Oh Girlfriends, we’re going to have fun with this one. Last month our friends (and neighbors) Lowely and John suggested we all go on a Valentine’s getaway together, up to the big snow country of Vermont! What a good idea! Cozy fires, hot coffee drinks, flannel shirts, lots of barns (love barns, have a collection of barn photos, needed more!), Vermont maple syrup on our pancakes, who could ask for more? But there was more, there was a sleigh ride! And you’re coming along! So, here we goooooo! (It’s very long! Unhook the computer, take it to your sofa, get cozy with a cup of tea, and settle in for a virtual trip to luv-lee Vermont!)
MUSICA. It was, I admit, a wee bit hairy on the way up. There was a huge storm. It never stopped snowing and blowing from the second we hit the state line. Luckily Lowely and I were in the big back seat, sharing a cozy blanket, where we could see nothing, therefore could not comment on any sort of driving anomalies. Best for all involved. Trust being the main item of the day. We were strapped into a monster SUV of safety, which was filled with wonderful music! So there was lots of singing along. We had fun! Our map men did a great job, as I am reporting, now, alive, and back home, safe and sound, so it must be true.
And the snowplows were out in full force.
And when our windshield wiper stopped working, Joe popped out and fixed it! Because he can!
But it was gnarly sometimes. And did we mind? No, we just clicked away with our cameras! Lowely is a pastel artist and takes photographs for inspiration. I think some of our more out-of-focus photos look like paintings already! And I take pictures so I can show you! Look at this! Isn’t it beautiful?
I’m always in the mood to share the magic when I see it! I think I forgot how BEAUTIFUL Vermont is. Red barns and red brick chimneys with smoke curling into the white sky ~ softly painted clapboard houses, and everything polka-dotted with snow.
Not to mention old covered bridges, 104 of them in Vermont . . . the most in all of New England!
I liked this photo because of the juxtaposition between the rearview mirror, the bridge opening and the GPS screen. Visions and views, old and new.
Most of the buildings had good steep roofs, and here you can see why . . . the snow slides off in big sheets. Would not like to be under it when it happens! But, then again, it might be fun (if it doesn’t kill you!).
From right out my car window. Lowely and I were always teasing each other, I thought she had all the “good stuff” on her side, and she though I had it all! In this case, I was definitely the lucky one. But she probably had something just as good on her side, as you will see…. it’s all beautiful. Beginning to look a lot like Christmas, 🎶everywhere we go!
This homeowner put a pine-tree wind break around his house. Isn’t it cute? Talk about Christmas! Look at the tiny green building on the right. Snow on roof tops is very pretty! These people would never have to worry about a Christmas with no snow!
Had to be careful though. See that pole in the middle of the church? Didn’t want that in the picture, had to snap it at just the right time! Luckily the icy roads slowed the car down! Look below ⬇️, the graveyards were lovely. My favorite part about anywhere I go is the history, and Vermont is old and wonderful and filled with history of our country, and the people who built it, mostly of course, immigrants! AND, related to us, building America, fighting for our country in wars and buried here. See the little flag? 💝
Even the smaller barns had cupolas and weather vanes on top. Why? Because they can. It’s small-farm country around here, and beauty, little graces, which we see everywhere, seem to matter. I always appreciate efforts of home owners who make the world a more lovely place to be. They have such power and often don’t even realize it, they do it because that’s just who they are.💞
And it’s big-farm country too . . . and pride makes them choose blue and red paint to make the whole world brighter.
So we toodled along, taking pictures of everything. Besides wood, which was plentiful in all the local forests, they also used lots of brick for their buildings. This New England is as close to Old England as we can get in America!
Almost everyone has traded his wooden roof for one of these slippery metal ones where the snow can cause no water-intrusion problems for the homeowners.
Lots of the pick-up trucks come equipped with their very own snow plow! Smart! Taking no chances!
Sweet little log cabin in the woods. I will always be a lover of houses, all shapes and sizes.
Almost there! Our hotel is in Warren! In the Mad River Valley! Mad River, what a great name!
Just because it’s out of focus, doesn’t mean it isn’t wonderful! By the time we got to the hotel, it was around 5 o’clock, and we had fallen madly in love with the whole countryside. MAS MUSICA? Oui! Favorite travel musica!
We’re there!
And this is our hotel. The Pitcher Inn in Warren, Vermont. Plan ahead if you go there, because their hotel packages give a significant discount if you do! Romantic, perfect for Valentine’s, set in the smallest little town, but right in the middle of everything.❤️
Here’s the parking lot. With this darling little clock building in it, a converted barn we think is probably offices for the hotel.
And there’s our beast-like vehicle that got us here alive.
Here’s the view across the street.
Snowy Warren, Vermont, says, “welcome!”
Quite a cute little store attracting our attention across the street. Lit up with stars and twinkle lights. Looks like a country general store. Probably a good one. Note to selves, go here first thing in morning!
