Field of Dreams Tour - Arriving in Vermont
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Today's drive from western New York state to Vermont was gorgeous. Little towns like Van Hornesville, Starkville, and Mowhawk look like they came right out of a model shop - the perfect image of late 18th and early 19th century life in New England. We drove through the Adirondacks into the southwestern corner of Vermont and headed north to Lake Hortonia, near Sudbury (in the western portion of Vermont, near Ticonderoga, NY). It was a beautiful drive that took us through rolling hills, farms, Adirondack Park and Saratoga Springs.
When we arrived at Cousin Cheryl's house - Getaway Hill - on Lake Hortonia, this is the view that greeted us. To quote my friend Peter, this does not suck. Cheryl lives in nearby Orwell, VT and grew up spending her summers on Lake Hortonia. She'd thoughtfully prepared the house to greet us: fresh cut flowers, some ripe tomatoes and cucumbers from her garden, a six-pack of local beer and a chilled bottle of wine! Zack and ZClick on pictures to see an enlarged version and slideshow
Today's drive from western New York state to Vermont was gorgeous. Little towns like Van Hornesville, Starkville, and Mowhawk look like they came right out of a model shop - the perfect image of late 18th and early 19th century life in New England. We drove through the Adirondacks into the southwestern corner of Vermont and headed north to Lake Hortonia, near Sudbury (in the western portion of Vermont, near Ticonderoga, NY). It was a beautiful drive that took us through rolling hills, farms, Adirondack Park and Saratoga Springs.
When we arrived at Cousin Cheryl's house - Getaway Hill - on Lake Hortonia, this is the view that greeted us. To quote my friend Peter, this does not suck. Cheryl lives in nearby Orwell, VT and grew up spending her summers on Lake Hortonia. She'd thoughtfully prepared the house to greet us: fresh cut flowers, some ripe tomatoes and cucumbers from her garden, a six-pack of local beer and a chilled bottle of wine! Zack and Zoe were thrilled to find a basement playroom well stocked with toys (albeit for much younger kids, but they didn't care!).
After getting all our things settled at Getaway Hill, we headed over to Cousin Connie's farm, about a mile away. The dairy farm was originally owned by Connie's husband's grandfather, known to Cherie's family as Uncle Horton. Uncle Horton wassn't actually related but took good care of Cherie's mother and her sisters when they were young and visiting the lake each summer. The farm is really a dairy farm but Connie's passion is horses and she has about fourteen of them. She runs a 4-H program for second and third grade kids and her "old horses home" seems to work well for the horses, the kids and Connie who clearly loves the creatures. Frankly, I've never seen happier, more content equines in my life.
Connie was kind enough to take the kids each out for a trot around the farm grounds. As you can see, the kids were miserable and hated it. Connie is an absolute gem - a salt of the earth lady who has and infectious love of horses and a practical view of life. She's a Vermonter, through and through. We're looking forward to heading off to the Addison County Fair on Friday to see Connie run the Draught Horse Competition!
Tomorrow will be our first full day in Vermont. We'll head a mile up the road to Sudbury and go to services at the Congregational Church there. Its a small, two hundred year old church in classic New England style. Its a special place for Cherie's family - her grandparents were married there in 1915 and her cousin Cheryl is a staunch Congregant - well, ok, at least in the summer when its open. Many things aren't open during the Winter in Vermont because it is so darned cold (twenty below often, with Lake Hortonia freezing over with ice two the three feet thick). The joke about Vermont is that they have nine months of winter and three months of lousy sledding!oe were thrilled to find a basement playroom well stocked with toys (albeit for much younger kids, but they didn't care!).
After getting all our things settled at Getaway Hill, we headed over to Cousin Connie's farm, about a mile away. The dairy farm was originally owned by Connie's grandfather, known to Cherie's family as Uncle Horton, who isn't actually related but took good care of Cherie's mother and her sisters when they were young and visiting the lake each summer. The farm is really a dairy farm but Connie's passion is horses and she has about fourteen of them. She runs a 4-H program for second and third grade kids and her "old horses home" seems to work well for the horses, the kids and Connie who clearly loves the creatures. Frankly, I've never seen happier, more content equines in my life.
Connie was kind enough to take the kids each out for a trot around the farm grounds. As you can see, the kids were miserable and hated it. Connie is an absolute gem - a salt of the earth lady who has and infectious love of horses and a practical view of life. She's a Vermonter, through and through. We're looking forward to heading off to the Addison County Fair on Friday to see Connie run the Draught Horse Competition!
Tomorrow will be our first full day in Vermont. We'll head a mile up the road to Sudbury and go to services at the Congregational Church there. Its a small, two hundred year old church in classic New England style. Its a special place for Cherie's family - her grandparents were married there in 1915 and her cousin Cheryl is a staunch Congregant - well, ok, at least in the summer when its open. Many things aren't open during the Winter in Vermont because it is so darned cold (twenty below often, with Lake Hortonia freezing over with ice two the three feet thick). The joke about Vermont is that they have nine months of winter and three months of lousy sledding!