My Love Affair with Vermont

I hadn't set foot in Vermont since I was in high school, driving around New England with my Dad on our tour of potential colleges.  My this summer, fate brought me twice to Southern Vermont, and I hope to make it an annual trip.  I know Montana is Big Sky Country, but Vermont feels fresh and expansive in a way I hadn't expected.  

My first trip was in July to a beautiful farmhouse in Londonderry.  You can see those pictures in my July post.  If you missed it, the question that trip answered Is whether there anything better than a bunch of adults with a virtually unlimited supply of booze and a complete disregard for safety when exploding fireworks?  That, all going down in a really beautiful setting.  (There is not).

I was invited to go again over the last weekend of August, and couldn't wait to see another part of this great state.  A quick return to a place where you can't take two steps without tripping over maple syrup and bacon?  Yes please.  Another car full of fantastic travel companions, and I was on my way again.  Staying in a cabin south of Burlington, we had a great launching off location for all kinds of fun, from sailing to the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory to swimming in Lake Champlain.  

I am very taken with giant animals that are sweet and look like muppets.  Vermont has them!  

Ollie the camel lives by the side of the road.   He's pretty great.  Taken with my iPhone, cause it's not high art.  I just wanted a selfie with a camel.  

The nice alpaca farmer let us visit with his beautiful herd (is it a herd?) of these cartoon-y guys and gals.  As my buddy Lee Ann would say, "they have great hair-dos."

The view from the cottage.  Pretty spectacular.  

If the vessel is worthy, this one will sail.

Yaaaay cabining.

Apple farm.  All the cider. 

Some days the lake was glass.

Sometimes we had some chop.  A view from inside the lake.  

Unscathed by Champy, the Loch Nessian creature that lives in the lake.

I'll never forget the moment I took this picture.  I was kind of freaking out about the expansive sky and natural beauty and happiness.  Then, from the backseat, I hear.  "Hey guys, I just carted.  That's when you cough and fart at the same time."