One Thousand and One Questionnaires

Okay, 917 is more accurate, but nearly every one of the 1,000 plus families who visit the Tyler Place each summer patiently fill out our two-page questionnaire at the end of their stay. So....what is the fate of your questionnaire? Ted's kindling pile for long winter nights? Chad's secret bonfire tinder? A file box in Mrs. T's attic?

Absolutely not! The questionnaires  are undoubtedly the engine gears that propel the Tyler Place from being a 78-year-"old" resort to an annually refreshed, renewed and cutting edge-family resort welcoming guests from all over the country-and beyond.

As guests are making their last good-byes on Saturday morning, Dayle Palmer is already at work painstakingly transcribing every written suggestion and comment on each questionnaire so it can be ready for review by each Department Head at the upcoming week's staff meeting.   Some items can be addressed right off. Others are broken into "to do" lists including Maintenance Projects and New Improvements/Purchases for the following year.  Once every couple of weeks family and key staff sit around Ted and Cathy’s dining room table and prioritize the lists—with some of the work starting before the season is over.

The questionnaire’s format has changed many times over the past 78 years, but they have always been a feature of the TP since Tasney, Chad,  Geof, Quint, Hector and Gige's grandparents’ E.J. and “Mrs. T” combed through them over pre-dinner martinis.  What is striking is how serious and positive guests are in offering their ideas and suggestions.   Of course there are negatives, but nearly always they are presented in a positive, helpful way that we can frequently address—and when they are not, it’s almost always a case of mismatched expectations that the TP could never meet in the first place.

As most of you know, the Tyler Place may have one of the shortest seasons of any resort—just 15 weeks.  This gives us and our guests the unique advantage of having 37 weeks to refurbish and take on big projects—as well as sprucing up in the aftermath of some 2500 active children and teens! 

Thus, as we throttle up for the 2012 Season, this is a great time to thank you and all our guests of five generations for your individual and collective part in helping the Tyler Place keep fresh and new without losing the nostalgic spirit of another era.

Getting ready for you!

The 2012 Tyler Place New Additions, Improvements & Purchases List…with more to come. 

One of enduring ethos of the TP is this:  no skimping on summer fun.  And no skimping on fall, winter and spring projects either! Yes, it’s expensive (you can probably imagine the costs), but the outcome? Your family and ours get to enjoy a refreshed, revitalized Tyler Place each year—with its nostalgic flavor intact. 

Arbor at the Pool -  A shady grape vine arbor for hot summer days to supplement the Pool umbrellas--with grape vines a nostalgic nod to the original 1840s “Franklin House” Inn Porch.

Boats & Bikes TLC – new engine for the Mercury wakeboarding and waterski boat; new pontoon boat trailer for more accessibility; and always upgrades to our fleet of bikes.

Caching – TP Caching, our version of Geocaching includes 6 new GPS devices with caches planted for the younger kids to teens for a high-tech scavenger hunt that teaches navigational skills.

Decorating & Refurbishing – So many accommodations, public rooms and recreational spaces…so many “news”:  paint by the truck-load, lighting, couches, curtains, porch furniture, artwork by our favorite local artists, kitchen updates, etc.

Electrical – Some big projects here plus a whole new Inn fire alarm system.

Fans (Paddle) & A/C units & Ice, too  – Paddle fans throughout the place; many new or added air conditioners including a new combination AC/heater for the Sun Room; and a big new ice machine to keep up with the amazing amount guests use (very little at the Bar we assume!)

Gardening & Landscaping (and Hops!) – A 12 x 10 foot trellis for growing our own hops; new tree plantings near the pond and elsewhere—nearly 200 per year!  Inn window boxes, plantings, gardens and Claudia’s ever-growing list of gardening activities; a new array of garden tools for kids.

Housing additions for our Staff, Counselors & Family Housing & Dorms – Our live-in Staff and Counselors (nearly half of our 200 staff) and the Tyler/Hill/Otis family (we’ve lost count!) need living space, too, and that adds 20 buildings requiring maintenance and attention. 

