Hi, ya'll

How wonderful it was to enter Houston from the east, temperatures in the 70s, totally clear skies, low traffic, and to traverse the mystic Fred Hartman Bridge into La Porte, then Hwy 225, to Loop 610, and then home. Familiar roads.

It is good to be home, but only because we have missed our family and friends so much. See you SOON!

Almost home

Friday, October 16, 2009

Take note: there is a wonderful information/rest stop near the western end of the Atchafalaya Causeway, between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. The animated displays, photos, films, and maps are creatively done, most informative, and present a Cajun aura that entices one to explore the bayous and swamps in a pirogue.

Overnight parking is allowed, so we have "docked" our pirogue-on-wheels here. The road traffic is a bit noisy – you know I-10 – but it is a good stopping place. We are within 4 hours of  home, arriving tomorrow. "Laizze les bon temps rouler."

We shared the highway with about 90 motorcyclists. Wonder where they were going?

(300 miles)

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Most of our drive from Vermont has been rainy, and non-eventful. We really made a bad choice on our route south. Trying to avoid New York City traffic, we took a more westerly route, and ran into lots of hills, then in Pennsylvania, lots of mountains. It was “up, down, around, up, down, around,” again and again. In the rain, it is rather tedious. Tuesday night we stopped at the same parking lot that we stopped at coming up, across from Keystone RV Center in PA. It was a free night, and in the morning after buying some propane from them, we were on our way.

Tonight, we are parked in a WalMart lot along with about 5 other motor homes and RVs, and a couple of semis (so far). This is in Bristol, VA. When we do this, we are always mindful of our exit options. We park so we can leave easily, but during the night, another motor home or 18-wheeler can hem us in, delaying our departure, or causing a rather anxious exit.

No matter, we plan to get a good night’s sleep, and figure things out in the morning.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Before the night was over, there were about 10 overnighters parked near us. We left at 6:30 a.m. and have been pummeled for the last 300 miles with rain, rain, rain, rain, rain. All through the Tennessee mountains, it’s been tense driving for Tom – rain, wind, wet highway, poor visibility. But all we can do is press on, and hope for clearer skies down the road.

This is what it looks like driving your house at 60 mph down the interstate highway. Notice the binoculars on the floor; helpful for spotting diesel prices before the exit passes us.

Goodbye to New England

It is Tuesday, October 13 (Happy Birthday, Christelle), and we are lightin' the fires, and kickin' the tires. We pull out of Camperama this morning and head southward. We'll see where we pick up internet next. But whatever route brings us home, we sure will be glad to see everyone!

Backtracking

I may need to back stroke from the last posting's comment that most buildings are painted white.



Today, we drove north of here, to Weston, then east to Chester.



We took back roads as we came upon them.

 Many houses were painted smokey blue, or pale green; also browns,












and deep reds.



Colors seen on our route today were quite vivid, a little past-peak, but as the photos show, still wonderful. We spent some time in Weston, a lovely hamlet.

Remember, click on the photos to enlarge them, which will yield more vivid colors as well.



On a hillly rural road, we found a peaceful cemetery, 











and a farm so picturesque it didn't seem real. It had stone walls defining the pastures, black and white cows, horses, and a magnificent barn.

Piles of firewood were a given at every homestead.

Here are two photos I would have put on my Colors of Vermont photo essay, had I had them yesterday.

But the photo of today I would deem the most artistic is one Tom took - an ethereal image of a sugar maple tree.................

Now for today's "What?!" reaction: On Saturday, we went to the Newfane flea market. One of the booths is like an outdoor "Everything less than $1" store. If you have ever wondered how these stores can sell items so cheaply, consider this.

Lynn found tissue boxes, full sized, for $1 each.    Cool, we bought 4.     As is my custom, I took the tissues out from the cheap box, to stuff in more decorative boxes. Well, see for yourselves...............




the cheap tissues in the full-sized box are 4 cm shorter. The box is just as big, but the product is downsized mucho.



We ended the day with a walk through the Vermont woods on a hill above Grafton, with Jean and Bob,

and their sweet dogs Annie and Lewis. They will leave for their home in Washington D. C., tomorrow. Tom and I look forward to the next time we can get together with this lovely couple, and hang out at the Grafton General Store, walk in the Vermont woods, share a burger at the Dam Diner, shop at the Fireman's Sale, and, as always, share a lotta laughs.

