Feb
8
Super Fan Explores the Ski Dorm
Today Super Fan takes it easy in the Ski Dorm and shares tips from her conversation with interior designer Linda Woodrum.
P.S. Visit the Green:Home blog to post questions for Gail. She will be visiting HGTV Green Home 2011 next week and plans to sleuth out answers to your design-related questions.
Has anyone noticed if there is a flat screen TV mounted on the wall in the ski dorm? For some reason, I think I saw one in one of the videos, it would be on the wall as you walk into the dorm. Not that it matters, the room and the house are great without!
Yes, there is a large flat screen TV right where you mention. Lots of fun movie nights!
Yep, I would move it to the gathering room.
…or I would move the play table under the TV leaving the space under the window for a long dresser with 8 numbered drawers. The future grandchildren could play video games, watch the Disney channel hide in the bunks in their colorful sleeping bags.The adults could watch a movie or the game in the lower level living room or gather with a glass of wine in the gathering room. PS If the children were too loud I would walk in hidden in that bear sleeping bag and growling. Lots of fun scary nights ahead. Since I am Canadian I am looking for the moose version too; got to keep them on their toes.
Good idea about the dresser, zuludog!
Today is my birthday but I think I must be getting old because my friends keep sending me stuff about old people. Can anyone relate to this?
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up;
tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning….Uphill… Barefoot… BOTH ways…yadda, yadda, yadda
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of forty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in an Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!
1) I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
2) There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter – with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!
3) Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our behind! Nowhere was safe!
4) There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!
5) Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig?
6) We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!
7) There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOSH !!! Think of the horror… not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.
8) And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent… you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!
9) We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'.. Your screen guy was a little square !You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen.. Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
10) You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your behind and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!
11) There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!
12) And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!
13) And our parents told us to stay outside and play… all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside… you were doing chores!
And car seats – oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!
See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1970 or any time before!
Regards,
The Over 40 Crowd
Happy Birthday Lessie.
Happy Birthday KIDDO! I'm laughing with you … I remember box-houses … soup cans with string for stilt-walking in high heels… vinyl '45's … black-and-white TV … when penny candy was only a penny … Polaroid cameras … Slinkies … when arithmatic wasn't the new math … dial telephones … hippie bell-bottoms … mini, midi and maxi skirts … flower power and peace signs … Vietnam war protests and bomb scares … school desegregation and the civil rights movement … moon exploration … blacklight posters … Coca-Cola's hilltop song, "In Perfect Harmony" … Kool-Aid (not Power Drinks or Gator-aid) … and 8-track tapes! Some things in life were simpler, but I also remember well my town's (and America's) growing pains … I feel lucky that I grew up when America was coming of age, so to speak, and that there were elders that helped guide me with their stories of "how it used to be" and more importantly, "how it ought to be." Cont'd —
I realize your comments were written in jest, and yes, in terms of technology, the youth today have "got it easy." But when I think of their prospects for the future, I see their choices and decisions as stewards of their community (and the earth) being far more difficult than those I have had to make in my own life. So just as our elders passed on their wisdom, I believe that, more than ever, we as elders need to pass on our wisdom. Just saying, it's not time to hang up our hats yet … we still have a lot of "doing" to do!
Sincerely,
Member of the "Slightly Beyond the Half-Century" Club
P.S. You know you're old when you are on the AARP's mailing list!
Happy ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Lessie! From the over…nevermind…crowd.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR
LESSIE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!! I have always thought I had it better because
we had to play outside, I didn't have TV we listened to the radio together after dinner.
We had to use our imagination AND use good manners as well. We were a more
relaxed generation even with the turmoil of war – it wasn't in our faces all the time. On
the weekend the family went to the movies for a double feature, one cartoon, soda and
popcorn. Life was mucg easier and this home would not even been thought of You
are still young – enjoy and live the most you can. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Lessie you are so special. Happy Birthday! Spring is in the air can't you just feel it. The sun is shining bright here in beautiful Seattle. We love you so so much Lessie! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMf04ubvEhY&fe…
Needed to share another story with you Lessie it is my son's birthday on the 12th of February. This song is the one he picked to dance with me on the day he got married. Thanks for letting me share my stories. Soney and I are off to buy my son's birthday present. Happy Birthday Lessie! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tap90z44WR8&fe…
A whole different place about 50 year ago, LOL
Some kind of reality with then vs now, yeppers
o.0
Dearest over forty Lessie, and all this time I thought you were a child. What a read. It's a feel good thing when you know your best friends have experienced the same of everything,"one for you and one for me", even if what was being dished out was a good swift kick by your parents, or a soap bar full of the biggest durn bubbles, when mom came in and asked if you washed your mouth out with soap. When we were kids, I even had a car by the name of Becky, when we turned her in I yanked off the crome window handle for good luck.
