*all items seen in this gift guide are available in our store

It’s peach season right now at the farm basket! Katy, our Garden Manager begins hand selecting the best Virginia peaches available from local farms, from early July to mid-September.

Peaches are definetly a taste to enjoy all summer long!
What’s a better, yet simpler snack than a healthy ripe peach? Okay, add a scoop of our delicious vanilla gelato, or indulge in our popular peach milkshake, made from fresh peaches.

However you choose to enjoy peaches, they’re tastefully tempting when locally grown at the peak of perfection.

Not Your Ordinary Peach

We’re in such a peach mood, we’ve selected, Sweet Peach Chutney, by The Virginia Chutney Co; as our item of the week. Choose a hearty grain bread for spreading the chutney, add turkey, swiss and arugula for the perfect panini. Chutney also pairs well with goat cheese, cheddar or ricotta.

Come celebrate peach season!
Fill a bag with the best local varieties Katy can find.

And if you can’t come see us,
we’ll ship it to you! Order here

Odd noises were being heard over in the Vera Shop. So we called “Big Gene’s Critter Removal” to come check it out! He found a mama and her four little babies in an old chimney flute. He worked hard and diligent all day to get them all out safe and sound.  Nearing the end of the day customers were getting curious, so Big Gene made the decision to go in and grab the babies! He successfully got all four, but mom was frightened and ran out the other end, missing the trap! That is how we were left with four baby raccoons, that also leads me to how we cared for them for the next couple days!

Having no clue what to do next, I researched my little animal loving heart out to try to help these guys! Thanks Google! We placed them in a box outside in hopes that their momma would soon come back to rescue her babies. In the meantime I Googled some more and realized that they had to be kept warm and hydrated in order for their momma to recognize them as her own!

So off to the store Linie went to get some pedialyte. Man did they love that stuff. At first it was a struggle getting drops in between squeals but in no time at all they were grabbing the dropper and crying to feed themselves!

The next morning we came back to find only two babies remaining… momma must have come back.

So back to nurturing I went! My office became their daytime home. Don’t get me wrong; I was more than happy to share! I did my best to keep them warm and well fed! With gloves in hand and towel on my lap I spoon-fed them their favorite pedialyte drink and kept them warm by my space heater! I gave them as many drips and drops in between those wiggles and giggles and, yes, at sometimes screams. Hey can you blame them? They missed their mommy! I bet they were trying to ask me… “Are you my mommy?” Heck, let’s be honest I would of if I could of, but my husband was quick to say no. (Like I even had to ask) I can’t help it. It’s the heart I was given!

And, so five o’clock rolled around again and out they went, in hopes mom would be back! The next morning, I hurried to work hoping to find an empty box but those little guys were still there. No mom in sight. We all knew we had to get them forever help with a forever home. So after much research and persistence by Linie we were able to find a wildlife rescue! And after another day of sharing my warm office (known as the office sauna for those two days) these little guys were taken to their new forever home to be rehabilitated down in Concord! I bet they’re doing just fine in their new home!

Never a dull moment over here, that’s for sure.

Until Next Time,
Lauren B. (momma #1)

Thanks for all who helped care for these two; Linie, Julie, Schuyler, Frances (momma #2), Margaret!

*for more pictures, visit our facebook page!

I for one cannot have Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie.  Perhaps it is the memories of eating this delicious dessert with my sister (loaded with whip cream of course) or the flaky pie crust pieces I would scoop up from the bottom of the pan.  My nostalgic longing for pumpkin pie never wavers.

And, good news – from a nutrition perspective, pumpkin pie really isn’t all that bad!  It’s loaded with the disease fighting anti-oxidant beta-carotene; and one-half cup of pumpkin only has about 24 calories. Of course, the pie filling and crust can be a different story, but there are ways to modify your pie without sacrificing taste.

For instance, this Eating Well Holiday Pumpkin Pie recipe adds nutrients and fiber to keep the pastry crust tender; reduces saturated fat by replacing butter with heart healthy canola oil; and uses fat free sweetened condensed milk in place of full fat milk.   This results in 292 calories and 9 grams total fat (3g saturated) which saves you about 203 calories and 25 grams of fat that I suspect wouldn’t be missed by your taste buds. Since pumpkin pie is a favorite throughout this holiday season – give this lightened-up version a try.

Another way to get your pumpkin fix (and one that may appeal to the little folks), is through pumpkiny spreads like this favorite one, Pecan Pumpkin Butter.  You can use your own imagination or the delicious recipes that come right on the jar.

Picture courtesy of TheCulinaryGeek