The hallway display on the way to our room.
Here’s the entrance, with a look into the dining room, and the stone fireplace far beyond. Every room had a fireplace of course.
Charming lighting in the hallway . . .
We unloaded our bags and went right down stairs to the cozy pub to drown our driving jitters in hot toddies and cold toddies and all the toddies in between!
Below, is one of the lovely views from our room. Note starry curtains.
And this was the ceiling. Painted with stars . . .
And this frightening thing with wild eagles on the posts, was our very comfortable bed, with ice cube light tables on both sides! You just never know!
And at the foot of the bed, this . . . a crackling fire made with white birch logs . . . Every night, or any time you asked, they would come and make you a real wood fire.
And this bathroom was SO good, I’ve never seen one like this. For anyone thinking about building a house, you might take a look at this! (The reflections from the windows behind me get in the way a bit, try to look past them.) For one thing, the entire floor is heated, 
including the tile in this glass room, which is totally enclosed, right up to the ceiling, with a glass wall and a glass door. On the left is the whirlpool tub (you see the bathroom counter in the reflection, but that’s the tub) ~ there are two shower heads, a really good drain in the heated non-slip tile floor, a steam control, so you can take a steam bath, and a little wooden seat on the right that folds down in case you are the sitting-steam-bath-shower type. It’s very possible to spend the day in this room. I couldn’t help but picture my mom, who could only bathe three kids at a time, (all that would fit in tub, with her on her knees getting soaking wet), putting herself and her babies in here for group shower! Would have been very handy!
From our room, looking across the street . . . colored lights. How could we not love this!
And here it is again, looking from their side back to our hotel . . .
Birch trees are snow art . . .
The dining room where we had breakfast every morning. Breakfast comes with your room: French toast or flapjacks and Vermont Maple Syrup, delicious coffee and ice-cold fresh-squeezed orange juice with all the delicious pulpy parts intact ~ poached eggs, all white and soft and juicy with yolk, and crunchy seedy toast, with jams and honey and every good thing, and so much more. Fruit and yogurt and granola too. . .
We were happy. Nicest guy waited on us. Remembered all our little preferences from day to day.
Then across the street we went through softly drifting snow to the “almost world famous” Warren Store, built in 1839 as a stagecoach stop, which, from all the action, people going in and out, seems like it’s probably the community center, both for locals and for our kind, the not-so-local, but-still-very-appreciative, too.
First thing I noticed, in all the cuteness of this store where they pretty much sell everything from groceries to home goods, clothing to champagne, with worn wooden floors, the fragrance of fresh coffee brewing, was the extremely hygge wood stove that you couldn’t help but cozy up to. (This store reminded me of the one in the wonderful movie Baby Boom, where Diane Keaton sold her Country Baby Food, remember? SUCH a good movie with a darling Vermont house in it, in case you haven’t seen it . . . you’d love it!)
These are my people. Lowely, Joe and John as we go upstairs to the WONDERFUL clothing store, where they also sell home things, like beautiful hooked rugs and pillows! I found a darling little wool vest up there.
Then there was this framed print hanging over the cash register that made me laugh. So much, I had to go home and show it to Jack, and this is what his face did:
Did someone mention ball? Wait a minute, does someone have my ball? Where is it …. you took it? You took it to Vermont and gave it to that strange zebra cat???? Jack was very confused.
They had children’s books too…isn’t this book cover adorable? Not to mention the play on words. Had to take a picture of this!
A label on a box of chocolates. Quite cute. Have I mentioned how much I love barns and lettering?
Then it was into the car, and back on the road for a day of serendipitous meandering. And more adorable red barns (just like the one on the chocolate box!).
If you really want to get in the mood . . . look at this old video. Because on the actual day of Valentine’s Day, this is what we’re going to be doing ourselves… eeek.
Store window in the neighboring, somewhat larger town, of Waitsfield. X’s and O’s for Valentine’s day.❤️
Across from where Joe was walking is this wonderful store, All Things Bright and Beautiful, on Bridge Street. Filled with stuffed animals, and glass and wooden ornaments. Gaelic, the woman who’s owned the shop for 52 years, was there, making her homemade wooden ornaments.
And there were these . . .
And these . . .
And this . . .
And on Gaelic’s art table, was a box, with a cat in it! A word of advice: resist temptation! Do not put your hand in the box with the cat. #wordtothewise
He is waiting for you to try it. He had me so riveted on him, I forgot to take a picture of Gaelic making her wooden ornaments . . . but Lowely took this picture of a wall display . . .
So now we know how she does it . . . Nothing is what you think it is. The work that goes into all the lovely things there are in this world is phenomenal. This just proves it.
Next to Gaelic’s store is this bridge, 2nd oldest in Vermont, hence “Bridge Street.”
We walked through it and around it, and on the far side, we looked across the snow meadow and there was this huge bonfire.