You're absolutely right Janzee. This blog is a feel good blog because some of the other bloggers have experienced the same things I have. Those who haven't bring new ideas to the blog, which makes it a good place to relax,learn, share, and just have fun.
Lessie,
Happy, happy Birthday!!!
Dream Big!!!
Happy Birthday Lessie! I'd make you a card and mail it just for the record. I am in the old-fashioned approaching-40 crowd. I laughed at your list and was brought back to my childhood immediately! Thanks for the great memories and humor to start my day. My kids have no idea…that's exactly why I come up with things like family reading nights and game night. My son will literally stand there for 5 minutes or so after everything is shut off and think of what he can do (with a room full of toys and all of the outdoor gear one would be so lucky to have). I feel like I am always giving him this speech. I long for the simplicity of those days and making your own fun, which is why I LOVE camping. It gets us away from all of it! Well, enjoy your day…hopefully you're seeing the same beautiful sunshine I see out my door!!
This list brought back so many great memories, Lessie. I laughed so hard about the "safety arm"! Thanks for a nostalgic trip, and have the happiest of birthdays!!
Happy birthday, Lessie! I too had a birthday recently (as did my husband) and your comments made me remember all of the things with which the over-50's like me had to make do! No computers, B&W TV with only a few channels (no cable or satellite!), AM radio only, manual typewriters, vinyl records and record players (except for the short-lived 8-track tapes!), no VCRs or DVRs (or video cassettes or DVDs!), only radios in cars, and NO FAST FOOD in my neighborhood for years! Moms had to do all of the cooking (Dads were at work all day) and if you didn't like her cooking you did not eat!
Recently I heard that our local school districts will likely make cursive writing an elective rather than a requirement (no one writes anymore, they only print if necessary), and that with the advent of Kindle the demise of books is not far off! Well, I have to say that while technology is often a good thing, there are some tricks that this old dog is not willing to learn, so I will keep writing longhand and keep on reading books as long as possible! Must be the rebel streak in me — it can't just be age! LOL!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO!!!!! In my house you can still find a record player. records,
8 trak player and cassettes, tapes and players, and even a crank Victrola and those records
that can break very easily. I even still own a boomer box, I guess my home is an antique/
vintage place. Anyway thank you for my dream time today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
I use cursive writing on all my Christmas cards and envelopes. Every year I get comments
about my writing which I consider to be pretty basic with no fancy scrolls or script! Nothing
beats reading a book, but I will admit it competes with time spent on the computer this past
year!
Happy Birthday, Lessie!
Happy b-day Lessie. Just turned 50 and feel the same way about kids these days. I enjoy some of the new technology but can live without much of it. As a soon to be Grandma I better get with it cause I want to be a hip granny!!
Happy Day to YOU Lessie…glad for you…here's to many happy more years of lots of livin!
I love that little crooked cutie smile PGF, and always see the poetry in those words.
Happy Birthday from an over 60 something. I remember stamps being 3 cents and post cards being 2 cents. A large bottle of coke was 5 cents plus 2 cents deposit. We had to use ink wells and dip our pens in every other word. There were no tapes to record music. You listened to the radio or you played your records. YOU OVER 40 FOLKS HAD IT MADE!!!! LOL
Lessie…Happy Belated Birthday! Your post made me smile. My daughter asked me how much it cost to have eyebrows waxed with I was a kid. Within the hour she learned "plucking" was not just for chicken feathers and she can now use tweezers for something other than splinters.
Had another thought about the ski dorm when I woke up this morning. We have family reading nights in my house about 3 nights per week where we shut off all electronic devices and read (either together and/or individually). It would so much fun to choose the ski dorm for that purpose…with choosing your bunk and those little overhead lights at the head of each one, what could be more motivating than that!? I can even imagine bringing coffee down to extended family while they remain in bed reading the newspaper or books they've brought with them as they often do now. At any rate, if we win, Christmas will most certainly be held in Stowe this year!
