Family join Jennifer and Mark for their December 2010 wedding.

Your wedding should be a very special day which expresses your style and personality, even if you are working with a small wedding budget. Small weddings are the trend these days as couples are opting for a more personal occasion with just family and close friends. Small and intimate weddings provide an opportunity for the couple to visit with each guest, to relax and enjoy the occasion, to really put their personal touches on the celebration, and for the families to get to know each other in a comfortable setting. To say nothing of saving money to put towards a wonderful honeymoon, a house down-payment or even towards paying off student loans.

If you have an intimate wedding in mind why not consider a B&B venue? Such a location can provide a dramatic backdrop for your own special touches. Whether an elegant country estate, an urban city-scape, or like ours, a mountain setting with meadows, gazebo, handsome red barn, ponds and gardens, there is a B&B sure to suit your taste.

You can have the memorable, intimate wedding of your dreams with memories to last a life time, without breaking the bank. Small is beautiful!

At West Hill House B&B we work with highly qualified, local wedding professionals to help you plan a stress free occasion. We have facilities for weddings from 2 to 80 people and we still have a few June and July 2011 dates available for wedding bookings. We pride ourselves in providing you and your guests with personal attention and excellent service, all in a restful country setting near Sugarbush in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont.

Breakfast in the Sun Room

From guests Jessica & David:

We spent a long Columbus Day weekend enjoying the fall colors and exploring the area. The West Hill House met every expectation of what we wanted in a New England B&B. Susan and Peter went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our stay. The WHH B&B was very clean, very cozy and Susan’s breakfasts were delicious.

The number of guests seemed just right (it was full up at 16 guests) and we enjoyed making new friends. The woodstoves in the common areas and the gas stoves in the bedrooms added to the ambiance, along with the decorative lighting throughout.

We travelled with another couple and the four of us are planning to return in the winter for a ski weekend.The West Hill House is about a 5-minute drive from Sugarbush. (Editor – actually about 2 minutes.)

Relaxing in the Hammock

Editor:  As you can see from their photos, our guests enjoyed great breakfasts and some nice relaxation in the hammock.

What a great way to start the day and what better place to relax and spend summer days than right here. The hammock is waiting for you…

Ahhh...

Charles Pruitt our Artist-in-Residence

Here at West Hill House we are delighted to be hosting artist Charles N. Pruitt, a West Texas native, born in 1941 near the small farming and ranching community of Colorado City, Texas. An award winning artist, Charles enjoys painting primarily landscapes of the Southwest however from  August 24-26, 2010 he will once again be turning his brush and oil paints to the wonderful Vermont scenery in the Green Mountains.

As our Artist-in-Residence Charles will be conducting plein air workshops and demonstrations as well as providing individual guidance to both novice and experienced oil painters. The location will be the beautiful gardens of West Hill House.

We are fortunate to have several of his paintings currently on loan and gracing the walls of the B&B giving guests a glimpse of  the special treat we have in store this August. Even if you are not staying with us you are welcome to come and view his paintings – please call to confirm a time.

Workshop Dates: August 24, 25 & 26, 2010

Time: 11 till 3 each day

Prices:
• $60 per day (including lunch)
• $150 for all 3 days (including lunch)Special: $50 for all 3 days with a 3-night stay

Please call to book: 802-496-7162.          Spaces are limited.

Participants should bring your own easel, canvas, paints, brushes etc. and a stool.

Spring blooms in Boston

Last week we were in Boston. Having only one full day to discover the wonders of this great city was, of course, not nearly long enough however we set off early to do as much exploring as we could in the time available.  We passed shops and homes decked with window boxes of bright flowers and tubs of spring blossoms keeping watch at doorways.

We had a lovely walk in Boston Common which we learned is one of the oldest city parks in the United States, dating from 1634. The ponds and fountains were being cleaned up ready for fresh water and the park was looking resplendent in its garb of spring colors.

Boston Common spring colors

Only early April but the temperature reached nearly 90° and after this winter, the people in Boston were more than ready be in the park enjoying the sun! Despite the high temperature we had fun exploring the city, walking the Freedom Trail and learning some American history as we went along. A cool drink and a lovely French pastry at a sidewalk café concluded our day of adventuring.

While we look forward to another visit to Boston, we are happy to be back at  our quiet mountainside B&B welcoming guests and enjoying our own garden’s signs of spring… our first daffodils popped into full bloom yesterday! West Hill House B&B, a perfect place to come and relax.

Lunch time visitor

We never cease to be amazed by the beauty that surrounds us here at  West Hill House. The sun through the bare branches of the trees, the clouds that float overhead, the stately pines that blow in the wind, the numerous birds and small animals that scurry around preparing for winter, the list goes on. Yesterday  we took this photo through the Sun Room window. While we were having lunch two beautiful deer appeared in our garden not more than 25 feet from us. One ambled over to our pond while the other stopped for a photo op. These two are helping us with the fall clean-up as windfall apples are throughout the garden and the deer seem to enjoy making a stop in our garden for their fruit. It is breath-taking to see these wonderful creatures up close!

Amazing shades of green

What happens when the spring weather brings several days of rain to Vermont? Sure, the grass and dandelions grow like, well, like weeds! The gardens get a good watering so the flowers are happy. The creeks and rivers race downstream tumbling crazily over and around the rocks. And yes it’s true some of the roads do get a bit muddy. But stop for a moment and think about the word “Vermont” – from the French, vert = green  mont=mountain and that is exactly what happens when it rains, the mountains get green. I don’t know how many shades of green the human eye is capable of seeing but I’ll bet they can all be seen from our front porch. The greens are amazingly intense and vibrant! The trees, decked out in their new spring finery, display everything from the palest of greens which look almost white,  to the very dark and bold forest greens. Between rain showers the sun peeks through the clouds making the leaves glisten like they’ve been sprinkled with the finest crystals and the lilac blossoms shimmer silvery-lavender. Spring is a glorious season in the Mad River Valley of Vermont,  a photographers dream, the chance to capture on film, a rain bathed leaf or an open flower blossom cupping droplets of water. Come visit vert mont,  up close and personal through the lens of your camera. West Hill House B&B is a great place for a home base!