Happy New Year, Looking forward to 2012!!

Good morning to you all and Happy New Year's Eve.  It's hard to believe another year is behind us.  When I say 2012, I can remember thinking it was sooooo far away.  Well folks here it is - so what are you going to do in the upcoming year differently, better, or are you thinking "all is good and I'm going to keep everything just as it is"?  Send me a message and let me know if you are planning something life changing.

I wonder what 2012 will bring to me, but more importantly what will I bring to it?  One thing I know for sure is I am planning to go full steam ahead with WholeyOats, continuing to bring my customers the best product of its kind with more places to get it.  Hey there are always those little personal "self improvement" things we all say we are going to do, but working hard at what I love and continuing to create lasting relationships are on the top of my list.

I will be at the Amenia Farmer's Market today from 10:00-2:00 along with many of the regular vendors you are accustomed to visiting.  Come by and say hi.  I would like to thank you for your support during 2011 and look forward to continue to providing you with the freshest, tastiest, and healthiest granola & granola bars on earth.  Here's to a healthy, prosperous, and happy 2012 to you all.

Best,
Pattie

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Thank You

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, why not finish up your Christmas shopping at one of the local Farmer's Markets?  Come on by the Amenia Farmer's Market tomorrow between the hours of 10:00-2:00 and you will find me, Wholeyoats of course, along with many other small food producers and farmers as well as some very talented local artisans offering beautiful items for purchase.    The atmosphere is pleasant....one that is cheery, delightful, warm & friendly.   There will not be any battles over parking spaces, or waiting on lines to pay for a gift made thousands of miles away.   Why not buy a gift that is handmade by your neighbor?  A lovely hand knitted scarf and hat, or a beautifully hand thrown bowl and organic dog treats for your favorite furry pal.  You could also use that bowl for breakfast...pour some WholeyOats granola into that beautiful bowl and top it off with some locally made Ronnybrook yogurt or milk and you've got yourself a delicious breakfast.

I could go on and on, but I think you've got the idea.....support your local business person; farmer, food producers, artisan, wine & cheesemaker, etc.  It feels and tastes sooooo good,  how can you not????

Mainly I want to take this opportunity to say a big Thank You to all of my WholeyOats customers and supporters.  2011 was my first full year in business, I had a great year and will move on into 2012 full speed ahead.  Keep crunching and chewing and I'll keep baking.

All the best to you and yours this holiday season and in 2012.

Best,
Pattie

A Reminder to Eat Healthfully / Holiday Fairs Abound

Well it certainly has been a busy week in the WholeyOats kitchen.  My little hands have been baking up batches of granola and granola bars for the upcoming Christmas / Holiday events happening this month.  With that said, it brings to mind that we often forget that it's a good idea to take extra care of ourselves during this very exciting and busy time of year.  One very important way to do that  is by eating healthy.  I try to start my day by eating a healthy breakfast consisting of protein, whole grains & fruits; it is essential to a productive day.  If I am going to be on my feet for 8-10 hours 3 to 4 days a week baking, I need the energy in order to do that.   I love eggs, to me there is nothing like an egg white omelet loaded with veggies & cheese with a crispy slice of whole grain toast, YUM!  However I do not always have the time to prepare that, so I reach for WholeyOats Maple Nut Granola.  I pour 1/2 cup over 1 cup of greek plain yogurt and add a cup of berries, today I had raspberries.   Drizzle a little (local) honey on top, and voila a delicious breakfast loaded with all the good stuff necessary for a great day ahead.

This is the weekend to enjoy the local Holiday fairs, so many events around the area to choose from, which one will you decide to venture to?   WholeyOats will be at the St. Denis Christmas Silver Tea & Craft Fair located at 604 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction.  This is an annual event attended by hundreds with over 50 small food producers (like myself) and crafters.  I have put together a couple of beautiful baskets and packaged the granola bars & granola in festive wrappings to make lovely gifts.  Come out and see what we have to offer, it is going to be a beautiful day.

Stop by and say hi, you know how much I love to chat :-)   Happy weekend to you all!