Infants, Toddlers & Junior Midgets play and outdoor equipment added, including large Playhouse Playground Water Table with “Mermaid’s Fountain” and spigots;  2 more sand diggers; 5 additional double strollers & 5 large new wagons (with new Playhouse storage shed); books and bigger-still  bubble toys.

Juniors & Senior Midgets – a brand new Club House Playground Water Table to replace the ever-popular old one—this one with “Waterfall”, bowls, faucets, and other new features; new slide for the Pirate Ship;  more costumes and dress ups, books and play equipment.

Kiddie Pool & the Outdoor Pool – The outdoor Kiddie Pool was removed and replaced with a totally reconstructed, larger walk-in style children’s pool. The Outdoor Pool also saw a lot of work on its deck and coping, plus new poolside equipment.

Local Farm Partners – Chef David and Jeff T. have been creating menus with even more Vermont farm, orchard, berry, brewery and wine partners—with seed orders purchased and nurseries already starting your summer food and drink. 

Maintenance Department’s Big Ticket Equipment - new tractor, furnace and snow blowers to keep Dale and the year-round Maintenance Staff (11 in all plus local contractors) able to build, paint, excavate, etc. all winter long. Also, mega-mower for Pierre as 165 acres means a whole lot of lawns and grass to mow.

*Not Everything is on this list – be sure to check out the February newsletter featuring other news about additions and programming:  Chad & Adult and Family Afternoon Entertainment; Jeff T. and Chef David & Menus; Quint & the Waterfront; and Hector & the Bar.

Older Kids & Teens Centers at the Inn – The Seniors, Pre-Teens and Teens’ rooms all have additional equipment and games; wall hoops and dart boards and brand-new Foosball tables.

Pump House Pressure Tanks = Water -  The final two of the seven  pressure tanks that supply the TP with water were replaced with new fiberglass versions.  (The originals were metal; one rusted and blew sending the tank through the roof, adding still another “P”, as in Pump House Roof Repair.)

Quebec – promise yourselves that this time, you will remember passports for yourselves and children 16 and older (children under 16 need only a copy of their birth certificate).  More vineyards, cafes, bike routes, chocolatiers, fine arts and crafts than ever…and just minutes from the TP.

Rockets, Science & Art projects – Rockets for older kids to send off into the sky; fun, experimental projects for the younger kids from making all-natural sparkling grape water to home-made ice cream; new art projects include resin casting.

Server, Computers & New Phone System  -  While the TP isn’t exactly a haven of technology, Michelle and Gige and the office/reservations staff need to reach you.  New Intel server, computers, and a new phone system help…well, so some say!

Tennis Court in Cedar Meadow– The “hideaway court” (as some who like to play in privacy on one of our 6 tennis courts like to call it) has been completely reconstructed and resurfaced for all-weather play. 

Underground & Out-of-Sight - Various new waste water and septic systems.  Not only out-of-sight in terms of viewing, but cost: literally $$$$$$ “down the drain”!

Vermont – so much going on here, too, from the food and farm movement to art and craft shows, music and dance…and the record-setting, downstate Storm Irene recovery (that helped Quint & Julie Tyler and Chef Dennis re-open our Red Clover Inn in three weeks’ time last fall.)

Worm farming!  More “green” projects added for kids & teens from our own “worm farm” to building and launching their own “model” sailboat creations to Nature Dave’s “water and wilderness” activities. .

(E)Xteriors & Foundations - If we only had the square footage of all those buildings with their foundations (some dating to the early 1800s), porches, siding, shutters, roofs, doors, windows, chimneys, etc.  This year Maintenance took on more of these projects than ever.

Yachts – None…but that fleet of Hobies, canoes, kayaks, ski and wakeboarding boats, Pontoon boats, and paddleboats get renewed and added to each year.

Zillions (ok we’re over the top here) but surely thousands of purchases and renovations small and large, many emanating from your specific Questionnaire comments: massage tables and ping pong tables; dozens of glasses and plate settings; beds and blankets; ever-e-n-d-l-e-s-s towels and kitchen supplies; life jackets and car seats; handicap lift for the pools; life jackets, books, art and exercise equipment; tables and chairs; archery bows, fishing tackle and bath hooks; cribs and baby seats…you get the idea.  Zillions to do (repair, patch, renew, add, remodel, refurnish, etc., etc.) every year….just for 70 families each week!

