The One With The Apple Cider Donuts

Vacation Monday brought a dreamy day in Vermont. As all of the other days being there, it was far too beautiful to stay indoors, so we all decided today would be the day to go to Stowe.

Here is a beautiful fall-decorated small town that we found on the drive over:



















Not too incredibly far outside of Stowe is the location of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, where they give tours. I have been on the tour, back when we were on our honeymoon, but the Flavor Graveyard was closed during that time of year, so we had to go so that I could check it out. Of course, there is fun in this place for everyone. If you go on the tour, you get a free ice cream sample. This time, we did not do the tour, but I found some delicious chocolate covered pretzels and Brylee her little cow souvenir (named Cowbella, after the sweet Cabella we met a few days earlier). And then off towards the graveyard, only to pause a moment longer to find a cache hidden out here...I know, we were on a roll!






































































After paying our drooling respects to some of the lost flavors, we left and made our way to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, a wonderful place where you can see Apple Cider being made, check out the tasty food (apple cider donuts!), and buy lots of souvenirs...and trust me...it's very tempting!



































After scoping out the tempting desserts, jellies, soaps, and other souvenirs, we drove the rest of the way to Stowe, where the McFaddens' favorite hamburger shop waited:






















(why are there very few pictures of me that I like, but they tend to be of me making a silly face?)

It was chilly but beautiful outside, so we decided to join another family (with 2 little ones) in sitting out there. With the warm hamburgers, onion rings, and cold chocolate milkshakes, it was a perfect combination to stay warm/cool...does that even make sense???























(like mother, like daughter perhaps?)

And afterwards, shopping!























The little cutie I got for myself:













After some shopping and cemetery viewing (Cary and Gary), we got back on the road, where we drove to Smuggler's Notch, a state park with lots of climbing and hiking opportunities. Cary and his family have been here a few times, searching for the rock formation that looks like a man's face. No luck for me yet, though. Then again, it was my first visit.

Instead, Cary and I visited a cave where smuggled goods used to be stashed (i.e., alcohol during prohibition) and found...what else? A cache, of course!























After stretching our legs and switching drivers, we then continued on our way, driving down the road with a destination, but the stops here and there were not planned. We stopped at this antique store that they have loved to visit in the past. Cary found a trumpet, and despite my protests, he wanted to play it...making a beautiful sound (ehhh...). We also found a child's play kitchen that I used to have when I was a tiny one...oh the memories! 2 floors in this giant barn full of old goodies that could take you hours to explore.




















When we got back on the road again, we headed for Craftsbury Common, a tiny town that was the set for the movie The Trouble With Harry. Interesting movie--check it out sometime! This is one of Gary's favorite movies, mostly due to the set, so we walked around and he pointed out interesting tidbits from the film.

Back at the cider mill I bought dessert, some Apple Cider Donuts, so in this little square, we sat down and ate and enjoyed them. Cake donuts that are very tasty!




































































This was by far the longest day driving and exploring that we have had on this vacation. Brylee did so well the entire trip! We stopped for dinner at the Pizza Chef and then back home to rest and get ready for our next day's adventure.

Please Excuse The Slow Updating...

I have been helping the clowns with their school skit last week as well as this week, and until the end of October. Once done, I hope to get caught up with blogs much more quickly again.

Until then, stay safe!

Fair Day 2010

Last Wednesday (October 6), Cary, Brylee and I headed off for the fair. What a gorgeous day to go!

We got there about 9:00 in the morning, and everything except for the stockyards was closed. Of course, we love animals, so we headed over there to show Brylee as many farm animals as we could.















Horses, cows, sheep, goats, chicks, and pigs, oh my! She came face to face with so many animals, and giggled at a lot of them. I loved watching her look at them and start to grasp how big our world is and what variety of things are out there.













































We visited the dog show, which I love to see. All of the animals used in this show are rescue, and they have such an excitement for playing frisbee and jumping into pools...Brylee handled all of the loud cheering very well, but probably didn't know why there was so much cheering...I don't think she really saw the dogs performing.




