Elisabeth's visit

There are dog's on the roof, birds on the fence, and more creatures inside; it's Norton's Gallery. Mary joined us for this jaunt northward.

Afterwards we took the ferry across Lake Champlain and headed for the cottage.

I needed to gather flowers for school vases and knew just which hydrangea bushes could use some trimming.

We also stopped to gather cattails on our way home.

 

Another day's journey was a train ride to see foliage. Mimi came with us. We started in Saratoga and followed the Hudson River to North Creek. There we had 3 hours to wander and shop before the return trip. We went to a chocolate factory, didn't see chocolates being made, but we did buy chocolate turtles to eat on the train ride home. 

There was a cold draft aimed right at Elisabeth's head and shoulder. Mimi loaned her the hat. On the way home it was my turn to borrow that hat!

It was a nice train with big windows, but a little more heat would have been helpful.                  

                                                                                                                                                                   What a neat way to dress up a cement wall. It has taken 3 years to get this far and all sorts of people have helped, including children from the local school.

The cottage was cold. The train was cold. Elisabeth was going to be glad to leave New York for Vermont where there would be a wood stove and heat. 

                                        It was Columbus Day weekend and in Belmont that means Cider Days on the village green.

We were wandering through the Mount Holly Museum when we realized the cider press was being set up for another run of cider.

It was time to get closer to the action.                      

My William was one of the original organizers of Cider Days. Back then they would set up a trough so people could pick wild apples around town and dump them at  the village green in anticipa- tion of the cider press showing up. Now the apples come from a local orchard.

There were lots of vendors and our local musicians. That's my "rock" man below.

Elisabeth and I left before Cider Days came to a close. We wanted to see the chainsaw competition being held in Chester. By the time we got there the competition was over, but there was plenty to see. Listening to just a couple of chainsaws still in action, we decided it was just as well we weren't around when they were all going at the same time!

                                                      

We went searching for some of Vermont's covered bridges. Just as it was fun to track down lavoirs in France, traveling new roads is half the fun of finding covered bridges in Vermont. There are apparently 100 authentic covered bridges. I have the list and hope to find each one...

We obviously found this at the right time of day. What a reflection!

This is what's under the Taftsville bridge...

We stopped to see the Quechee Gorge, Vermont's version of the Grand Canyon. Some trees were still in their fall prime and then we found the longest 2 lane bridge in the world. It spans the Connecticut River. After that we took a tour of Saint Gauden's home in New Hampshire.

When a wonderful friend visits from across the "pond", two weeks just isn't long enough!