The making of a Vermont Innkeeper

Civil Weddings in Vermont

Emjay — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:48:27 GMT

As you may know Vermont became the first state to allow civil unions in July of 2000 and the fourth state to pass the marriage equality bill, which took effect on September 1, 2009. If you are coming to Vermont for your Civil Wedding ceremony here are a few things you should know. First, visit the Vermont Secretary of State’s web page (http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal/civil_mar.htm) if you have some general questions. If you would like to download a civil marriage application please visit http://www.bennington.com/town/Civil_Marriage_Application.pdf. The options are limitless when deciding on what type of wedding you would like to have in Vermont. Whether it’s just you and your spouse to be or 100 of your closest friends, you won’t be disappointed. There are a number of romantic Bed & Breakfasts to make your small, intimate ceremony special. Or, for the larger wedding there is always the traditional hall rental or Hotel. Of course you could always be more adventurous and and get married at one of a number of Vermont’s wineries or even on top of Mount Mansfield. The possibilities are endless. If you would like more information on having your ceremony at the Donomar Inn please call 802-644-2937.

Marriage Equality in Vermont!

Emjay — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:17:00 GMT

Last night Moira and I attended a get-together in Montpelier to celebrate the passing of the marriage equality bill in Vermont. We were unsure what the evening would hold in store. We were pleasantly surprised at the amount of people that attended and the celebratory feeling in the room. There were numerous, and very entertaining, speeches from key legislators, yummy food and drink and of course a beautiful red-haired baby with a Mohawk! What party would be complete without that?

Moira and I don't really feel the need to rush to get our marriage license. We had a beautiful ceremony 18 years ago in a small church called All Souls By The Sea in Maine in October. Then on July 7, 2000 we had our civil union in the parlor of our neighbor who was a Justice of the Peace. This time we are thinking about a larger celebration and will likely wait until July 7th of 2010. It will be our 10th anniversary of our civil union and the 19th anniversary of our original commitment ceremony. We hope to have many family members present including our 4 grown children. We'll have the ceremony at our Inn in the beautiful gazebo facing Mount Mansfield.

At the Inn we have already booked two weddings for the upcoming year and even next year. Both lesbian couples. We hope to share in many more such celebrations. Donomar Inn offers special wedding packages catering to a couple's wants and dreams. We have a wonderful Parson, Annie Alexander-Kramer, an amazing caterer by the name of Tosca Smith, photographers, florists, etc., all working together to make your day as special and memorable as possible!

Feel free to give me a call at the Inn or visit our website for more information.

Spring in Vermont

Emjay — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:10:00 GMT

This beautiful April morning finds me sitting out on the deck in the warm spring breeze listening to the sounds of birds and the occasional car or bicycle going by. The Notch Road between here and Stowe still is not open despite the lack of snow this past winter and the recent warm temperatures, almost ninety three out of the last four days! I'm told the temperature will drop today as rain moves in later this afternoon and the rest of the week will see more seasonable temps in the high fifties to mid sixties. Still great weather for getting out and uncovering the last two gardens!

All the trees and bushes are budding. The orchard seems to have survived the relatively mild winter. Our early blueberries and raspberries bushes are showing signs of life and with a little rain later today they should be in fine shape. I'm planning to shift my vegetable gardens around this year and have more raised beds. We are hoping to create a picnic area for guests complete with a volleyball court, horseshoes and barbeque pit, all with the amazing views of Mount Mansfield and Smugglers' Notch in the backdrop.

One last thought... I saw some deer in the back yard this morning, but VIta and I scared them into the woods when we went for our morning walk. The grass is so green right now and I think it could actually use a mowing! Time to switch the snow thrower for the mowing deck on my lawn tractor. Crazy how quick spring/summer seems to come now... I love the morning sounds sitting here on the deck with my morning bucket of tea and the newspaper... mornings like this make me realize that everything will be okay... no matter how crazy this world gets!

