Come for a Rain Ride to the Cove

     My editorial job keeps me at the computer some days when I’d like to just get away.  I’m too tempted to click on over to Facebook or CNN to see what’s -goin on- but lately, what’s goin on is toxic.   Case in point this morning –  You know that video I posted yesterday with Kate McKinnon singing Hallelujah?  I loved it. Shared it on facebook too.    My neighbor up the road thought it was offensive to Leonard Cohen, the skit bastardized the song.  (what?)   You know what’s offensive to Leonard Cohen, who was a Jew?  The appointment of Steve Bannon.  I let her know that and then I said to myself.. I said .. SELF?.. I thought you were walking away from this sh*t, weren’t ya??  Now go. 
So I went, and I’m taking you with me…
The rain is coming down today, and along with it the rest of the autumn leaves…
As we get closer to the cove we drive past a preserve on the left.  The proximity of the water to the road tells me whether we will be at high or low tide at the cottage.  The water at times comes right up to the road, I mean inches. I’m sure the road is flooded during storms, etc.  I can tell by it’s location today that it will indeed be high tide. 
  This  little community (140-ish cottages) is private, but the only thing that would let you know this is the little  guard /library/video share/seasonal notice/ hut station thing at the entrance. It’s cute. Looking for a good read? check out the shelves. Want a scolding if you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing?  Read the sign.  Looking for a seasonal rent?  It’s probably tacked on the board. 
That’s us with the dumpster and porta potty up ahead.  The water was shut off on Oct. 30th.. so….

I think we got the door color and trim (see roofline) just right.. what do you think?  Next up.. new windows and the cedar shingle siding, stained to match the trim and decks.

Yep.. High tide… Notice the oyster beds are covered.  In the distance you see the jetty- the nature preserve in earlier pic  is just beyond.

   Ah, I feel better already.  If I can just stay away from the news…..   
PS.  I just learned how to put replies under comments.. you can teach an old dog new tricks, ya know.  Thank you for joining in the conversation in previous posts… I love hearing from others, seeing perspectives from a different vantage point. Unless you’re a crank and have no empathy for others… then you  just suck.    Anyway…  It takes courage to put yourself out there, even when we don’t agree – I thank you for doing so.   Have a good day, all –  
Karen

For those who are mourning after this election

     
*** UPDATE TO THIS POST… I had the wrong video linked.. I apologize for the error. The correct one is now below.

 A friend of mine said she’s  so tired of all the whiners who didn’t get what they wanted on November 9th.  She continued with a hefty –get over it already, move on. She chides the protesters, how foolish! …   Of course, she got what she wanted. 

     I’m weary of all the facebook posts, tweets and news coverage because it was and is indeed EXHAUSTING.  I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m sad.    There’s no question, I’m grieving.  There are many reasons to grieve, in no way do I compare my grief to that of someone who has lost a loved one, I need to be clear, but all grief is real.   I cried several times in recent days and I’m not a crier.  That caught me by surprise. ——- the raw emotion, why has this affected me so much… 
H*llary’s speech – what an example of Grace, of Dignity, of Truly Giving a Shit about the unity of this country, about what we as a nation  are supposed to stand for.   I wasn’t her biggest fan, but her critics want only to see her flaws and  they embellish them for their own purposes. They refuse to acknowledge facts and 30 years of public service among other things.  When I think of how she has been treated by the establishment and her own husband at times, I hurt for her.  I’m not offended that she was ambitious… it takes ambition to get any good works done,  and even the best among us have flaws.  She had the courage to battle for many years the misogyny,  the cruel jokes and merciless persecution by the worst of the good ole boys, what I now call members of  the swamp.   Amazing to put aside all the anger she must have felt at the hateful rhetoric  spewed all over her during this campaign, to speak to us all for the sake of the country, asking us to unify and support the President Elect because we need him to succeed in order for us to succeed. Thank you, Hillary Clinton, for your good grace in a time of graceless behavior.  –  That awful morning, while half of us shook our heads in disbelief, I listened to her speak, and I cried. 
  Tr*mp sat down with the President – we all saw the coverage – my heart ached for  a man who rose above all that hateful vitriol he faced for five years from the president elect… exuding nothing but Grace in welcoming the demagogue.   What it must have taken.   The words were gracious, the body language telling.  How hard that must have been.  I cried for him. I cried for all of us… I cried for the Grace that is leaving the white house. 
     
