August 24: Welcome to Vermont

This morning we left the hotel and looked down the hill to see this beautiful site.  It is looking back at New York.  Lake Champlain is what divides the states.  We did not take the ferry, but it was an option.

The photos that follow are of what we saw as we approached Fairfax, VT.  This is where we will be living for the next year.







Back of the classroom shops

The next group of photos is all about why we are in Vermont in the first place.  We left our trailer in the back area at the Vermont Woodworking School.  So that is the first photo.

 Note that I had Kevin pose for one shot so that everyone would be able to recognize him in later posts.  For those who have seen him in the past 36 years, this is one of the few times he has been without a mustache.  We had a deal that he would reveal his whole face to me after retirement.  (Don't think he will keep it off and am expecting a beard to match.)

We don't seem to be able to stop at one thing, so we decided to travel up through Smuggler's Notch and on to Stowe.  The plan was lunch, a quilt shop, and wait for it..................

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BEN AND JERRY'S  ice cream factory tour which included sampling a new ice cream!

The drive up the Notch was interesting.  There seemed to be a number of switchbacks to negotiate.  Glad the trailer stayed at the school.  We also saw a unique treatment of hail bails---wrapped in white plastic.  There rest of the photos are just for your enjoyment of that part of the trip.

In Stowe, VT, we enjoyed all the sightseeing available and promised ourselves more outings to see what the area has to offer.  We when to one quilt shop called Stowe Fabric and Yarn.  This place would satisfy my knitting friends and  my friends that love but don't make quilts.  There was not nearly the quantity of fabrics as we have found in some shops, but they did have a nice selection.

We ate lunch in a small town.  We are keeping menus of all the places so we will have places to recommend.  The lunch was wonderful and filling.  Kevin seems to be a little anxious that he had eaten too much to truly enjoy all the ice cream offerings of the day.  I told him he would need to pace himself because we are hear for about a year!  We enjoyed  few minutes of antiquing, but as usual did not buy anything.  Love the memories but don't need more "stuff".

Off to Ben and Jerry's next.  The tour was interesting, the taste was filling, and the extra scoop of Cherry Garcia completely made the day for my husband.  Kevin smiled for a long time afterwards.  Visitors will definitely be going with us to that stop!

The drive back to our new home area was done on the interstate.  Not nearly as twisty as the road up through Smuggler's Notch, but beautiful, as well.  Fall leaves arrive in about a month.

Our second and last quilt shop of the day. Yankee Pride Quilts in Essex Junction, may well be the shop that I use most often while we are here.  The owner already shared information about an area guild and may have enticed me to take a mystery quilt class if time permits.   They have a little of everything that I love!.

I only purchased two fat quarters today.  There are re two other shops fairly close by, so we may check them out today, but then we start moving into our apartment, so I will be looking for drapery fabrics for a while.

Tomorrow I will share all the information about this cool bed and breakfast and also share a few of the apartment after we have a tour.  We hope to be moving in on Friday.