Journal 9-21-08

Emjay — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:10:00 GMT

What an action-packed weekend we just had. The guests that stayed with us were here for all different reasons, which is always fun. Two rooms were booked with people here for the a wedding up the road, one couple was here to hike the Long Trail and another couple was here for the Street Rod Show at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds in Essex Junction. Each one of these guests was a pleasure to be with.

Our first arrivals were hikers from Texas. Seems they saw an article written about us in a popular hiking magazine so they decided to try out the Long Trail, which basically runs right through our backyard. On their first morning here I drove them to the trail head of their choice, dropped them off and waited for their call when they were done for the day. This couple is extremely experienced hikers having hiked pretty much all over the world. I’m talking extreme sports people and very physically fit. What they didn’t figure on was how different hiking is in the north east. It was an education for us all.

I haven’t done any real hiking for many years and back then most of my hiking was in New Hampshire. You see the trails here on in the east are very old and were formed using the natural contours of the land. So that means hiking up and down natural drainage ditches, no switchbacks and such. Apparently, only new trails have switchbacks cut into them, which of course makes the hiking, shall we say, a little more enjoyable. If you attempt the Long Trail here in Vermont you need to know what you will be hiking. Fortunately our guests brought us an amazing education about the trails that we can now pass on to other guests. They ended up hiking quite a bit of the Long Trail right around the Inn and they are determined to return next fall for more!

We also had a wonderful couple who came up from Massachusetts to enter their 1939 Ford in the Vermont Street Rod car show at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds in Essex Junction, about 30 minutes from the Inn. I can’t tell you how much fun I had talking about antique cars, street rods, hotrods and, of course, my personal favorites, the muscle cars! This couple has seven amazing cars. Below is a picture of the one they brought to the show this year. We are hoping they come back next year with a different car, maybe a muscle car! This weekend was also the British Invasion car show in Stowe. In the past we have had several couples here with cars entered.

And last but not least we had two women stay at the Inn who had never met but were going to the same wedding right up the road. Often people will reserve the whole Inn for family and friends when they are getting married locally. As much as we enjoy having a wedding right here, it’s really fun when just the wedding guests stay here. The Inn becomes the haven for party-goers to return to when they need a rest from all the celebrating. On the last morning of their stay they were able to sit together, and finally meet, at breakfast. We were able to sit with them after all other guests had checked out and hear all about the wedding and find out more about each of them.

Between all the fun things our guests were doing I was able to get some Inn maintenance done with about five hours of mowing and weeding. It’s hard to complain about mowing this property when all I have to do is look up at the incredible view from my lawn tractor. The weather was so gorgeous I was able to clean up the remnants of our vegetable garden and in the process for a few errant zucchinis and cucumbers hidden under the over-growth. I was even able to find a few grapes on the vine!

Journal 9-17-08

Emjay — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:54:00 GMT

What a glorious Vermont morning! As the remnants of hurricane Ike dribble out of our state, the sun is shining through the trees this morning and the sky is blue with light, puffy clouds. Sitting in the sunroom here at the Donomar Inn, I’m able to look out (make a mental note to perform the fall ritual of cleaning all the windows!) and see Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, dodging the light clouds this morning. I’m sure within the hour the clouds will pass and the mountain will stand unhindered as usual. What a view! I can never give enough thanks for being able to sip my morning tea in such a lovely place!

For the past week I’ve been working on marketing for the fall and winter season. Creating affordable specials for our guests has been the spirit of my work. Even though our economy is in trouble and gas prices are high, people still need to be able to take a well-deserved break; perhaps it’s even more important at this time. Times are tough, even our belt is tight. We were unable to do some projects we would have liked to this summer due to that tightening, but one thing we can always do is offer guests a clean, comfortable and friendly place to escape the crazy reality at the present moment. To this end we are offering a number of holiday specials that can be found on our Web site and in our newsletter.

