LemmonBuggParty

So much is swirling around in my head right now.  One re-occurring thought is something my mom used to say to me a lot, "make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."  It must be a song or something and I'm not sure who to give credit to for saying it.  I find myself saying it to my children and to myself right now. We are each struggling with our own adjustment into this new adventure here in Vermont. The boys are three days into a new school and I have taken a part time job.  For me, it puts a wrinkle where there wasn't one. Don't get me wrong, I think the job will be a good thing in many ways. It will certainly *make* me have more structured and productive days. For the boys, they are adjusting to the back to school rhythm and to a new school and new way of school to boot. I miss their old school in Hudson.  There are so many things that their Montessori school instilled in them and I hope most of it will stick but I know some of it ...

Yesterday we attended a fun event called a Penny Carnival.  Everything was a penny and there were fun carnival type games and silly prizes. It was in support of a local library, the Peabody Library in Post Mills. The library was founded in 1866 and it is open only certainly hours during the week. The inside is lovely and makes you want to take out a book and sit down and read. This is certainly not the kind of library we are used to, but the simplicity of the structure, its importance in the community and that it has book that kids and adults want to read is really all that matters. 

While shopping a Walmart, as there is no Target(sigh), I happened upon these boots. These were called "chore boots" - it said so on the inside label.  Now to come up with the chores to go with the boots. So far they are good for walking the dog in the morning as the grass is heavy with dew.

Ahh, we have successfully, I think, hosted our first event at our new home! Last night the Trustees and all that helped get the Slafter House back in good order came over for a "thank you" cookout.  It was a lovely evening outside and the setting sun only lingered at glaring eye level briefly. Bill got our grill up and running(didn't use at all in OH) and we found all the utensils needed to serve everything so we were in good shape! The boys requested sausage dip and told all the other kids about it, so they were happy sharing a family favorite!  Everyone got to tour the house and see the fruits of their labor. Many people helped do many tasks to get the house ready for us and we are most grateful.  We continue to meet great, friendly people and know that when school starts on August 29th we will all be well on our way to making Thetford Hill our new home.  looking out the back porch door - far fields are TA soccer fields  Bill's office  reading...

We had a fun afternoon at the lake on Sunday. Treasure Island on Lake Fairlee had their Annual LakeFest event and there were free kayak and SUP rides as well as food, games and pontoon boat rides. I have been wanting to get into a kayak so I finally did! I also did the SUP. A bit clumsy for an adult to get on it as you do by getting on all fours, but it was fun none the less! William enjoyed the SUP as well. This week, William is doing a kayak camp in the afternoon.  So far so good but it helps that a boy that will be in his class was there too! He was happy to meet a new friend! Bill and Thomas getting ready to go out.  SUP boards - pretty fun!  Thomas and Bill in the kayak

Went to a local blueberry patch and picked for about 30 minutes or so.  Here is our bounty!  Now to get to the freezing part.

Today we needed to break the pattern that had just fallen into place after returning from vacation, you know what I am talking about. Kids get up quietly and turn on the TV.  They think, "if I am quiet and don't bother Mom, I might get to keep watching". Even better, if I sneak into the upstairs bedroom where the other TV is and Mom doesn't hear me I am golden!  Mom of course is distracted with making coffee, dog, breakfast, and playing catch up on laundry, trying to find doctors for the kids, making lists etc. So today we skipped swim lessons(it was COLD!) and headed out of the house on an un-named adventure!  I drove to Montpelier and we saw the Capital. It is a lovely building and a neat town that will be fun to go back and explore.  We had bigger fish to fry though....  After a nice lunch at a spot on the river we got back into the car for the next destination.  The boys were still asking me where we were going as we drove up to the tell tail signs (w...

 Thomas is mastering Stratego - he talked BillyB into multiple games!  Stafford, VT - had dinner at Stone Soup - in photo is the town hall/one of the most photographed buildings in VT Morning they were leaving-Thanks for coming!

So far I have learned the following: what a frost heave is (big bumps/ruts/sink holes on the road) we *need* to buy a deep freeze - haven't seen one since my grandmother's in her garage I need the deep freeze to make it through the winter and so I don't have to go to the store so often as it is a 20 minutes away it is hard to even drive the speed limit on some of the roads near us I should try and raise my own pig, cow, chicken, vegetables etc.......should..... we will probably need the use of a generator a couple of times during the winter/spring the basement will flood during the "mud season" otherwise known as spring I need to take up a winter sport - snowshoes or cross country skiing sound more up my alley or sitting at the ski lodge waiting on skiers :) Don't think I am at a good age to learn downhill! Reminds me of my brief ski adventures in high school and college - they took away my ski poles! we really need to invest in winter clothes now(...

Here are some photos I took from the car on my iPhone.  They are not wonderful quality,  they do show the lovely view on my drive home from a local General Store in the Norwich/Hanover area.  You can take the big highway, 91- go figure- used to live off of 91 in OH, but if I have the time I much prefer this route!