Sleepy Hollow

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The story says the man died many years ago during the American revolutionary war. His head was shot off. Every night he rises from his burial place, jumps on his horse and rides through the valley looking for his lost head.

by Washington Irving 

     The village had a small school. And one teacher, named Ichabod Crane. Ichabod Crane was a good name for him, because he looked like a tall bird, a crane. He was tall and thin like a crane. His shoulders were small, joined two long arms. His head was small, too, and flat on top. He had big ears, large glassy green eyes and a long nose. 

Ichabod did not make much money as a teacher. And although he was tall and thin, he ate like a fat man.

Ichabod [atop his horse about]  the hills that surround Tarry Town ...  had never felt so lonely in his life ... he came close to the tree where a man had been killed years ago by rebels. 

He thought he saw something white move in the tree. But no, it was only the moonlight shining and moving on the tree ... There, in the dark woods on the side of the river where the bushes grow low, stood an ugly thing. Big and black. It did not move, but seemed ready to jump like a giant monster.

His shaking voice broke the silent valley ... "Who are you?" The thing did not answer ... Side by side they moved, slowly at first. And not a word was said. 

Ichabod felt his heart sink. Up a hill they moved above the shadow of the trees. For a moment the moon shown down and to Ichabod's horror he saw it was a horse. And it had a rider. But the rider's head was not on his body. It was in front of the rider, resting on the horse. 

Ichabod kicked and hit his old horse with all his power. Away they rushed through bushes and trees across the valley of Sleepy Hollow. Up ahead was the old church bridge where the headless horseman stops and returns to his burial place. 

... The horse jumped on to the bridge and raced over it like the sound of thunder. Ichabod looked back to see if the headless man had stopped. He saw the man pick up his head and throw it with a powerful force. The head hit Ichabod in the face and knocked him off his horse to the dirt below. 

They found Ichabod's horse the next day peacefully eating grass. They could not find Ichabod. 

They walked all across the valley. They saw the foot marks of Ichabod's horse as it had raced through the valley. They even found Ichabod's old hat in the dust near the bridge. But they did not find Ichabod. The only other thing they found was lying near Ichabod's hat.

It was the broken pieces of a round orange pumpkin.  

The town people talked about Ichabod for many weeks. They remembered the frightening stories of the valley. And finally they came to believe that the headless horseman had carried Ichabod away. 

Love is spending a summer day picking blueberries.

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Greig Farm is now open for Blueberries.

Greig Farm, Red Hook NY
8 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week

The Greig Farm has been open to the public for pick your own fruits and vegetables for more than 60 years. We have always planted varieties that feature the best flavor. Nothing compares to the flavor in the field with the heat of the harvest sun on the fruit.

Local, farm fresh, sustainable foods here in the Hudson Valley. 

Places to Elope.

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Beach, mountain, Vegas, or vineyard?

True Romance, it's what you're supposed to do, right?

PROLOGUE Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Who's to say.  Follow your bliss.

Country Living: Give Me Romance Every Time

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Maybe a little romance is needed
Lightening our days in all this grey
To place a smile on our faces

You can't have too much romance
In a life that's filled with sadness
Making us laugh with pleasure

Give me romance to dazzle me
To make my heart sing out loud
And make me feel I'm alive

Bring on the romance to me
It's welcome in a soul of tears
Appreciated from this coldness

Give me romantic words and deeds
So pleasing to my eyes and ears
Make me happy for a little while

Give me romance everytime
To make me blush and smile
Instead of all these teasing words

by Fiona Davidson 

Spend a romantic weekend in the country ... wake up to the smells of fresh biscuits just from the oven.  

Have breakfast on the veranda.  

Hilltop House Orange Banana Salad 

• 4 bananas peeled and sliced in 1/8" thick slices.
• 3 oranges peeled, sectioned and cut in half.
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries.
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey.
• 2 tablespoons orange juice.
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut, (optional).

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let set at room temperature for half an hour; stiring frequently to blend juices together. 

Serves four (4)

Discover wine country here in the Hudson Valley.

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The first time I visited John Bruno's Oak Summit Winery,   "wow . . . had no idea there was such a wonderful place hidden right here in Millbrook".

Just off route 44, you drive down a rural road, climb through the forest, at the top there is a clearing, the sun streams down on Dutchess Cardigan.  His home sits atop this ravelly loam of rich nutrients and well balanced minerals that feed his vines.    

John loves the pino grape.  Oak Summit's PINOT NOIR vines are all traditional DIjon clones grafted on American rootstock.  The vines are hand-planted and hand-trained onto a VSP trellis system.  Every year the Bruno's prune and typically discard at least 30% of the crop to maintain the intensity and character of their wine's trademarks.  

 Simply the best, nothing less will do. 

BEST OF THE HUDSON, GRAND WINE LUNCHEONS

This unique gourmet experience is a masterful pairing of the best wines and foods of the Hudson Valley.  The Bruno's serve the freshest, seasonal foods grown or raised in the Hudson Valley.  The luncheon menu is hosted and prepared by the Bruno's lovely home overlooking their vineyard.  

Oak Summit owners John C D Bruno, CFMP and his wife Nancy Lynn Bruno, SSA also host this grand experience on the third Sunday of each month at Noon, or by appointment.  

Seating is by reservation only.  Call (845) 677 9522 for availability.

OAK SUMMIT WINERY
372 OAK SUMMIT ROAD
MILLBROOK, NY 12545 

http://oak summit vineyard.com

Add a little romance to your relationship.

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Nothing is better than an intimate weekend with your lover.

1. Strawberies, come pick them.  Oh so romantic. 

2. Take a yoga class together.  Yoga refreshes, relaxes and restores your sex drive! 

3. Give and get a message.  Splurge on a bottle of fragrant massage oil infused with the relaxing, sensuous and alluring scent of jasmine.   

4.  Indulge in a glass of wine.  Lots of wineries here in the valley. 

5.  Take a bike ride through the country.  
     Hilltop House Bed & Breakfast offers mountian bikes.

6. GO DANCING!
    Venues nearby here in the valley to tango.  

Love is the drug to relive all of life's challenges!