We have a big weekend coming up; the Inn is full with fall travelers. It’s always a wonderful season here in Vermont. The leaves are starting to turn and I’ve heard it will be a spectacular foliage season. We have lots of local fall festivals from now until late October (which you can find details on our 'Upcoming Local Events Page') and of course Halloween is always a popular time. In the coming weeks I will be buying pumpkins, corn stalks, Indian corn and changing the décor of the Inn to reflect the colors and feel of the season… this is one of my favorite tasks of running a Bed & Breakfast!"

Journal 9-8-08

Emjay — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:34:00 GMT

I’ve been asked to write more in my blog. Not just articles, but a day-to-day journal entry. Funny… I didn’t really think anyone would be that interested in the day-to-day workings of a bed and breakfast. The joys, the stresses, the worries and the responsibilities of making an Inn successful. Anyone who is even remotely aware of the immense responsibility of owning, operating and maintaining an Inn will laugh at the idea of an Innkeeper having the time to write a blog entry every day! Although there is no way I can promise an entry every day, I will do my best to post an entry weekly. So here we go…

Most people hate Mondays. I feel like Mondays are a new beginning--a chance to start all over again--a chance to start anew. This past weekend was really slow for us. Not sure why, but our reservations seem to be down for this month compared to last September. Of course last September we had a large wedding here on Labor Day weekend so that of course helped.

My Monday usually consist of stripping beds and doing all the laundry from the weekend’s guests and planning my week. However, this Monday I have no laundry, seeing it was done yesterday because it was a relatively quiet weekend. The weekend brought rain: the remnants of hurricane Gustav. Now the sky is still overcast and the temperatures have turned more seasonably cool in the high 60’s low 70’s. Some of the trees are already starting to turn, which gives that bitter-sweet feeling of loving the fall season in Vermont and knowing what looms ahead!

It’s interesting how I look at the winter differently now that I am an Innkeeper. With mixed emotions I look forward to the snow and cold. Before owning the Inn I hoped for little snow so the roads would be clear to drive to work. Now I hope for snow for skiing and snowshoeing. The snow brings guests. As a business owner the snow also brings worries. Will guests be able to get here? Will I be able to clear all the snow so guests are safe under foot? What about high heating costs? What if we don’t get enough snow? Luckily the Donomar Inn offers much more than just outdoor activities in the winter. I think this is one of the keys to a successful Inn. You have to offer alternatives, not depend on the economy or the weather to bring quests.

So today I am laying out my plans for the week. I will start with a major overhaul of the web site specials for winter. They will include ski/boarding specials for the snow lovers and several indoor activities such as specials that include dinner at a local restaurant, a massage, day passes to our local State college’s Shape Facility, etc. It is also time to update our business plan and projection spreadsheets. It’s important to make sure we are on track financially. I won’t lie… we have struggled to keep the doors open at times. We have some slow months that contribute to an Innkeepers stress—no doubt!

But despite the economy, the weather and building a new business we are still growing, still building our guest list and having many return guests. I still love what I do and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. My job this week is to offer our best product at a savings to our guests. We are all affected by today’s economic woes. The trick is to make it affordable for our guests to travel here and for us to maintain a business. Everyone needs a vacation from their every day stress and responsibilities. My goal today is to make Donomar Inn that affordable vacation destination.

Donomar Inn Events

Emjay — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:10:00 GMT

Thinking of gathering with friends or family this summer? Consider our 1865 Vermont Bed & Breakfast, the Donomar Inn, located in Jeffersonville, Vermont, close to Smugglers' Notch Resort, Stowe, Burlington and Montreal, as the perfect destination. Nestled within the majestic Green Mountains, enjoy one of our six guests rooms, spectacular Mount Mansfield views, private baths, fireplaces, in-room Jacuzzis and six person outdoor hot tub. Our historic Vermont Inn houses many memorabilia from our ancestors, but is ready for you to make your own memories.

At the Donomar Inn you can easily take advantage of all levels of road biking, from a meandering 10-mile ride to an aggressive 100-mile loop that includes mountain climbs. Foot of the Notch Cycling shop in Jeffersonville can provide you with all your biking needs from a spare tire tube to a new bike. Canoing or kayaking is readily available on the nearby Lamoille River. Through Green River Canoe you can float to the Boyden Winery for a wine tasting, or you can paddle for miles with the loons at Green River Reservoir. Don't forget to stop into Green Mountain Troutfitters first for all your outdoor gear, including everything for fly-fishing.



