Today it’s all (sort of) MEANWHILE, down on the farm, because I’m spoiling myself and writing about our family vacation in Vermont, and the “joys” of reality at home. First, the good. The very, very good: We splurged on a Billings family vacation in the Green Mountains of Vermont last week. Jim’s two sons, wives/partners, and two adorsable grandkids. We didn’t make resos at the Mountain Top Resort until it was almost too late, and got the only places left: One lodge room, facing the field, one Lodge Suite, facing the lake, and one cabin in the woods for the family with kids. That ended up being, uh, “spendy,” as my friend Julie likes to say, but we booked it with our eyes shut, repeating mantra-like, “you can’t take it with you, you can’t take it with you.”
What we can take with us are the memories of what was close to a perfect family vacation. We were forced to stay in the lake-facing suite (as I said to the kids–we’re old and we’re paying, sorry). Here’s the view from our room:
Yeah, it was rough. I was in heaven–I love seeing a long way, and I love being close to water. As beautiful as the farm is, being close to water just makes my heart sing. We ate often with the kids in the cabin, or happily snarfed down crackers, cheese, and fruit for meals, but had a few meals on the terrace. Here’s Jim, waiting to order our pretty-much perfect BLTs.
There was kayaking, and horseback riding, and pool swimming, and fishing, and a pontoon boat ride around the lake. Here’s Jim’s oldest son’s family out on the lake:
And here’s your dose of oxytocin from granddaughter Q:
Daughter-in-law Rachel and I got girlie manicures at the spa. (How many days do you think my nails are going to last at the farm, 3?).
We did a little hiking, not as much as I’d like cuz of my medical adventures, and managed a few hundred yards on the Appalachian Trail. Sarah mugged for the camera for me:
The only glitch was that Sarah and Zach couldn’t come til halfway through because of a medical issue, but they joined us eventually which made it pretty much perfect. I’m still smiling.
Until, of course, we got home, and Lowe’s wouldn’t let us return the wrong thing that they delivered by mistake because it didn’t cost enough to send a pick up driver and they wouldn’t, for reasons completely beyond imagination, let us return it through the mail, and United Airlines made a ridiculous mash of our next trip (arrive O’Hare 8:55 AM, leave O’Hare at 9:00 AM; I’d like to see someone pull that off), I got stung by a Baldface Hornet (really a kind of wasp, but ouch, leg still swollen 2 days later) just by sitting on the grass to brush out Skip, the chipmunks are line dancing on the garden wall, the rabbits are doing it on the front patio (literally, I watched them through the window), and the garden is a forest of weeds.
And, yet, it’s still gorgeous here, Skip and Maggie make my life complete, and Jim spent the morning, bless him, handling the above. (I should be clear, he did not handle my wasp-stung swollen leg. Other parts are more accessible at the moment.) To top it off, Jim agreed to watch total fluff Rom Coms two days in a row, and even liked them, (Happiness for Beginners and It’s Complicated), so I am the luckiest woman in the entire world.
What about you? Anything making you feel lucky?
Chris from Boise says
Bless Jim’s heart for dealing with the hassles! Apart from that (and the bald-faced hornet) – wonderful, wonderful!
Here: our recent cooler weather is so much easier on our heart-failing dear old Obi. It’s so nice to see a sparkle in his steps when we head out for a 50 degree F morning walk. We’re at the ‘make every day a great day’ stage of life with him, and wondering why we don’t live like this all the time.
lak says
It sounds like you had the most beautiful vacation! The view and photos are lovely! Love when all the stars align and the best memories are made. Welcome home to all the chaos!
Catherine Noftz says
How cool is Vermont!? I came to the state almost 50 years ago, choosing it over my home state of Michigan. It is gorgeous, there is room to breathe and the feeling of community is awesome. (The recent flooding brought that to the fore.)
I have been training people and pups here for a long time. There has been a huge swing in attitude in those years. When I began, dogs were part and parcel of the farm. Now they are, well, fur babies says it all.
I am somehow pleased that you so enjoyed our brave little state. You, your dogs and the books that brought them to me are deeply loved.
Thank you.
Charlotte Kasner says
Happy hols!