I know what my girlfriend Diana would say, she would say, “What would you do if you saw that?” Seemed like a pretty safe time to burn though, I could feel the heat from where I was standing. Had to video it!
XOX
See the snow coming down? All wonderful.
Perfect photo op.
And more meandering, more town, getting hungry . . .
Lunch started with a toast and four Bloody Mary’s!
Then more meandering . . .
Couldn’t drive past this sign . . .
Because what’s Vermont without cider and syrup, and these . . .
Legendary!
Cider donuts! Yum!
All kinds of goodies here . . .
Beautiful bottles ~ think I’ll get . . .
This! One Bourbon Barrel Aged Pure Vermont Maple Syrup for me, and, one for you!! Yes! A GiveAway! Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post (if you ever get there), and you’re IN!
Out, munching do-nuts, drinking cups of steaming hot cider, we slip into gallery, then back in the car . . .
for more red barns . . .
And green ones, and floaty snow flakes . . .
And picture-taking from open car windows . . .
It’s a big ski area up there . . . you may have heard of Sugar Bush and Mad River Glen . . .
And apparently golf is popular too! Though we did not see a lot of it going on!
The slopes were packed with brightly colored people!
The mountains are criss-crossed with ski runs and chair lifts . . .
And gondolas . . . to which, I say, thank you, but no thank you. My adventurous spirit, which brings me right to the edge, has its limits . . . I’m best in the lodge. With the cocoa. And the book. I can go, but drop me at the lodge and bring on the whipped cream.
Luckily, Map Man is right there with me . . . a lodge guy.
So, speaking of immigrants, we then arrived at the chalet of the famous singing Von Trapp Family (Yes, from The Sound of Music) who, with their ten children, left Austria just before WWII, and brought their American Dream to this gorgeous mountain top with the long views of Vermont and made it all come true.💞
They built this amazing ski lodge . . .
Always wanted to see this place and here we were. If you are a skier, I would say this would be a wonderful place to come stay. As you can see, it wasn’t all snow and blizzard while we were there, it was sunshine too!
Now a quick word about stars. Something about birch stars that the locals adore, because they are lit up and on everything. You may have noticed them on the Warren Store. Here are a few more photos to prove my point.
Upstairs and downstairs . . . I think they know that twinkles in the snow make magic! That’s why they do it!
And they are really everywhere . . . hanging from trees . . .
On barns . . .
All sizes . . . we think they make them from scratch from the trees in the woods . . .
Some more into it than others . . .
They don’t look store-bought, or uniform in size . . .
Little ones too. . . next to the cute blue door . . .
And even, or especially, in front of the wonderful New England churches . . . quite pretty. I could go on with stars, and restaurants and food and everything, but I think NOW is the time for the Main Event, our sleigh ride in the snow which I have been dreaming of doing for years . . . and now we finally did!!!!!! It was everything I hoped it would be for us four Valentines.❤️ And so nice to be able to take you Valentine’s along with us too!
“Gentle Giants” in Stowe, Vermont . . . that’s the name of the sleigh people, and there’s their phone number . . . just in cases.❤️
We brought champagne with us, for before we got out of the car, for a pre-sleigh-ride warm-up and toast to Valentine’s and our wonderful friendship. (BTW, want to taste the MOST delicious champagne, that does not give me a headache like all the others do, costs about 7 dollars a bottle and is from Trader Joe’s? It’s called Amour de Paris (good name), is peach flavored, and I tell you, it’s good cheap stuff. Very celebratory! Perfect for brunch! Yum! Write it down! You’ll love it!)
Now we are happy! 💖
Joe goes in to talk about what we do next!
I go toward the horse. Horse sees me!
He’s coming! I’m happy.
SO beautiful
Much friendlier than the kitty in the box! Note feet (mine) in snow. But totally warm. Uggs boots. Oh yeah, only way to go!
We had a bag of apples and we forgot them! Don’t let this happen to you!
Boys… while we’re waiting . . . (Hay truck, make a wish!)
So you can see. This is the basic lay of the land. That little red house in the middle, the smallest one, was where Joe was talking to Rochelle our sleigh driver . . . and there’s the horse Lowely was petting off on the left. Isn’t it pure heaven there?
Lots of lovely horses here . . .
xoxoxoxo
So here’s “Jack” (another Jack, they are everywhere these days), our horse, being hooked to his sleigh. See how smart he is, when Rochelle asks him to move he does it in just the right tiny increment she was asking from him. I was thrilled when Rochelle put on the bells. I was so hoping there would be bells.
John is bringing his blanket. It belonged to his grandfather, we’ve had it in the back seat for the whole trip, and it’s definitely coming on the sleigh ride! Right, Lowely? Right!
And here we are, loaded up and ready to go. They wrapped us in furry red blankets. We are toasty and warm, and just a few small flakes are coming down. It’s perfect. We’re really doing this!