We just love the Ski Dorm. In fact, I think we would sneak up to the ski dorm now and then to sleep and hang around. Great place for family and guests to stay! Glad to hear the bunks are comfy for adults, too.
Probably my favorite concept room, the thought of a house full of guests with space and amenities for all, is awesome!!! Snowboarding here we come
LOVING IT!!!! I so want to be spending vacations here with all my family!!!! It would be perfect for us–a retreat! A break from our world. We live in Alabama, but are from Kentucky and that is where all our family is so this would be a real escape for us. It would be 1,199 miles away–from the south to the beautiful New England state Vermont! LOVE IT!
GREAT slideshow, Deerspring. It was interesting to see someone else's point of view, and the transitions in the slideshow were awesome! I am a bit surprised you provided a link that did not include John Gidding, but it was wonderful! LOL. I am surprised at how steep the hill is to the lodge. It seems that it is more of a Ski Out property than a Ski In property — that would be a pretty steep area to climb back up! Maybe there's another route.
Hi Gail:
What happens with the HGTV Dream Home if the winner wants the pay out and not the home?
I would love to win the home since I have family that vacations in Stowe twice a year and I have never gone.
I have seen pictures of Stowe and it is beautiful. I am so looking forward to getting together with my family over the holidays in Stowe I hope I win because it just makes me happy and tingly inside just thinking about it. Thanks
Good morning, It's a beautiful frosty morning, and the moon was awesome before dawn. I tried to leash up Khazzie and Simi for a moonlight stroll—-but alas, they are still in a "snit"—because it's Valentines Week-end—the groomer sprayed them with Box of Chocolates fragrance—-and they are really upset about it. I have to admit it is a tad overdone, as I rolled down the windows on the car while bringing them home. Oh, but they looked so cute in their hot pink scarves with sparkle red hearts.
should be working…is dreaming instead!!
I just placed my entries, wow—seems unreal that in eight more days we'll all be waiting for the grand announcement of our beautiful Stowe Dream Home winner. Someone's life is about to change in a beautiful way. This is my favorite part——–watching someone's dream come true.
I seem to be destined to run into the strange and unusual this week — check out these ice cream cone lights:
http://grownupchick.com/homeware/delicious-design…
Unfortunately these Whippy lights are no longer available. I think they would have been perfect for the DH — wherever it is that the Ben & Jerry's stash is being kept (the secret room? LOL!).
Here's to the Dream Home they built in Stowe,
Here's to the Dream Home where I am going to go.
Here's to the Dream Home my keys they will soon be giving,
Here's to the Dream Home where I will be living.
You're a poet that didn't know it.
lol, I know I am no poet, but just a fervent wisher.
ok. We have 8 days left to enter.
There is so much more to know.
My attention now is centered,
On this home they built in Stowe.
Somone on the blog stated this earlier and I have been thinking about it ever since.
Yes, I want to see every nook and cranny and yes closets too, but would I refuse the
house if I don't get the chance too see everything first? NO WAY.
We are greedy because before the DH was nudified before us. We saw it all before
the give-away. Now there is something new and different. The bloggers will just
have to wait a little longer to know everything about the DH. Can we wait patiently?
NO WAY. Dreaming is getting our expectations too high. Calm us down Mary please!
Do a very quick run thru in every closet and cupboard. THANK YOU – GOOD LUCK!
I love this place soo very much.
It is exactly the kind of home I would love to have.
That being said,
I just have 2 questions…
With all the windows in the home, Where is the privacy??
I didn't see any shades or curtains especially in the bathroom areas.
The other question is also with all the windows will there be an issue with heat or cold, insulation wise
I believe if you do the videos they will tell you they have the shades that you can program. When they are up as in the pics you cannot see them
There are shades. Some pretty cool powered ones. Also, with summer and fall foliage it is very private. Although, with the home being a HGTV Home there might be peepers in the windows. No other homes right next door, even though it's so super close to the resort.
Yes, those programmable shades are in every room inside those specially built boxes. See Annex photo #8.
Thanks for the info, will check it out.
