Addendum to Vermont Trip 2019

There was supposed to be photos of all of MomMom's Minion - front and back - but cooperation was not on the menu.  While Sister Kate [Kathy from Florida] was unable to attend the Vermont festivities, she provided photos.  Still missing Dan and Danny but hopefully I'll receive photos in the future, at which time, I'll add.

Here's Kathy:

Thanks to my Little Sissy for getting these photos to me.

November 4 - 8, 2019 Wrap Up

On Monday, November 4, we [Vicki, actually] did laundry from our trip and little else until mid-afternoon when we ran a few errands to prepare for dinner.  Our friend, Gina, was coming for dinner so we had to whip up a feast - and we did!  Plump, juicy chicken from Costco, mashed potatoes from Bob Evans and peas from Birdseye.  And for dessert, banana nut bread from Costco.  Thank you Costco - the feast was great with little effort!

Tuesday, Election Day, was a tad dreary - misty and chilly.  We like to call it a "raw" day.  Vicki went off to vote and then ran by Stop & Shop to pick up a few things.  We met friends and family at The Crow's Nest for dinner.  Here's Cathy Marquardt, me, Vicki on top row, and Ginger Hoey and Gail Dunn.  If it looks as if we had a good time, we did! I've known Gail since 1960 and that, my friends, is a long time!

Wednesday, was a beautiful day so we got out and did some walking around.  We found a little pizza place and split a slice.  Dinner was spent at home using up leftovers - which is always good.

Thursday, November 7, Vicki and I met our cousin John and his niece Melissa in Nyack, NY. We had lunch at Prohibition River and three of us enjoyed our lunch. I had a great smoked French dip sandwich and it was great. I also had a Sip of Sunshine [or two] from Lawson's in Vermont. YUMMO!

Aunt Irene, John's mother, was extremely diligent in taking a photo of Melissa and me each time I visited, starting when Melissa was a really little girl.  And now I try to keep that tradition going.  She's a beauty, inside and out!

Here we are - Vicki, me, Melissa and John!

After lunch we walked down the street and had a cone at an old ice cream shop. It's been there for a very long time and is completely consistent.

Then it was time to walk to our cars and say goodbye. Parting is always such sweet sorrow!  We're going to try to talk them into joining us in Vermont next year!

Before we left Nyack, I wanted to see the new bridge across the Hudson River.  The Tappan Zee Bridge had a 50 year life expectancy and outlived that by many years.  Several years ago, a new bridge was started alongside the TZ then the TZ was demolished.  Here's the new Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge.

It was a dreary, misty day and that's the best I could do.

While at the ice cream store, Vicki bought us treats for our long [25 minute] drive home.  Here she is enjoying her cherry Tootsie Pop while I enjoyed my orange one.

When we got back to Vicki's house, she noticed her yardmen had taken care of her lawn, more than likely for the last time this season.  It's so thick and lush - makes you want to roll around in it.

Friday, November 8, 2019

We planned to spend the day with Lorraine and that we did! We took her to see Last Christmas and was it ever good! Surprise ending but Lorraine liked the fact that I figured it out, genius that I am!  After the movie we took her to Houston's in Hackensack as she'd never been. It was as expected - very good.  She enjoyed a Cosmo!

And we three enjoyed being together.

After we dropped her at her home, Vicki and I stopped by Dan and Kelly's and visited for a while.  I FINALLY got Danny to laugh out loud!!  What a victory!!  He's such a cutie - I wish I could spend more time with him.

Off to Vicki's and time for me to pack.

Saturday, November 9

I really don't like this part of the trip.  I love my sister so much and so enjoy being with her.  We're completely different but so alike!

In any case, AA#1382 took off on time - 12:54 - but landed at DFW 45 minutes early! We must have had a mighty tail wind!

So home I am! Totally enjoyed my trip but am happy to be home.  Ophelia missed me so I'm taking her to the dealership on Monday to get her license plates and a bath!

Life is so freaking good - in spite of . . .

November 3, 2019.

Another beautiful day but colder than previous days.  We woke up around 7:00 a.m., showered, packed and were on the road by 8:30 a.m.

As we drove through Waterbury Center, there was some snow mixed in with the sunshine.  Lovely!

We stopped at Rosie's in Middlebury for breakfast - kind of a tradition for Vicki and me - and for Vicki alone the years I wasn't here.

Another "tradition" is to stop at an outlet mall where I stocked up on panties and Vicki stocked up on underwear.  Same thing - we just don't quite agree on the name. ;0)  

Traffic was very good along the way home and we were in the house, unpacked and all settled before 5:00 p.m.

Dinner was a cauliflower pizza and some TV, followed not too much later by a nice early bedtime.  Vicki sure deserved it since she'd done all the driving, needing no help from me - other than holding my iPad with Google Maps open.

The plans for the week of November 4 is visiting with family and friends so I'll do a little reporting on that.

In the meantime, bless you for reading my blog!

Saturday, November 2, 2019.

Saturday was another beautiful day. Sunny, chilly and with the people I love.

Sydney found out about a little hike on a causeway into Lake Champlain in Colchester so Chris, Pat, Steve and Sydney picked up SANDWICHES from The Big Apple Deli and we met at a park near where we were going to hike.  It was determined that the causeway was closed for repairs until May so we decided to hike along the Lake through the woods.

While waiting for all of us to gather, a flock of geese flew overhead.  I tried to get a photo but had to be quick and this was the best I could do:

So after we had lunch on picnic tables, we headed out for our hike.

Lots of bikers on our walk and in summer months they have bike rentals here. That would be fun - to me.

