events at 5pm, fireworks at 9:30 (UMass)
Old Sturbridge Village 19th Century Independence Day
Chesterfield: July 4th parade at 10:30am, pancake breakfast at 7-10am

Post a comment if you know of a local July 4th event I haven't included here.  Include a link, if there is one.  For other listings, visit this page on the Visit Massachusetts site.
Happy Independence Day!

Memorial Day Parade, 2010

Sunday was the Hadley Memorial Day Parade, and I thought, what better way to introduce this brand new blog to the world than to share pictures from the parade? I took pictures of just about everything, but have selected only about half of them to share here.
The parade took place on Rt 9 and began at 2pm; we had prime seats at the corner of Rts 9 & 47, just across from Town Hall.