Thanks for info
See the Gathering Room photos 20-22 for a better description of the shades. I'm sure the windows are top notch (that's a little pun – there's a Top Notch Resort in Stowe) and all those trees will act as wind breakers. That was my first thought – the insulation factor; the second was – 'who's gonna clean the damned things?!'
When we toured the hours last weekend I also noticed that some of the windows can be opened up for a nice breeze during the warmer days.
You toured the house?! Great! I haven't even driven by, yet. I'm sure most of the windows open – looks like sliders on the upper the Great Room windows. We do have some scorchers in the summer, but I prefer a subtle breeze to air conditioning. The temps in the mountains are probably 10 degrees cooler, so the house should be fairly comfortable in the summer, especially with the shade trees. One blogger mentioned ceiling fans; with those vaulted ceilings on the main level, it would make sense for both heating and cooling – wonder why they didn't include them. But then, until recently, I didn't realize that there were 2 giveaway homes – dream home and green home. I kept searching for last year's home north of Boston and couldn't find it (I'm fairly new to HGTV – obviously!). I have only to assume that if the Dream Home were a Green Home, there would have been fans…and smaller windows, lower ceilings, a metal roof, an outhouse, etc.
The windows were made by Pella, the world's finest manufacturer. They probably have argon gas or clear insulation between the panes to prevent heat transfer, and a film on the glass inside and out that keeps the windows clean by preventing dirt from sticking to them. A good rainstorm will clean them without leaving streaks.
Those are the kind of windows I need, Eis0149.
Hope you have the money for them, Lessie. Windows like those don't come cheap. I remember reading magazine articles about them back in 2005-a single French door with argon gas went for $1700. I went to stay overnight at a house my friend was house-sitting for, and they had one of them. They work extremely well keeping the cold out.
2 more days and counting! Good luck with the DH!
FOUND A GREAT USE FOR THE SKI DORM!!!
I had mentioned earlier that I would donate anything of mine that doesn't fit in this home to local charities. Well, here is an even better idea for giving back-something my family would certainly do if we won. This year marks the 11th annual Stowe Weekend of Hope (last weekend in April), an annual forum for cancer patients and their families. The Stowe Area Association of lodging members donate hundreds of rooms to families living and surviving with cancer. There are many discussions, presentations, and opportunities for much needed relaxation and reflection throughout the weekend, throughout the entire village. I was moved to read about this event, and I think it would be great to "adopt" a family each year to stay at the home for this event. Like many of you, my family has been touched by cancer in numerous ways. I am an avid participant in our local Relay for Life events and am always looking for more ways to help. Wouldn't this be a wonderful experience not only for the family staying, but also for the new owners as well! I want my children to grow up knowing how important it is to give back!
Forgot to add that if you want to learn more about this annual event, go to http://www.stowehope.com
I second this option, and would do the same if we win. We plan on making this a second home here in Vermont although we hope to spend more time in Stowe than at our current home. Our goal is to spend as much time as possible there and rent in peak times (we ge first pick) to cover costs of owning the home. Donaiting the home for a week or two each year would be a great gift to the local community.
what an awesome idea…..Cancer is so limited..But what Cancer Can't DO……….It cannot cripple LOVE,it cannot shatter HOPE, IT cannot corrode FAITH,It cannot eat away PEACE,it cannot destroy CONFIDENCE,it cannot kill FRIENDSHIP,it cannot shut out MEMORIES,it cannot silence COURAGE,it cannot invade the SOUL,it cannot reduce ETERNAL LIFE,it cannot quench the SPIRIT, it cannot lesson the power of the RESURRECTION.If an incurable disease CAN invade your life,REFUSE to let it touch your SPIRIT.
LOVE this, VR!! I can imagine this printed on one side of a double frame that could be given to the family as a momento of their stay…the other picture could be one taken of them outside on the deck with Mt. Mansfield in the background. Is this your original work or something that has already been coined? Love it-thanks for sharing!
Dear vermontlover, it's stories like yours that give me hope that people in this country are changing things for the better one good deed at time. The runners I knew in Delray Beach and Boca were always doing great things for local charities.
Hello fellow bloggers!
