Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are heading up to Glover, Vt. to spend Thanksgiving with Pa, Blake's step-brother, Rob, and his wife, Carrie. Ma won't be there because she is in Belgium visiting Sarah and the new baby. It will be a bit strange without her, but we'll manage. Rumor has it that there is a good bit of snow in Glover, so we may be able to do some sledding and snowshoeing. Yes!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

Get Yer Butt In Gear

It was a perfectly lovely Saturday. I joined a new gym in St. Albans last week (after a long bout of pouting about missing my old gym in Burlington...wah!), and went to my first spin class in about 6 months. It felt great! I did better than I anticipated, and it was just as much fun as I had hoped it would be. Today, however, I can barely move. My legs feel like they weigh about 100 lbs. apiece, and Blake is going to have to pry my butt off of the couch. Oh dear! Apparently I overdid it. I am feeling as though I was hit by a very large truck, but I am totally looking forward to the next class! Bring it on!

After spin class, I drove south to Williston to pick up some more art supplies. I love the art store. They have about a zillion different pastel colors to choose from, and a bunch more cool-looking supplies that I have no idea what you're supposed to do with. But, I'm having fun. I learned that there is a Vermont Pastel Society, so I am going to check them out and see if they offer some classes.

Last night we went to dinner with some new friends. We tried out a restaurant in St. Albans called "Ciao Bella". We had a great time, and had some delicious food, too! They have a pretty tasty tuna steak, and some really sinful desserts! Mmmm.....

Step It Up

On November 5th, Blake and I attended an environmental rally "Step It Up" to help fight climate change. Step It Up 2007 is a campaign organized by people all around the country, calling for leadership on global warming. Their goal is to empower the grassroots climate movement to take action locally by calling for national change.
Some easy things you can do:

• Replace standard light bulbs with new compact fluorescent bulbs.


• A new, energy-efficient refrigerator will cut your home's CO2 output by a ton a year.


• Insulate pipes that carry hot water throughout your home. If your water heater is more than 5 years old, wrap it in an insulating jacket.


• Run full loads when washing clothes. Use cold or warm water instead of hot.


• Turn off your computer monitor when you won't be using it for at least 20 minutes.


• Check your car tires. Keep wheels aligned and tires properly inflated. Keep your engine tuned. You'll save up to 165 gallons of gas per year (that's $510.00 at current gas prices!) by minding those spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts.


• By driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle, it not only saves you money, it makes a big difference in reducing emissions.


• Check the insulation around your home: the attic, around pipes and ductwork, and under the flooring on the ground floor.


• Plant dense evergreen trees and shrubs to the north and northwest of your home to protect it from cold winter winds.


• Raising meat contributes more global warming emissions than raising crops. Cutting back on meat even once a week can make a difference.

Skinny Pancakes and Nutella

On Saturday morning, Blake and I went to Burlington and visited the Skinny Pancake restaurant. They serve crepes filled with just about everything you can imagine. There are some filled with honey and cinnamon, warm apples and brie, and some are served quesadilla-style with salsa, avocado and cheese. Then, there are some filled with Nutella. You can get them french-style with Nutella only, or if you're feeling in need of a bit more, you can get Nutella, strawberries, bananas, and whipped cream. Yum!!! I have never made crepes before, but I am feeling a strong urge to make some right now. With Nutella, of course. Or, maybe I should bag the crepe idea and just buy a jar of Nutella and get out a really big spoon.

Happy Halloween!!

Fall Is In The Air

I have proudly displayed my 114 lbs. worth of pumpkins on the front porch; however, we live in the middle of nowhere, so we'll be lucky if anyone sees them besides us. But, they put me in the mood for fall, so what the heck. Two weeks ago, the foliage was at its peak... best leaf-peepin' opportunities. My plan was for us to take a drive along Mountain Road and get some photos, but my plan was foiled due to the fact that we had too much other stuff we wanted to get done. So, I was thinking I would take some pictures of the trees around our house. Well, not three days later, the leaves were practically gone. So, I got nothing. The leaves were not their best this year, anyway. This was due to a dry August and September. Good moisture = good foliage colors. Oh well, maybe next year.

A few weeks ago we went to the Arts and Crafts Festival held in Stowe, Vt., and the Applefest held in the Champlain Islands. The Arts and Crafts Festival was great! We bought a picture to hang on our somewhat empty walls, and a piece of stained glass art to hang in a window. The place was full of many talented artists. Applefest was fun, although a bit strange. It seems to me that the town of Hero, Vt. got together and decided to have a giant garage sale, but deemed it a "festival" to try and keep it interesting. It wasn't a total loss... we had a piece of apple pie topped with caramel and ice cream. Yum! And, we picked some fresh apples which were delicious.

Every time we go to any kind of an art show I am always drawn to the pastel or stained glass art. I was thinking I would try my hand at drawing again, something I haven't done in years. I bought some pastels to experiment with, too. I'm having a lot of fun with it. If all goes well, I'm hoping I can create a couple of pictures worthy of being hung on the walls. If not, I guess I'll start decorating the garage.

Chicago...here I come!!

My wonderful fiance has reserved us a seat for the broadway musical "Chicago"!! I am pretty excited about it, since I have really wanted to see it in person after watching the movie. The show is not until February, but it is only in town for one day, so I feel pretty lucky about having tickets. It's always great having something special to look forward to.

I just started fall semester at school, and it looks as though this semester will be much better than the last. Summer semester was not exactly a good experience, but something positive did come from it. It provided the proof I needed that I can do this, and do it well, without having to get completely stressed out over it. This semester I am taking Intro to Psychology and Mathematical Concepts. My last math class, thank goodness! This math class is already going much better than the last, thanks to an instructor that actually cares whether or not we get it, and stops to explain if we don't. Plus, she doesn't make us feel like a complete idiot when we're stuck. (Luxuries I didn't have over the summer.) I hired a private tutor over the summer, and when I told my professor this he responded with "well, if that's what you need to motivate you to study..." It had nothing to do with motivation... it was about the fact that you can't explain any of this in terms that the majority of the class can understand!!

Blake started a new job at the end of August... a position with a company called NRG. Their focus is wind power, and they really seem to value and appreciate their employees. He is really enjoying it and happy that he has found a position that provides opportunity and growth, with a company that is doing something meaningful.

I recently went to visit my family. It was really great seeing everyone. Blake wasn't able to come with me, due to the fact that he started his new job the week I was there. I stayed with my mom, which was great because I really wanted to spend some time hanging out with her. We celebrated my dad's 84th birthday while I was there, and I got to see my great-neice. I will post some pictures soon!

I hope everyone is doing well. I hope to post some pictures of our transition into fall, here in the northeast. Love to you!!