Well, summertime is vacation time and I am thrilled to share with you MY just-passed vacation. Everyone here at work graciously "allowed" me to take even more time away - this time, however, strictly for my own fun.

 

The timing was PERFECT, as the women I rode across the United Sates with were going to be crossing my home state of Vermont.  I had originally planned to be riding with them but, well, things come up and so my plans, um, changed.

 

And while my friends did laundry and caught up with the things you cannot do as you are riding, I slipped away to The Addison County Fair and Field Days, a good, old-fashioned local fair, with 4H kids showing cows (like these) and sheep and horses and cakes and such.

 

Give us a call by noon and we'll have your dinners ready by 3. You can come until 7.

 

828-252-1500

 

Monday, August 15

Parmesan Chicken with Orzo 6.50

 

Tuesday, August 16

Fried Green Tomato “Stacks” with Cole Slaw 6.25 (GF)

 

Wednesday, August 17

Hickory Nut Gap Beef Brisket Pot Roast 10.95

 

Thursday, August 18

Elsie’s Chicken Baked in Wine with Noodles 7.95

 

Friday, August 19

Here is this week's casserole:

 

Wednesday, August 17

 

Roasted Cauliflower and Green Bean Casserole

With a Cheddar Cheese and Leek Sauce

Whole: 30 Half: 15

 

And this week's Lasagna is:

 

Friday, August 19

Roasted Eggplant and Zucchini Lasagna

Whole: 38 Half: 19

 

A good county fair has to have a baking contest, right?  This fair had that AND all sorts of little exhibits.  I really liked watching the old machines doing things like cutting wood and making hay and separating from oats from its chaff. 

 

Once my friends pedaled on toward Bar Harbor, I drove to Burlington for another visit.  On the way, and very early for my expected time of arrival, my eyes caught sight of a pick-your-own berry farm.  Blueberries are in season in Vermont and so I poked in and out of the rows, eating a handful of one of the four varieties they grew, and putting a handful into my bucket. 

 

I LOVE this pizza.  I buy it here in the frozen food section, and go to the Vermont restaurants whenever I can.  In this case I managed to convince my biking friends AND my Burlington friend to make a pilgrimage along with me.

 

August 13, 2011

 

Hello to you on this fine warm Saturday. As you can see, I am now back from a wonderful week in Vermont. It might have been the perfect trip. Yes, I think it was.

 

I flew up there on Sunday, made all the connections and was in my car by noon, 20 minutes ahead of schedule. I drove south and pulled up to my Vermont family’s home at around 2. Visited for an hour or so and drifted off into a good nap. Got up, had fresh corn for dinner along with a local draft beer which was just what I needed to lull me off to sleep, the breeze making my bedroom's curtains flutter just enough.

 

Day 2 included visits to the furniture building factory of my Vermont family and also rich visits with two of their children, my almost brothers. I spent lots of time with them as I was growing up and seeing them and meeting their children is a big deal. Of course they grow quickly so it’s a trick to meet them at their current place in their lives. All with them is good.

 

Day 3 was the day of surprising my biker friends. I got a bunch of them on the first ferry, two more on the second ferry, a couple more on the next ferry (it is only 7 minutes from one side of the lake to the other at that point) and then got the remaining 4 once they pedaled up to the night’s resting spot. Great screaming and laughing and hugging prevailed. I was filled to my brim with their affection. I’m not exactly lacking in affection these days, but it was really, really fun to just have that much excitement and enthusiasm and appreciation and love. They SAY they’re coming here for 4th of July next year. That’ll be fun! They are a terrific bunch.

 

Day 4 was Fair day, followed by the pizza night and strolling in the town of Middlebury. And Day 5 was farewell to the bikers, on to the berry land and finally to Burlington and a grand visit with a close friend there. Strolling in the downtown I heard my name and had a nice visit with – someone from Asheville! Fun to add that in!

 

Day 6 was the day of coming home. All connections went well, and I was in my house, napping, lulled by a pounding rain, by 4. Not only that, but some Laurey’s friends even came to my house and weeded while I was gone. Amazing!!!!!!!

 

This, my friends, is what is meant by vacation. No worry. No stress. No fear. No concern. No pressure. No doctors or nurses (though they are all nice people it is nice to have a break.) Nothing bad. Only good. Love. Friends. Family. Food. Life.

 

Connie and I rode our bicycles together for almost every single mile across the southern tier of the United States.  I was sad to realize that this northern tier ride would not include me.  Connie and crew have kept me in their thoughts, calling on rest days and whenever they are at an independent restaurant (I hounded them into avoiding fast food on our ride!)