Been reading your entries for a while now and felt it time to join the family. So , my brothers and sisters, my shout-out of the day goes to the HGTV crew fo the addition of the cool techno-gadgets that the lucky winner gets to play with! I've researched the Sonos music system before and dreampt of having the ability to source my IPOD from any room. What a concept! Having the ability to source that perfect recipe for that special dinner right from your MAC mini in the kitchen was a great idea too. Thanks HGTV for this great opportunity and good luck to all of you. Happy dreamin!
Great post, and I also love the techno-gadgets. I think my favorite gadget is the Lutron shades. When I saw those on the Dream Home special, I drooled!
What an enchanting home. We have never been skiing but have always wanted to go. My girls would Love this. Just what my family needs.
Congrats to the winner of this in a week.
I REALLY HATE to be a Debbie Downer but….the pictures of the ice-cicles hanging off the roof SCARES ME!! I remember when my parents bought their first home (or I should say, saw pictures) in 1960 in Spokane Washington and normally when you have them on your home it mean that the heat is excaping the home.-NOT a good thing on a brand new home…hmmm…??
Same thoughts here. We just went through an energy audit and our roof has had two leaks. We vow that when we begin searching for a new home, we are going to do so during the winter to ensure we do not end up buying a house with huge insulation problems! Wondering about those icicles, too….
Please don't be scared, it's only the sun melting the snow during the day, causing run-off, which freezes over when the temps drop, creating icicles. These are not particularly big icicles ~ you frequently see some which touch the ground ! I'm positive that the insulation in The Dream Home will be top-of-the-line, Grist Mill Builders build a quality product, that roof is built to withstand the heavy snow load of a Vermont winter :O)
GoldieLocksBear
XO
That's GREAT to know!! Thank you.
I agree with you GoldieLocksBear. Great answer! Icicles can form anywhere and may not necessarily mean heat is escaping, espeially when they form on inanimate objects with no heat loss.
Icicles are a natural phenomenon; heat rises, and unless the house has attic space, the snow will melt more readily and create ice dams and icicles at the eaves. Many people in the Burlington area have been raking their roofs to relieve the weight of the snow – up to 2 feet thick – to prevent cave-ins. I don't know which is worse. I glot clobbered by a giant icicle when I was a kid. Just a few days ago, small children were buried when several feet of snow slid off a roof. Lets face it, Vermont livin' ain't fer sissies.
JenniferHI, ice-cicles aren't that bad. They're beautiful hanging off trees or a deck. Heat may be escaping but they're awesome to behold, especially if you're in a warm, toasty environment.
Hey. I love this house just like everyone else. Who wouldn't? I have 4 children and my oldest son attends UVM in Burlington, and my 2 youngest also would like to attend UVM. My daughter is also a ski racer traveling all over to compete with hopes of someday making the Olympic Team..(Lindsey Vonn watch out
) This home would be perfect for us! I could save a little $ on tuition , being a Vt. resident and she could train on a great mountain!! Stowe is also hosting the NCAA Ski Championships in March..would love to take my kids to watch that! Good Luck to everyone!! Love the Dream 
Linda has such great ideas of storage spaces, even in the gathering room she has placed a trunk to go with the decore of the room and provide storage space.
I just love the windows, just like a picture frame. How beautiful, just imagening sitting on one of those colourful chairs, sipping a cup of tea and glancing out of that picturestic windows. The view of the snow covered branches or in the summer glancing over the mountain. The window looks like a picture frame, framing the view.
Thank you so much for all your info, you're a big help! The Ski Dorm is an awesome space & is one of my personal favorites. The Annex, aka the Tree House, being my 1st:) HGTV has defiantly gone all out this year! This is truly my Dream Home. The upstairs is almost the same layout as the house I grew up in (except a lot bigger & better:). It was located on Mt Craigmere, which was down the street from a little ski resort so this home would be so sentimental to me if I won and I would be so eternally grateful to HGTV & everyone involved.
Also, I have to say, if I won I would not change a thing in that house, out of respect to all the designers!!!! That house is a masterpiece from so many awesome and talented designers, workers, & artists all coming together to create something so unified & beautiful. You all should be so proud of yourselves. All the hard work & passion that has gone into every detail of this house is defiantly shown…Thank you to all, no job was to small.
