Go Girl

I got a call from friend and photographer, Gretchen Mashkuri, on Saturday afternoon. She was returning from FL after doing an exclusive photo shoot for Tiger Woods and his family - the first photos to be publicly release of Tiger, Elin and their new babe Sam Alexis!


Gretchen is one of the kindest and most unassuming people I know. She's happiest mucking around her farm in her Carhardt's and rubber boots - feeding goats, llamas and cows; driving the tractor or wielding a chainsaw. She's salt of the earth and and the easiest of friends.


We know Gretchen's a fabulous photographer, she's responsible for all the lovely images you see on Havehill's website, and now the rest of the world does too. You go girl!

Plan B

This past weekend was our first Saturday Night Sunset - wine, food, music and lovely views. I spent Friday mowing, setting tents and looking forward to sharing the farm.

Saturday morning was cloudy and cold. It'll burn off, I told myself as I headed into town. My Saturday morning ritual includes hauling in the recycling and a stop at Rolling Hills for a latte and my favorite bagel concoction - one of Molly's sorta bagels (no holes and no boiling, but yummy), toasted and smothered in After Burn cream cheese spread (hot and spicy perfection). Molly and Jessica were doing the catering for the Sunset event and wanted to know if I had a plan B if it rained. Ah no, I just wanted my breakfast and I'd think of something.

I headed for the farmers market and my little piece of concrete at the back of Kate's booth. It's where I perch, on the edge of the sidewalk, to savor my breakfast while we try to catch up in between customers. There another friend wanted to know if I had a plan B - no, I'm not sure I ever have a plan B (or consciously think of it that way). The barn was a possibility, but it was piled high with boxes and antiques Jacquie would be staging next week. It was starting to rain hard... OK, how about the house. It would be cozy, warm and dry.

I raced home to open the gift shop and madly clean (house keeping's not my strong suite). The rain continued and when the evening got under way, I had a jazz quartet in the living room and 12 guests I'd never met lounging in front of the fire. Molly and Jessica did a beautiful job with the food and Suzi from Christopher Bridge Vineyard was a delight.

There was no sunset, just dark skies, but everyone enjoyed themselves and made new friends. I went to bed exhausted but happy, knowing we'd done what we could and made our guests feel welcome.