News and Recipes Blog

This time of year makes me think of the Point-to-Point Races in Virginia.  Starting in February, we would attend the 6 or so races on a Saturday to see the fine horses that had fox hunted the previous season. Races are on the flat (no jumps), or over fences of timber or brush, with the latter usually being cedar trees cut from local farms and piled up to give a hedge effect. The races were a good way to shake off the winter doldrums and to get outside with other folks on cool spring days, knowing the promise of better weather lay...

Do you find yourself gazing into the night sky sometimes? If you are fortunate to be out in the country, where the urban lights are minimal and the sky is darker, star gazing can be so peaceful. The best time to see the stars is on a clear moonless night. An added bonus is if it has snowed and the landscape is a soft white, the sky appears to be a dark blue and there are lots of stars visible usually. As a child in Virginia, we would go sledding on Schlusmyers Hill, a huge farm across from our neighborhood....

We like selling local or regional food products that people can send to their friends or use in their own kitchen. Many times, myself included, I have no idea how to use an item though! That's why our store staff is trained to show you exactly how to use certain items, especially in new and different ways! We show you how to use the syrups we carry in the store, give you tried and true recipes using our local honey, and more. This week in our What's InSTORE Fridays segment I made a yummy Blackberry Spice and Sage Jam Cake. Traditionally...

Each year after Christmas, usually in mid-January, I start getting the calls. Young women calling to reserve Hightower Hall because they got engaged over Christmas and are now looking for a venue to celebrate their wedding day. It is always the bride-to-be that calls, or their mother. Never the guy. Has he turned over the reigns to his new love because it is expected? Is it just "her special day"? The usual cop out answer is "Just tell me where and what time to show up." So to make the groom more educated on the planning of the wedding, I sell...