Before I stop typing, I have to say the one thing I would love to do if I won this Dream Home…I would love to hold weekend retreats for children with cancer &/or disabilities. This house is meant to be shared with as many people as possible & who better then children who need to have a little fun. They would defiantly have a ball & the Ski Dorm would help me pull it off:)
Just popping by to say "hi" to all of my HGTV blogging friends.
Hi. Haven't seen you here in a while. Miss reading your posts.
Hi Disney. Nice to know you are still around! Hope all is going well with you and the girls.
Our Army, Howz things with you. We sure have missed you the last few weeks. I've been traveling and jump on when I can to write folk legends with Lessie.I think we need to write a legend about you in the coming weeks as you are certainly one of the blog legendary characters.
Just filled out a few post card entries. Had some stamps laying around. The bills can wait! =)
Funny! Covering all of your bases? ^_^
A Vermont Dream Home Thanksgiving: Who would want any other kitchen than the Vermont Dream Home to make our favorites?
First a prayer of Thanks for an inspiring gift like no other…The HGTV Dream Home in Stowe!
Then we eat:
Honey and Maple Glazed Spiral Ham
Turkey that is so tender it will melt in your mouth
Candied Oranges and Yams
Strawberry banana pineapple Jello Salad
Stuffing with walnuts and cranberries
Seven Layer Salad to go with the beautiful layers of color and patterns in our home!
Rich Turkey Gravy placed over Garlic Red Mashed Potatoes
OH!!! Desert:
Carmel Apple Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pecan Pie
Then, it's time to decorate for Christmas in our fantabulistic DREAM HOME from HGTV!
Thanks HGTV Santa! Do you live in the North Pole?
Funny…it's only FEB 10th and I am dreaming of Christmas!
It's a good thing I just ate. Otherwise I would have to leave the blog – right now – to go eat!! ^_^
We Vahmontahs like owah apple pie with shahp cheddah.
Several people have blogged that they would rent the DH occasionally to help with expenses, so I checked for comparables on VRBO.com. The closest I could find was off Mountain Road, sleeps 12-14 with 3.5 baths and 2 hot tubs. The summer rental was $2400 per week; the ski season averaged around $6000 per week. Of course OUR DH is much nicer!
This is a home to make one dream of Christmas. It is the perfect home to be in for Christmas.
So I guess no new vlogs today. Maybe tomorrow. I want to know more….more…..more….
Please sate our curiosity.
Only 7 more days to enter the sweepstakes….:'( It's a chance to a dream come true for one lucky winner.<3
Gail, any chance we could get to see the master closet? ^_^
Best Wishes to all!
the ski dorm is beautiful! i just love this house. my son loves to ski, besides me and my husband, my son and wife&kids live with us we are crowded!!!!! this house would be our dream!!!!! we would all have a ball. "yes,yes,yes! here we come vt. we all love the snow! we can all dream, but only one win!!!!!!!!!! i sure hope i can get back up north where i lived for many years. i would give anything for this!!!!! winter is my favorite time of year!!!! i love it!! good luck to all!!!!!!!!!!!!
What I would give to be enjoying my nightcap in front of that birch-paneled fireplace right now! Sigh…….
I hope there is a new vlog in the morning. I won't be able to see it until in the evening, because I have to be at work early.
On another note, to be soaking in that tub in the master bathroom. OH man. That would be so good right now. lol
Hi Deerspring, This is great news. Thanks for sharing. It will be fun to see the DH from the balloon's camera angle—-hanging out in those 24ft rafters will certainly give us a unique view of this gorgeous home.
Yes, Deerspring, why would they need all this crew? I'm wondering if they took these photos when the crew was there the first time. Remember the group photo on the deck? It will be interesting to see if they are planning something a little different for this year's winner.
Oh, you're right, Deerspring, they are recent. You know, with all the publicity that's been given to the Stowe DH this year, the parade et cetera, it would make sense that the ambush and presentation will be huge this year. Something we've not seen in the past. This is so much fun to watch unfold. This crew has been so hands on with the DH this year,it has to be a little nostalgic for them when they finally draw this all to a close. Such a great group of talent HGTV has working for them. And the GH, can't wait to see the tour, this home is so sleek and modern, and the sneak peaks so far I think it's gorgeous. Hope you have a nice week-end. Can't wait to see what unfolds on Monday. LOL
Good point, DBCoop. Guess I probably should think about retrieving some of those to-do lists I tossed away in January. Great job HGTV.
