Gas Station Inspiration

I have to tell the best story of our trip so far (for me). We pulled into a gas station and the young attendant was really interested in our trip. So we chewed the fat for too long about all the details.

I got our gas and realized I'd forgotten to buy detergent. So I ran back in and the girl was on the phone to her mother, "Well, I'm mad because you never took us anywhere! This lady (she noticed me then) is taking her kids all over the place. She's here right now and she's already seen more of Vermont that I have!"

Back outside with my arms full of apples and detergent, a Burlington University student was hovering around our car. He stopped me and said, "I just am so curious! Tell me about your trip!" We went over the entire route, favorite spots, etc. He went on and on about how important it was what we were doing for our kids and that they will remember somehow and that it will matter to them. They responded to him with absolute intrigue.

Then he told me that his parents took he and his siblings around the world for a year when they were around 10-15 years old. He said it absolutely changed the course of his life forever. His favorites? Ireland, Sweden and Kenya. (All places I've yet to see!) Are they all travelers today? Yes, and in fact, his brother is studying in Kenya right now. This sweet young man was so inspiring and genuine and exuded a human warmth that I can only hope will emanate from my own kids when they grow up.

Our U-turn was successful and now we've officially been to Vermont. And now that we've been welcomed, we're so terribly sad to leave such a wonderful part of our country.

Factory Day!

Today's journey took us across the state to 4 factories! We have all been anticipating this day since before our Road Trip even started. Here's how it went:

Vermont Teddy Bear Company (not Build-a-Bear) -- How could I have known what an amazing visit this would be? It cost us $4 for the tour and they've absolutely earned my customer loyalty. They showed us how to make a bear, why their bears

are different and better -- made in U.S.A, high quality, have movable appendages, hand-sewn up the back with a tush tags, mailed in a box with an air hole, a snack and games inside so it doesn't get bored en route, etc.

If anything other than "old age" or "going through the dryer" happens to your bear you can send it in to the hospital and they will repair it or replace it. We saw examples of dog bites, broken limbs, run over by a car, run over by a lawn mower, etc. This hospital was hysterical -- they actually go into a recovery room until they're mailed out -- complete with a hospital wrist band. It was ridiculous to be sure, but if you could have seen how captivated the kids were, you would have been very impressed. They each got a teddy bear and an outfit and continue to be fully engaged. I have received more thanks for these bears than all other souvenirs from the previous 28 states combined.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill -- This wasn't exactly a factory, but it did have a bounty of goodness in their gift shop. They also had a live bee hive on display and barrel after barrel of different kinds of apples. We managed to suffer through a few more cider donuts, a cider hot dog (yum!), and of course fall pressing apple cider. Doodle actually dropped her entire cup down my left leg which made a for a sticky reminder of our visit all day long.

Ben & Jerry's Factory -- need I say more?

Maple Grove Farms of Vermont -- According to Farmer Boy, a Native American boy's tomahawk got stuck in a maple tree and water started to come out. Mama figured out the magic process of boiling the "water" into syrup and then later they taught the settlers the trick. We had no idea how much water can actually come out of a tree trunk! Seriously, it looks like a huge water faucet is turned on and bucket after bucket get filled. It takes about 40 gallons of this to yield one gallon of syrup.

Maple Grove was started by two women, who made maple sugar candy. A seemingly Mom & Pop operation from the outside, this place is big time. We learned so much about the process of sugaring and making maple syrup that I can't wait to come back in the spring to watch it all with my own eyes. Kids out here get to have "sugaring picnics" where they drizzle hot syrup into a bowl full of fresh snow, making it turn into a sort of goo and then they eat it all up. Fun, right?

The first run of syrup, Fancy Syrup, is super pale and particularly sweet. The next run is Grade A, slightly darker and so on. The general public usually buys the darker, C Grade. Absolutely fascinating.

By the way, have I drawn a clear picture of what we actually ate for lunch? One fifth of a cider hot dog, a cider donut, a cup of cider, a sample of ice-cream, a proper kid scoop of ice-cream, a maple sugar Santa, samples of 4 syrups, a couple of cheese samples and a maple sugar drop (hard candy).