XOXO
Here we go! Under the covered bridge . . . !
Look at Rochelle. Isn’t she the perfect sleigh driver? Her hair color is wonderful!!!! This is one of my favorite photos of our whole trip! I could paint her!
So into the pristine white woods we go, cold and crisp . . . see all those branches? That’s what you make those stars from!
As we walked along, we noticed there were lanterns hanging from the trees . . .
While watching little blobs of snow fall out of the trees and turn to powder in the breeze, I said to Rochelle, “How fun, do you go out in a sleigh at night?”
(See the lantern?) She laughed, and said, “No, we just put them there so you’ll think we do!” I’m confused. Is she messing with me? I’m a perfect stranger. There were candles in there! I still don’t get it! 😜
We were out there for about a half hour ~ we saw these cross-country skiers go by . . .
And one other sleigh . . . which was fun, because then we could see how cute we looked!
Delightful. You should do this if you can. Must be sleigh rides all over snow country no matter where you are. Imagine, if you are Louisa May Alcott, this is how you travel in the snow, not because you’re a dreamer per se, but because it’s your only choice after walking. And this is how you go to Boston too. And take your book, Little Women to the Publisher to see if they want to print it! Which of course they do! ❤️ It wasn’t so long ago that everyone traveled like this, so all of Beacon Street would be sleighs and horses in the snow. This is one moment I’d like to slip back in time and take my camera with me.
They understand the value of RED in the snow. ❤️
But way too soon we were heading back for the covered bridge . . . Yes, we were singing Winter Wonderland to go with our sleigh bells ~ even Rochelle was singing with us. She must have heard people do that a thousand times, because you just can’t help but break into song. Never was there a more appropriate time to sing that song!
Time to go! ❤️
But not before a Valentine’s Kiss.😍 This was our 30th Valentine’s Day together. So lucky to be loving him.🎶 Came a long, long way to do it.
And good bye to Rochelle. One of the many things I liked about her, is how good she is with her horses. She takes wonderful care of them.💞
Back in the car once again, with back-row seat view to everything.
More wonderful scenery, colors in the snow…
Stars and frozen roads . . .
and luv-lee graveyards . . .
And road views . . .
Another truly delicious dinner, this time at the Common Man, just FANTASTIC. I have the menu, I took pictures of the food, I could show it all to you and go on (I was going to say “all day” but it’s already been all day!) and I’m afraid you may want to reclaim your life now!
So here’s our last glimpse of the winter sun . . .
Before we hit the road, because the blizzard started right up for our ride home. And the four friends were on the road again.🤞Fingers crossed for safety!
We stopped here at King Arthur Flour on the way home, a place Lowely and I had always wanted to see. Really interesting, they have classes there ~ would love to do that sometime, and lots of good stuff in the gift shop! But, blizzardsville, USA.
This was our boat ride home. The snow had stopped. It had been raining. We looked outside to this really strange sky. Finally went outside after remembering, “No, the windows on this boat aren’t tinted.” It was that under the total cloud cover, somewhere up there, must have been a gorgeous sunset, that made it’s way to earth in a giant, and I don’t get to say this often, Purple Haze!
HOME SWEET HOME, with Jackie cozying up to the heart dishtowel I bought at King Arthur Flour. What a wonderful time we had. Got a lot done in a very short time! We left on Sunday, drove all day, had Monday and Tuesday to Play, and came home on Wednesday.❤️ Perfect! Only 2 pounds heavier! Could be worse!
Hope you enjoyed our trip! Don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re interested in some Vermont Maple Syrup! Be sure to heat it up before you pour it over your waffles or pancakes or French toast! Hot syrup melts butter, yum, rivulets! And, come again soon . . . next week we leave on the train for a cross-country trip out to California to be with my mom on her Birthday! Very excited. Will “Twitter from the Twain” along the way! Lots to tell you about still, but enough is enough is what I say! Love you! Byeeee! P.S. Here are some interesting facts about Vermont I’m sure you would love to know!❤️
This looked like so much fun! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Ok, speechless. All of it, every snowflake, star, barn, bridge, jingley bell …
all of it fills my soul with joy!!!
You have taken us on the most wonderful Valentine’s trip ever. Sitting here at my office, (should be working) but enjoying being brisked along to Vermont on a delightful sleigh ride. What a delight for the senses.
Thank you for taking us along on your wonder adventure. Felt like I was right there with y’all. Beautiful photos and the snow looks lovely!
I have always wanted to go on a Sleigh ride! Thanks for sharing!
I visited Vermont a long time ago with my twin sister and our friends. It was beautiful. Thank-you for bringing back the memories. Your trip was so gorgeous!
Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Lovely post, as usual. Did you notice that, despite the almost-blizzard conditions, the school buses were still running?! And probably on time! Here in lower NY state, just the threat of snow shuts down the schools! Having lived in the “Southtowns” of Buffalo for six (forgettable) years, I don’t remember them ever having a snow day. Eight inches on the ground and still snowing, they just put chains on the bus tires and plow through! I guess they REALLY don’t want to miss any days of summer vacation to make-up snow days!
Yes we did notice that . . . life goes right on….stores are open, people are out, and it actually feels rather festive in the stores and pubs!
Oh, oh, oh . . . another dream trip! That LOVELY snow – but I wouldn’t want to be the one driving in it! So happy you are all safe! And as for the gondolas/ski trails – I’d be with you in the lodge! Thank you for a wonderful interlude and dreams of snow. We’ve had such a warm and scantily snowy winter here in Ohio. I’m NOT complaining, but there is nothing to up the COZY factor like a good snowstorm!
Yes, it’s a bit of a gift, a big soft snowstorm.
Thank you for the sleigh ride, barns and beauty!
Like heaven on earth is reading your blog, dear lady! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing with us!
What a beautiful post. We are heading to New England in May, and we will definitely have to visit many of the places you showed us. Thanks for the trip & all the visiting tips!
Susan thank you for this blog it was just wonderful I felt like I was in Vermont with you I am currently in Myrtle Beach have to say I’m jealous of your trip to Vermont what a difference between our two valentine vacations. We are having unseasonable warm weather❤️
Loved the little adventure you took us on, thank you! I wish you would do more videos…it just makes us feel like we are right there with you❣️ Planning a trip to upstate New York in August to our “farm”, then on to Vermont and New Hampshire to check out areas that we may want to live. So excited to be moving back east within the next couple of years! We miss it terribly!
I couldn’t leave the seasons now that I know about them. They add so much to the year. That first daffodil!!!! Vermont is such a people place . . . I imagine the same would be true for New Hampshire! Neighbors depending on each other.
What a deliciously delightful blog!…I devoured every snowy photo! Just what I needed in this unusually warm 70 degree weather we’ve been having here in NC!
I lived in Derry, New Hampshire as a teenager (my baby brother was born in Laconia) when my Dad transfered to work for the Boston newspapers in the mid 1970s and commuted back & forth each night! My mother’s family all New Englanders and we had a summer camp up in Gilmanton, NH. Seeing this post and pictures brings back wonderful memories of a beautiful winter’s day in NE. I had the best collection of down coats, sweaters, hats, boots, gloves/scarves (always perfect Xmas gifts each year) and nice warm socks! Thank you for this delightful post and bringing back delightful memories for me! And thank you for a chance on your give-away.
What a lovely, lovely, getaway. I felt like I was there with you. Thank you for that!
Oh, I so enjoyed taking this trip vicariously with you! A sleigh ride is on my “want to do” list, and a visit to Vermont in winter would be delightful. I love the lighted stars and the red barns in the snow, and… everything! If I’m not too late, please include me in the drawing for the maple syrup, and if I am too late, that’s ok, I enjoyed the post so much it makes up for lateness.
Not too late at all!
Thanks for the lovely Valentine’s journey!
Hadn’t seen anyone mention Julian Fellowes’ new series ‘Dr. Thorne’ streaming on Amazon Prime.
We visited Vermont years ago and I fell absolutely in love with the charm there. The entire state is just hygge if you ask me. We loved the covered bridges and the general stores and the people there. My one wish is that when we have no plans for Christmas…i.e., visiting our children, that my husband and I spend Christmas in a cozy Vermont inn complete with a sleigh ride. My whole entire dream. When my children were little and on the rare occasions it snowed, we would take maple syrup outside and pour it on clean snow that we piled in bowls and eat it. Delicious.
Love Vermont and maple syrup. I went to a sugar shack in Quebec once, lots of fun. Welcome to California, lots of rain, I must warn you, but being Susan I’ll bet you have adorable boots and umbrellas❤
When we moved to NH from WI, I said what about Vermont??? It looks more like home with older history. However, the job was in coastal NH. I did fall in love with the New England seacoast in my five years there. Sometimes I wish I stayed. Arnie liked it in NH and ME when I showed him around in 2011. His ship was in Newington, NH.
When I was young we took our families sleigh out, not we didn’t have any horses anymore so we used a small tractor to pull it
across our land.
Warm hugs,
Margot
I really want to see Stowe, someday…
Hello Sweet Sue… This Is A Truly “White~Christmas” Blog~Post 🙂 Please Pass Me Two #CiderDonuts 🙂 Vermont~Yumminess I LOVE Every Photo & The Magical Videos & Oh Those SleighBells & The Sleighride & Those Horses!!! Sorry Bout The Bag~Of~Apples 😉 Thank~You For Bringing~Us~Along! I Keep Singing….#SNOW……Snow….Snow…… 🙂 & My Wings~Are~All~A~Flutter & They Are Also Crossed For That #VermontMapleSyrup Oh~My! 😉 My Bags are Packed & I Await “Twitter~From~The~Twain” Yay! xoxo #Poof P.S. Safe~Journey 🙂
I knew you would like it Angie!!! Just your cup of magical tea!
