MEMORY MAKERS
“ We do not remember days, we remember moments. ”— Cesare Pavese
Simple moments have a way of opening our hearts to joy- something we desperately need during these volatile times. And although finding time to curate meaningful moments might sound impossible, sometimes it can be the spark we need to make it through another monotonous day. Consider a walk in the woods, an unexpected movie marathon or a spontaneous dance party in the kitchen. These are little things that make us feel engaged and connected.
CREATE A WEEKLY RITUAL
Make Wednesday Night ‘Pancake Night’. Keep it fresh each week by changing the shape of the cakes and toppings. Tiny, silver-dollar-sized flapjacks with chocolate chips, heart-shaped cakes with fresh raspberries or buttery, syrup-soaked hotcakes that fill the plate. Oh and try Mill Gap Farms organic maple syrup - it’s made on the sweetest small town farm in Monterrey, Virginia.
EMBRACE NATURE
There’s nothing like nature to fully engage the senses. Grab a loved one and enjoy sunset at the Chesapeake Bay. Or take drive to the oceanfront and catch the moon rise - the orangish-red Harvest Moon in October is a favorite. For an afternoon adventure in autumn, there’s nothing like the tranquility you’ll find at Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
BAKE YOUR SIGNATURE CAKE
Our team at The Villa has a sweet spot for confectionary creations. We’re always delighted by the work at Incredible Edibles Bakery. And although we don’t quite match up to their level of expertise, that doesn’t stop us from trying. We’ll bake anything from our grandmother’s raspberry sponge cake to a simple lemon tart. And is there anything as decadent as a double layered chocolate cake? We think not!
TEMPT THE TASTE BUDS
Take your taste buds on a mini-vacation and experiment with an exotic fruit sampler. Try loquats, jackfruit, and cucamelons. Serve the exotic fruits at your next gathering. It’s quite the memory maker – you’ll never forget the time, place and people you shared your first rambutan with! And if you’re not having luck finding them at your local market, try planting your own. Explore the varieties tropical fruit enthusiast, The Fruit Grower tackles!