And after today, I'm looking forward to New Hampshire as it appears I can't give Vermont enough of our money...

Shelburne Museum

I am not a collector, however, I could easily become a collector of miniatures or little boxes perhaps. But I simply won't allow myself to indulge in something that requires more dusting.

Whenever I'm in the presence of real collectors I'm intrigued and this is

the case with Elektra Havemeyer Webb. She was a remarkable pioneer of collecting for the sake of preserving/educating and she developed the Shelburne Museum.

This woman collected everything: goblets, dolls, carriages, even buildings! She'd have them torn down and brought to her museum and rebuilt. This makes for a very interesting museum and one with a lot of fresh air.

A very genteel woman carefully mapped out our route since we only had 4 hours, with wee ones in tow. The Mary Cassat exhibit came first. Peanut was most fascinated with her sketches. Peanut is quite the artist, but portraits are really challenging for her. I told her they were challenging for Mary, too, which is why she only painted her close friends and family. The majority of Cassat's works on display were of mothers and children. Naked, chubby babies to be exact. This intrigued Peanut beyond words and I simply explained to her that everyone in the world loves naked, chubby babies! There was a Monet I'd never seen, and many Degas on display as well since they were such dear friends.

Since I haven't (yet) been to Paducah, I was overcome by the Quilt Exhibit here. I just don't understand how women had the time to hand quilt these marvelous quilts. I call myself a quilter, but seriously. Who do I think I am?

I asked everyone what their favorite part of the museum was and here's what they had to say:

Grandma - "I could have spent days there. I liked her collection of miniature tea sets and really appreciated all the effort that went into her doll houses; she actually hand wove the rugs on the floors, and hand-upholstered the tiny chairs! Since I owned a Doll Hospital once upon a time, I enjoyed her doll collection, too. We flew through the place in 4 hours and I can't believe we missed the circus buildings!"

Peanut - the beautiful chair in her miniature doll houses and Mary Cassat's sketches

Little Man - the wooden boats, the Ticonderoga, the old school bus on skiis and all the other carriages, too.

Doodle - the dolls, dressing up (in the Family Center), and the carousel

A note about carousels: Originally Noah's Ark animals were on carousels until it became obvious that children's prized ride was on a gentle pony. Slowly the scary lions and tigers and bears were swapped out for colorful horses! Elektra accumulated a gorgeous collection of all the rejected animals and intended to put together a new carousel. Later she decided they were just too beautiful and needed to be preserved.

Thank you, Elektra! This place was super!

Farm Barn at Shelburne Farms

If our authentic Tom Sawyer experience was on the Missouri River in North Dakota, then this was our authentic Almanzo Wilder experience. We've been listening to Farmer Boy on cd in the car, and the kids were dying to experience life on a productive farm first-hand. With 100% freedom from me, they took off in different directions and got to work. They milked cows, they milked goats, they fed turkeys, and herded chickens into their coop. Have you ever done this? You just calmly walk close behind them clapping your hands. It's hilariously effective!

Peanut climbed apple trees and spent at least a 1/2 hour photographing a bee burrowing into one of them. She came back into the barn with a Wooly Bear and a helper pulled out a type of Almanac to check out the brown to black ratio -- according to this caterpillar, it's going to be a mild winter. After collecting eggs for the kitchen, she surprised me from behind with pleas of, "Mom, take my picture! Quick." I turned around and she was holding a chicken! This is new for us, you know; we're an urban family! We got the giggles and naturally, I said, "Teach me! Teach me!" Then I bravely picked up my favorite chicken with the crazy bed-head, feeling intensely satisfied.

Doodle could have brushed Zippy, the Angora rabbit all day. She switched brushes and combs to her heart's content, until she had a full bag of hair. Incidentally, the next day we didn't recognize Zippy with her really bad haircut! Anyway, the kids carded and then spun the rabbit fur in pairs, with a hook. They made bracelets and necklaces and then collected feathers to stick in them for decoration. The employees (in particular Sally and Laura) were prodigious in their knowledge and manner with the kids.