The last stop we had after a long day of animals, walking, hot dogs, and fried cheesecake was the Birds of the World show. We have seen this show every year we have gone to the fair, and it is the same show every year, but I am so fascinated by the birds. What characters! They introduced a new bird to the show this year, a solid-white Red Tail Hawk. Wow! Such a beauty!


Poor Brylee was very tired, but was such a good sport through it all. After the bird show, I took her up to see a bird close up, and when we got back to her daddy, we decided to change her diaper quickly. She laid still on the bench and we had it done in no time at all. However, a little girl we met at the show, who was 3 days older than her, took a much longer amount of time in changing her diaper because she was so tired, and possibly hungry, and just kept crying and making it difficult to have her parents change her.

We rushed home to get ready for home team without getting to go into the petting zoo (there was actually a line going outside!). We rushed to get showers and get in just a little rest before leaving again, but as I was looking up the address for the home we were to go to, I found that the next meeting was on the following Wednesday! We were super glad about this because we did get our chance to rest and re-energize for the rest of the week.

The One With The Slide

Isn't she adorable in that outfit?! Sunday morning arose with Gary not feeling very well, and he and Brenda encouraged Cary and I to go out and do one of the activities we really wanted to try: the Alpine slide.

And of course, what is an adventure for us without a little caching on the side? We picked up a couple on the way out there and tried for a couple more on the way home (one was a 30 minute search very close to a graveyard with no luck. But so much fun to look around in the woods!)














































Lunch was a last-minute stop at a barbecue place we found while getting gas an earlier day. It was delicious, with us splitting a beef sandwich and fries.










Once we got back to the house, Gary was feeling much better, so we packed up a cooler bag with food and headed to Buttermilk Falls, a location with 3 waterfalls. We were hoping to build a campfire there and enjoying hotdogs and s'mores, but once there, we did not see a place that was good for the campfire. But we took a little time and explored, enjoying the waterfalls and being baffled by how hollow the ground was that we were standing on. Tough to explain, but as you took steps, you felt the ground bouncing under us, as well as hear a hollow sound. Very interesting, and made us grateful to be standing on strong, bound tree roots!































As we were driving home, we saw this beautiful sight, where the water was so clear that the reflection matched the real perfectly...and a few beautiful geese also!




















Back at the house, we decided to make the fire pit out there useful and cook hotdogs over that. With the chilly evening air, the heat of the fire felt wonderful. Just after eating, Brylee herself got hungry, so I made the (thankfully short) trek back into the house and fed her. After that, she and I went back outside where we backed the SUV up close to the fire, and then we all took turns being her guard while she crawled around the back, playing with toys and the windows.

We also got to experience the joy of having s'mores, which the McFaddens had never had before, and I had back in our camping days when I was much younger. Somehow, I think they were better this time then I remember them being...this coming from someone who is not a big fan of marshmallows!

After the s'mores, we all slowly made our way back inside the house to get ready for bed, Cary being the last one in, and enjoying the stars and the beautiful campfire. What an incredible day!

The One With Too Much Chocolate

Saturday morning brought more beautiful weather, which of course meant for time outside...then again, even rain would have taken us outside!

We started out the morning searching for some caches, getting closer and closer to our first 100 finds...So we started off at a cemetery. And not just any regular cemetery, either. The one where President Calvin Coolidge is buried at. So we took our time, looking at a lot of the headstones, noticing the dates (dating back to the 1800s and further!), and then finding the former president's. His headstone, though with the presidential seal on it, was very simple and nice.

Is it morbid to enjoy walking through a cemetery? At least you don't have to worry about the noise!

































Our big adventure for the day was to climb Mount Tom in Woodstock. It is said to be about a 30 minute climb, with the last part pretty steep. And there is also a side with a trail that is suitable for strollers. Of course, we went up the side that was more difficult. But Brylee did well in her carrier, and seemed to have a blast watching us (well, at least her mommy) pant.

