Vermont is the Green Mountain State. We live across the street from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (and the park pictured above). The state’s “universal” health care program is Green Mountain care. EVERYTHING here has something to do with “Green Mountain” yet I never realized that is what the word “Vermont” means! Taken from the French phrase, “Les Monts Verts”, Vermont literally means Green Mountain. How about that? I guess you’re never too old to learn something new.

1. Beauty, beauty everywhere!

This has been my main first impression. I can’t get over how beautiful Vermont is. No matter where I look, I see stunning Fall foliage, mountains, rivers, covered bridges, barns, and all sorts of details one would expect to find in a painting. I live in a village, where everything is within a block of Main Street.

Posted in choices, Life, travel 35 Comments »

THAT is a lot of water… rushing at insane speeds down the Niagara River and off this ledge, pummeling the rocks (and anything else) below. As I understand it, four of the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Erie, and Huron) flow into this river… then Lake Ontario, then the St. Lawrence River and out to the Atlantic. Always have, always will.

So, of course, the only rational thing to do is to get on one of these boats (The Maid of the Mist) and get as close as possible to the falls in order to experience their hugely destructive power up close. Every one of these is packed full of people who PAY to be at the foot of the falls. We want to FEEL, and be inspired by, what water is truly capable of… even if it IS from a safe-ish distance.

Posted in balance, beauty, Life, Spirit of Adventure, travel 35 Comments »

I’m still recovering from whatever it was I did to my back. In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy seeing some photos from our visit to New York City with Nadia and Jacob.

When we set out on this road trip, we did it with two things in mind: spending time with family in some of the old places we’ve most enjoyed, and meeting new friends and exploring new places along the way. Both have been fun, and each is rewarding in a different way.

I’d love to hear about some of your favorite places — the old ones you’d return to if you had the chance, and the ones you’ve been planning to visit. Thanks!

New York City

Posted in friendship, travel 12 Comments »