Little Man took over a chicken coop and started loading all the farm tools he was allowed to touch into it. After a couple of hours he called me for help. I was shocked to see that he'd rolled an enormous 5' log UP the hill, managing to turn it lengthwise so it could fit through the gate. His trouble began when he had to shove it; I could barely budge it myself. I told him I couldn't believe he's rolled that thing up the hill (there were 2 others still down there). He raised his eyebrows and replied, "Well, I told you. I'm really good at farm work!" One of the employees said she'd been watching him all morning, and couldn't believe how he'd stayed so interested in his job and so productive.

We came back the next day to go on the Barn Snoop Tour -- which they were giving only because I made a special request. Gigi's daughter is in Little Man's class and she told him that climbing up the clock tower was the best part of the barn (aside from milking real cows). It was definitely worth it -- especially for Grandma who has a thing for clocks in the first place.

But now the heavy rains came so we didn't stay long or play out in the yard as much. Little Man begged, "Pleeeeease, can we stay just one more day? I didn't get to have a good-bye playtime on the tractor!" Before this trip, I'd already received a personal testimony from Gigi and her daughter about this place, but now I get it. If you're planning a trip to Vermont with children, the Farm Barn must be at the top of your list. Nothing else even compares.

Inn at Shelburne Farms

We stayed at the Inn at Shelburne Farms, about 20 minutes from Burlington. Since first walking in the door, I've been trying to figure out how to come back with Tomcat. The history of this place is fantastic and the current state of affairs is also commendable.

I highly encourage you to read anything on Lila Vanderbilt Webb and her husband William. Their home at Shelburne Farms was elegant yet intimate, and the property is an example of prolific landscape design achievement. They have a fascinating love story and an even more impressive story of environmental stewardship.

The 3,800 acres were divided into separate rooms, and S-curve roads, which allowed arriving guests to enjoy cows in a meadow (referred to as the girls), then enter a shady forest full of birdsong, curve around the final S and suddenly be faced with the most modern and impressive home of the time! An arresting sight today, it must have been indescribable after traveling by train and carriage all day in a corset and hoop skirt.

The most brilliant aspect of this home is that it was so different than other wealthy homes of the early 1900s. With the Queen Anne style, it remains unpretentious; it's warm and inviting, with practical rooms to include an enormous 3rd floor playroom. Guests were free to explore any vacant room, but our room had 2 wrought iron twin beds, a double bed and a pull-out. Each bed had an extra fluffy down comforter and everyone but Grandma had at least one soak in the claw-foot tub!

Lila wanted this house to feel lived in and she wanted it to blend in with the beautiful environment; there isn't a dome, a pillar or a drop of gold anywhere. It exudes warmth and makes you want to wrap up in quilts and lounge around in front of one of the many fireplaces (or outdoor heated porch overlooking Lake Champlain). I guess you actually can do that when your house is run by servants and your kids are managed by tutors!

Vermont - State #29

A 20 minute seemingly below zero ferry ride across Lake Champlain to Vermont brought us to Vermont. No welcome sign awaited us so we'll have to do our trusty U-turn trick when we get to New Hampshire in a few days.

Who knew that Lake Champlain is the 6th Great Lake? We feel very thorough in our recent Great Lakes Tour! This lake is breathtaking. It feels like a grandiose lake, rather than an ocean. And it's what causes the Burlington area to be called the Banana Belt. Lying between the Adirondack Mountains to the West and the Green Mountains to the East, this area is warmer with less precipitation. Their leaves turn a bit later, too, so it's actually less colorful here than it was in New York!

Here's a cool piece of Burlington trivia: it's the smallest city in the U.S. to be the largest city in its state. (It only has around 40,000 people!)

We drove along the water and ended up right on the immaculate University of Vermont campus. It felt so much like a miniature Ithaca! The students we saw looked very Granola. Hip, clean and crisp, a lot of woolen scarves and straight knee-length skirts and of course, Birkenstocks. I asked a group of kids for directions to a Laundromat and one girl perked up after reading our car windows with, "Wow! All 50? Well then - welcome - to - Vermont! It was really funny and Grandma and me both liked the town immediately.

Vermont License Plate