Sabbatical Day 22 | June 18, 2011
MAINE!
After I got out of the shower, my dad presented me with two choices and I had to pick one: Vermont Country Store or Maine. Of COURSE I picked Maine! Now I can say that I made it as far east as possible on my trip! Okay, well I know full well that Rhode Island would have put me even further east, but can you really call Rhode Island a state?! Kidding kidding!! For the purpose of this road trip, I made it as far east as I
could - and I touched ocean. So there - pbbttthhhh!!
.:ahem:. I digress. Aside from breakfast and potty stops, our first official stop was at Hampton Beach, NH where I first got to dip my tootsies into the ocean! We had great fun walking along the 'beach' (read: long stretch of land that was covered by ocean polished, slippery as heck when wet, rocks. Not sand. Rocks!) and 'rock picking'. Rock picking would be the equivalent of searching for seashells. Carolyn got soaked by an errant wave and I nearly did too - thankfully it was only the bottom pocket on my cargo shorts! Carolyn caught a wave right up the back! Eeek!
From Hampton Beach, we drove up the coast (GORGEOUS) and 'wish listed' all the houses that we wanted once we won the lottery. We stopped at the Kittery Trading Post in Maine and did some shopping - any by "shopping", I mean that I should have given Matt my wallet. I was able to exercise a lot of restraint though! I totally was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to get a pair of Vibram Five Fingers now or when I got back to Utah. My step-mom didn't help when she handed me a coupon either! I caved and bought a pair and wore 'em right out of the store!! I picked up a few other souveniers and some gifties and then we headed to Bob's Clam Shack for dinner.
Matt had the lobster roll and I got a seafood combo that I shared with Matt as well. After dinner we went back to Kittery Trading Post to pick up some of their homemade fudge for dessert. Yummmm!!
Not a lot to see on the way back since it was night time but it was fun to include the parents on our cross country adventure!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Cavendish, VT --> Windsor, VT
Sabbatical Day 21 | June 17, 2011
Cavendish, VT --> Windsor, VT
Today we went to Cafe at DeLight for 'brunch' though I was really the only one that got lunch. And of course I ordered the hot dog! For those that aren't aware, there are hot dogs back "home" called Ess'm hot dogs which are with their natural casings. I LOVE THEM! And I absolutely have to have them every time I go back east. YUM!
After we ate, we went to the Green Mountain Sugarhouse and if I hear that any of you were in Southern Vermont and you didn't stop at the Sugarhouse, we'll have words! (Just kidding - but seriously, you should stop in). At the sugarhouse, if you are there during the right time of year, you can take a tour and see how maple syrup (REAL syrup) is made. BUT if you are there during the warmer months, you HAVE to try a maple creamee - OH. MY. GOD! Think a soft serve vanilla ice cream with JUST the right amount of Vermont maple syrup!! .:dies!:.
Dad then took us along the back roads to Windsor, VT. What a great way to see a place - it was a gorgeous ride! When we got to Windsor, we went to see my grandmother. They are in the process of remodeling the apartment 'complex' that she lives in (the state of Vermont actually renovated one of the older state prisons into an apartment/assisted living complex for seniors), so she was actually in a different apartment than the one that she is normally in. It was actually quite nice, and bigger, than the one that she normally rents - but. I wasn't a fan of the kitchen. It was very closed off and kind of dark. She seemed to like that she has a bigger living room - temporarily anyway.
We had a good visit, and Matt seemed comfortable (he dozed off a few times lol!!) but we didn't stay too long since we had plans for the evening. We first stopped at Singleton's to get some groceries for dinner and then we headed to Springfield, VT for a family
barbeque/graduation party. There is never a shortage of energy once you get all 4 of my nieces and nephews together and they definitely did not disappoint this evening! They collect, connect, and then they are all off like a shot in different directions. I wish I could bottle their energy and then sell it. I would be BEYOND rich! First I got a tour of Jenna's new bedroom - she upgraded to Hello Kitty and I have to say, I liked it! Ty - oh, adorable Ty. Ever since Ty was a baby, he and I have had a different relationship than the one that I have with the other kids - at first, he would be all super bashful with me and it wasn't until recently that he started to actually talk to me. So, he and I went through our normal hellos and then he was off to hang out with Matthew who was outside finding critters. The critter of the evening was a garden snake .:shudder:. and if I had to say so, the garden snake took the encounter like a champ! But as with all things, it did come to an end. Unfortunately, not such a good one for the snake. But, boys will be boys.
