Monday, August 11, 2008

Well, we're back. And counting the days until we can return. This vacation was totally different from our other Vermont vacations - the quiet, the remoteness, the whole mega-nature-y quality of the experience. We're aching to go back. Anyway, here are some random snapshots of our time:

The first night at the Pond we were awakened by the most ghostly, eerie sound I've ever heard. It went on and on. I knew in my rational mind that it was some kind of nature-y thing, but I was also suddenly struck by how isolated we were. Thoughts of chainsaw-wielding madmen, abducting aliens, crazy drifters all raced through my brain as I stared at the ceiling saucer-eyed with terror. Silly suburban girl! The next day we discovered that it was loons. There was a family of them on the Pond. Here they are:

Go here to hear their various calls and listen to them all. Now imagine you're a suburban prissy-pants scaredy-cat mom transplanted into the wilderness. We came to love the loon family, but that first night took a year off my life.

This little plant was next to the house. I will spare you, but I must have taken 16,000 pictures of it - in the sunshine, in the rain, on a cloudy day, covered with dew. I had to make a conscious effort to walk by it after a while. We couldn't find it in our National Geographic book - does anyone know what it is? Here's my favorite picture of it:


On the front porch were two feeders, a regular seed feeder and a hummingbird feeder. There were so many hummingbirds (which we never see at home) that we actually got bored with them. Here's one:


Because we were up in the Northeast Kingdom, we decided to visit Montpelier and Barre. Barre is like the world's largest supplier of granite. The cemeteries are filled with jaw-dropping carving. This one broke my heart it was so beautiful:


Here are Matthew and Gus canoeing on Symes Pond. Gus loved canoeing. They also went fishing, but only Matthew caught a fish. I took Gus out in the rowboat one day. I ambivalently wanted to catch a fish (the competitive part of me) and also really didn't want to catch a fish (because I would have to touch it! And extract the hook!). Even putting on the fake worm-shaped and -textured bait almost made me scream with skeeviness. Wilderness Woman I am not. Anyway, here's a nice shot of the two of them (they're right in the middle. Look how glassy the Pond was!!!):


Sigh. I might subject you to some more snapshots, but it might make me all misty-eyed and sad. I will show you all the knitting I did in another post. I knit up a storm!! In the meantime, 356 days to go.....

9 Comments:

Blogger Elizabeth D said...

It may be a common elderberry -- look here:

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Elderberry.html

Elizabeth D

1:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home! Your loon-listening experience aside, it sounds like you had a wonderful time - and I presume Gus and Matt did too, untroubled as they were by strange nocturnal bird calls. Nothing like a stay in the real woods.
You return to a Phillies team that is still (somehow) in first place. Chase Utley's game-winning HR last night (his first HR in quite a while) may mark a turn-around for him. Hope so! It's off to the West Coast now - and Manny Ramirez.
Did you see where Gavin Floyd won his 12th the other day? Where would that rank him on our club?

4:13 PM  
Blogger CurlyGirl said...

Yes, more photos please! It looks so beautiful! I can understand why you'd feel sad to leave.

7:46 PM  
Blogger diana said...

elizabeth - someone else guessed that it was an elderberry too! i should have gathered some up and made some jelly!

gg - after that first night, the loons were my friends. eek - wish the phillies had hit the dodgers before they got manny.....

cg - you asked for it. i'm going to go find some more....!!

10:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

that was a fun week!



why does it say my name is Anonymous!!!!!!!!?????????

6:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

its me gus

6:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Northeast Kingdom is my home kingdom! I grew up close to St. Johnsbury, we'll have to have some Vermont speak at the knitting shop soon. I can't believe you were there.

8:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

3:34 PM  
Blogger diana said...

(That was my comment I deleted - doesn't it look all OMINOUS???)

Beige - can't wait to dish on all the St J news!!

3:38 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home