Here are some random shots along the way.  Lake Champlain is just gorgeous! That's New York on the other side of the Lake.

And here is the Winooski River which runs into the Lake.

So, after walking off our lunch, we all split up to do "our" things.  Vicki had a "plan" so we had to get the ingredients.

And here is the end result of Vicki's plan - an absolutely beautiful and delicious antipasti:

Believe me when I say it was devoured within minutes!

Chris made some pizzas and they too were devoured.

Hiking sure works up an appetite.

Sue made a scrumptious apple crisp and which we all [especially Jim] enjoyed:

And this is the part of the trip I dislike - leaving until next year.  Steve and Zoe were heading back to Dallas first thing Sunday morning and Vicki and I were heading back to Hackensack.

Goodbyes were said and hugs all around.  So until 2020, that's all folks!

Hello November! The First!

Finally, cooler weather and no rain!  Here's a view from our balcony - it overlooks the pool and Jacuzzi but if you've seen one, you've seen them all.  It's 45 degrees and clear and a million!

Today is the day Vicki's son, Matt, and his wife, Carol, and Laura and Josh arrive so we wandered around Stowe until they arrived just before 1:00 p.m. Hugs were had by all.  Since they hadn't stopped for lunch, they left to grab a bite while Vicki and I headed to Waterbury Center with the requisite stop at Ben & Jerry's.  I had strawberry and will say it was better than Edy's in Frenchtown but doesn't hold a candle to Braum's.  Then it was up the mountain to Jim and Sue's.

A neighbor of Jim and Sue has the most wonderful barn / shed at the back of their property and I've never stopped to take a photo.  Well, I did this time!  Isn't it wonderful!

When we got to Jim and Sue's, cooking was already underway.

Here's nephew Chris with the amazing brie en croute that he made:

I had my good friend Paula make these shirts:  Mom-Mom's Minions with my Mom's photo on front and name and "ranking" on back.  There was supposed to be a group photo front and back but I think too much good beer and wine might have been consumed.  Chris also made a wonderful charcuterie board but I failed to get a shot of that one.

Here are random shots of The Family:

My Great Nephew, Josh, age 11-1/2

My fabulous Sister-In-Law, Sue who again won Best Hostess award!

Here we are, me, Vicki and Jim.

The Most Wonderful Brother, Jim.

 Here I am again.

 Nephew, Matt.

 My Great Niece, Laura, age 13.

 Here's Josh again.

 A Most Wonderful Sister, Vicki.

 My Nephew and super bass player, Patrick.

And my Fabulous Son, Steve, who made the MOST delicious raclette mashed potatoes . . .

to go alongside Sue's wonderfully yummy pot roast.

And here's Sydney, Chris's wife, who delights all of us and planned a fun outing for the next day.

Random shot:

Three of the cousins went pie shopping earlier in the day and they were delicious.  Laura and Josh tried to teach us a card game that had no rules and in my humble opinion, it was stupid since they were the only ones who knew how to play.  But we laughed, Patrick challenged and we all had a good time.

Josh and his dad inspecting an autographed baseball that Jay had in his "stash" that was Greek to me, but Matt, being a HUGE baseball fan, determined that it was signed by the Atlanta Braves in the 1970s.  They were happy to have it.

Since it was already past our bedtime, Vicki and I headed back to Stowe to get some rest for the hike on Saturday.

Happy Halloween! October 31, 2019

What a day! Temperatures in the mid-60s with rain mostly around the area.

Vicki and I slept in, sort of, and passed on breakfast.  We headed out to do a little shopping before lunch. At one of the places, I found a ring that is absolutely beautiful - to me.

Burnished Silver with gold edges and yellow diamonds.  But my brain engaged and I passed.  It was made by an artist in NYC and this is one of a kind - the other one that looks similar has white diamonds.  Thankfully, it's still in the store and I still have money in my purse! Happy Old Gal!

Since it was raining, walking around Stowe wasn't in the cards so we drove up the mountain a little bit and tried to find shops in which to browse or buy.  Nope - nothing - nada!  We did find pumpkins that were cute:

We grabbed lunch next door to The Green Mountain Inn.  We HAD to stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill where we grabbed the absolute BEST cider EVER!!  Also, ONE apple cider donut to share and a mini pumpkin pie to taste at Jim and Sue's.

The younger generation had gone to a brewery and brought brew back to Jim and Sue's for the weekend.  We all sat around, old folks and young folks, and planned out our day.  The youngers were going to go to Poor House Pies to pick up a few - three to be exact.  The olders went to Burlington and sat in the car in the rain and watched Lake Champlain for a while, waiting for our reservation at Leunig's.

FINALLY, it was reservation time!!! We HAD to be here since nephew Patrick was playing bass in The George Petit Trio. What a great group playing some really wonderful jazz tunes.  Here's the band:  George Petit on guitar; a drummer whose name I don't have at this time; and my nephew Patrick on bass.  They're really great!  Here's Pat with a pre-set double espresso.

Here's George:

Here's the drummer, whose name I will add as soon as I can.

And here's Pat with just a tad bit of Bass Face:

I took a little video of the band actually playing but I have to edit it.  I'll add that at a later date after Josh, who is 11, shows me how to do that.


After the first set, Patrick joined us and here's a shot of some more of The Family:

And here's my brother, Jim, with his sons Patrick and Chris, both of whom are extremely talented musicians:

Here's The Family outside Leunig's after a really great meal:

Church Street is a terrific venue in Burlington with shops and music venues and some good food. The rain made it glisten actually and since it was a light rain when we left, it looked a tad bit magical.

I'll publish this now but will add the video and drummer's name later.

Ciao!