A Place of our Own

I have not posted in FOREVER! But I am sitting here tonight and finally felt like writing for a bit. August was a long time ago. A really long time ago, it seems. August is when my sister came to live with us. This morning she and her husband moved out. Not too far away, just down to the end of the street. They will be house sitting at our neighbors' for the next 3 and a half months while they are in California. And while they try to find a house to buy. I have had a really great time while they were here. It was nice to come home from work on days when she was off to find dinner nearly ready, and dessert baked and waiting on the counter. It was fun to sit around at the table after dinner chatting about our customers, how busy we had/had not been at work. It was wonderful to share doing the dishes after we ate, and to shop together for groceries once in awhile. We still can't believe that my brother-in-law moved in nearly 6 months ago, and my sister almost 4 months ago. The time went quickly, but then our work schedules were such that we rarely had the same days off. In fact, we think that yesterday may have been one of the only days that all four of us were all off. We went to breakfast at our old favorite, My T Fine, because our favorite waitress was back working for the day. We came home to do some laundry and they packed up their things in anticipation of the move. Then my sister and I made homemade pasta with her pasta machine, meatballs, and bread. We had a roaring fire going because it was brutally cold and windy outside. We wrapped gifts and knitted and chatted. We all ate dinner together by the fire with a nice bottle of wine to mark the end of this chapter, and to celebrate the fact that we were all still talking at the end of it all. I miss my sister 😢. But guess what? They are going to come here for Thanksgiving Dinner!!! And next Tuesday she has invited me to dinner over at their new house! I think, maybe, we will still manage to see each other pretty often. And now, maybe I will have more time to do things alone, like writing posts and reading books.

Dog Days of Summer

Yes, this is a Dog Day kind of afternoon! Normally we think of the Dog Days of Summer as those hot, sticky, muggy August afternoons when it feels like summer will never end, and you are trying to enjoy every last second of the lazy mood before the new season kicks in. Most vacations have come and gone, visitors have packed their baggage and returned home, and the new school season in on your mind, but only the TV commercials seem to accept the fact that its just around the corner. I can remember shopping for new school clothes in August with my mom when I was young. Of course we started out the new year in our summer clothes, so we were looking for fall and winter items that she would put on layaway until the weather turned colder. There must not have been air conditioning in the stores way back then, because I know I would try on winter coats and just agree to the first one so I didn't have to roast trying on any more. 

Today, though, it is a fabulous day. Sunny, mild 70's, and a light breeze. Going to breakfast this morning we saw patches of leaves beginning to change into their fall colors. The mornings are cool and the days mild, but we know what is on its way. I am sitting out on the patio enjoying the gorgeous view out the windows, watching the yellow finches at the bird feeder. It is so nice out here. This is my favorite place in the house at this time of the year.

And here is a picture of the cows being moved across the driveway this morning to graze in the other meadow. They love moving to a new field. 

There are only 11 cows out there, but it looks like lots more. One is a bull who is doing his best to make sure that the heifers out there produce new babies in the spring. We know we have a glorious autumn coming, and then the long, cold winter, but all is good up here in the north!

Summer Changes

Last week was Summer. From Sunday thru early Saturday it was hot, humid and miserable. We had 6 days of temperatures in the 90's, lots and lots of storms, and blazing sun when it wasn't raining. We often get hot spells like that, and they sometimes last for several days in a row, so I wouldn't consider it strikingly unusual. Tourists, however, were pretty surprised, especially those who thought they were heading north for cooler weather. They should have travelled south to Dallas. Sunday and Monday their highs were only in the 70's. Friday it was 98° when I drove thru Burlington and got on the highway. As I travelled home the temperature dropped to 70 by the time I pulled onto our road. The rains came about an hour later. Sunday was really nice. Cooler, drier and less humidity.

Today, it felt like Autumn. It was pretty sunny and nice in town, but still only 70° when I left work. It was cloudy, breezy and 57° when I got home. The house felt chilly and all the windows were closed up. I put pants on and now I have a long sleeve top on! I know it will still warm up,  but most of the daytime highs in the week ahead are only in the 70's, with an 80 here and there. Just like that, we forget that week of super hot weather, and we start to think about the colors changing on the trees and apples and pumpkins! It can change so quickly here, but that's what makes it fun too.

Other changes will be happening soon too, along with the change in the season. On Sunday my sister will join her husband in our family room to begin their lives in Vermont. We will all be trying to live together as one happy family until they sell their house in New Hampshire and find another to buy here in Vermont. They will both be living here because they have taken transfers with their jobs, and need to begin working here. My brother-in-law has been here since the first of June, and my sister will start her job on Monday. I know this won't always be easy, I know there will be days we will all be in each other's way, but I'm also excited to be able to have them closer and to share what we love about Vermont with them. A move is one of life's most stressful occasions, and I hope I can help them get thru it as easily as possible. It will be tough on them, and probably us too, but we will make it work, and in no time at all, they will be settled in their wonderful new home, and we will be able to share so much more of our everyday life with them. This is going to work out wonderfully! I will keep you posted!

