What a beautiful fall we had in Vermont this year. When I saw the leaves start turning in Sept. I thought it would be all over way before Columbus Day, but not so. After the rain took down some of the early turned leaves, another batch, even more brilliant presented themselves and were the most lovely I ever remember seeing. We left for FL on the 18th of Oct. and it was still very colorful and all this time with no hard frost in our area!
I am on a committee that is raising money to restore to use the old 1879 brick schoolhouse in the Village. At town meeting last March the voters chose to save it from the wrecking ball, for which I am really thankful. Folks are coming forward with their skills and donations of time, talents and money to make this possible. Groups and organizations are offering their help and we held a very successful yard sale in early Oct. raising $1116.00 ! An Historic Grant has been applied for, money for a new bathroom donated, a work crew has volunteered to fix a floor etc. etc. Soon, we hope, the local Food Shelf will be able to move in.
This is a cake! Made for the 100th year celebration of the 1879 brick schoolhouse
by my friend Dotty Rhodes in 1979. (only picture of the schoolhouse
I have with me here.)
We also managed to go on a couple of relatively easy hikes in Oct. The first one was on a just perfect day for a hike. We went to view the caves where the Weathersfield Panther was caught in the 1800's.
This beast had been feasting on local livestock and was tracked to a cave up on Pine Hill. With the help of a dog who entered the cave and was chased out by the Panther, the local men shot it . Someone had it stuffed and it remains to this day in Weathersfield at the local Historical Society.
Later in Oct., just before leaving for our winter quarters, we went on another hike, this one longer and on a pretty chilly morning. The mountain west of our village was named after a man named Hawks. He made several trips from MA through VT and on to NY and Canada. Once as a captive of the French and Indians and a couple of times to ransom relatives taken to Canada. We hiked to the Great Spring and a clearing on the side of the mountain where he camped on his way through. The brook that comes down into the village is thus called Encampment Brook and flows through a little valley across the meadow from our house and on into the Black River. We ate our lunch in the clearing where Mr. Hawks and his men camped. Twenty people enjoyed this outing and the talk given by a man from the Crown Point Road Assn.
Our trip to FL was good with our second day stopover in NC a pleasant time with cousin Janice and Phil. Our little Miss Lizzie was a good girl and a model traveler this year! Guess she knows by now that when the few days of strange places is over, she will be at a place to call home for a few months.
She loves the FL room and her scratching log, the other half of the one she loves so much on her VT porch. Den got her a live oak log here but she would have nothing to do with that so last year we brought along the ash log and it is the first thing she heads for when we arrive.
We are pretty well settled in and I am enjoying the warm days and the pool. Nights are cooler and good for sleeping. Snowbirds are arriving daily and it is good to see winter friends again. So thankful that we are blessed with friends and family, our health and all the good things God gives us each day.
Quote:
Ten thousand, thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy.
Addison