🙂 #Exactly “MagicalTea” Happy~Joyful~Tuesday #SweetestSue 🙂
I feel like I’ve just had a little winter break! I am so missing snow this winter– there has been very little here in Roanoke, VA, so this post definitely helped!
~Dearest Susan~
You take us on the most beautiful getaway’s. Simply charming! Thanks for always sharing your nuggets of old-fashioned goodness.
Merry Monday!
Marie
Oh, Susan what a time to be on the road! That was a real corker of a storm for us here in the North Country. Maine received at least 26 inches of snow. We’re still digging out!! So happy you had a wonderful time and got to Vermont and then home safely. Aren’t sleigh rides just the best?!! My son worked on a Christmas tree farm when he was younger and we were able to take beautiful sleigh rides through the Maine forest. Wonderful memories!! You mentioned once that Joe loves to shovel snow. He (and you) are most welcome at our house any time he feels the need to shovel. 🙂 We have plenty of snow to share. Have a wonderful trip to California to be with your mom. Treasure every moment with her. So happy you were able to visit King Arthur Flour. We are talking about visiting there—-but in the summer. LOL
What a wonderful vacation you have taken us on. I am so envious of your travels. Thank you for sharing your good fortune with us!
Living in Memphis I can’t imagine all that snow! I loved it. Thanks for the tour!
Susan, I did just as you suggested and gave myself the treat of your winter trip to Vermont.
Thanks for all the sights, and seeing the charm of this delightful state. Our daughter lives in Arlington, MA, and we visit her often. They go to Cape Cod for summer stays with in laws, and skiing in Vermont in winter. So we are becoming very familiar with your surroundings. And I have told her of your writings! Thank you so much for sharing so many of your delights with others. It is truly your gift, and a gift to us all.
Come visit in Wisconsin sometime, and I would love for you to see the beauty here as well.
I love Wisconsin!!! We’ve been several times, but never stayed long enough, yet!
El oh vee ee! Always awesome and inspiring! ❤️❤️
Thanks for the Vermont trip. It’s been a few years since we’ve been. My husband’s family is from Saratoga Springs, NY. We would go there and visit for a bit, then we would all pile in and go to Ludlow, Vt. Love the trip over. Manchester is a fun stop on the way. I’ve said that it seems that you have to be an artist to live in Vermont. Most of the mailboxes have a beautiful sign with the name of the resident artisan on them. Thanks again for the pictures!
What a wonderful way to celebrate 30 years of love and companionship
Ann from Osterville
I’m almost out of syrup!
What a wonderful vacation to Vermont. I felt like I was there!! Just beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!
Looks like a wonderful vacation!!! Thank you for sharing!!
Love traveling with you! Always a treat to come to your website and find a new post.
Susan, you and Joe have the most fun adventures and I love reading about them and all the lovely pictures you share! You capture the New England coziness and charm for sure! Looking forward to your California adventures as well:)
So pretty! And looks like so much fun!
I could listen to the sleigh bells all day!! (We wake up early Christmas morning to my sister ringing authentic sleigh bells) What a beautiful place and lovely snow!! Thank you so much for sharing your trip! 🙂
Susan,
Thank you for the lovely trip to Vermont in February. Not having a heavy duty SUV, it’s probably not a journey we will take driving from Phila, but we’ve talked about how fun it would be. Rich & I went to Vermont for the first time in October and we were blown away by the beauty of the state. One of my goals was to find the “Baby Boom” house, which we did & I have a photo of me there. Just as pretty as can be. We stayed at a B&B in Chester and probably did much the same as you & Joe except no snow! I even bought that darling “Sheepover” book for my grandson. We can always use more syrup! Have a lovely train ride!
Being a horse owner, I loved your pictures of all the beautiful ones in Vermont.
What a coincidence that my husband and I were in the same places as you last week! We stayed in Burlington, VT and rode to all the places you went, plus Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory tour. I even took a picture of the Warren covered bridge like yours. Also, one of us driving through. My husband’s name is Warren and it is remarkable how many places around the country are named after him, ha ha!
What wonderful videos of the sleigh ride. 🙂 So much fun!
I loved my trip thru snowy Vermont via your blog!
Thanks so much for sharing such a special valentine sleigh ride and Vermont covered bridges too. ❤️ the sound of the bell in the snow 🎈🎉😘
loved your photos! looks like it was a fun trip. but i am soooo anxious for Spring!!!! really tired of snow :-)))) thanks for sharing. patti
Thank you for the escape from hot and windy Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii! I think I’d trade our beaches and palm trees for snowy fields and birches, for a little while at least 💗
Now that is saying something!
What dreams are made of! Only been to Vermont once, but would love to go in the winter!