Barb Stanek says
The other day, I was driving the 45 minutes from my dogs’ water practice site to my home through the middle of Wisconsin. I kept looking at the scenery and thinking, “That view looks just like a famous art work painting. That view looks just like a famous art work painting. Repeat.” Of course in due time, my thoughts became, “I love where I live! How lucky am I to live in a place that inspires me every day.”
Gratitude for water dogs and swimming with them. Gratitude for the overwhelming beauty of the nation’s farmland in Wisconsin, my home.
Wendy Katz says
I love being near water too. It does indeed sound like a perfect vacation, except for not being able to bring the dogs along. What a lovely location and delightful family time.
I’m feeling lucky to have my beautiful dog, a grandpuppy arriving soon, and being almost on top of the weeds this season.
Linda Kerr says
Family time is the best! Your vacation sounds great. I am recovering from a fun but busy family vacation that brought my granddaughter and family for a week long visit. I loved every minute of it. Especially the time with my 2 great granddaughters ages 11 and 3. I was proud of my 2.5 yr old Corgi and her patience with the youngest. I relished the joy from watching them play ball with her. This is the first dog since 1995 that I haven’t shown in Obedience or agility. Being 84 yrs old has slowed me down. I treasure your books and have enjoyed them for years. I once attended a seminar that you gave in Durham, North Carolina. I had my first corgi with me who went on to earn her UDX obedience, title and several high combined scores. However, she was still a puppy when I met you. You had called us up to do an exercise with you and I remember you laying your hand on my arm and saying “one of you is putting way too much into this relationship.“ There was no doubt in my mind that it had to be me. I have laughed about that in the years since.
alice moon-fanelli says
So glad you enjoyed a wonderful family splurge time. Sounds wonderful. I hope your leg is back to normal soon.
Trisha says
Linda K: I love that memory!!!
Tails Around the Ranch says
Looks like the perfect vacay! And talk about views. Oh my. Here’s hoping you can ease back into the farm routine and still feel energized by connecting with the family.
Leanne says
Honey!
Because I have experienced pure chaos upon returning home from being away for a bit, I always work ridiculously hard to have my home pristine when I leave.
Somehow, returning home to a clean and organized environment reduces the stress of the dramas that are sure to ensue.
Right now, I feel so lucky because I live in a resort environment. My Pack and I moved to the middle of the woods in Michigan 2.5 years ago and I get to feel like I’m on vacation all the time.
Yes, the tractor gets stuck, I have to drive 30 miles to the grocery store, and it’s an hour to the vet for emergencies, but we live in our own paradise. I know my fortune and I am lucky.
Meg Matsaganis says
How grand! Yep, there are those magical moments when everything seems gold, but turns out to be platinum and least expected. Mountains seem to agree with both of us! My magical adventure, a few years ago, was just into December in the beautiful mountains of Central Greece. My heart soared for days afterwards, even upon arriving back to the city and the everyday. Loved reading and seeing snippets of your fun.
Carrie Johnston says
To safely deter rabbits, chipmunks & squirrels (not to mention deer and voles), consider trying pet safe, organic ‘Plantskyyd’. We have a commercial hazelnut orchard and the squirrels hate the scent (we lightly spray the trees top to bottom and it is effective for 3-4 weeks during growing season, even after rain.
So sorry about your leg.😢
Trisha says
Carrie, thanks! I’m checking it out. Looks interesting.
Carla Braden says
That O’Hare connection could be a gripping vlog! 😀
Gayla says
So so glad you all had such a lovely vacation together!
Thank you for sharing your view… absolutely stunning!!
Donna says
What a wonderful vacation you had – family, natural beauty of Vermont & time to create memories together. But so very sorry for your hard landing so to speak to your ‘real’ world. I am feeling lucky for some days without rain & humidity (Hudson Valley in New York) when the dogs & I can bear to be outside just enjoying being outside; for success in removing a ground based yellow jacket nest in the yard that got the dogs x1 each and me x3 and now the lovely way the sky can look here at times – I think I can see where those Hudson River school painters got their inspiration. And for all the the comments shared by others in this community – I so appreciate it.