   For this election because of it’s nature, I voted not for a party, not solely for policy issues, not for a gender or ethnicity,  but for the basic ingredient I feel every politician should be held accountable.  Decency.  I voted against bigotry, racism, hate speech, mysogeny, bullying, ethnic slurs, social media abuses.   Yes, I’m angry that half of us were willing to forgo decency at it’s very core for whatever reasons were considered more important. …. and I’m not getting over it very soon.    If you’re reading this and you’re grieving too, I hear you. We’re not whining, we’re not poor losers – as half of We The People see it, the dignity of our country was at stake and we all lose when it falls to the gutter.   If you voted for Trump, I’m crying for you, too. 
 Thank you SNL, for hitting the nail on the head…  
https://youtu.be/BG-_ZDrypec
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah




I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

We’re hedging…

    M has several crews working at once down at the cottage – the main reason for the big push is WINTER IS COMING and Lord, does it get cold down at the waterfront. The other issue with renovation in that community is you’re not allowed to do it during the summer season –  May through October – so as not to disturb the other residents enjoyment of their cottages.  You can tell in the photos they are very close to each other and I understand the ruling.  Wait till you see the progress below.. …. 
    We’ve had such an incredible fall, absolutely stunning here in New England.  Because Once Upon A Tide is located in a cove,  at times the water can be smooth as glass.  Yesterday, while I continued to grieve (that’s all I’ll say today, promise) I went to the water to reboot.  The leaves floating at waters edge looked like jewels in an Autumn crown… 
This is our waterfront… low tide.  Some of the Oyster Bed is exposed. The rock jetty you see in the background borders a nature preserve just on the other side.  There is an opening not apparent in this picture and kayakers venture through it to explore the preserve.  Beautiful birds are found here including blue herons, cranes, loons, cormorants, king fishers, swans,  etc. 
In this picture you can see the high tide mark, quite a difference is seen in just a few hours time here. 
  Repair of the seawall is complete… the railing will be taken down soon and replaced with something  that fits the landscape now that we have a patio instead of the deck that protruded from the wall originally. 
 Shrubs have been planted to more clearly define our space, and frankly to help keep my dogs in it. 
 I’ve got several garden areas to work on next spring with an array of perennials… a few left over Russian Sage have been planted but I will fortify this area in warmer weather. 
Decks and trim are in the process of being painted… 
 Street side, the cottage is in the middle of a huge face lift.  
 By last night, some of the framing had been done around the lattice… 
 Her shoulders are squared, chin up, she’s standing taller already, don’t ya think? 
 It’s a new day, all. Let’s make it a good one.   As always, thanks for stopping by. 
– Karen

Reflection and Moving Forward

     The only way to accept the shocking results of this election and move on is to acknowledge the anger over big issues not being addressed, voices not being heard. That’s something I have never disputed and it’s why no party claims me. In my opinion the entire system is to blame and the entire system just got a big F*uck U from more than half the population. 

     What offends me even more than the divisive and hateful vitriol that got Trump elected is the mean juvenile hateful crap spewed all over the media and internet, and some of it came from the people I called friends. It’s one thing to dislike a public figure for their policies, their mistakes, even the lies- I have no problem reading an informed accurate piece about my choice of candidate – always open to enlightenment. The mean behavior , the schoolyard bully jokes, ….. that stuff shows me a side I can’t reconcile. Until this election I thought we as a country had evolved as a people. I thought our fiber contained more threads of decency. We’ve got a long way to go and today I am sad for all of us.

Show me a sign

     I was going to write about the upcoming election, because truly I am so disgusted and I want so desperately to understand the dividing forces, the hypocrisy, the hate. I have been engaged in “conversations” on FB – what a zoo that is. I have had many heated conversations with my own spouse and the bottom line is it only got me more aggravated and nothing changed.  So there’s no point in going there here.  My body is feeling the tension, the anxiety, the worry, the hurt, the WTF.  YES.. more than anything, the WTF.   My only power is the vote, and I will rock it.. with her. 
    So what’s a girl to do? 
    Make something.
 I went to Hobby Lobby, which I usually boycott because of certain practices of theirs we won’t go into here.. but I needed something only they would have. Dammit. While browsing the isles I found this whale –  I love his soft, KIND expression. 
 