Dinner was great and the company was even better! I love hanging out with them!
After dinner we had dessert and the kids had some fun with sparklers, and then it was time to head home for the evening.
Happy heart!!
Cavendish, VT --> Windsor, VT
Today we went to Cafe at DeLight for 'brunch' though I was really the only one that got lunch. And of course I ordered the hot dog! For those that aren't aware, there are hot dogs back "home" called Ess'm hot dogs which are with their natural casings. I LOVE THEM! And I absolutely have to have them every time I go back east. YUM!
After we ate, we went to the Green Mountain Sugarhouse and if I hear that any of you were in Southern Vermont and you didn't stop at the Sugarhouse, we'll have words! (Just kidding - but seriously, you should stop in). At the sugarhouse, if you are there during the right time of year, you can take a tour and see how maple syrup (REAL syrup) is made. BUT if you are there during the warmer months, you HAVE to try a maple creamee - OH. MY. GOD! Think a soft serve vanilla ice cream with JUST the right amount of Vermont maple syrup!! .:dies!:.
Dad then took us along the back roads to Windsor, VT. What a great way to see a place - it was a gorgeous ride! When we got to Windsor, we went to see my grandmother. They are in the process of remodeling the apartment 'complex' that she lives in (the state of Vermont actually renovated one of the older state prisons into an apartment/assisted living complex for seniors), so she was actually in a different apartment than the one that she is normally in. It was actually quite nice, and bigger, than the one that she normally rents - but. I wasn't a fan of the kitchen. It was very closed off and kind of dark. She seemed to like that she has a bigger living room - temporarily anyway.
We had a good visit, and Matt seemed comfortable (he dozed off a few times lol!!) but we didn't stay too long since we had plans for the evening. We first stopped at Singleton's to get some groceries for dinner and then we headed to Springfield, VT for a family
barbeque/graduation party. There is never a shortage of energy once you get all 4 of my nieces and nephews together and they definitely did not disappoint this evening! They collect, connect, and then they are all off like a shot in different directions. I wish I could bottle their energy and then sell it. I would be BEYOND rich! First I got a tour of Jenna's new bedroom - she upgraded to Hello Kitty and I have to say, I liked it! Ty - oh, adorable Ty. Ever since Ty was a baby, he and I have had a different relationship than the one that I have with the other kids - at first, he would be all super bashful with me and it wasn't until recently that he started to actually talk to me. So, he and I went through our normal hellos and then he was off to hang out with Matthew who was outside finding critters. The critter of the evening was a garden snake .:shudder:. and if I had to say so, the garden snake took the encounter like a champ! But as with all things, it did come to an end. Unfortunately, not such a good one for the snake. But, boys will be boys.
Dinner was great and the company was even better! I love hanging out with them!
After dinner we had dessert and the kids had some fun with sparklers, and then it was time to head home for the evening.
Happy heart!!
Cavendish, VT --> Springfield, VT
Sabbatical Day 20 | June 16, 2011
Cavendish, VT --> Springfield, VT
Today my dad and step-mom took a half day off of work so Matt and I made sure to be up and ready by noon when we expected them to be home. After they got home and changed clothes, our first stop was Downer's Four Corners for lunch (YUM) and then we headed towards Claremont, NH so that we could have ice cream at Wade's. Both the restaurant at Downer's and Wade's are "roadside" restaurants where you drive up, place your order at the window and then you can either eat in your car or at a picnic table outside that they provide. I guess you could liken it to a mom and pop version of Sonic except they don't deliver your food to your car for you. And the food is much better than Sonic =0)
After we ate, my step-mom had to go feed her sister Charlotte's cat (Emma) and being that I am pretty homesick for my little fuzzy friends, I went with her. Matt came too! On our way to her house (she literally lives just up the street), I saw a black body/butt dash off into the woods on my side of the road and I said "Was that a bear?!" just as my step mom was about to ask the same thing! It was a black bear cub!! Freaking cute!! Sadly I didn't get my camera out in time. We did try to find him again but he had already disappeared into the woods =( Matt doesn't believe that we saw a bear because he didn't see it and I didn't get a picture. Then he jokingly suggested that it was a cow since I told him that the "bear" he saw earlier in the trip was really a cow LOL!!