Pattie

A Moment To Say "Thank You"

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving.  I want to take a moment to thank all of you for your support and kind words during the past year.   In one way or another, you have inspired me, encouraged me, made me laugh, became a new friend or just took the time to stop by and talk with me at one of the Farmer's Markets.  Getting to know the people who enjoy my granola is what makes this all worthwhile and fun.

So thank you for your past and continued support, I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Best,
Pattie

Rise 'n Shine....It's Holiday Farmer's Market Time

Good Morning everyone......it's going to be a beautiful Saturday.   A great way to spend part of your day is to come to the Amenia Farmer's Market at the Amenia Town Hall right off Rte. 22, there are signs as you are driving on Rte. 22.  Come in, shop, have a cup of tea or coffee, sample all the delicious foods and say hello....we are there from 10:00-2:00.

Some of the things you will find at the market today are homemade pies & soups, delicious homemade bread, cheeses, yogurts, milk, local trout, beef, pork, sausage & lamb and of course my homemade granola and granola bars.  I may have missed a few things....you will have to stop in and see for yourself what is available to plan for your Thanksgiving holiday.

As a special edition to our Winter Market, we have local artisans displaying and selling beautiful handmade items.  Wonderful soaps and salves,  wool for all of your knitting needs, handmade baskets, and locally grown orchids just to name a few.  The get the full details check out the the market website at www.ameniafarmersmarket.com

So come by, say hi and try a piece of pie......yummilicious!!

Pattie

The Holiday Mindset & Spirit

With everything that is happening out there in the world, it may be hard for many of us to even think about Thanksgiving and Christmas, never mind getting into the proverbial "holiday spirit".    A couple of years ago we made some changes as to how we celebrate the holiday season.  One of the changes we made was focusing more on family & friends, spending more time with those we love & cherish in our lives instead of channeling so much energy and anxiety on what to buy and how much to spend, etc.....I believe you all get it.   If we channel our energy toward things in our lives that are close to our hearts, we will live a better life, a simpler life.  Having many "things" creates more stress in our lives, it perpetuates the "rate race".   With that said, I am going to start to spend the next 8 weeks or so spending more time with my family and friends.  It's time to "catch up" and reconnect.  Time is going by so fast, no more wasting it.

One way to do that is to visit local holiday fairs, farmer's markets, and your local businesses with a friend.   It's a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday.  Browse & shop the holiday fairs with a friend and purchase a truly unique, handmade gift for that special someone in your life.  If we stay closer to home and patronize our local businesses, we not only save gas we enrich our community and keep it thriving.

As a reminder, the Millerton & Amenia Farmer's Markets have their Winter Market opening day tomorrow, Saturday, November 5th from 10:00-2:00, check out their websites for location.   I will not be at either market this weekend as I am participating in the 39th Annual St. Columba Holiday Fair from 9:00-3:00.   Location is right off of Rte. 82 in Hopewell Junction.  There will be over 55 local artisans! A grand assortment of beautiful gifts and yummy foods will be available.

Grab your friend, sister, whoever you want to reconnect with, get a cup of coffee and visit one of these wonderful events.

Hope to see you there.

Best,
Pattie

New Places, New Events for WholeyOats

Happy Friday to everyone.....it's looking like we are going to have some wacky weather for Saturday which means there is a good chance I will not be at the Millerton Farmer's Market tomorrow.   To those of you who are accustomed to seeing me in Millerton on Saturday mornings and the rest, I thought it would be a good idea to let you all know what I will be up to in the upcoming weeks and months to follow.  I've listed below dates and venues I will be attending so you can find me.

On a separate note, Adams Fairacre Farms is opening a brand new store right off Rte. 9 in Wappingers.  I am proud to announce they will be carrying everything WholeyOats, woohoo! I am delivery 7 cases of product today for their Grand Opening this coming Monday, October 31st.  They are having a special event on Sunday evening from 7:00-10:00 for everyone to come in, shop, and welcome you to their new location.  Check it out, I am definitely planning to be there.

2011- Holiday Season

Where will we be in November?

