Like a Sunday stroll....free and easy down the road I go!!

We are on the road again and ready for a New England adventure. My commitments in Burlington are complete and we are ready to rock and roll. While in Shelburne we toured the Shelburne Museum http://www.shelburnemuseum.org/ ....


The ticket office is in the round barn which houses two floors of antique motorcycles and racing bikes....Salt's thing for sure. I wanted to soup my Florida bike up like this one but he thinks I need the exercise!!!

One of the souped up specials......And of course, the gentleman working this floor was a retired IBMer who knew Bill (my deceased husband) when he was the General Manager of the IBM Essex Junction plant. I cannot believe how small the world really is!!

There was an entire house full of antique decoys (2 floors).....I so wish Frank would take a drive up to VT and get to see these. I know he would love them.

The Carousel Museum was full of memorabilia...including reindeer....

and of course, I never turn down a free ride on the "merry-go-round"......

This was just AMAZING.....description below!!!

This is the building which houses the circus museum. Since there are 42 exhibit buildings within the Shelburne Museum, I took over 100 pictures....It is going to be one of those posts that will be difficult to pick and choose favorites.......

The trees are just beginning to change and are so vibrant. We are anticipating a colorful tour of the New England area.

The famous Ticonderoga .....

her engine room....steam

The dining room......

Once a year the Ticonderoga hosts a Naturalization ceremony....they let the public view it. A bundle of nerves and pride......

The lighthouse which houses many Warren Kimble's famous Early Americana paintings.

One of my favorites.....Salt had a "hard time" appreciating the small head on the large body...LOL
The very talented blacksmith......

The general store where I would LOVED to have shopped....I think I was born in the wrong era...


We went into the weaving display and once again in conversing with the woman demonstrating one of the looms found she lived in Clayton, NY and actually LIVED in the home that now houses the Hand Weaving Museum in Clayton. Her dad was a doctor in Clayton before the depression.

We had a very hard time getting away from her....she so wanted to visit. A lovely lady indeed!!

And of course what would a New England museum be without a covered bridge????

We finished our day with dinner at the Windjammer with my good friend Sherry White. Sherry's husband and my husband Bill worked together at IBM in Essex Junction. Sherry and I met while picking up our children at nursery school and became fast friends. Unfortunately Kraig suffered a stroke and passed away a couple of weeks ago. The timing of our visit was perfect in giving Sherry an opportunity to talk about the tragedy and hopefully cheer her up somewhat in reminiscing about some of the better times.

Yesterday we traveled to Quechee, VT and settled in at the Quechee Pine Valley resort www.quecheepinevalley.com

We are hoping to take a balloon ride over the Quechee gorge. Stay tuned!!

Wind in my hair....I feel a part of everywhere...

Well, first things first....Salt's MRI and two of his 4 blood tests came back negative. He told the doctor if he had any more problems or if something showed up on the other blood tests, we will follow up in Florida.

I promised Janna before we left for 7 months, I would get to one of her volleyball games. As it worked out, Betty and Emma were able to go with me and we attended one of her tournaments which was held at UE high school in Endicott. They played several games and ended up in second place.




Katie (Karpel) and her boyfriend Jay, who we met for the first time met us at the gym and then we all went out for dinner. Kate just graduated from Oneonta University and Jay who graduated a couple of years ago is employed at Lockheed Martin as a Manufacturing Engineer.

So as it turned out, Janna ended up with a whole cheering section.....

Notice Paul right in the front row.....we aren't sure whether he was there for his sister or the free dinner...just kidding Paul!!

We moved from Grass Point State Park to spend our final night at Cedar Point State Park, where Emma came to say her "goodbyes"

and of course hit the playground.....

My brother George and his wife Cheryl joined us for dinner, a fire and great conversation.....

We left right after Salt's doctor's appointment and spent our first night in Hogansburg, NY at the casino....of course we didn't win!!!

Whether we like it or not, I guess this will be the landscape of the future.....these are located in Clinton, NY

After setting up at the resort in Burlington, VT, we took a ride downtown to one of our favorite haunts. Downtown Church Street. Tons of outside cafes, street entertainers kiosks with all kinds of VT merchandise and a LOT of "weirdos"......it's such fun to grab a cup of coffee and people watch!

There was of course, a reason for the name of this coffee.....Since you all know my love of strong coffee, it hit the spot after a long week.

We ended our first day with dinner at the Windjammer and then a visit with my dear, dear friend (who is 94 and spry as a 40 year old) Stella. I absolutely love this woman. She and her husband Ed, more or less adopted Bill and myself when we moved to VT with IBM in 1977. We had so much fun with them for many years!!!

If you want to write a song about the heart....think about the moon before you start

Although I am basically "off" the island for the season, I went back last night to attend a dinner party, put on by Phyllis Schwartz.