Golf? There is no shortage of exciting courses open to the public, all within a short drive, including the Bakersfield Country Club, the Farms Resort Golf Club, and the prestigious Stowe Country Club.

Miles of dirt roads that provide endless serene walking or running around the Donomar Inn. Horse-back riding through fields and wooded lanes can also be arranged by Lajoie Stables. Want a slightly higher vantage point? From atop Mount Mansfield you can spot three states! The Long Trail can be found within minutes of the Inn and will lead you straight to the summit. Even higher vantage? Book a glider ride through Stowe Soaring.

Not interested in that much work? Within a ten-mile radius of the Inn you will find a dozen unique antique shops, as well as artisan workshops and galleriesopen year round for your discovery. Vermont's handcrafts are world renown, yet our numerous weekly Farmer's Markets show them to be abundant, along with local foods and specialty items. Visit the Inn's Events Page to coordinate your visit with any number of cultural events or a theater performance at the Hyde Park Opera House or the juried art fair in Stowe Celebrates Summer Art & Craft Festival. Looking for a unique outdoor experience? Take a drive to Lake Champlain and visit St. Anne's Shrine for Mass in the open-air chapel or attend a performance sponsored by the Vermont Mozart Festival under the big sky.



Really interested in doing nothing? The Donomar Inn boasts many gardens with annual and perennial flowers (a butterfly's dream!) and eight acres to claim a spot for a blanket or sit in one of our colorful Adirondack chairs handcrafted right here at the Donomar Inn (Mary's latest endeavor). Relax in our gazebo and take in the fragrant air and quiet surroundings; be sure to grab a book from our well-stocked library first! Complete your day with a yoga class or massage at The Mountain Well and a homemade, healthy lunch at the Sunrise Cafe, both right next door to the Inn.



No vacation is complete without spectacular food - starting with Mary's wholesome and yummy breakfast. Vermont is home to many great chef-owned restaurants; no matter your tastes you will find many wonderful places to eat without leaving Jeffersonville, including the Three Mountain Lodge.

So call a few friends, email your sister, text your old college roommate, decide on a date and then book a night, a weekend or a week at the Donomar Inn. Be sure to check our web site for discounts and specials... Make this a summer to remember!

Holiday Decorating

Emjay — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:50:00 GMT

One of the nicest things about being an innkeeper is sharing the holiday season with others. This year was no different. We dragged out all the boxes labeled ‘Christmas’ from the basement and began putting out our Christmas decorations. I’ve collected Santas all my life. I’ve bought some for myself, but mostly they have been gifts. My daughter started giving me a Santa several years ago for my birthday, which is the week before Christmas. Many have come from my mother, who started the tradition; many are hand-made, all are unique! They are all different sizes from teeny tiny to quite large. Unfortunately, the large ones have spent most of their time packed away in boxes because our old house was just too small to display them. Now that we have the Inn I have plenty of space to display them and the size of the house makes even the largest Santa seem dwarfed!

So we started unpacking the boxes. First was the crèche my grandfather made many years ago. As far as I know he only made two, the one that I have, which was my grandmother’s and the one my mom has. My grandmother bought the figures and antiqued them herself. Before she gave the crèche to me, my grandmother used to pack it away in their basement. One year she took it out and one of the animals had his nose chewed off by a mouse over the summer. It never fails to make me smile when I unpack that figure and put it in the back, left corner of the crèche. I hide the baby Jesus behind it until Christmas day when he is born. Actually, we put him in the manger the night before so he is there when we get up in the morning, like magic. The chore of putting the baby Jesus in the crib is handed down to the youngest child year after year. Now it’s the duty of Moira’s nine-year-old niece. I also enjoy moving the Kings and Sheppards closer to the crèche as it gets closer to Christmas Eve. After all, they are traveling! Being an ordained Minister of the I respect and honor all religions, however, being raised in the Christian faith I tend to follow my own traditions. Many of them are not so much based in any set religion as much as just the way we did things.

