In Flight

Friday, the most amazing thing happened.
I guess in the whole scheme of things, it actually wasn't the most amazing thing, but it certainly was a wonder, to me.
Driving to and from work on Rt 47, I've recently been seeing many hawks swooping over the road and into the trees on either side.  They come close to my car, nearly brushing it sometimes, or they just sit in a tree over the road, but I've been seeing more than usual.
Friday afternoon I was driving home, and I saw a bird land with precision on the road.  Seeing it from a distance, I thought perhaps it was a crow after some roadkill, but as I approached, I saw that it was indeed a hawk.  It watched as my car came closer, looking into my eyes to determine if I would stop or if it needed to take off into flight.  With no other cars around, I came to a slow stop, just feet away from the hawk who, comfortable in the knowledge I wasn't going to hit it with the car, poked its beak around something rather freshly dead.  Satisfied with what it had found, it scooped it up and flew away, its red tail fully spread.
The whole episode took seconds; if I had been faster, perhaps I could have pulled out my camera and filmed it.  But instead I sat in my car, feeling in awe of the wonders of nature.

Icy

Remember that freezing rain we had back in December?  It sure created some beautiful art in our yard.

Amazing.

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!

What a Treat! -- Holiday Dining

I've had some bum experiences with holiday and special occasion dining, but this year for our pre-Christmas celebratory dinner, Mr. Madley and I made reservations at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland.  We had enjoyed a New Year's Eve dinner there before, and when deciding on the right holiday restaurant for this year, the Blue Heron came immediately to mind.

If you've never been to the Blue Heron, it's a wonder to see.  The restaurant is in the renovated old town hall; the building has housed town offices and a school, and has been the site for plays, meetings, and community groups.  Tin ceiling, tall windows, beautiful chandeliers, high ceilings, strong rich colors, and old wood create a comfortable atmosphere to sit and talk and sit and eat and talk and eat.
The wait-staff is well trained -- attentive without being overly familiar.
And then, of course, there's the food.  The Blue Heron supports local farms/farmers (a list can be found on their menu), buying local seasonal produce when available, and uses meat from pasture-raised, grass-fed, antibiotic-free animals.  (Read their philosophy here.)  Entree options, as well as appetizers and desserts, are eclectic but always well-thought-out and creative, with a variety of flavours to please the palate.

Dinner for us started with the Blue Heron Salad and continued with the Pan Roasted Breast of Pekin Duck, which was just about divine.  The duck was crispy and juicy and well-seasoned; the fennel and compote and potatoes complemented the duck; the green beans were as good as any I've ever eaten.  For dessert we enjoyed the Chocolate Truffle Torte, which was a rich confection accompanied by gelato, cream, and cherries.  A positively delicious dinner -- it left me completely satisfied and happily content.  I honestly can't say that I've had a better dining experience anywhere in the Valley.

I recommend a visit to the Blue Heron -- it's a class operation with delicious food.  Enjoy!

A Ride to Mineral Hills Winery

Mr. Madley here, faithful readers, with a cross-post from my bicycle-related blog, Velophoria. Emily asked me to share my report of a ride to a lovely winery, run by a lovely guy. Here's an excerpt, to whet your appetite (or sharpen your thirst, as the case may be):

...As I pulled up, I saw a big "Open" flag on the porch, so, out of neighborly curiosity, I lifted my bike against a post so that I might see what was what inside. A man came hustling out of the fields to the right of the building and introduced himself as Larry Godard, co-owner of the place. Did I want to be shown around? When a guy as transparently nice as Larry asks to show you around his winery, there's only one right answer...

For more fun and photos, shoot on over here. And a joyous season to all!

Valley Gives 12.12.12

12.12.12 -- That's a single day for one very special event to celebrate and support giving to local nonprofits through Valley Gives.  And it's tomorrow -- all 24 hours.

One of those deserving nonprofits is the Kestrel Land Trust.  The Kestrel Land Trust works to create conservation areas throughout the Valley, and if you donate tomorrow (Wed, Dec 12) through Valley Gives, you can help the Trust become eligible for grants of up to $15,000.
Two more favourite charities of mine on the list: The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Pioneer Valley Red Cross.

Interested in other nonprofits that might benefit from Valley Gives giving?  A whole list of them can be found here.  This looks like a great way to donate to local nonprofit organizations -- you can bet I'll be visiting this site often.

Happy giving!