What a delightful adventure. I have always wanted to visit Vermont. Those red houses and barns covered in snow could be Christmas cards or at least postcard worthy. I almost feel like I was a tag along guest. Thank you for the photos and details; everyone looked like they were having a great time, and so did I.
What a delightful trip to Vermont! Thanks for taking us along. The barns, the houses, the snow, the shops, the inn, the sleigh ride – ahh, all wonderful!
What a perfect Valentine’s Day adventure! Inspires me to plan a spring trip. Thank you.
Loved it all! Thanks for taking us along! It was almost as much fun as being there! Would love to win the maple syrup! Have a wonderful trip to California, until we meet again!!!
This is one of my favorite posts! They can’t ever be too long…I never want them to end. Thanks for this one, I can’t wait to go to Vermont and do all those things. I have to say, I think my favorite picture is the one where you were on the step at the sleigh ride place, leaning over to kiss Joe. That is truly an absolutely adorable picture!!
What a treasure your Blog is for all of us. I’ve really enjoyed each and every one of them. Enough to forward this email to my sister so she could enjoy them with me.
Thanks for taking us along on your lovely trip and especially on the sleigh ride!! Such a beautiful time!
I’m in Laguna Beach on my balcony, watching for whales and dolphins, far away from the lovely snow country, so it was wonderful to live the winter lifestyle vicariously through you.
This brings back wonderful memories of a Christmas sleigh ride at Fort Steele, BC with a homestay student from Spain. We had such fun singing Jingle Bells as we went. A light snow has just finished falling today and the sun has come out here in Elkford where I live, in the BC Rocky Mountains. It is so beautiful, especially from inside with a nice cup of tea 🙂 Thank you for your wonderful posts. I look forward to each one.
I would love some Vermont Maple syrup! My close friend Patty moved there from California several years ago but I haven’t been able to travel to visit anyone since my father passed a little over a year ago and my sisters and I take turns taking care of our mother! It is a five hour drive to Apple Farm so I am disappointed not to have enough time to drive up and back on my hours off to attend your upcoming book signing! Your blog let’s me feel I am going places while I am with my mother who has dementia 😢 I grew up in the Midwest snow! I haven’t seen much snow here in California ❄️❄️❄️and never took a horse drawn carriage ride! Thank you for bringing the magic to me sleigh bells and musica and all!😘🍾🥂❤️
That Maple Syup looks great . . . Nothing better than the real deal !
And what a fun sleigh ride . . . Buurrr . . . Happy 30th !
Linda C. of So Cal
Thank you for taking us along on this beautiful trip. I have been to Vermont in the summer but never the winter. It looks delicious! What a beautiful State…any season.
Beautiful Stowe in the snow. We went in December at the end after Christmas and almost took the sleigh ride after snowshoeing….we saw the little lights on the bridge on the way back to our place. Went to the Trapp Family Lodge for lunch……have stayed there, but I like the B & Bs better. Your pictures are great and captured the charm. We drove home in the blinding snow. Looks like you drove up in it. I could not sleep wideeyed and poppycocked!
Wonderful, wonderful blog! I absolutely love seeing all the snowy houses! I’m a house lover too! Whenever we’re on vacation and we go to a town we’ve never been in before, I always want to go to downtown and circle out around it because that’s where all the old houses are, where the town started. My husband is very patient with me and he drives very slowly while I take pictures of all the houses while exclaiming over them. The only reason we ever stop is because I feel sorry for him! Love from Mary S. in Fresno, CA
ah such a lovely day…enjoying the pretty snow without frigid temps here in spring-like maryland with forsythia blooming! new england is soooo lovely in any season and real maple syrup…..the very best!
Thank you so much for bringing back so many happy memories for me of living in VT (well, maybe except for the driving in the snow part! Oh, and maybe the snow part! Oh, and maybe the cold part!). My husband and I lived in the Burlington area for ~15 years before moving to the Cape for 20 years and we’re now in Central FL. Speaking of the Trapp Family Lodge, I just saw Elisabeth von Trapp (daughter of Werner (Kurt in the movie)) perform at a local church. This is the fourth show of hers that I’ve been to and she has such a strong, lovely, crystal clear voice. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us!
Just in cases! Do you ever wonder if anyone will get your subtle references? And yet we do!
Well, HOW could you have NEVER been to Trapp Lodge before? It is so you. Hikes, and gorgeous farm countryside, and afternoon in the library and cozy, woodsy rooms, and gorgeous gardens in the warm seasons. You and Joe must make another trip and stay there. It is wonderful in every season. And in another season, the drive will be less harrowing. Oh my. Your bunch is brave. I don’t go in snow. Anywhere.
Lots of new snow on the ground here in Western CT, but spent the weekend in 60 degree sunshine walking on the beaches-Mystic, Old Lyme, Saybrook, Niatic, Westbrook, and a pop into RJ Julias in Madison on the way home. Cozy is great in winter, but an odd couple of days in sunshiny warmth in February is good for the soul. Especially in sea air.