Next we unpacked several boxes of random Christmas figurines such as angels, Christmas tree candles, snowmen, sleighs, etc. We also unpacked the small, lighted Christmas tree we put in the front foyer to greet guests. Of course there are also window lights and many outside lights that were put out as well. As always we put the lights on the gazebo, front bushes and backyard pine tree on the coldest day of the year! It always seems to happen that way. Somehow it seems more festive if your toes and fingers are freezing off! We also unpacked holiday table clothes, place mats, napkins and dishes, etc.

Finally came several boxes of Santas. Some of these Santas I have had for many, many years. I can remember who gave me each and everyone of them – well, for the most part! It always takes the longest to put out the Santas because each one has a very special story and we enjoy reminiscing as we put them all out. Moira and I don’t always agree on who gave me a certain Santa, when it was given or the story behind it, but this is all part of the fun!

Now that the Holiday’s are over, the task becomes packing everything carefully and trucking it all back down in the basement. It’s sad in a way, but also exciting. It is the beginning of a new year. A clean slate you might say. Many changes will occur in the coming year. We will have a new president for one thing. Lots of opportunities to make change, make a difference, both at home and afar. This year will be whatever we make it. We will pray for good health, abundance and above all peace on earth!

Unexpected life!

Emjay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:39:00 GMT

As a parent, it’s the call you never want to receive. The call that creates a crazy, surreal moment in your life that you will never, ever forget. It’s the call that one of your children has been injured in an accident. As a parent, you stop breathing, literally stop breathing, for what seems like hours, and maybe it is. Our son was in a serious motorcycle accident four months ago and I don’t think we’ve taken a breath since. As an innkeeper, there are any number of crises you will have to deal with. There is the occasional burst water pipe or over-flowing bathtub, maybe a double booking or sick guest. No matter what the crisis, my hope is that you never have to deal with this one.

It was a Saturday morning in July. We had a wonderful couple staying with us and were enjoying our time at breakfast, which included great food (if I do say so myself), wonderful conversation and lots of laughter. Along with this couple was their teenage daughter, who they were dropping off at a camp not far from us. It was the first time she would be away from home on her own. The parents would drop her off and then continue on up to Québec for a short vacation and then back to stay here for a night before picking up their daughter to head home.

The phone rang around 11am and I excused myself from the conversation to answer it. As I went to the phone, our guests made their way out of the sunroom to track down their daughter. My spouse headed out to the deck to tend to her hanging plants. I answered the phone as I always do, “Donomar Inn, this is Mary, can I help you?” The voice on the other end was clearly shaken and distraught. It was the voice of a local parent whose son was our oldest son’s best friend. Our oldest son was spending the summer in Los Angeles where he had lived for 6 years with this best friend before coming back to Vermont to finish his degree. Our daughter is a costume designer and also lives in LA. Our youngest son had decided to join his siblings in LA for a weeklong vacation.

As I struggled to listen to this parent I noticed my spouse’s reaction to the change in my voice. All I remember is hearing that my youngest son had been in a serious motorcycle accident and it was really bad… really bad was all my fellow parent could say. It was his son who was driving the motorcycle and my son was on the back. They were driving down Sunset Boulevard at 1:30am and a drunk driver pulled out in front of them. They hit the car at approximately 70 miles per hour and careened off and hit a parked car at approximately 50 miles per hour. There was no word on the injuries to my son.

As calmly as I could I told my friend I would have to hang up and call the hospital. As soon as I hung up I looked at my spouse and said our son has been in a serious motorcycle accident. At this point I was having an out-of-body experience. I had no idea what had happened to my guests. Had they over-heard my conversation? What had I been saying? Where were they? Had they quietly drifted out of earshot? All I knew was that I wasn’t breathing.

