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.....
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:
It may be a common elderberry -- look here:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Elderberry.html
Elizabeth D
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?
Yes, more photos please! It looks so beautiful! I can understand why you'd feel sad to leave.
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....!!
that was a fun week!
why does it say my name is Anonymous!!!!!!!!?????????
its me gus
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.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
(That was my comment I deleted - doesn't it look all OMINOUS???)
Beige - can't wait to dish on all the St J news!!
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