Dear Super Fan Gail
I love your video blogs, so informative, first time blogger, but I have been entering HGTV Dream Home for 11 years. We love everything about this house, my wife wants to go to culinary school, this kitchen would be a great gift for her!!! I love the Ski Dorm concept. we could see our kids and their friends staying up late telling Ski & Snowboarding stories from the day's events!! I hate reading negative blogs about the winner not being able to keep the Dream Home, Just winning would be a Dream for my family!!!:p:p<3<3
Keep up the great work.
I want to know, what will be the taxes on this dream home every year? Would it eat up that $500.000 with in 10 to 20 years?
Funny, that $500,000 and more will be eaten up the first year by income taxes!
Hello all, haven't had time to read all the blogs or watch the videos of Gail; I really love this home, but as native Floridians, I don't know if my Family could adjust to the cold !! Here in N.W. Florida, the weather has been way colder than normal, all kinds of record breaking cold. I think my favorite is going to be the DIY Blog Cabin, that is the kind of house I really love & my Family all loves the water & fishing; it seems perfect for my bunch !!
who is excited???????? Oh man. I've entered this religiously good luck everybody!!! one more week!!!
I have a feeling these clips from Gail were all made weeks ago when Gail visited the DH. Therefore, all the requests to see storage are probably too late.
I was just checking out the master suite again. My dream for a long time has been to wake up every morning, look out the window and see beautiful mountains. This gorgeous home really would be a dream come true…
WOW!!! I am SHOCKED!!! The house does NOT have a CENTRAL VACCUM SYSTEM!!!! Good thing I like a Bissell!!!
This room is a great idea! This beautiful home just screams to be filled up with friends and family and the dorm room allows plenty of room for both. This room is amazing and brings a feeling of a casual and welcoming home. I love it!
New England is so beautiful! There is nothing like living in there. Our 1st fall in Massachusetts was a time for brilliant color that year; the calendar kind. One morning while driving to a store, I couldn't seem to soak in enough of the unbelievable reds, oranges, & yellows surrounding us. Almost drove off the road that day. Sometimes the maple tree leaves turn an almost luminous yellow. Against the dark bark of the trees, it takes your breath away.
The sights and smells of autumn become intoxicating paving the way for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then as it passes its peak it seems to beckon you to prepare for winter; a time to plant yourself beside a cozy fire during a blizzard, or to cuddle under warn quits & be mindful of, thankful for the protection w/in.
There's nothing like watching one of those storms w/ everyone else in bed & the snows swirling off the roof & around the windows. Or to get up in the night & see a full moon casting shadows across the glistening bright snow of the back yard. Or this one….watching your children make a snow a fort, then being invited to come visit them inside it. Sweet!
Just wanted to share some of my own experiences. Good luck to all.
Beautiful writing, NAllen. Thanks for giving us a verbal picture of what Stowe will be like for us.
This is the first winter in several years that we've had serious snowfall here on Lake Champlain; of course, the higher elevations always get pummeled. Autumn arrives sooner in the mountains, and Vermonters take to the roads to join out-of-state leaf-peepers. And when the mountain trees have shed their leaves, you can come down to Burlington where they're at their peak.
Hi NAllen your writing lifted me away from deserts, desserts, big cities, too many choices, to that enchanted land of the New England where four seasons offer an order of things, the way it should be. I allowed myself to walk behind you as a writer of this dream, and so enjoyed your experiences, at times as though I was there. Welcome welcome to this blog. I will read this again, and it's like drinking the best dark chocolate.
I walk in on the first day of receiving my keys. All is silent as I take in the site that I have only dreamed about. A place to stay forever!
Wyoming, Utah, Virginia, Idaho, Utah, California, Florida, Utah, Florida, Alabama, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, and now San Antonio. These do not include the moves inside each state–from the time I was a small child. I have seen many places and I am thankful for that. However, I have always wanted to have a home where I could finally stay. Now we are in a position that we could. But where? Mark and I know the answer! We just hope that HGTV sees what we do. I know one thing, I would love to have my friends and family to share the home. Of course the quiet times by myself will be filled with gratitude and love!
