thankful thursday

So yeah, work is still crazy, and life has been crazy

- and I'm just a wee bit stressed out about, oh - just about everything

- but we all know how that goes sometimes

- and this blogging break of mine has gone on for far too long

- so it's time I give myself a swift kick in the pants (figuratively speaking, of course)

and get back to it!

anyway - 

last weekend we had the fortune of having family and friends join us at Away

where we enjoyed exploring a newly reopened (pedestrians only) covered bridge

with beautiful vistas

I was very excited to hear this bridge had reopened

- it's the little things...

and as always, I'm so thankful to have special people in my life to explore with

So - this coming weekend is the Strolling of the Heifers

- not sure I can miss that excitement!

How about you - are you looking forward to weekend plans?

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Thanks for dropping in!

west dummerston vermont

We've driven past this covered bridge many times
- hundreds of times -
over the past few years

located in West Dummerston, Vermont
the bridge was built in 1872

and spans the West River - a popular summer swimming spot

After riding through this charming bridge to explore the Black Mountain quarry,
it seemed about time I attempt a photo - or two

I found the quarry fascinating - it was in operation in the early 20th century
the town, growing to accommodate the workers

- and I can't seem to find any information on this old wheel
- what it is, or why it sits here

but I kind of liked it - so, yeah - it is what it is -
an old rusty wheel... painted with graffiti...

Happy Monday - I hope your week is off to a good start!

I'm joining Tuesday's Treasures and

Thanks for dropping in!

rambling the quebec countryside

after our adventures at the border,
our ride to Quebec city was almost as fun as visiting the city itself
- tooling along the highway 

- until one too many oooo's and aaaahhhh's

 - and then, we have got to get off this highway!

yeah - that was a good idea!

this pretty lady was auditioning to be the star of my show
 - but the foliage was stealing her thunder...

and I wonder - if this were the view from my kitchen window
- would I ever take it for granted?

 For fans of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache mystery series,
I soooo wanted to meander the countryside looking for Three Pines
except - you know - it's fictional (darn!)

but this place was very real
- and even though I didn't get to sip a cafe au lait in Gabri and Olivier's bistro,

getting Greg to actually exit the autoroute,
and roaming the French Canadian countryside was the next best thing.

In an effort to keep myself focused (somewhat)
- and hopefully improve my photography (somewhat)
I will be starting a photo challenge for myself
(mimicking  many I've seen on various blogs and photography sites)
My plan is to post on Monday's - details are in my new tab

Thanks so much for all your responses about your favorite lenses!
Your answers provided me with food for thought (and research)

Happy Monday!

grafton covered bridge

Did I hear somewhere that tomorrow is the first day of Spring?

Hmmmm

I found this little bridge in Grafton, VT -

home of Grafton Village Cheese,

and a very quaint place to visit...

It doesn't look much like Spring here,

but truth be told - I'm hoping for one more weekend on the ski slopes

Then...

70 degrees and sunny - all the time 

But the reflection in this puddle reminds me -

 in Vermont, Mud Season comes before Spring

- no matter what the calendar says.

Has Spring sprung where you are?

west arlington, vermont

A couple of summers ago, Greg and I rode our bike through this little village,

and I vowed to come back someday with my big girl camera.

Yeah, it took me a while - but better late than never.

The sun was low in the sky - and I loved the way it created this red reflection in the water.

Walking back through the bridge, you can see the former home of Norman Rockwell.
Now it's a bed and breakfast.

So it would seem that the holiday season is upon us -

and I'm still binging on excessive amounts of Halloween candy

- yeah - bought way too much of that stuff -

Not to worry, though, I've just about polished off the last of it.

(Whew - just in time for turkey and pie...)

Anyway, you may have noticed that I'm having a tough time keeping up,

so I think I will be taking a bloggy break.

I'm wishing you all a very happy holiday season

and look forward to seeing you again in the new year!

(if not before)

I am joining Madge at The View From Right Here for Rurality Wednesday

bartonsville bridge - rebuilt!!

I cannot tell you how excited I am!

A couple summers ago, Greg and I went out for a bike ride in picturesque Southern Vermont.

One of our favorite photo stops was the Bartonsville Covered Bridge.

Later that summer, when floods from Hurricane Irene devastated much of Vermont,

this beautiful bridge was swept right into the river.

Its demise was caught on a 20 second video that went viral on YouTube

You can watch it here

I remember when this happened, I felt the sadness you can hear in the woman's voice.

So, imagine my excitement when I heard the bridge had been rebuilt.
Last weekend, I had to go see for myself.

Not too shabby!

The view from inside - looking out at the river that swept it away.

It will be many years before the wood takes on the aged patina of the original bridge.

But, while much of Vermont still shows scars from Hurricane Irene,

the Bartonsville Bridge has been rebuilt!!

And while I'm on the topic of excited - I'm pretty excited about Madge's new blog hop:

And - normally I'd be pretty excited about the blizzard that's headed our way except Greg's in Europe on business, and I'm afraid he might get stuck there. And - I don't know how to start the snow blower. (yeah, that's one of the reasons Greg wants to move to a condo...) We can only hope for the best here Have a great weekend! Thanks for dropping in!

covered bridges - part 2

Okay - so this isn't a very Christmasy Vermont post,
but I suspect that before winter is through up here, you'll be tired of all my snowy scenes.
Anyway-
you may remember that last month we went out on a quest for covered bridges.

This one (the Cornish-Windsor Bridge) is on the Vermont - New Hampshire state border.

Until a few years ago, it was the longest covered bridge in the U.S.

It spans the Connecticut River (technically in New Hampshire)

And - although the longest covered bridge is now in Ohio,

I'm still giving this one points for "quaint".

I will probably be taking a short break from posting, although I'll continue to read yours.
I'm wishing you all a very happy and safe holiday season!

Thanks for dropping in!

covered bridges

There is nothing quite so charming as a covered bridge.

I'm not sure why that is -

I don't question it.

It just is.

Last weekend we were out scouting for covered bridges,

and this was one of my favorites.

It was a little bit off the beaten path -

of course, in Vermont, that's a relative term...

There aren't many beaten paths.

We explored outside the bridge and inside.

I think one car passed through.



Afterwards, at our favorite coffee shop we got a lesson in "Vermontisms"

The lady who runs the coffee shop asked Greg,

"So when I say 'I'll see you tomorrow', you say...."

Greg: - "Ummmmm - okay!"

Lady: "Noooooo.."

Greg:  "See you tomorrow?"

Lady: "No - God willin' and the crick don't rise"

I like that - I really, really like that!

So, I'll be back for another post next week -

God willin' and the crick don't rise.

Until then,

I am joining

Watery Wednesday

and Rural Thursday

Thanks for dropping in!