Before our climb, we stopped into Woodstock so Brenda and Gary could visit the library. And then some snacks, in case we needed them on our way up or down the mountain.










And then the fun began on our climb.

It took about an hour to climb, and it was a nice route, very zig-zag with the occasional short-cut we saw. When we got towards the top, we could see really far out, and downtown Woodstock. At that point, Brenda, Brylee, and I decided to rest while Gary and Cary continued the last steep bit to the top, where a cache was waiting. It was a difficult find for them, but it was a successful one at least. And a park ranger passed by asked them if they were looking for bugs or caches...I guess she might have been a cacher as well!
































Why is it that going down is so much harder than going up? Gary took Brylee this time, and he went down very quickly. I wanted to do the same, but I took the first shortcut I found, stumbled and nearly hurt myself, and decided to take the long, drawn out zig-zag route afterwards...which took a while.

Once down, we were hungry...so on to the house, where we grilled hot dogs and ate outside on the bench. Delicious food on a beautiful day with great company...can't beat that!























Dinner for the night was at our favorite Woodstock restaurant, the East Ender. Since we were enjoying the day, and the evening was also glorious, so we asked to sit on the patio. So glad we did, because our little one got sick and lost her last meal all over herself...and mom had just taken the back-up outfit out of the bag so that she could wear it...leaving her with only a onsie to wear and wrap up in my sweater. Poor thing!
































On the way home, Brylee was asleep and the family was craving ice cream, so we stopped at the place we had before to get some. Somehow, Gary ended up with a HUGE helping of ice cream, about 4 scoops in a waffle cone. It was melting faster than he could eat it! I hope he enjoyed it for the most part, because I think it will be the last he will have for a little while...

We Interrupt This Program For A Special Report...

Poor Chester had a rough night last night. And that's an understatement.

At 10:20 p.m., Cary, Brylee, and I had just settled down for sleep when he had a minor seizure. It was very minor, lasting less than 1 minute. I was impressed with how short that was, but had no idea what was to come.

He had another minor one just a couple of minutes later. Then Cary took him outside, hoping to get him some fresh air and take him potty. When they came back in, Chester was covered in grass...a sure sign that he had another seizure.

Sure enough, he had a major one. So I got into my clothing, Cary decided to join me, so we got Brylee ready. During this time, another minor seizure came and went. And as we walked out the door, the smallest seizure yet, just a quick twitch.

Hoping this was toward the end of the episodes, we got him into the car and headed to Carrollton. Mid-way there, Chester had his next major one...and because he was in the backseat with Brylee (on the floorboard), it was more scary and seemed to last forever. He came out of his seizure not long before arriving to the e-clinic.

Once there, I got him out, took him in, and told the receptionist and tech his history. He was taken back, and Cary, Brylee, and I sat in the reception area waiting for the doctor to come back to give us an update. While sitting there, we hear some weird sounds, and knew it was Chester having another seizure, even though the receptionist assured us it wasn't him. But when the vet came out finally, he did confirm our suspicions.

The vet wanted to keep him for the night to monitor. Of course, being a vet, he had to give us the best and worst possibilities, the worst being that he would have to be put on an additional (very costly) medication, or need to see a specialist...as long as he did not have more issues during the night. And of course, just before we left, the receptionist asked if we wanted to resuscitate him if worse should come to worse. That is when I started getting super nervous. I worked for several vets for 6 years, including relief work at the E-clinic, so I know it is a very rare shot...but so far, Chester has fit the 'rare shot' scenarios, so you never know...

We got home at midnight, and then after trying to get Brylee calmed down again (she obliviously enjoyed her nighttime outing), I was in bed, fighting worry so I could get some sleep to wake up at 6:00.

Brylee and I picked up the beloved mutt this morning and transported him to his regular vet for observation. Unfortunately, my favorite tech, Chrystal, will not be there today to love on him, but I know he is in good hands.

Thank you to everyone for their support on Facebook so far today. I love that dog, and even though I have to protect Brylee and put her before Chester, he is so important to us.

And now, back to posting more about vacation...