the snow in vermont

We have fallen asleep on the job (actually, I misplaced our little camera, but describing it thusly has allowed me to use the cute picture above). But now, we're back, with more flavor!

So Presidents' Weekend happened a while ago. I figure since the Presidents' Day sales are still being advertised on TV, I felt like it was okay to post our Presidents' Weekend happenings.

It all started with dinner from our favorite CMF missionary, CDR P! It was nice to see him and catch up while he was in town for a very quick trip.

Then we drove to Vermont to join the CGA cadets attending a ski retreat sponsored by OCF. On the way to our final destinations in Barre and Orange, we made some fun stops. First was a pit stop in Putney, the home of Green Mountain Spinnery (they have yarn, they spin yarn, this is an interest of mine, in case you didn't know).

It was a really interesting visit. And I showed a considerable amount of restraint with Papa Seal's wallet.

The shop was really small, but very well stocked.

Then, proceeding north, we stopped at the Farmer's Diner in Quechee.

I figured if it was good enough for Barbara Kingsolver and her family, it was good enough for us.

It was very good. And the philosophy behind the food was something we liked the idea of supporting (go local!).



It was really good, actually.


We also stopped to visit Ben and Jerry, don't they look so familiar?

Because everyone wants ice cream when there is 30 inches of snow on the ground.
The pup really enjoyed his visit to the place of so much ice cream.

But, seriously, if you need to eat ice cream with outerwear on, maybe it's too cold for ice cream... Just a thought for the future.

It was a good trip. And in case you were unaware of this fact, there is a great deal of snow in Vermont during the winter.

As is our standard operating procedure, more pictures can be seen and downloaded from the flickr site.

like politics, sustenance can be local too

I recently finished reading Barbar Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and it has me looking at the food I eat in totally different ways. After Papa Seal and I talked about the book (I summed it up for him, it's not about electrical engineering, financial management, sailing or pedagogy so, therefore, not his thing), we decided that we should try and do our part to (at the very least) support local farmers and do what we can to lessen our impact on the planet and all of that. We aren't going to any extremes or anything, but we wanted to do our part. To that end, we figured going to the farmer's market at the soon-to-open food co-op was a good place to start.

Not only is local sustainabilty good for the local economy and our health, it's fun!

The seal pup was a little overwhelmed by all the people (hey, lots of people want to do their part); but he was very interested in the violinist (live classical music, culture while you shop consciously).

It was surprising to find out what was growing "in season" here in the dead of winter, a truly exciting time to live in New England (no, not so much).

Of course, my favorite thing were the baked goods.

We were all proud of ourselves for being so responsible, and then I went to the big box grocery store and bought some strawberries shipped in from California. They were so pretty and I wanted to make something red to celebrate Valentine's Day. I felt a smidge guilty, until I tasted it. Guilt gone.
Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

a low-fi kind of birthday

It is no secret that I really (really) like birthday celebrations. I will take any and every opportunity to drag out a week long (or 8 day's worth of) celebration out of my own or a friend's birthday; but Papa Seal, he isn't so much into the fun of it all. I once threw him a surprise party to which he responded, "we've done that once, let's not do it again." He liked seeing all of his friends and family but he hates being the center of attention, I get that; but I like celebrating.

A big part of celebration is food. Weight Watchers is going to hate me; but, it's true, at least in my world. Food plays a huge part in celebration. So you can understand my dissappointment when Papa asked for...a boxed cake. Seriously? Do you not know who I am?

Far be it from me to argue. So I made the boxed cake (or, birthday is a box, pick one). But then I made him a "real" cake later in the week, because seriously? Asking for a boxed cake from me on your birthday is just insulting on so many levels.

It's the souped-up-from-scratch version of the boxed cake, American Chocolate Layer Cake. I have become very close friends with Maida Heatter of late, she and Martha Stewart, they are my homegirls (they of course, don't know this; but, between you and me, they are).

Because who doesn't want 4 layers of birthday happiness?

This cake was enjoyed a few days after Kelly's birthday. On his actual birthday I was in Northampton, Massachussetts at Webs again (my own Utopia, of sorts) learning to spin on my new spinning wheel and Kelly was home with the Pup (I know, who's birthday was it, right?).

It was fun.

After my spinning weekend, Kelly went to San Diego for a conference. I thought the timing worked well, he got to see his family for his birthday...sort of (what's a few days when you are dragging out the celebration, right?).

After his return home, Anders decided to really help Papa celebrate right by getting the stomach flu and passing it along to him first and then to me. The last couple of days have been kind of miserable (we didn't even want look or think about food), but we are on the mend (the Patriots losing the Super Bowl didn't help, of course). Chicken soup, anyone?

Mom, tell Papa to get you an external flash, the built-in isn't worth beans.

In case you are curious, the first picture was how Anders felt when he thought he was going to be able to keep Papa's birthday scarf. No, not so much.