Fireworks?

Today found us at the top of Mount Abe. The girls seem to have an endless amount of energy lately, so we figured that we could tap into some of it for an extended period of time. It was no Everest - a modest 5 and change for mileage- but it wore us down, and more importantly, wore the girls out.

Taking in the view to the West over Lake Champlain. - Tua kept asking us where the fireworks were.....she was obviously tuned into somthing we weren't.






Pip and Seth near the top......

Pip and Seth at the top.

Pip- bandied about by the light breeze, refused to wear anything heavier than this light shirt.

Pure exhastion at trails end.

STamps

The girls never have been fond of writing letters; but the idea is growing on Tua. She chose to write a letter to her Illinois grandparents- GIGI and GJUSH- and we managed to catch the final touches on film.

Triage

I interviewed Tua recently on the subject of a blister she received whilst hiking in the woods.

trek to taste

Trek to Taste is an annual event in Woodstock highlighting local foods and growers. With the National Park as the venue, the one day event takes participants around the trails of the Mount Tom forest and allows several 'taste' stops along the way. This year, Tua and Pip brushed off the threat of thundershowers, donned their packs and headed into town for the event.

Tua displays the scavenger hunt placard..... they found most of the items but lost the card in the process.

In a lit clearing, Pip presses ahead, while Tua stays out of the shadow.


Along the way, the girls pick out clues as to what's ahead.






Pippa points out an inconsistancy in the signage.



Tua and one of the loose hare at trails end.


Pippa in the festival tent at trails end. Ice cream all around (literally).


Tua, content with hers.

A token from the day.

birthday / travel

Today was Bug's birthday. In celebration, we took a road trip to Waterbury and then to Montpelier. The girls tried their hand at sampling the latest in Ben and Jerry;s technology- a flavor called Chocowlate Chip.

They then posed for a photo op outside the facility.





Bug and Pip at Allechante. Pip comandeered an entire pastery.

The pair at play....

The cake is cut.

The precake shot.

easter

The first warm days of the season are behind us. For Tua and Pippa, four days straight of playing in the hot sun was enough to warrant a sabbath day nap in the back yard. Tua loaded up her basket with the essentials (dog, monkey, two bunnies, two blankets and a pillow), donned her shades and attempted a nap amongst the menagerie. Pippa, less concerned with creature comforts, just slept where she lay.

Sweet

The sap is running at the neighbors maple sugaring operation. Below are photos from this afternoon at Lorien Woods.




Rick stokes the wood fired arch, which keeps the sap at various stages of a steady boil. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup.

Don looks on while Jerry pours raw sap into the final boil, thinning the product to a perfect density.

The first pour is less only a few tablespoons, into a grade jar.

The grade jar is then held to the light and sight matched to one of the four standards. The sap today was yeilding a very light fancy grade.

Pouring off the final product.