Saturday, November 5, 2011 St. Columba Holiday Fair 9:00-3:00

Saturday, November 19, 2011 Amenia Farmer’s Market Amenia Town Hall 10:00-2:00

Saturday, November 26, 2011 Millerton Farmer’s Market Gilmor Glass 10:00-2:00

Where will we be in December?

Saturday, December 3, 2011 St. Denis Holiday Fair 10:00-4:00

Saturday, December 10, 2011 Millerton Farmer’s Market 10:00-2:00

Saturday, December 17, 2011 Amenia Farmer’s Market 10:00-2:00

Saturday, December 24, 2011 Millerton Farmer's Market 10:00-2:00

Saturday, December 31, 2011 Amenia Farmer's Market 10:00-2:00

I think it's time to make use of the gallon of apple cider I just purchased, warming it up with spices and add a little brandy......hmmm delish.  Stay warm and cozy.

Pattie

WholeyOats at DeCicco's in Cross River, New York

Did you know there are 8 DeCicco's Markets?  Along with the Brewster location, WholeyOats is now being sold at the Cross River, New York location.  If you do not know the area, it's off of Rte. 35.  When you take Exit 6 off Rte. 684, you turn left and drive a few miles and will eventually come to the shopping center.   It's a terrific location and a wonderful store carrying tons of local products.   I had received a few emails over the past couple of weeks of customers asking where they could by my granola and/or granola bars down in the Westchester area, now besides Mt. Kisco Seafood, they've got DeCicco's.   Thank you for your business!!!

Looking like a beauty of a fall weekend ahead.  Stop and by and see me at the Millerton Farmer's Market tomorrow from 9:00-1:00.   Sullivan Farm in New Milford will be hosting its 2nd Annual Housatonic Valley Harvest Expo tomorrow as well from 10:00-4:00.  The Smithy of New Preston, CT will be there with all of the WholeyOats products.   There will be all sorts of fun things to do with kids and adults alike.  Get out and enjoy.

That's all for now.    Enjoy your weekend.

Best,

Pattie

Stories of How WholeyOats Customers Eat Their Granola

As many of you know, WholeyOats is a vendor at a couple of local Farmer's Markets and is sold at a few of the really special farm market stores in the Hudson Valley area.  I hear lots of great stories about how people eat my granola and granola bars.  I decided I could no longer keep this to myself because I heard a couple things last week and I thought, wow I have to share these.

One WholeyOats regular customer informed me of his experimentation with my Blueberry Almond Granola Bars.  He told me he puts peanut butter on one side and jelly on the other, hmmm I thought that's cool.  One woman who regularly purchases my Chocolate Coconut Almond Bars said she spreads greek yogurt on hers.  Then there's this lady who purchases the Dried Cherries & Chocolate Granola quite often who said she pours it into a bowl and eats it with milk, oh yummilicious is all I had to say to that!   Frozen vanilla yogurt or vanilla ice cream is awesome paired with this granola as well.  I have also been told on many occasion, that the bag quite often is empty by the time it gets home, ha.

If you are a WholeyOats regular and have an interesting story about how you eat my granola and granola bars, please email or facebook me and let me know.  I love sharing these stories.

Thankfully the sun is shining today and it looks like we are in for some truly beautiful, fall weather.   Today I will be at the Amenia Farmer's Market from 3:00-7:00.  Tomorrow my boys Daniel & Gregory will be at the Millerton Farmer's Market from 9:00-1:00, which should be a great day because the Joint Chiefs are playing, one of my local favorite bands .   I/WholeyOats will be attending the 35th Annual Apple Festival on Huguenot Street in New Paltz, NY.  The Festival hours are from 10:00-4:00.  I am looking forward to a really fun day there and meeting lots of new people.

Happy Friday to all.....
Pattie

The Perfect Granola, Really!!

I received a wonderful call yesterday from a WholeyOats customer named Karen.  She called me and said "For years I have been looking for the perfect granola.  I was shopping at the Berry Farm in Chatham, New York and saw your product and thought to myself...I think I will try the WholeyOats Maple Nut Granola".  Karen said,  "Not only does it have the right crunch, it was not too sweet and had the best ingredients".   That is music to my ears.  Creating that kind of product for people to enjoy is my number one goal.

