GIZMO'S GOSSIP 

Hi again everyone.  Gizmo here.
AREN'T 8 PETS ENOUGH ! I know I'm a pet so maybe I shouldn't complain. After all, I may be biting my own tail. But shouldn't 8 pets be enough ? Our house has 5 cats, two dogs and 1 horse (more accurately, the barn has the horse). Just enough attention for everyone. Leave well enough alone ? Not MY Mom and Dad. No siree Bob.

First they decided that Kate's cat Kumba was not happy living in a small apartment in Washington, after having spent it's first three months here in the country. Though probably right, did we ( the pets) really need to go through another adjustment ? Admittedly Kumba feels like he's in heaven though the rest of us feel we've gone to ...............

Then, even though Nutmeg has done very well living alone in the barn since we lost Frisco, my parents said OH NO, SHE NEEDS A COMPANION. So they found this tiny pony ( which they appropriately named Panda Bear). Now, many of you know that I enjoy occasionally entering the pasture to bark at and chase the horses/ponies. I stay clear of their kicking and have a ball. Panda Bear is the first equine who has stood her ground and THEN CHASED ME. Mom and Dad think it's hilarious. Also, Nutmeg, after more than a decade of being subservient and at the bottom of the pecking order has now become an Alpha Woman. Though she loves Panda Bear, Nutmeg treats her like she's a third class citizen.

When Frisco our horse passed away in September, Mom paid tribute by reverse painting him on an old window from the barn. It now hangs in the entry of the Inn. To see more of her original reverse painted art on old reclaimed windows click WINDOW ART

 Finally, for those of you who believe Morris the Moose and his family is a Buck Hollow Legend, CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Thanks for listening.
Love Gizmo

Hot Maple Apple Cider

Nothing like cider to take the chill out and with Maple season almost upon us here's a Vermont version.

6 cups apple cider
¼ cup maple syrup
1 orange peel cut into strips
1 lemon peel cut into strips
2 cinnamon sticks
spice bag & string
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries

1.

Pour cider and syrup into large pot. Place spices and peels in center of a spice bag and tie up with a piece of string. Drop spice bundle into liquid and heat over moderate flame for about 10 minutes. Remove spice bag and discard. Ladle maple cider into mugs and serve warm. The smell wafting through the house while the cider is simmering is simply heaven. Serve the hot spiced cider in mugs. For a nice touch, add a whole cinnamon stick to each mug for stirring, float thin slice of lemon or orange on top.

Special offer until spring!!