A Lot Growing On In The MRV

Despite the cranky weather, this summer is offering up a bounty.

Happiness is a hand full of favorites.

Life is sweet.

Celebrating Summer in the MRV

When it comes to summer weekends this one was a winner, hands down. We should include Thursday's and Friday's more often. 

Thursday ~

Warren 4th Of July Parade

Friday ~ dinner out with my loves at Peasant and dancing to the Sierra Leon Allstars at Local Folk Smokehouse.

Saturday ~

Birthday Paddle on the Mad, cupcakes included (thanks, Dar) 

Sunday ~

Mad Marathon 2013

Yes, Monday smarts a little, but it was worth it.

Happy Birthday America

I love birthdays, don't you?

See you at the Warren 4th of July Parade.

If I Was You

I'd be circling July 20th on my calendar and saving up my appetite 'cause there's some mighty fine food and wine showing up on this table.

Dine al fresco among the East Warren Community Market community gardens and enjoy the collaboration of talents and foods featuring six local chefs and farms.

Tickets are available at Bridge Street Butchery, East Warren Community Market and online at ewcmfarm2table.eventbrite.com.

For updates and a peek at menu teasers visit EWCM's Farm to Table facebook event page here.

I can't wait.

Rain Forest?

Nah, just a forest in the rain.

Down In The Valley

A Sunday evening stroll into the village for a night of pure Vermont musical brilliance.

A remarkable show

Phantom Music Series is serving up an impressive lineup of musicians from Vermont and beyond and right here in our very own valley.
Make it a date, you deserve it!

Just Ducky

I had a dragging my feet kind of wander in the woods today. How come? Well, last week my best friend alerted me our much-anticipated hatching of my the Robin Moth would not transpire and on my way into the woods I stopped and examined the empty chrysalis. That's how come.

"I hope you enjoyed your jolly green giant of a snack... Whoeveryouare." 

No Body Home

So there I am in the middle of the woods and out of nowhere (or so it seemed) this big bodied bird flew right over my head landing high in a tree top. I was certain it was an owl until he reached his perch and I recognized it was a duck. 

That's him.

I zoom in to get a better look.

Oh my, this is not just any old duck. 

Welcome to the neighborhood Mr. Wood Duck. He is some kind of marvelous, don't you think?

Thank you, Momma Nature for putting the spring back in my step.

And this new little point and shoot, looks like we are going to be close friends.

Seasons Come

And seasons go.

Isn't that one of Vermont's specialties?

The snow has left my yard and most of the low level hills that border my home.  Peepers and Wood frogs sing an almost deafening chorus of amphibian lust competing with bird songs and the joyful shouts of little league supporters (heybattabatta) wafting up from Couples Field. The air is almost warm and the sun is doing its best.

An early spring wandering in the forest today rewarded me with the delightful discovery of a favorite wild edible. Last year was our introduction to this native vegetable and I am thrilled to have found a patch so close to home. I select only a handful for supper tonight.

Wild leeks/ramps ~ Allium Tricoccum

Oh summer... the anticipation is something fierce and spring is just what I need to tide me over.

And Spring arose on the garden fair, 

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast

Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

~ An excerpt from “The Sensitive Plant” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Off in search of something good ~ have a happy spring.

A Gem of a Day

With plenty of snow in the higher elevations and sunny warm days ahead, conditions are setting up for some delightful spring skiing. The Revolution trail, just west of the Blueberry Lake overflow, was perfect for a quick middle of the day ski break with my husband and daughter.

It won't last long and before we know it bikes will be replacing our skis.

Oh yeah... Spring and Summer are on their way. 

New Kid On The Block

My trusty sidekick of the last six years has retired (into my Mr best friend's pocket). 

Say hello to my new friend. 

You've got some big shoes to fill, I'll have you know. 

Sleeping Beauty

Are you really still in there?

It's just shy of six months since you bound yourself in silk and leaves and transformed from a Looney Tune jolly green giant of a caterpillar into a rich brown nugget like pupa and fell into a deep winter sleep. Tempted as I am to peek inside your wondrous little nest, I won't. But I can guess someone else has.

I thought so.

Source

Remember when you were this most flamboyant larva?

There's A Caterpillar In The Crabapple Tree

I only hope I'm around to welcome your hatching. Until then, I'll keep waiting and watching and waiting and...

~Out To Lunch

A thumbs up from the boss and we're off... into the wild and wonderful.

Everyone deserves a lunch break. Make it a good one... make it a fun one.

Oh Happy Day!

It's a snow day!

Let's eat,

 drink,

and go skiing.

And when we're done, let's do it again.

What's on your plate?

Do Not Be Alarmed

This is only a blip... a singularity, better known as the "January thaw".

Winter's not done with us yet. 

Living In the Boonies

I made a quick stop at our local grocer on Sunday to grab a few staples: bread (hurray for Cyrus Pringle), cheese, coffee, and Jameson's (time to make some more Irish cream). A visiting couple ahead of me was passing back and forth their cell phone sharing a call. I couldn't help but overhear "We're in the boonies, skiing the Sugarbush, up in Vermont".

In the boonies, my town? What in tarnation did they mean by that?

Wikipedia says~

The word boonies referring to the term Boondocks was introduced to English by American military personnel serving in the Philippines during the early 20th century, a derivative of the Tagalog word Bundock meaning mountain. A term that evolved into American slang used to refer to the countryside and rural, isolated wilderness. Not to mention as an adjective it can mean "ignorant", "uncultured", "illiterate", or "naive".  

I'm pretty certain their statement wasn't derogatory, more likely referring to the valley as rural isolated wilderness. Rural I agree with: no stop lights, more gravel roads than paved, rolling hills dotted with cows and sheep and yaks and pigs and horses and kids and dogs, a gazillion acres of gardens (in season) and flanked by mountains as far as the eye can see. Isolated wilderness? If you were to ask the skier that was chased by the Bull Moose at Sugarbush a couple weeks back, he might swear to you "this is one savage place". But other than an occasional visit from a run amok critter we live in a fairly civilized modern community. It just happens to be full of knock your socks off beauty and a lot of friendly down home people. And if that's what makes it the boonies then I'm down with that.