Rosemary - “The Herb of Remembrance”

With winter in full force we are more and more limited with our gardening projects, but indoor herb growing always becomes a wonderful substitute in our northern climates.
 
One of my favorite herbs is rosemary. It's one of the most versatile culinary herbs with a deliciously aromatic flavor, but also offers so many beneficial, medicinal properties to us. Rosemary is traditionally known as the “herb of remembrance”. It contains compounds that relax muscles of the digestive tract, can increase the effects of essential enzymes in the brain, thus helping to improve memory and concentration. Having a rosemary plant in an area of study or work helps improve retention of information. It lifts our spirits and  can help with nervous exhaustion, anxiety, and mild depression. Also said to be good for respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, colds and coughs.
Just smelling it can make you feel better, but you can also make a rosemary tea or tincture.

Recipe for tincture

Ingredients : 
dried or fresh rosemary
  and vodka

If you are using dried herbs a common ratio to use is 1:5 – 1 part plant material to 5 parts vodka. 
For fresh herbs the ratio is 1:3. If using a combination instead of a single herb the ratio always remains the same. Vodka is the preferred alcohol as it only contains alcohol and water.

• Chop herbs finely, then place into a glass jar. Do not pack them tightly or else the vodka won’t be able to get to it all.
• Add vodka to the herbs. If the vodka does not cover all the plant material add some more until it is all completely submerged.
• Put a tight lid on the jar and store for 2 weeks at room temperature. A dark shelf is fine, since tincture does not need light to process. Shake the contents once or twice a day to redistribute the herbs in the alcohol.
• Strain the herb pulp through a coffee filter or some muslin/cheesecloth.
• Funnel into a sterilized, dark glass bottle.
• Label and store in a cool, dark place. A tincture can be stored for 2 years or longer.

The tincture of rosemary can be taken, 2 ml or about 40 drops, two times daily, you can  also  mix it with tea or juice.

Happy Gardening,Claudia

Organic Pesticides for Indoors & Out

Liquid soap is a great alternative to toxic chemicals for both indoor and outdoor plants. 
Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid soap or dish washing liquid with 1 quart water, and pour into a spray bottle. Most indoor household plants tolerate this natural pesticide well. Spray leaves, stem and topsoil to deter insects from coming back. Aphids, mealybugs, white flies and mites are all affected by this soap remedy.

If you need a stronger soap formula, try this:

 4 garlic cloves (segments) finely chopped
1 small onion finely chopped
 1 tbsp. cayenne (red) pepper
 2 tbsp. liquid soap
 1 quart water
 Mix well and let set 1 hour. Strain and pour into a spray bottle or other container. Refrigerated, this natural insecticide will last up to two weeks.

Happy Gardening,
Claudia

Pool Arbor

We all know that some shade by our outdoor pool can be desirable for our families on those hot summer days.

So we put our heads together to create the perfect spot under which you can dry off your kids, keep them out of the sun, or catch some shade while reading a book. We explored different options and decided on a combination of the right kind of vines and a sturdy supporting structure for our new addition, which will transform a hot and sunny space to a shady pool retreat.

Once the plan was laid out, Tyrell and John from our maintenance staff built this architecturally pleasing structure, which is also ideal to create an atmosphere of rich plant growth abundance. I had to get busy digging up potential grape vines for transplant before the first frost arrived. It was quite a challenge, as the roots grow vigorously underground and you might end up with a 50 feet root system. Well, they are in now with lots of peat moss, water, and love, hoping they will adapt quickly to their new environment.

Eventually once the vines begin to grow next spring, I will train them to weave themselves throughout the various parts of the structure. As for now, I cut them back to 3 feet and tied them to the posts to help hold them in place temporarily until they are well established.

Can't wait to pick the first grapes; they should be quite sweet absorbing all the sun while shading you.