Feeling pampered

The following comes off as a paid advertisment, but nothing could be further from the truth (although if someone ever decides they want to pay me to blog ...). Just a great experience that we had and I wanted to tell the world about it.

Back in January I had the opportunity to bid in a silent auction on two nights at a B&B in Vermont. Since we have sort of developed a tradition of going on a mini-getaway for Serdic's birthday, I thought this would be a nice way to do it. So I bid (there's a convoluted story about how I got someone else to bid so Serdic wouldn't see my name on the bid sheet) and won. We booked it for the Victoria Day long weekend, and were very much looking forward to it, as the friend and fellow choir member who had stayed there and received the donation for the silent auction could not stop raving about it.

So we went. And I have to tell you, dear readers, I have never enjoyed a mini-getaway weekend more. The Belding House is an absolute gem. A 200 year old farmhouse, set in the rolling mountains of Vermont, with two of the finest and friendliest innkeepers you will ever meet. And the food. Oh my heavens, the food. You kind of expect breakfast to be included (it's, you know, in the name) but they also do afternoon snacks (brie, crackers, grapes, sausage, bread, etc. -- all of Serdic's favourite things) and when you come back from dinner they put dessert out -- the first night it was a divine carrot cake, the second yummy yummy creme brulee. And the breakfasts were stunning -- from the slight hint of cinnamon in the coffee to the freshly squeezed juice to the cream cheese stuffed bourbon infused blackberry french toast. Mmmmmm. I'm drooling again just thinking about it.

Our room was lovely, comfortable and quiet. My favourite little touch was when we came back from dinner the second night the bed had been turned down and our books, which we had left on the dresser (after spending the afternoon lounging about on the porch reading and drinking freshly brewed iced tea!), had been placed on our pillows. Hee!

But really, what made the Belding House so special was the inkeepers, Clif and Larry (I don't think they'd mind me putting their real names here, as I'm about to say very nice things about them!). They were so welcoming and warm from the first minute, so attentive to the finer details of hosting, extremely talented in the kitchen, and just so much fun to spend a weekend with. I can not say enough good things about these two gentlemen, and what wonderful things they have done with their establishment. Particularly because they donated this weekend to the auction, so they weren't making a cent on us being there. Yet they treated us like honoured guests the entire time. They didn't owe the choir anything -- it's not even like we're part of their local community. But they're just really nice guys who support and love the arts, and they wanted to support our choir. And I'm returning the favour by getting the word out to as many people as I can that a weekend at the Belding House is an experience not to be missed. The only problem is that it'll ruin you for any other B&B.

Go. You won't be disappointed. Just don't go in October, because that's when we're going back. ;-)

Pictures are here.