So last summer my boys and I stumble-tripped our way along windy Route 15 towards Cabot, VT. We were coming from my aunt and uncle’s lake cottage in lovely West Danville, VT. It was a cloudy day, but the scenery and mountain vistas were still breathtakingly beautiful.
We passed the most photographed scenic valley in Vermont on our left. It’s directly across the road from Al May’s house.
Who is Al May? Why he was the wonderful Man with the Derby Hat, an auctioneer in Cabot for nearly fifty years. Talk about a character! The stories he could tell.
I’ll have to fill you in more another day. Sadly he’s no longer with us, but he’s pictured above with his dear wife Velma. Jon and I visited Mr. May and his barn when we honeymooned in VT in the summer of ’93. I use the term visit loosely.
We picked through the floor-to-ceiling pile of for-sale antiques (and random junk!) in the ramshackle barn overflowing with leftover treasures from his auctioneer days. But that’s a story for another day. (I will say, I’m so glad we had our ’84 pick-up truck along!) We continued east on VT 215, rounded a few more bends and landed in Cabot.
Just one more left turn and we arrived at Cabot Creamery.
We saw this in the parking lot. (Vermonters take their snow-mobiling very seriously.)
We toured the Creamery. It was big, impressive. (And we obediently kept our paws off the windows.)
We were amazed by the ingenuity and foresight of the dairy farmers who banded together back in 1919 as a Cooperative Creamery to ensure the survival of their dairy community. (It worked! And how.)
There are so many wonderful dairy products in the Cabot Creamery store. Our favorite is the Artisan Cheddar Cheese, packaged in red wax. (Not pictured here.) We sampled. And sampled. (And sampled some more!)
And then it was time for dessert. Have you ever had one of these incredible Butternut Mountain Farm Maple Leaf Cookies? They are absolutely amazing. Even more so with a hot cup o’ joe. If you love maple syrup, these are the cookies for you.
And if you’ve been searching high and low for a pair of men’s hot pink moo-moo boxers, you can find them here! (None of my boys seemed interested.)
They also have a wonderful selection of organic honey products. Mmmmm.
Bar none, my favorite product in the store was the Vermont Maple Syrup with Vanilla Bean from Butternut Mountain Farm. I took one taste, shut my eyes, opened them again. My feet were still firmly planted on earth. The essence of vanilla beans combined with maple syrup is heavenly. I loved it so much that I came home and researched bottling some myself. I’m very excited to share that simple recipe with you very soon. (Hint: it would make a great Christmas gift.)
We had such a wonderful visit to the Cabot Creamery. I hope you get to visit someday. http://www.cabotcheese.coop
As a bonus, we found this cute little furry guy in the parking lot on our way out!
Do you have a wonderful Vermont memory? Please share in the comment section today! (Especially if you saw a moose!)
Jonathan says
The jalapeño syrup was the BEST!
Jacob says
mom, don’t give away ALL the vanilla syrup for christmas
Sandi says
Sounds inviting…..I met Bill at bible school in St. Johnsbury and our first date was a very cold camping trip in a field behind the Darling Inn. I remember taking a walk at night with Bill and we thought we came across a heard of deer but when we got closer we heard the moo’s and realized they we cows. The inn has changed hands and is now the Wildflower Inn which we stayed at a few years back. I highly recommend it.. http://www.wildflowerinn.com/
Allie Taylor says
What great VT memories Sandi.The Inn sounds lovely. XO
Sheryl says
Now, Jacob, haven’t you heard that giving is better than receiving??? (You better start hiding that stuff in the basement one precious bottle at a time, because when word gets out (as it just did) there’s gonna be a long list of friends lining up for a Christmas present). (At least one bottle for me, Jacob, please, we can work out a deal…) 🙂
with lots of love and affection (and jealousy),
Auntie Sheryl (you know, your favorite Aunt!) (Sorry Dawn and SQ….he told me…)
Leslie from LittleGemsUSA.com says
Now Sheryl…if you’re the favorite Auntie on that side of the family, snag me one of them bottles too, b/c you know it will be forever before I end up in VT if headed to New England. Did I mention Jacob is such a gem. 🙂
Allie Taylor says
Giggle
Jen says
What precious pictures and memories! I could even taste what you were describing~mmm, GOOD! Wouldn’t mind being in possession of that Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup either!:) Love you!
Allie Taylor says
Thank you sweet Jen!
Rachael @ Cabot Cheese says
What a lovely recap Allie! We are so glad you had a nice visit, and were able to check out the many treasures that Cabot VT has to offer! Come back again soon 🙂 –Rachael
Allie Taylor says
Many thanks Rachael, it was a great experience!
Tracy says
I am so enjoying your blog! I really look forward to coming here each day! Wonderful job!!! Now….. How come I didn’t know about this incredible vanilla bean maple syrup? I too will have to talk to those Taylor boys 😉
Allie Taylor says
Funny Trac! You never know…there might be some hoarding going on in the Taylor basement.
Denise Horrocks says
Visiting the Cabot creamery is on my bucket list!! Great post! (Vermont white cheddar is my fav Cabot cheese!)
Amy says
Fun trip! Our current Cabot favorite is their Greek Style Yogurt. Randy can’t seem to get enough of it!
Allie Taylor says
It is good stuff!! Randy has good taste.
Denise Quattrochi says
I love Cabot extra sharp cheddar. I didn’t know they made protein whey! Cool. I love your blog by the way. I’ve been to Vermont once. I think we’re do for a visit!
Allie Taylor says
Whaaaaaaat??? You’ve only been to VT once? I can’t fathom that. Yes, time for a road trip. Maggie would love Vermont.
Linda says
I love Cabot cheese too! We will need to have another girls weekend away and visit Cabot Creamery again.
[email protected] says
Linda, I am all over that! Cabot Creamery, here we come…
Russ Schwartz says
Doing an Internet search, I was very please to find your picture of Uncle Al (May) and Aunt Val. When I was a kid, I loved to wander through the auction barn and their house looking for untold treasures. Today, I have one of Uncle Al’s cabinets in a guest room, and a poster for a 1971 auction hanging in my office. Also, Aunt Val was an incredible cook! She made the best bread ever, and when we’d visit them, my parents had a hard time getting me to eat anything else. We have a picture of Uncle Al that really captures him: He has his derby hat on, and he’s pouring beer into a chamber pot. Al and Val were both bigger than life!
Allie says
Hi Russ – I have been taking a break from my blog for a bit and just came across your comment here. My family and I are vacationing on Lake Waukewan in Meredith NH right now, which greatly reminds us of Joe’s Pond in Danville, VT. I was just thinking of the man with the derby hat this week, so especially delighted to find your comment here. I will send your thoughts to my Aunt Margie Jones of California. She and her family have had a beautiful lake house on Joe’s Pond for decades, and it was her love of Al May that helped us to discover him and his story. I remember that feeling of excitement looking through his barn for treasures – it was just that – a treasure hunt. I never met your Aunt Val or knew that she made incredible bread. What a great legacy for you and your family. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts here! He was a very special man, one of a kind.