I decided this was the perfect sign for the cottage at the cove. I had intended to make the entire thing myself, but hell, when the perfect platform is right there in front of you, already done – half off, well. 
I just needed to paint and glue the letters.  Done deal. 
 The guys are hammering away at the exterior. 
And the seawall has gotten some repair work too…. If they took two steps back, they’d both be in the drink. 
 Last thing for today… I had to pick a different door color because the Mr. wants to paint the interior of the garage the same color as the doors… couldn’t justify the more powerful blue I had envisioned if it has to serve that purpose too… so this is the color scheme we’re going with – the door is Benjamin Moore Grenada Villa and the trim will be Dove White.. siding cedar shingle stained the approx. color you see here on the siding. 
   
 I’m not religious as you know if you’ve been reading here for very long, but I’m going to pray for all of us during the coming week – May our Great Country survive the horrible divide that has come between us and may we heal what has been aroused, poked and inflamed – the very worst that lies in our makeup.   I’m pleading with every one of you – whatever your choice…. GO VOTE.  It matters. It Matters. IT MATTERS.   
– Just sayin. 

Vitamin Sea

     The want for a seaside cottage has always been mine. The driving force for driving for hours on end year after year in search of the perfect someplace was always me.  He was a good sport and we came close to a purchase several times, but it never felt -just right.  I  carried a bit of guilt that we were doing the searching for yet another of my dreams.   Because we aren’t the Rockefellers, a second home is a stretch, and one admittedly he pays for the most, being the major breadwinner, bringer home of the bacon, payer of the big bills, etc. etc.  We have dogs and horses and chickens and rabbits because of me, and it’s me who wants the sea.  I am a seahorse in another life, suits me, don’t ya think?  
      But since we acquired this needy little cottage, guess what I have discovered, much to my delight.  Despite the fact that his work load now has an added burden, he is finding real joy, finding real peace.. in this little slice of seaside retreat. There’s a lilt in his voice and a twinkle in his eye when he talks of what we are working on there.   This is job site number FIVE he is currently working on, all five juggling at the same time.  Up at 4 am getting the days paperwork and schedule in order.  At night it’s back at the desk making calls for the next day’s work orders. He’s a bonafide workaholic, truth.  But…. when he goes down to the cottage to check on the days progress… the sunshine on his face and the salt air and the rhythmic sound of the water lapping the seawall soothe him.  He allows himself to sit, to rest, to turn his face to the sun and breathe deep.  Even as he’s talking on the phone to a crew member at another site, there is a calmness in his voice.  It’s as if the rhythm of the sea is taken up in his heart and soul.. and it heals him as it has always healed me.
Side door deck and steps replaced…. 
Waterfront deck steps in, all supports under cottage replaced and spray painted black so they won’t show through the lattice… notice how much more level the lines of the house are now.  I’m amazed.
The garage was full of “stuff”, some of it very old. Most was discarded or given away, but a few finds I will keep and frame to hang inside, a homage to the yesterdays here. 
The exterior of the cottage is currently a battleship grey with darker grey trim. The interior of the garage indicates it used to be a pale aqua green in color.  The removal of the spare key that apparently wasn’t moved to paint the garage during the aqua application reveals an original white paint. 
Scissors and a pencil sharpener – the treasures I will frame.  The sharpener appears to be a 1940’s model, so it’s probably been with the cottage since it’s early years, constructed in 1935. 

The back porch (street side) has a new floor and soon the porch itself will be rebuilt. The cinder block you see on the right is an old chimney. The fireplace was removed years ago. This will be removed when we re-side.
A big old oak tree stands tall next to the cottage and had some worrisome branches that hung low over the roof and power line.  We had  it checked out by a tree expert to make sure it was sturdy in it’s roots and not about to topple over. I was pleased to learn it was healthy except for a crack beginning to form. Dead branches were removed and a support wire installed to insure its stability. 

The current acorn situation over the garage roof… 
    I’m proud of and thankful for this man of mine.  Oh, do we butt heads at times, anyone who knows us will attest to it. But I’m saying it here and will remind him tonight as he sits at the desk planning the days ahead.. that I love and appreciate him dearly for the many ways he shows his family that he loves us, truly, deeply. and yes MADLY at times because we’re being real here.   I am just so happy that he’s as in love with this little place as I am.  Perhaps it will coax him when the time is right to at the very least, semi-retire and revel in the little things the sea brings. 
 We found this little guy hiding under the house. 

Deck & Patio continued and I just have to say it….