A Warm, Rainy and Muggy Summer

It's July! Summer is well under way here in Vermont. This one has been very damp and humid, and the forecast shows mostly more of the same for 10 days out. We talk about the weather here. A Lot! Probably because it changes so much. You can never count on days and days of sunshine and consistent temperatures like you can in some parts of the country. I am finding the topic of weather is often brought up at work, especially now that there are so many tourists coming into the store. Many visitors aren't that bothered by the storms we have been having, and like to compare it to what they have at home. Most of the complaints are coming from the Vermonters who know that summer is extra short way up here in the north, and having so many days of unsettled weather means an even shorter time of nice days before the season changes again. Visitors are here for a week or two, and let's face it, no one comes to Vermont, even in July, for beach weather! I would have to say the absolute worst thing about this kind of summer is that the bugs are out in full force, especially the blood-thirsty mosquitoes. They are so horrible this year, everywhere. It's awful just taking the dogs down the driveway for their afternoon walk. One step in the grass and the mosquitoes swarm around the dogs and me. By the time we turn around to come back we run to try to outpace them. Sometimes it works, and other times it doesn't. ...but, it sure is GREEN here!

I did escape to Cape Cod for a few days the end of last month:

This is the beach a block from the house. 12 of us were all together in a big old house my niece and her husband rented. It was so much fun, and a great vacation. All of my and my sister's grandchildren, sister, brother-in-law, 2 daughters, niece and husband. Beach time, play time, book time, super-super meals prepared by a world renowned chef, We had great weather the whole time. A morning or two of fog that burned off by 10, but mostly sunny, warm days perfect for the beach and ice cream. It was exhausting, but a wonderful 5 days filled with lifetime memories for all. 

Magic

I live in a Magical Place!

On my way to work the other day, I snapped this picture of Sadie under the big maple tree. It was overcast, probably had been raining since that seems to be all its doing lately, and she had been laying down until I stopped the car. But something about the way it looks bright behind her, and the contrast of the dark branches and dark calf, and the green, green grass just looks like a fantasy-type place. I have a little elf door at the bottom of a tree across from the house, and I plant flowers around the rock walk way going up to the door. Tiny, little wild strawberries grow all around it. I have never seen an elf near it, but I can imagine them dancing thru the trees. 

The Elf Door

The forest is saturated with moisture this morning, everything dripping with the falling rain, and the leaves hang heavy with the weight of water. And if fog comes rolling in, then it truly seems like magic is happening out there. This is looking into the woods, just past the driveway:

The woods are thick and dense now. You can hardly see thru the trees. And they are probably packed with mosquitoes too. But it looks so mysterious out there, and there are times I can hear something moving around in the trees, but can't see what it is. Often it's just a squirrel or chipmunk, or maybe a turkey. But if you pretend real hard, it could be just about anything...

Snow, Sleet, Sun and Hot

Today is Thursday. Four days ago there was a marathon in Burlington. It was cold, it was freezing and at times the runners were out in sleet. Windy, rainy and 43°. Mount Mansfield had 6-8 inches of snow, and they closed Smuggler's Notch. We turned the heat back on in the house, and wore coats outside. On Monday it was clear, and many of the mountains were white-capped. 

Fast forward to today:

View from the patio I am sitting on.

Sunny, clear blue sky, light breeze and EIGHTY-SIX DEGREES out! Absolutely crazy!  The high tomorrow is 90. What a turnaround. But its beautiful out here, and I like the warm weather. I love sitting out here, taking it easy, listening to the birds and smelling all the flowers that are opening up. There are lilies of the valley, lilacs, wild roses and honeysuckle in bloom. It's hot, but its not like the heat of summer in July or August, its still a fresh heat. It is still spring, after all. And what else happens in spring? You go out in the meadow and find this:

Nellie had her little heifer this morning. She is about 2 hours old in this picture. Here's a close-up:

We don't have a name yet, but have suggested "Brussels" to go with the other calf out there called "Sprout!"

Tomorrow is the start of Jazz Fest at work. We love this Festival. It is so much fun having the live music right outside our door. And it is supposed to be hot and sunny, so perfect for sitting outside enjoying the sounds. I think we'll eat at Leunig's Restaurant on Wednesday afternoon. It should be fun. It's been busy at the store, so I hope it continues. Life is good.

Welcome Little Sprout!

Little Sprout and his mommy, Beth

The cows are back in our meadow for the summer. Meet Sprout, who is only 6 days old. He is so cute running all around out there in the tall grass. When he lies down, you can barely see his head above the green. We also have 3 other full grown cows, and one of them, Nellie, is pregnant, and she should calf any day. Last year we didn't have the calves in our meadow, and sadly, neither one of them survived the winter. We are hoping that with our wonderful meadow, the mommies will graze all summer and give very nutritious milk so the little ones have a better chance of making it. It is fun to see them out there as I drive in and out. Cows on one side and horses on the other. Makes me feel like I live in the country! Oh, that's right, I do!

And, speaking of little ones, here's another one out grazing in the meadow!

(I borrowed this one from his mommy's blog!)

And here are a few more cutie pie little ones: 

Ahhhhh, Spring Time is wonderful!