The Colors of Vermont

And just like that! Peak colors are gone. In 24 hours, many leaves have fallen to the ground. Those left on the trees are duller, and not catching the sun which, today, shines brightly. So, here are the colors of Vermont as we have seen them so far. (Some photos were previously posted).

Remember to click on the photos to see them enlarged. The colors show up best in enlarged mode.


White is the main color for buildings. Browns in buildings are found mainly in barns, and homes tucked deep in the woods.
 

 
 

Grays:

White returns to the landscape, in nature this time - the noble, magnificent white birch tree.

  







In Vermont, blue sky always enhances the colors. To see a blue, shallow stream is not as common.........

....as a flowing, rocky stream, following the road. It seems most roads follow these babbling streams, and in fall, any number of colors may frame it.

YELLOW, and ORANGE, punctuate the views in orchards, farms, and hillsides.

This is our "bellwether" tree, at 123 Pleasant Street, in Grafton, Vermont. We have seen it turn from green to brilliant orange within four days.

Photographing directly into the branches yields great colors.

Sunshine through the golden leaves of the sugar maple tree.

 





Then, there is pink, peach, red, and deep burgundy.















Scarecrow, Grafton, Vt.

 Folks in Vermont use surrounding natural colors in their outdoor, and indoor decor.

Painted on wall, in Phelp's Barn, Grafton, Vt.

This is the one photo that I feel typifies a fall scene in Vermont. It was taken on a cloudy day, a little pre-peak, but the road - it's always turning, always drawing you forward..... what will you find around this turn, and the next?

Rainy Days

Friday was rainy, and we were getting worried that the leaves may be knocked off the trees before they could display their best colors. The leaves stayed on. Yet the sky remained wet and gloomy.

So, it was a perfect day for a cemetery tour! Jinny, Bob, Tom, and Lynn, joined Charles, a former high school history teacher, for a tour of three Grafton cemeteries. Charles has extensively studied cemetery history, architecture, symbolism, grave markers, and legalities of burial. Theft of cemetery items - gates, stones, etc. is a felony in Vermont, and Charles has been successful in the recovery of many historical relics, including a wrought-iron gate from the Barrett (as in Elizabeth Barrett) family plot, which he discovered in an antique store in Connecticut.

Standing in the gloomy mist, we learned from Charles the difference between a colonial cemetery and a Victorian cemetery. He explained the symbols seen on gravestones, such as lambs, birds, hands, faces, and willow trees. We saw grave sites of Revolutionary War soldiers, and many from the early 1800s. 

After the tour, we met Jean at Phelps Barn, Old Tavern Inn, in Grafton, for lunch - delicious gourmet pizza and classic Vermont beer. But really the rest of the day was good only for napping.

On Saturday, the famous Grafton Fireman's Sale began at 9 a.m. sharp, and we were all there. This is an annual fund-raising event that attracts a beau coup of folks. We found a few items of interest, but not enough to document here.

Jean, Jinny, and Lynn then met for lunch at the restaurant called The Dam Diner, as it is located above the dam on the local river. This is a small, humble place, that is wildly popular. A simple place, by the side of the road, with absolutely great food (Jean likes the Dam Good Burger).

We then drove to the Vermont Country Store (you may have received catalogs from here), which is a zoo on this particular weekend of the year. The inventory is varied, retro, and fun, but the prices are no bargain.

The sun finally made an appearance. We drove over the hills to Grafton, and the colors which are at peak color now, were completely stunning. Photos do not do it justice. If you are not impressed by these words, or images, you MUST come to Vermont, at peak time, and see this for yourselves. The beauty of these trees, in red, gold, copper, peach, lemon, burgundy, will leave you speechless. Speech-less. Or, at the very most, saying things like "oh, that's so pretty/awesome/incredible" over, and over, and over.And over.

Our friend, Jinny, has visited here four times now, and finally, she has seen Vermont fall foliage at its peak. The colors, today, are the finest Tom and I  have ever seen them, and this is our 5th or 6th time here in autumn.
.


So, tomorrow should be perfect for photography. I am working on a "Colors of Vermont" photo essay, and tomorrow may be a good time to post that. So, tune in!  Is there anywhere else where God's paint brush is more spectacular than Vermont in mid-October? Truly, it looks like God took a paint brush and thrust it across His glorious tree-covered creation. See  photos to come.