   Let’s see if I can do this tactfully.   No matter who you’re voting for, you’ve made up your mind a while ago, right? I think it’s true of most people.   If you’re voting for the orange scream , it’s not going to matter if he spews Parseltongue through Voldemort at this point, he’s in.  – F*ck the government.  If you’re voting for HC, you know she doesn’t have a perfect record nor is she the warmest of characters, but you also know she’s not the evil incarnate, so you’re gonna go safe and stay the course, hoping for the changes that are needed, and F*ck the government.    As for this stupid e-mail clusterf*ck, (there goes the tact)  if we’re being real here, GWB lost something like 22,000 e-mails mysteriously, never to be hacked,  never to be prosecuted, and he, Powell and Rice all used private servers in the same way HC did.  The FBI said outright it did not appear that HC had attempted to HIDE anything.  She herself is saying MAKE THE INFO PUBLIC!!     Now that it’s HC on the chopping block,  this is a hideous crime and some are chanting lock her up. Really?  So are ya planning on locking up the others too?    yeah OK.  They have yet to come up with anything that was truly criminal, and yet here they go again. Against their own policies!    
Whatever.  If the orange scream wins, the entire government is going to get the F*ck Y*u it’s been asking for for a very long time.  The people are fed up, too many things have not been addressed and gone by the wayside for far too long. The corruption, the obstructionism, the arrogance, the list goes on.   No matter who you’re voting for, No intelligent human being can blame all that on one administration, one party.  If HC wins, she’s going to have to do things a little differently this time around, and there’s no doubt in my mind, she will meet with the same vicious crap that has plagued  her AND BO during his run.  No matter what lever, chad or circle you fill in, we’re all in for a ride and none of us knows how exactly that’s going to pan out.  May the force be with us all.  *sigh. 
Anyway… we’re making progress with the exterior of the cottage.  The winds pick up and the chill sets in early down on the water, so M wants to get the outside done before it gets too cold for the crew to be comfortable out there when the ground freezes. 
Back Porch, or street side… removed.  For those who answered my question – it appears you are absolutely right.. the “front” of a waterfront house is the water side. The Street is the back.  You learn something new every day if you’re open to it 🙂

The back deck had a lot of rot underneath, even though it looked sturdy from above. So, it’s been replaced with this… and it comes in the same color the cedar shakes will be stained  when re-sided.

You may notice the roof lines of the house are much straighter now that all underneath supports have been replaced and balanced.  Walking inside the cottage no longer feels like a funhouse experience.

I will plant a small seaside garden in that lower level  – M is bringing in soil from the back fields of This Old House to do so.   Bluestone is being laid for the patio. 

 I need to google plants that are happy along the water – the salt and  weather can be pretty tough in the winter season. 
New England shores do include sand beaches, but much of that is trucked in. Most of our shorefront consists of rocks and rock outcroppings, some sand, many shells from muscle, clam and oyster beds. Our cove happens to be the perfect environment for them so they are found  in abundance.  We have a very small “beachfront” in front of the cottage, completely covered during high tide.  There are many shells to be found because the Sound protects us from the worst of the Atlantic Ocean weather and the waves that make it to shore have traveled some distance in shallower waters, making them pretty tame before they hit our shoreline shells. Walking into the water, you have to have water shoes to protect from stepping on any of these…. 
  

My dear blog and birthday buddy Sally C. picked a lovely shade of blue for the doors of  -Once Upon A Tide-   It’s called Southern Belle #819 –  Perfect, as she’s a southern belle herself. 
 Another that caught my attention is Old Navy…
 Once the siding is up I’ll have a better idea of the right shade.  Opinions?  Leave em! 
Have a good day all, and as always, thanks for stopping by. 
Karen

Deck and patio –

 In typical fashion, M is full steam ahead with the cottage renovation. This week is all about the backyard and deck.  There was a deck stretched out over the water, not attached to the house,  that looked more like a play pen than a water structure.   We removed it as it was pretty intrusive on the landscape and gave the next door neighbors NO privacy in their own yard.  Instead, we’re installing a blue stone patio up higher in the yard.  A  rock wall was built to raise the ground level so we have even ground there. The stones were taken from our farm, so a little bit of This Old House is present.  The second step down will be a garden next Spring.  

The little island you see below out there in the cove has an occupant, a house sits on the rocks – a very tranquil setting but they need a small boat to come and go. That’s a nuisance if you run out of milk or toilet paper or want to go get the Sunday paper, don’t ya think?  Especially if it’s raining.