Phyllis and Doc have been very close friends for the last 20 years and for Salt all of his life. Unfortunately, "Doc" passed away last winter, but was brought home to the island to be laid to rest, here on his beloved river and island.

Here is Phyllis and Doc's son Mark who helped mom set up and served as bartender.....

Joan and Bob catch up on last winter's activities.

Bruce Taylor and Frances Rossmassler....

LoLita kept everyone entertained with her experiences as a fisher woman on her son's commercial fishing boat in Alaska. I HAVE to get to Alaska!!!

Zel Steever....

Peter, Bruce Brooks and George Dundon....one day I am going to catch Peter unaware of the fact that I am photographing!!!

This was the magnificent moon which showed me the way back to the mainland on an awesome glass like river. All the way back I listened to the Loons singing. This is Paradise!

And here is one of my beautiful singing loons (with one of her babies on her back). I think this is one of the most magnificent pictures I have ever seen of a loon. Unfortunately I can't take credit for this capture. Rita Wills, my cousin Shane's friend took the photo this summer when she and Shane were here bass fishing . Thank you Rita for sharing!!!

Here is my brother Joe with his two youngest children (Janna and Matthew) both of whom were in a wedding last weekend. As anxious as we are to start our travels and get to Florida to meet up with our Florida friends, I am SO going to miss the family!!!

Every tear wiped away....Pain and sickness gone. Wide awake with HIM....Peace goes on and on. I'm just going home.

Today, our friend Kraig White will be laid to rest in Colchester, VT. Kraig worked with Bill at IBM in VT. His wife Sherry was one of my closest friends during our time in VT. She, Patsy Jed and myself were known as "Colchester's Angels" as we always bummed around together. All three of us had girls the same age and met when the kids were in pre-school.

Kraig turned 62 on June 19 and just a week later suffered a stroke...here he is healthy and happy celebrating with his 4 beautiful grandchildren. Salt and I have been planning this trip to New England for a year and had planned to visit with Kraig and Sherry and the kids....and now 2 weeks before we leave, Kraig is gone. Life is SO fleeting!!! We look forward to having some quality time with Sherry and the girls.

Our one conciliation in saying goodbye to Kraig is knowing how strong his faith was and that God obviously has a plan for him and know that he has gone "home" to fulfill that plan.


What I thought was my last "social" event on the island was a dinner party at Elaine and Bruce Brooks home in Aunt Jane's Bay. Elaine who is always the "perfect" hostess was decorated for Autumn and had a spectacular meal prepared for several of our close friends.

The gang grabs their plates and digs in......

Phylis Schwartz (who has convinced me I need to go back to the island for ONE more party on Labor Day) visits with Ellen....who finally has a new smaller cast on her wrist and the 4 pins have been removed.

Ken Deedy....wherever there is a party, you know Ken will be there!!

And our friend Joan Flint....(Joan's mother lives about 5 minutes from us in FL so we will be seeing Joan during the winter).

And of course, every time I turn my back Janice is snuggling up next to Salt!!!

Dave Smith.....

Our host, Bruce Brooks with Susie Smith.....

The following day, I moved to the mainland and started to get the motor home cleaned, packed and organized for the trip.....here is my cozy little home for the next 2 months.

Kitchen.....

Living room, the two seats in front swivel around and make into recliners!

bath.....

bedroom.......

dining area.......

My little office. I have a new wireless printer beneath the desk and a big storage area over the top of the desk.....LOVE it! I am on the Verizon wireless network so have fast Internet wherever we go!

Salt is spending most of his time on the island.....his business has taken off so he is trying to get everything finished and the house closed up. I know many of you have been concerned about what is going on with his ear....We still do not know. He has been to 3 different doctors, had all kinds of tests and still waiting for some answers. He had 5 vials of blood taken on Thursday and an MRI yesterday. We will not have any results from those tests until the 16th when we go back to the ENT specialist in Syracuse. I will keep everyone posted. Thank all of you for your concern.

Betty, Emma and I are headed to Owego on Friday. We will attend Janna's volleyball tournament at UE on Saturday and then Saturday night I am taking all the nieces and nephews (in the area) out for dinner. I will not be seeing any of them for 7 months...:(

Well, since I opened with such sad news, I thought I should close with some good news. Greyson, Jada and Garrett Fields beautiful new son is now ready to come to the river and advertisingthe fact. I am sure Grandma Karen would like to put him right in her suitcase and bring him with her when she returns on the 10th!!!

I am off to Watertown for a little more shopping. ALL of my doctor appointments and tests are completed (all just maintenance) and it appears I am healthy as a horse!!! After I return, I will finish lemon oiling all the woodwork and then I am on VACATION!!!