Vermont Trip

Earlier this month, Mrs and I headed back to Vermont for a week of R&R at a wonderful AirBNB. We stayed here a year ago. We were not certain about going at all this year given the drawn out mess of the pandemic. Our county in Massachusetts was still in good enough shape for Vermont to allow us in with little restriction. This place is in West Windsor off of a typical Vermont dirt road.

View of Mount Ascutney from the back deck of the house.

The iconic and very well-know Sleepy Hollow Farm in Pomfret. I believe this is the most photographed farm in Vermont.  

Luna and Harry joined us. We do not travel without them. 

Since we are in Vermont so much, I decided it was time to get my own unofficial State Car of Vermont. This is our fourth Subaru, but my first. Really good car and travels the back roads and highways very well. 

Mrs has been dabbling in pottery recently and here is one of her mugs! 

The foliage color was not as amazing as last year likely due to the drought we have been going through in the northeast. Still, we enjoyed our time and being away was the point. 

So, a quick update to see if this format still works. I have an old post still in drafts that I should probably work on. This is the first post on my laptop. Clearly I am having difficulty with the format as some of the type is centering on the images and some, like this, is not. Working on it. Peace.

A New Beginning?

For a while I've been considering moving the blog to a new format because I get the feeling that Blogger is really "buggy" and has some limitations. Is that correct? Can I still safely write and post here? I miss blogging and sharing, and I recently gave up my Facebook page.

If anyone is still reading this, I'd love to hear from you and find out your thoughts on Blogger.

Peace,

Another Nor'easter

Once again, we are under the gun for a significant storm beginning at about midnight. We may start as a bit of rain, but expect it to change quickly to snow. Expecting heavy, wet snow all day with winds of 40 - 60 mph. Forecast is for 14 - 20 inches of snow along the coast including and especially here on the Upper Cape.

This will be the most significant snowfall of the winter. I thought we were going to skate through the winter, but apparently that's not the case.

Honestly, we've had some really crazy storms, featured by crazy winds.
As I noted earlier today though, this too shall melt.

Blasted

So the Nor'easter I mentioned in my last post did not disappoint. Numerous trees were downed through the area. Gusts of over 90 mph did a good deal of damage. We even lost a couple shingles from our roof. I've not seen that in my almost 40 years in this place. We had kept all the leftover bundles from the addition 12 years ago when the roof was done, so after a few views of YouTube videos, we successfully made the repairs in between storms. We were without electricity for about 50 or so hours.
We also had a number of stockade fence panels flattened. I spent some of the day yesterday moving them into piles. one pile of undamaged panels that can be used immediately, and one pile that needs some repair. We'll see. I'm not sure we will replace it along the driveway, and opt for a 'living fence" instead.

As I type, another storm is on the way. This one should not be as bad with wind gusts around 50 mph.

Snuck in a workout at the gym this morning. Now to spend a little time with the dogs.

March In Like a Lion

Arrived home after midnight this morning in the beginnings of another nor'easter. Spattering of rain, freshening wind, etc. Woke to rain smacking the windows, a dull roar of wind and a song sparrow singing away as though it was a warm, sunny spring day.

It's been a year and a month since my last post. And that was for a nor'easter. Many reasons why I have not been on, but mainly I'd say it's laziness and technology. Having an iPhone and iPad makes it too easy to not sit in front of the computer and do this, but too difficult to try to load images and type out a post. That and being extremely busy most of the time. Excuses, excuses.

So, here we are. Looking down the barrel of another busy season. I've got too much planned and not enough time, money and organization to make it all happen. That's fine. Dreams are good. If I can make a few of the plans happen I'll take that.

I have many memorable moments from 2017. The one above is near the top for me. A small accomplishment, but one I'd been seeking for some time. In June I began my section hike of The Vermont Long Trail completing Division 1 from the Massachusetts/Vermont Boarder to Vermont Route 9. A good start. A good test. My hope is to continue this journey later this year and hope to complete a few more divisions.

We've had a number of friends, acquaintances and family either become very ill and/or pass recently. These events, while upsetting, are always a wake up call for me. At 48 years old (two years longer than my mother lived.....),  I don't want to wait around until I can't do the things I want to do. My goal is to continue on my healthful, plant-based lifestyle journey, and in fact improve on it. My diet is good but I allow slips here and there that are not necessary and are counter to what I want to be about. I've added a gym membership to my life, which (once I am in there) I have enjoyed.

Anyway, this is enough for now. Laundry needs doing, and food needs prepared before the lights go out with this storm. Oh, and I have a needy pointer's head in my lap demanding attention.

Peace.

February Nor'easter

Anxiously awaiting the change over from rain to snow. The radar image above shows the rain/snow line over the Upper Cape. Looking out the window as I type, it is still raining. Wind speed is also increasing. Inland areas are expecting a widespread area of 12 - 18 inches of snow. Heavier, wetter snow on the coast should keep the accumulations down to around 8 - 12 inches, however I'd rather have lighter, fluffier snow. It's much easier to move around. Combine the heavy snow with the expected high winds and we may lose electricity for a while. Either way, we're ready.