Karen lives in the City so she is ordering lots more from me so she can enjoy it year round.  Thank you Karen!

Heading down to Bedford Hills today to meet with the owner of The Table.  Another wonderful little market which offers all local, farm produced foods for the community to enjoy.  K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple & Seasonal is one of their mottos.  Wish me luck, could be another spot for WholeyOats.

And then there is this weather....boohoo, I know it's all we can talk about.   There are so many fun things going on in the upcoming weeks that I ask myself how will I get out and enjoy all there is to offer in this beautiful neck of the woods if mother nature keeps dumping all of this rain upon us?   Getting a pair of decent rain shoes would help.  I used to have a pair of Duck Shoes, getting a pair of those is the first order of business.  I will don my raincoat and be good to go.

The thought of missing out on the Garlic Festival in Saugerties or the Apple Festival in Warwick, as well as the Farmer's Markets, no can do......I am going to pretend it is sunny and head out and enjoy.

It's all about attitude, I truly believe that.   With that said, I know all of you are going to put on your raincoats and rainboots, head out this weekend and enjoy Fall!

Best to you,
Pattie

Fantastic Baking Weather Has Arrived

Ok, so has this been the most bizarre year of weather that anyone can remember?????  I believe everyone is calling it the year of extremes.....so true.  One day it's 85 and humid - the next we wake up to temps in the 30's here in Wingdale with the down blanket drawn to our chins trying to keep warm and cozy, WOW.

But hey that's Mother Nature for ya, nothing we can do about it, just enjoy each day and what it brings or what you decide to bring to it.

Absolutely, positively this is great baking weather.  I can tell you everything just comes together better in cool, dry weather...not to mention what a better mood I am in when I can work in such pleasant conditions.  I am pretty sure that can be said for most of us who either work from our homes or outside on our farms, this is ideal.  It makes me happy to see the sun shining and the leaves turning, it is simply glorious.

This morning I am driving up to the Berry Farm in Chatham, New York to deliver a freshly baked batch of granola and granola bars.  It is a beautiful drive up that way, but will be even more so when the leaves begin to change.  The landscape is breathtaking.

So here we are, it is Friday once again which means Farmer's Market weekend has begun.  Come visit us today at Amenia from 3:00-7:00 - we will be set up in the parking lot of the Amenia Town Hall.  You can't miss our tents set up right along Rte. 22.   Tomorrow I will be up at the Millerton Farmer's Market from 9:00-1:00.  Come out early, grab a cup of hot chocolate, listen to the music and chat with your favorite granola baker (that's me, LOL)....you all know how much I love to talk with you.

Happy weekend to all, enjoy
Pattie

The Unofficial End to Summer, Can't Be......

While driving home last night from a few days rest on the Cape, I was thinking about the summer, the memories we created and wondering how did it get to be that Labor Weekend is upon us which also means the beginning of another school year is around the corner....wow!  As I have grown older, the one thing I know for sure is that time keeps going by faster (at least that's how it feels....no way did time go by this fast while sitting in an extremely boring Trig class in high school).

I have always loved the month September, in fact this is my favorite time of year.  My family and I go pick apples, Macoun's and Granny Smith's are our favorites, several times between mid-September and October.  The colors of autumn, the clear air and the cool nights are all things wonderful to me.  This year also brings something new, college open houses.  Yes, my oldest child is embarking on his senior year of high school and will be off to college next year.   How in the world did that happen so fast?  Just yesterday, he was 3 years old, taking 3 hour naps every afternoon and calling me "mama".

So this morning as I am baking granola for all of the loyal WholeyOats customers out there, I am doing so with happiness, a little bit of melancholy, and a whole lot of spunk because life is good and after all this is September when one can "turn over a new leaf" and start anew.

Hopefully this beautiful weather will bring you out of doors and encourage you to stop by the Amenia Farmer's Market today from 3:00-7:00 or tomorrow morning come on up to Millerton from 9:00-1:00, I will be there, I hope you will be too.