 We will need to install a railing once the patio is complete. Still tossing around what kind. Each cottage owner seems to have a different preference, so there are a jumble of different railing looks out there.   Should we try to match either of the abutting neighbors so there is some uniformity or do our own thing.

  The decks looked sturdy enough, but upon further investigation there was rot and sagging supports, so M opted to replace them.  We can’t expand on the size but we can fortify it and make the railing a little less imposing.  The lattice under the porches and house frame will be white to match the trim on the house, square design.  The deck will match the light grey stained cedar shingle siding.  I’m looking for a beautiful deep rich blue for the doors.  If you’re bored, google  Benjamin Moore exterior paints and go through the blue hues… there are a zillion to choose from, but I’m looking for a dark but not too dark, rich vibrant blue…..  tell me what you suggest.  Each color has a name, some of them comical.  

  I drove down there this morning to check on progress and take some pics. I cannot express accurately the calm that washes over  us all when we approach the community and drive along its small one lane road among the trees and water views and small cottages, each with it’s own personality. I love the pots of flowers, the little handmade signs, the buoys hanging from garages, the seashells that adorn window ledges, clam rakes leaning on shed walls.  This place does not put on the airs that a wealthy waterfront community does. You don’t feel any NO TRESPASSING vibes….  you feel like you’ve transcended time, back to the days when the average working family could afford a little seaside retreat.  1935 to be exact.  
 I  stood in front of this tiny house and said a Thank You to the Universe.   I put my hand on her doorknob and let her know  we will be very good to her and hope to share many memories under her eaves and out on her landscape.  I promised to honor her quirks as we fortify her very being. 
 
 Once upon a tide.. there was a young girl who dreamed of a little cottage by the sea…… 

Once Upon A Tide…….

       T’is true, I am a water girl. Born a Pisces, don’t ya know.  M & I have often taken long drives in search of that dream of owning a second home – something small and in a location where our family could rest and relax and enjoy the beauty of nature without the crowds, away from the pressures of work and farm and Hillary vs. Trump  OMG WILL IT EVER END. 

*Ahem.    
   Anyway…. over the years we’ve researched a lakefront cabin in Vermont, a small house on Martha’s Vineyard, a Florida Condo right on the ocean, gulf side.  We’ve scanned real estate brochures when on vacation and even spoke with a few realtors in various locations.  We looked at properties along our shores just miles from here in several different towns.  The problem with all those options is there is no such thing as a bargain even if the place is falling apart, because the taxes will kill you if the purchase price doesn’t.  The Vineyard has always been my first choice, but the price of homes has skyrocketed as the island has become more popular with Presidents and celebrities and people like you and me.  If we were going to do that, we should have done it 20 years ago.  Another factor is the commute.  I don’t want to have to drive hours on end to get to that peaceful relaxation place.  M is Type A all the way, and he would want to keep his watchful eye on it and do any maintenance himself.  We’ve got this farm and animals to care for and he runs a very busy company.  Getting away -ain’t easy- so long rides (or flights!)  to check up on a place would be hard to accomplish.   
  My mom has rented a little cottage for the past five years in a little community on the shore just a hop in the car and 20 minutes from here.  The beauty of that community is it’s right on the water and the cottages, when purchased, are AFFORDABLE.  The hitch is… they are on land owned by an old old family dating back to the 1600’s.  AND.. they rarely come available for sale.  AND.. if you ever get the urge to rebuild or expand that 1930’s cottage, you can’t do it.   These cottages have to remain as they are, seasonal, and within their current footprint. Meaning you can’t go up or out or live there year round. AND.. there’s a waiting list.  
  For five years we’ve watched the market, asked around, looked and listened for a possible availability.  A  little bird told us there was an older gentleman who owned one of these cottages and although he loved the place dearly,  his wife wasn’t feeling the love.  I thought… Hmmm… what harm would it do to write him a letter.  So I did.  And he responded.  Had to think on it. (OMG he’s thinking on it!)  So we waited. And waited.  Until finally he returned with a “why don’t you come look at the place and we’ll talk”. 
   Long story a little shorter, we are now the proud owners of a little 700 sq ft. rustic ( and I mean RUSTIC) cottage tucked in a cove off Long Island Sound.   Mike has begun doing what he does best, I’ll share the transformation here.  Keep in mind, we cannot alter the footprint of the cottage, can’t go up or out, nor can we winterize it. 
 Ready for the tour?…. 
Roadside…. the “neighborhood”  is basically a giant rock outcropping consisting mostly of woods and ledge  with a small one-lane road that meanders along it’s coast.  The speed limit is 15 miles an hour and in summer the road is  populated by dog walkers and bicycle riders and pedestrians of all ages.
  Our cottage is a 1935 model. This is the before shot. There is no foundation.  Notice the sagging roof lines. Last week all the cedar posts that were holding it up underneath were replaced. Talk about a dirty job.    

