Hello, Snow!

Tucked away under my down blanket, with the woodstove working quietly away at warming the entire house, I had no idea that another blanket was working its way to me in Vermont. I arose to 3.5 inches of snow, turning my rainbow colored landscape into one of purity and grace. The trees were laden with icy frosting, and the only markings in the lawn were that of some wildlife that had wondered through during the dusting process overnight. Outside, it was warmer than yesterday, but snow gently fell all around me. In the hush, the snapping of limbs under the weight of the snow and the wind in the treetops was eerily soothing. I took my own sweet time preparing for my departure, sure that I'd seen the best of what Vermont had to offer, both in the sense of fall and of winter. My Vermont reawakening comes to an end, but the memories of the brisk air and my peaceful time here will carry me through the long months to come in the heated desert I call home.

Hiking in Waterbury

Rosemary, Lucy (the dog) and I took a hike through Waterbury on Sunday afternoon after I got my pie making out of the way (apple pie for Sunday night). The trail we took was through an area that used to be farmlands in the 1800s, and several ruins were marked of various landowners' homes. We found one cemetery with headstones dating back to the 1700s for births and 1800s for deaths. Most of the folks either lived into their 70s or died before the age of 5! There were 6 unmarked headstones, very small, and we're wondering if those were for stillborns. Very moving. The trail was mostly empty, probably because it was seriously uphill and set the calves a raging! But it was worth the burn -- breathtaking in its beauty. Had a lovely dinner and turned in early -- too tired after that long hike!

New England in its Glory

The drive up to Vermont was an overload for the eyeballs with reds, oranges, greens, yellows, and browns all on full display. Each time you look out from the car, you are sure you are seeing the most gorgeous view anyone could ever see -- picture postcard perfect . . . something out of photoshop -- and then you go a mile or two and see something even more impressive. Awestruck is the only way to describe it. Splashes of color hang from every tree-lined street as we make our way to the house. Mountains and valleys, range after range, wash your soul in the glory of fall and the majesty of God's creation. For a desert girl, it's the stuff dreams are made of!

My hostesses, Barbara and Rosemary, are having an addition put onto their home, so we had one temporary wall on the west side of the house and a huge hole where their new mud room, dining room, and deck will be. After removing the sheets from the furniture and discovering the new hot water heater wasn't hooked up yet, we quickly got a fire started in the woodstove and huddled around it until the house warmed up a bit. Barb grilled mouth-watering steaks and we added a salad of homegrown lettuce and tomatoes, some homegrown beets and voila -- dinner! A Gator win over LSU was just what we needed for dessert! Rosemary arrived about 10:00 p.m. after attending a wedding in Connecticut and then driving up. An incredible start to the Columbus Day weekend.

Boston Starting to Change...

The age-old trees stand as stoic sentinels along the streets and parks of the Boston area, watching over the little ones playing, the dogs walking and running with their owners, the grey squirrels scrambling for acorns to take them through the winter, and the students walking to Boston University through the light drizzle of rain that comes down today. Here and there, a maple sounds the alert that winter is coming with its firey red leaves on full display. Other trees have pockets of color mixed in with large green masses, hinting that the cold and snow are just around the corner. It's a beautiful time for exploring, reflecting, and breathing in the sights and sounds of this wonderful old city.

Later this afternoon we head to Vermont, allegedly at its peak of color for the season. We'll fell a few trees, do a little hiking, ride the tractor to mow the field, cut some firewood, and settle into the quiet life of days gone by. Gee, it's great to be retired!

God's Glorious Gifts

While driving home from Costco today, I was struck by the incredible gifts presented for my enjoyment in the evening sky. In the east, the full moon was rising over the mountains, silhouetting the desert landscaping. To the west, streaks of orange and gold were painted among the clouds as the sun set on this cooler fall day. God is truly good to have created all of this for our enjoyment. Wonder how many people took the time to say thanks...I know I did.