The world of inn keeping is full of unexpected ups and downs. You really have to be ready for almost anything. No… I think you have to actually be ready for anything, anything at all! I’ve had guests come to breakfast with their ski boots on or in their boxers, spill red wine all over a white coverlet as well as all over the wall/floor/ceiling, return to the inn injured after a day of skiing or hiking, or become ill on their vacation, etc. I’ve driven guests back and forth to restaurants so they could enjoy that extra glass of wine or when they have ridden their bicycle. When it comes to being an innkeeper I think I’ve learned how to bob and weave, adjust to what comes along. If I only had to wear my innkeeper’s hat it would be easy, but how do you blend having guests in your home and your own personal life?

I think the answer is -- honesty. Sometimes I am reminded by my guests that I am welcoming people into my home and they understand that life happens. I am happy to make concessions when their lives get complicated and they give the same back. I am constantly surprised and renewed by the caring and compassion of my guests. I’ve had guests that have suffered enumerable painful experiences, whether it’s illness or injury to themselves, a family member or friends. Everyone seems to have a story and all are happy to share it, and I am happy to listen. We share sadness and joy and it all seems to be quite healing. One more unexpected treasure in the making of a Vermont Innkeeper! Oh… by the way… our son is on the road to recovery after two surgeries, lots of physical therapy, hard work and much love and support from family, friends and even guests!

Green (Eco-Friendly) Weddings

Emjay — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:29:00 GMT

Ever thought about making your wedding all about the planet? In this age of Al Gore, global warming concerns and record high oil prices, why not? Consider a pre-wedding day hike, kayak tour, bicycle ride, etc. How about sticking to a smaller wedding, say 75 guests? A reception in a natural setting would save you money. Every little bit helps toward healing global warming so let’s see what you can do to reduce your overall environmental footprint.

First we’ll start with the location. It’s easy to embrace the earth without sacrificing style! Choose a natural setting and save money. Using a farm or an Inn for the reception instead of a hall or hotel is cheaper. Even better, choose a ‘Green’ Inn such as Donomar Inn Bed & Breakfast in Jeffersonville, Vermont. If you prefer a resort or hall make sure they recycle and wash dishes with biodegradable liquid. Make the honeymoon ‘Green’ by staying at a ‘Green’ Inn or resort. Also, stay locally to avoid transatlantic flight emissions.

Hand in hand with the reception is the caterer. Find a caterer that uses only locally grown ingredients. Have an organic menu. How about an organic cake and organic beverages? Try locally brewed beer and wine. Some caterers use biodegradable plates and utensils. Avoid throw-a-ways. Choose favors that help save endangered species. What about edible flowers? Don’t forget organic table linens. Check out Back to Earth organic catering in Berkley CA.

For wedding gowns and groom’s suits choose vintage or organic cotton, even hemp. Check out vintagewedding.com and weddingsutra.com.

Flowers are a must. You can use a local flower farm, organic is even better, and pick your own! Use flowers and plants that are in season. Maybe go as far as using flowers grown according to sustainable farming practices. You can always use potted plants and donate money or plant for future weddings. Maybe silk flowers or dried flowers are to your liking. How about an organic herb bouquet? There are also numerous organic florists such as OrganicBouquet.com.

Look for a ‘Green’ photographer. Ask the following questions: Do they recycle packaging, inkjet & laser cartridges? Do they offer paperless image workflow (high-resolution digital photography)? Do they offer 100% electronic image exchange (documentation submission using PDF files instead of proof prints)? All important questions!

To wrap it up, here are a few odds and ends. Instead of traditional gifts sign up for renewable energy and reforestation projects or have guests donate money to them. Give plants as favors. Use tree-free invitations. How about acoustic music? Last, but surely not least, choose wedding rings made of 100% reclaimed, recycled, ecologically responsible gold. Check out coopamerica.com and nodirtygold.org.

A ‘Green’ Wedding can be fun, stylish, less expensive and most importantly – guilt-free! If you would like information about Green Weddings in Vermont, feel free to give us a call at Donomar Inn in Jeffersonville, Vermont – 802-644-2937.