Enjoy,
Pattie

Summer's Harvest at the Markets

Happy Friday to you all.......this time of year brings an abundance of tomatoes and corn at the Farmer's Markets.  The farmer's have been busy harvesting all week to bring you the best of their just-picked produce.  And just like the farmer's, I've been busy baking all week to bring you the freshest granola and granola bars for your enjoyment.   It's the weekend, so it's time to stock up.

Yes it has been a busy week......between baking and delivering, there are also college visits with my soon-to-be high school senior, what an overwhelming endeavor compared to when I was doing this a few decades ago.   It is a lot of fun and brings back so many fond memories of that time in my life.  I didn't realize when we were deciding on starting a family that so many facets of what I experienced in my youth and young adult life would come into play.  Living, learning, and experiencing something new everyday is what life is all about.

What's new in your life today......send me an email, comment on facebook, or reply here and let me know.   Looking forward to it.

Pattie

Good Morning, Happy Farmer's Market Day

When you think Farmer's Market, typically you think Saturday morning.  I know, they are everywhere now.  It used to be hard to find a farmer's market, especially when I was kid.   I grew up in the country.  We lived on a small lake with 7 acres.  There were some farm animals; a couple of pigs and 2 horses.  My grandfather raised the pigs to slaughter them for "pig roasts" the restaurant would host during the summer months.  I remember those being really big events for everyone.  That pig was so delicious.....the meat so fresh tasting.  How could it not be, slaughtered a few hours right before eating.   You can't eat meat any fresher than that.  

That's what you will find at the Millerton Farmer's Market this morning.   A variety of fresh produce grown by local farms in the Hudson Valley, various fresh meats; pork, beef, lamb, and chicken raised by local farmers of the Hudson Valley, and then there are people like me who hand-bake their products using local ingredients (I use local flour, eggs, honey just to name a few of the ingredients), and package them beautifully to share with the community.  Have you tried my granola or granola bars?  If you haven't, you must....they are unlike anything else - a delight for the tastebuds (and the heart too!).

Take a ride up, over, or down to Millerton this morning.  We are there from 9:00-1:00.  Listen to some music, talk to a farmer, baker, or cheesemaker and enjoy yourself.

What can you find at WholeyOats today?

Today at the WholeyOats tent I will  have the following freshly baked granola.....Maple Nut, Dried Fruits & Nuts, Dried Cherries and Chocolate and for the granola bars......Chocolate Coconut Almond (the favorite amongst WholeyOats customers), Blueberry Almond (my favorite), and Cranberry Almond....stop by, sample and find out what you've been missing!

What's Happening This Weekend

Wow.....what a weekend we have planned.....this afternoon, I will be at the Amenia Farmer's Market from 3:00-7:00p.m.   The Farmer's Market is located in the Amenia Town Hall parking lot right off Rte. 22 in Amenia, can't miss us when you drive up.  You will see all of our brightly colored tents and banners as well as all the signs Rudy places up and down Rte. 22.   There are a nice variety of vendors at this Farmer's Market where you can do all of your weekend shopping and spend the rest of your time entertaining, biking the rail trail, swimming, doing all the things you enjoy in your time off.  

Tomorrow, Saturday August 13, I will be at the Millerton Farmer's Market from 9:00-1:00 which is located right in the center of town on the lawns of the Methodist Church.  You will find a nice array a vendors here as well so if didn't have a chance the night before to do your weekend shopping, grab a cup of coffee and come shop at the Market tomorrow morning.

Sunday's are usually my day off......however I was approached about participating at the Sharon Audubon Festival which is happening all weekend,  I am planning to be there on Sunday, August 14th from 9:30-5:30.   If Sunday is a washout weatherwise, I will not be going as granola doesn't really hold up too well in the rain.  Hopefully it will be a nice day and I will have the chance to meet lots of new people.

Well it's time to get ready for the busy weekend ahead.   Stop by and say hello when you visit the markets.

Happy Friday to you all.....
Pattie