 Below photo is the view from the water…

UNRELATED:  we have a tiny family dispute going, help us with the argument.  Some of us say the front of the house is the street side with the front door, porch and garage. Some of us say the front of a waterfront house is always the WATER side.   What say you?

We have removed all that latticework and the deck is next. The plan is to replace the lattice and  the deck, porch (with the same footprint) and reside with cedar shingle, replace windows and doors and possibly roof.  A new garage door is coming as well.

   It starts………….     
Front porch – screens removed, about to undergo a face-lift. Notice the bunnies next to the bench.  Quite a few little creatures where left behind by the previous owner.  They’ll continue to live here with us.  

Bedroom

Living Room

Bedroom – one of the few things we kept from the previous owner was this awesome bed frame.

Kitchen – the cabinets and that awesome farm house sink will stay.

The wall behind the stove/fridge will be removed – the view will be the living room out to the water, opening up the living space quite a bit.

The bathroom, also about to get a facelift.

The deck  – will be replaced but maintain same “footprint”.

Gas stove in living room, the only heat source.

Some lovely onion lights will remain.

as will all these critters….. 

 Our stairway to the water..

 our platform at the base of the stairs… will make kayak entry a breeze. 

A panoramic view from the yard.. distorted because of the angle but you get the idea

 This picture was taken at very low tide, and revealed we have two oyster beds right in front of the cottage – 
 Coming and going from the community, these are our views… amazing. 
SO.. off we go.  Once Upon A Tide.. there was a little cottage in need of a little TLC…. 

Woodstock, Vermont

     Last weekend we treated the kids and their significant others to a weekend at the Woodstock Inn in Vermont – sort of an early Christmas present.  The Guy and I visited for the first time last February and loved it so much we knew the kids would appreciate it too.   So we booked last weekend well in advance, as it is indeed “Leaf Peeping Season” here in New England.  That means the tourists flood in from all over to see Autumn in all it’s splendor.    When I used that term in the truck on the way up to the Inn, the kids were hysterical with laughter because apparently I used SUCH A DWEEBY TERM!   LEAF PEEPING… A HAHAHAHAHAAAA MOM!!!…      Apparently they haven’t been on earth long enough to know  IT IS A THING –  and I proved it at the gift shop in the center of the INN when the person working the store used the term “Leaf Peepers” referring to the crowds.    A HA! At the very least, I’m not the only DWEEB.    
     Anyway… The Inn is spectacularly New England, the food really good (two restaurants and bars within) and the accommodations wonderful.  The bedding alone is worth the stay.  There are many places for small groups to gather in the halls, entry ways, gathering places…. game rooms, library, the spa which we didn’t even see….   So, even if the weather were miserable outside, the Inn is a holiday all it’s own.  I highly recommend it.  
 Quechee Gorge, the largest in Vermont.   Let me tell ya ’bout that hike down the hill from that bridge you see there.. actually the down was easy.. the going back UP… well.   My calves still haven’t forgiven me. 

Brave kiddo.. notice how the rest of us are dressed… 
The Inn…. 

 The main hall….

 Game room on lower level… these two attempting vintage pacman…

Billings Farm and Museum just behind town… 

   We did some cow kissing and some Pumpkin Ice Cream making….. 

 … and lots of admiring the beautiful scenery.

   It was a wonderful three day weekend spent with this crew.  I love these kids more than they will ever fully understand. What a blessing it is to be together enjoying each others company.   We almost.. ALMOST… got through the mini vacation without talking politics.  That lovely town hall debate happened to be on the tube (insert kids hysterical laughter at moms use of yet another DWEEB term, ’cause it’s coming, I’m sure) on our second nights stay… and we watched in utter horror  or giddy glee.  One thought it was horrendous  .. the other thought it – went well-.   You can guess who’s who in this house, can’t ya.

 Thank you, my family… for a wonderful, wonderful weekend of togetherness.  Thank you to my Guy for treating us all. It’s a beautiful thing.    Except for the Trump signs.  WHY in a Bernie state were there so many Trump signs?!  That’s not really a question, I don’t want to know.