My step mom fed Emma while I spoiled her rotten (I think Emma thinks she's part dog - she REALLY liked having her tummy rubbed!!). I tried to give her a treat but she declined. Weird! Carolyn said that normally she can't get enough... but she definitely couldn't get enough petting!! Once Emma was fed and the litterbox emptied, we headed back to the house. On our way back from Charlotte's house, Matt spotted the fox family hanging out in the cemetary. I think there were maybe 6 running around up there? I did get some pictures of them, but the picture that I really wanted I didn't snap in time *pout*. I really wanted a picture of one of the fox that was running toward us to get away from some ladies coming into the cemetary and he looked up, saw us and froze for a moment and then took off like a shot into the woods. It would have been the coolest photo! Darn it!!
After we got back from that errand we hung out for a minute we went to my nephew's 5th Grade graduation ceremony and reception. Unfortunately there was a "structural issue" with the chairs (they weren't really made for 6' 5" guys apparently) so Matt and I hung out in the back but we were still able to see everything! At the reception I actually ran into a friend that I used to teach skiing with at Okemo and I haven't seen him in 10 years! It was great! I also ran into my high school Spanish teacher ... Okay, he teaches Spanish at my high school. I took French ;0) ha ha What makes it kind of funny is that he lives across the street from my dad but I never see him when I come to visit. Go figure.
Once the reception finished, it was dinner time so we headed from Springfield into Ludlow and ordered pizza at the Village Pizza. Which, is where I ended up running into even more people that I knew LOL It was nice to see them though. While they made our pizzas, we ran to the grocery store really quick. Then, we picked up the pizzas and headed home!
Cavendish, VT --> Springfield, VT
Today my dad and step-mom took a half day off of work so Matt and I made sure to be up and ready by noon when we expected them to be home. After they got home and changed clothes, our first stop was Downer's Four Corners for lunch (YUM) and then we headed towards Claremont, NH so that we could have ice cream at Wade's. Both the restaurant at Downer's and Wade's are "roadside" restaurants where you drive up, place your order at the window and then you can either eat in your car or at a picnic table outside that they provide. I guess you could liken it to a mom and pop version of Sonic except they don't deliver your food to your car for you. And the food is much better than Sonic =0)
After we ate, my step-mom had to go feed her sister Charlotte's cat (Emma) and being that I am pretty homesick for my little fuzzy friends, I went with her. Matt came too! On our way to her house (she literally lives just up the street), I saw a black body/butt dash off into the woods on my side of the road and I said "Was that a bear?!" just as my step mom was about to ask the same thing! It was a black bear cub!! Freaking cute!! Sadly I didn't get my camera out in time. We did try to find him again but he had already disappeared into the woods =( Matt doesn't believe that we saw a bear because he didn't see it and I didn't get a picture. Then he jokingly suggested that it was a cow since I told him that the "bear" he saw earlier in the trip was really a cow LOL!!
My step mom fed Emma while I spoiled her rotten (I think Emma thinks she's part dog - she REALLY liked having her tummy rubbed!!). I tried to give her a treat but she declined. Weird! Carolyn said that normally she can't get enough... but she definitely couldn't get enough petting!! Once Emma was fed and the litterbox emptied, we headed back to the house. On our way back from Charlotte's house, Matt spotted the fox family hanging out in the cemetary. I think there were maybe 6 running around up there? I did get some pictures of them, but the picture that I really wanted I didn't snap in time *pout*. I really wanted a picture of one of the fox that was running toward us to get away from some ladies coming into the cemetary and he looked up, saw us and froze for a moment and then took off like a shot into the woods. It would have been the coolest photo! Darn it!!
After we got back from that errand we hung out for a minute we went to my nephew's 5th Grade graduation ceremony and reception. Unfortunately there was a "structural issue" with the chairs (they weren't really made for 6' 5" guys apparently) so Matt and I hung out in the back but we were still able to see everything! At the reception I actually ran into a friend that I used to teach skiing with at Okemo and I haven't seen him in 10 years! It was great! I also ran into my high school Spanish teacher ... Okay, he teaches Spanish at my high school. I took French ;0) ha ha What makes it kind of funny is that he lives across the street from my dad but I never see him when I come to visit. Go figure.
Once the reception finished, it was dinner time so we headed from Springfield into Ludlow and ordered pizza at the Village Pizza. Which, is where I ended up running into even more people that I knew LOL It was nice to see them though. While they made our pizzas, we ran to the grocery store really quick. Then, we picked up the pizzas and headed home!
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