Elyse's
Country Journal

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” -John Steinbeck Winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, marks the astrological start of winter. While the meteorological seasons are marked by temperature

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” -Plato In 2003, Lakeville, CT resident Christine Gervert, along with a group of like-minded musicians, founded Crescendo. What started as a

“The Berkshires seemed dreamlike on account of the frosting…” James Taylor Just as each snowflake is laced by the breeze, we are shaped by the beauty of our journey.  The Berkshire holiday spirit has been amplified by recent snowfall.  Holiday

“Hearts shall dance once again; when canvas of ice is painted with the brush of skates.” -Shah Asad Rizvi One of the most serene images of winter is that of a figure skater gliding across a pond, with seemingly effortless

“You can’t buy love, but you can buy handmade and that’s kind of the same thing.” -Anonymous In the heart of Pittsfield, the largest city in Berkshire County, MA, lays the unique space that is the Shire City Sanctuary. Since

Norfolk Night on Thursday, December 7th. Held from 4pm-8pm, Norfolk Night invites you to do your Holiday shopping locally, and enjoy dining specials at any of the town’s three fantastic restaurants. The tiny town of Norfolk sits along the Massachusetts

“Sinterklaas Rhinebeck is everything you want in a village holiday celebration.” -Huffington Post Travel Since 2008, the first Saturday of December has seen the village of Rhinebeck, NY transformed into the wonder that is the Sinterklass Festival Day, a culmination

Skis pre-date the wheel by about 3,500 years! This weekend, the Salisbury Winter Sports Association will host its annual Ski Swap at the Lakeville Hose Company – a great opportunity to gear up for the season and join fellow winter

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” -Henry David Thoreau Thanksgiving is celebrated in many forms throughout the world, and is generally considered a celebration of the harvest and good fortune of the year.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” -Edward Pola & George Wyle During the course of the next couple of weeks, we will all witness the transformation of our Main Streets from the ordinary of everyday to the splendor

“The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!” -Charles N. Bernard Visitors to The Festival of Trees held at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT will find not only perfect Christmas trees, but centerpieces and wreaths as well. A time-honored

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” -John Muir   This year, to the delight of us all, the Northwest Corner, CT enjoyed an unseasonably warm autumn. The past week, however,

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” -Aesop Thanksgiving is just around the corner, marking the beginning of the Holiday Season. More than just a time of celebration and tradition, the Holiday Season is when we

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” -Abraham Lincoln Throughout the United States the first Tuesday following November 1st is regarded as Election Day. The history of Election Day is largely rooted in our nation’s history as a primarily agricultural

“Only the knife knows what goes on in the heart of a pumpkin.” –Simone Schwartz-Bart Pumpkins, squash and gourds are all members of the same family that contains over 100 genera and over 700 species. The word “pumpkin,” which has

“Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.” -Ray Bradbury Libraries have a long, rich history dating back to a collection of clay tablets found in Mesopotamia more than 5,000 years ago. Aristotle is credited with creating the

  At the 2017 New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, you’ll find not only black sheep but goats, angora rabbits, llamas, musk oxen, and alpacas. Held at the 160-year-old Rhinebeck Fairgrounds in historic Rhinebeck, NY, the two-day festival began

“Art allows us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” -Thomas Merton With their close proximity to the metropolitan areas of New York City and Boston, the Southern Berkshires, Litchfield County and Hudson Valley have long been

Salisbury Fall Festival October 6th – October 9th, 2017 Several cultures have ancient traditions that coincide with autumn. Here in the Northwest Corner’s Historic villages of Lakeville and Salisbury is the 62nd Annual Salisbury Fall Festival, which continues to grow

According to superstition, catching falling leaves in autumn brings good luck. Autumn in the tristate region is a favorite time for residents and visitors alike.  Enjoying the season can be as simple as taking a scenic drive along the Housatonic

One of the most compelling qualities of the Northwest Corner of Connecticut is the generosity of those who reside here. Witness the spirit of our small towns this Sunday at 1:00 pm as we celebrate the 34th Annual Northwest Connecticut

Tomatoes, once a forbidden fruit, quickly evolved into a bountiful vegetable embraced by all. Originating in Peru, tomatoes were once believed to be poisonous – earning a scientific name that translates to “wolf peach” and represents the belief that this

Happy Birthday, Papa John! Saturday, August 26th, for one day only, you can Honor Marines by Educating Their Children when you purchase any product from Harney & Sons Tea. To celebrate the birthday of founder, master tea blender, and Marine veteran John Harney,

The Southern Berkshires, Litchfield Hills & Hudson Valley regions boast many exceptional educational opportunities which directly reflect our community’s talent and values for local and international students alike. The strong support of our local and seasonal population fosters a rich,

Join us in welcoming Zoe to EHRE as our Summer Intern! Having read our weekly newsletter since she was 12 years old and already well-versed in the local inventory,  Zoe joins our team this summer to share her skills and soak

The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council presents… 8TH ANNUAL OPEN YOUR EYES STUDIO TOUR Saturday, June 24, 10 – 5 p.m. & Sunday, June 25, 10 – 4 p.m. 31 Artists’ Studios in Sharon, Lakeville & Salisbury, CT – FREE TOAST-the-TOUR

Our lives are rooted in land and other natural resources. They give us beauty, nature, food, health and connections to our collective past and future. When something gives you such special and sustaining gifts, it’s important to provide it care

Salisbury, Conn.: An Antidote for Cabin Fever By JACK KADDEN MAY 31, 2017 “Salisbury combines the quaintness of Norman Rockwell New England, the cachet of the Upper East Side and the enthusiasm for the outdoors of Vermont and Colorado…” …“Salisbury

A host, of golden daffodils… Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay:

The Southern Berkshire Region boasts unsurpassed locavore cuisine and year-round farmers markets – making it easy to enjoy a well-balanced diet year round.  Our generous Tri-State Region is full those who enrich our communities with their talents.  Anne Lindley Young, the

“Sometimes you never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” “There were blueberries everywhere that summer!”  Elyse Harney laughs at the recollection of the many years that she and her late husband, John Harney, spent

January 28, 2017 welcomes the Chinese New Year.  The first day of each lunar month is marked by the darkest day of the moon’s cycle and moves toward the middle of the month with increased brightness.  In China, the first month of

January is a time of renewal!  As we renew our personal goals and reclaim our homes from the holiday clutter, the winter months are also a wonderful time to refresh our sense of creativity.  The Berkshires are surrounded by the