Caution!!

CAUTION is right!

Seriously, who on earth was in-charge of the signage on the stowe bike path? This is just silly.

This weekend in Stowe...

It was a pretty eventful weekend here in Stowe - glad I stuck around to enjoy it! The weather was pretty much perfect, aside from a few thunder crackers here and there - Highs in the 80s!
It was 'balloonfest' at Stoweflake Resort and Spa, which is basically in our backyard. That meant all weekend you could walk out the front door to see these HUGE balloons - sometimes they seemed so close you could touch them!! I was thinking how much Ellie and Henry would get a kick out it. Very magical. Very Wizard of Oz.
Last night was a 'concert in the meadow' at Trapps Family Lodge. Pretty awesome. Meike packed a picnic that would knock your socks off - lobster rolls and delicious lemon cake (my absolute favorite).... The music was a bit 'big band' for orchestra, but I still really enjoyed it, but it is really all about the picnic and the vistas and the company - all which were unbeatable! The fireworks at finale were a nice surprise too!!

Always happy we stayed home for dinner

It's tempting to go out after a long day of work - at home. Sometimes we feel like we are crawling the walls and need a change a scenery. But, we are on a budget.... so we often suck it up and stay home most of the time - and we always happy with that decision. Healthier food, no big bill at the end of the meal, and a nice relaxed atmosphere!

Last week, we were tempted to head out the door, but instead, we made halibut (somehow I justify this on my "vegetarian" diet... hmmm).
We made it in the oven with dill, lemon and olive oil - and salt and pepper, of course! We had it with organic red potato, grilled summer squash, steamed broccoli, and a yummy side salad. A little New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc help round it all out.
It was incredibly tasty, healthy and clean.
We'll have to do it again soon!

Thinking about bear logos....

And slowly losing my mind.....

For Jano - Self Portrait by David Whyte

Self Portrait

It doesn't interest me if there is one God
Or many gods.
I want to know if you belong -- or feel abandoned;
If you know despair
Or can see it in others.
I want to know
If you are prepared to live in the world
With its harsh need to change you;
If you can look back with firm eyes
Saying "this is where I stand."
I want to know if you know how to melt
Into that fierce heat of living
Falling toward the center of your longing.
I want to know if you are willing
To live day by day
With the consequence of love
And the bitter unwanted passion
Of your sure defeat.
I have been told
In that fierce embrace
Even the gods
Speak of God.

~ David Whyte ~

(Fire in the Earth)

Grover the Grouse

This is Grover.
He is a grouse.
I visit him pretty regularly now.... isn't he a beauty?

Usually these guys are wild and squirly; scurry away the SECOND they hear you coming into close proximity. But not Grover (as I affectionately named him). He actually slowly scampers out of the woods closer and closer until he is LITERALLY at your feet. He'll march around and around you making little coo noises - he'll stay until you are ready to go... then he typically scampers back into the woods.
EXCEPT on my last visit he chased me down the street - (actually scared the shit out of me if I am being honest)! I thought he was going to bite my ankles!! YIKES.

Poor Grover - is he lonely? Missing a momma? Or just TOTALLY NUTS?

Ellie and my iphone...

There's more where this came from..... lots more. Thumb shots too. Ooooh la la.

A very funny noise....

There was a very funny noise in our kitchen last night... loud, thumpy, erratic, scrambly. Oli said very matter of factly, 'oh, it's the ice maker'.
We don't HAVE an ice maker.
We've lived here for a year and a half.
That made me laugh.

Happy Pups

Back with Momma ready for our journey north!

Nourish

The central face of food at American Flatbread in Burlington.

NOURISH
"I am the third and central face of food. I am the face of nutrition. From my body come the building blocks that give me form and strength.
I am the fuel that warms the heart and the power to run and dance and dream.
I am the purpose of flavor and the why of hunger's pain.
Remember me in the foods you eat.
I love you."