Oh one more thing. My sound of music? My violin. I will play it in every room. I will play every "Sound of Music" song there is! I had a severe accident last year when I lost my left arm to a type of paralysis. I had no feeling or use right down to my fingers. I am left handed and my fingers on the left hand are what plays that beautiful music. That was the arm that was paralyzed. All I could do is try! I worked so hard. Six months later I am playing my instrument, swimming, and typing! The accident was Friday the 13th of last year. I would love to have a great Friday the 13th…this year! I worked to get my arm back. So when I play my violin in my home in Stowe, it will be with special meaning. Never give up! I won't give up on trying to win. I will ski for the first time since my arm was injured. Can one imagine playing the violin outside on the balcony…in the summer? Oh how I would love it!
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Tried to upload my birthday accessories, but couldn't. Will try later. Accessories included magenta eye glasses, silver beaded necklace and multi-colored necklace with the following charms. oils, and pillbox–Got Botox charm, The Secret to Aging, Deny, Deny, Deny! charm, Arth-Riddence Old Age Lubricant, Oil of Old Age Industrial Strength, Pill Box compartments: Liposuction Liqigels, A Lotta Botox, Old Age Antidote, Hooter Hoister Caplets, Estrogen Renewal Pills, Wrinkle Erase Tablets, and Hot Flash Artic Blast Caps.
I also wore Another Year of Fabulous! banner and birthday hat, as well as a birthday pin to match the banner and hat. Of course no respectable over 50 birthday celebrant would be caught without a bottle of Time Reversal Formula Over the Hill Antidote for Aging Candy or magenta, black and silver whistle to match the other accessories.
Good thing my husband gave me roses. Probably was the only normal thing I got.
Dearest Lessie, I was traveling again, and missed the most important day of all-your birthday!! When I look at your beautiful face, amazing eyes, vivid expression of "Wow this is the best yet", you are an inspiration to everyone. I would say incomparable, one of a kind, very kind, outrageously independent, brilliant, and oh so brilliant. Happy Birthday my dear friend. Call me on that number as I have a little gift for you if you like. Or in time to come would love to share the film idea, that I feel is in part from your inspiration. We all love you Janzee. Send me CooperNova's story still searching. P.S. hubby needs to give you roses every week.
Thank you Janzee, You are an amazingly beautiful soul! Still running around. Will put the CooperNova story in one place so you can read it when I get time. I called 1-800-Janzee but no one answered. Will call again later.
Sweet! This is why I like this blog-I meet great people on it!
Dear eis0149- Welcome welcome. I sooo agree with you!!! Everyone on the blog is an honored guest. Many of us strongly disagree on issues, and that is the attraction I think, that everyone is a unique individual, and comes to this "home" to share, debate, become friends, make memories, exchange stories and poetry. I'm finding that it's my all in one shop. A choice between reading the newspaper, a great novel or the blog…mmm. Lots of times I go for the HGTV blog.
Lessie, that was funny! You're getting as good as DBCoop on this blog! What a great mind you have!
Happy birthday, and many many more!
Thanks Eis0149. As for Coop, he's the best. That's why we write DCoopernova stories. Don't be surprised if you're in one of them.
Just went back a thread and missed this post until now … Oh girl, you make me laugh! Your "medicine cabinet" and your birthday accessories reminded me of Laverne Lashinski … "I feel pretty, oh so pretty"! Chat later, dear! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z164A2CS0zk&fe…
Hi Gail, there is a great warmth emanating from that room where you are filming. I think that glow is just you and your enthusiasim about the ski dorm. For this home, the ski dorm lends itself to everyone curling up and bunking down pooped for the night. When I am that tired, I've been known to sleep under a couple of chairs, and these beds look pretty comfy. In the past, we've had too much fun with visitng kids and adults, and after every couple of nights, I was the elected laundry official, an unwilling participant because bright and early I was also the breakfast and tour guide official. Your idea certainly gives us clean freaks a break. For some reason sleeping bags dont need, or dont look like they need quite as much attention..
I want this home so bad to start a new life. I'm single, 63 and my Mom is not doing well. She has tons of antiques and I've always wanted to open a bed and breakfast with her stuff. What an opportunity if I could win this home. I would move from the West Coast and move right in and start a bed and breakfast to accomodate my son's tour groups from other countries and also offer the ski dorm to college age kids wanting to ski over the week-end. That way I could be kinda of a Mom again to young people. This is my dream.