I have never been to Vermont, but I feel almost like I was today, reading your blog post and enjoying each photograph. Thank you.
Vermont … how delicious !! I have decided to start TRYING to make Twinkle stars a THiNG in Missouri !! Thank you for the lens you put on your adventures !
SUCH a good idea!
Susan , today is usually a sad day for me, the 10 th anniversary without my sweetheart! You brightened my day beyond words! Thank again for sharing your journey. We once went on a sleigh ride in Jackson Hole Wyo. it was snowing and the Reindeer came down the mountain and we fed them. Totally awesome experience full of magic.
Oh I’m so happy to hear that Susan. Lovely memories. xoxo
What a delightful AND romantic trip to Vermont ❤️‼️ As always thank you for your GREAT story telling style and all the spectacular photos. Your adventures are always intriguing and SO educational‼️ Thanks for bringing us all along vicariously ❤️🏠‼️
My pleasure, thank you back Karen!
Your blog is such a wonderful distraction! Loved this to pieces. Since I am still getting caught up on your older blogs…I’m up to April 2013…I am just getting to know your dad thru his comments. What a peach! I’m sure you will be missing your usual train stop in Arizona. Heart hugs to you on your loss. Thanks for taking us on your snowy, beautiful, Dr. Zhivago adventure! Those birch stars! Looking forward to seeing more of our beautiful country from the “twain”.
XOX
We’re going to my mom’s first, then driving back to Arizona, because my darling stepmom us there and we are close. xoxo
What a picture-perfect fabulous trip! And the two pictures of Jack–almost the best part of all!
What a wonderful entertaining screenplay!! This week-end adventure should be made into a movie for just us girls!!
What a wonderful trip. I enjoyed every minute of your adventure! Thanks for sharing it with us! Sue
Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing your world with us. Maybe one day I will get around to visiting this area.
Vermont is one of my favorite states. Shelbourne farm with the sweet Swiss brown(or is it Brown Swiss? I can never remember) cows , Northshire bookstore(the best), Bennington pottery,Tasha Tudor(saw her @ a book signing and she told me my Corgi was “fluffy”) and who can forget the treacherous Molly Stark Trail? Actually, it could be the way my husband was driving! We must make a trip. Thank you for letting me remember such good times.
What a wonderful trip! I’ve been with my Valentine for 55 years! That was a story I’d like to live !
Your blog made me smile on a day I needed to smile
Wow! What an amazing trip you took!! I just love that sleigh ride. It must have been pretty cold that day as I see the driver pulling up her sweater and covering her ears fully. Love that gorgeous white snow and all the red barns. I too would love to be in the drawing for the maple syrup.
All too cute!
My son, his father and myself as well, went to college in Vermont. Saint Michael’s College in Winooski, close to Burlington. I fell in love with the state right away. My son’s girlfriend is also from Vermont so I am anticipating a Vermont wedding at some point. So glad you had a great time! Tracy
…and now I’m homesick for a place I’ve never been. ❤
THANK YOU, Susan, for that wonderful, much appreciated trip to Vt. We love Vt. and used to go 3 times a year – summer camping, fall leaf looking and winter skiing. Now being in our eighties, neither my husband or I can drive that far any more. Your trip took me back, even the scary feeling driving in a storm. lol We too thankfully always arrived home safely. **** I do hope you will do the same for us on your train trip. I love train travel, but know that’s not something I will be doing. Thank you again and Blessings to you and Joe. (And Jack too)
hello everyone, thank you for the lovely trip to Vermont. I have always wanted to visit there, now I can see why I wanted to go there and visit, its lovely. I love all the barns and inns and I do love the graveyards.. what a place to do some etchings. and I love good Vermont maple syrup, my grandpa used to get maple candy from Vermont in the shape of maple leaves and give them to us… what a sweet treat that was, and a sleigh ride with bells, wonderful. now I have to ask about that cat, what did it do to your hand if you stuck it in???? I am as curious as a cat about that. it looked so sweet sleeping there in its’ box. not too sure that poster bed would not give me nightmares at night, but I would love that bathroom, my kind of bathroom. and a fireplace in the bedroom, pure heaven this winter. all is going well here, the ducks and geese are loving this rainy weather, come Thursday that might just change over to snow again, just what I need I guess.. good thing I still have the snow shovel handy. the chicken are getting tired of the rain, so for now they are enjoying a good sunbath as the sun popped out for awhile. the cats are enjoying a good sunbath on the tabletop….. well its where the sun is shining in and its warm there. off to go chase the turkeys back into the yard, they decided to visit the front yard and I don’t them hanging about out there, gives them ideas about wandering out on the road and another turkey parade with the fire department. plus I have to figure something easy for dinner, maybe some chicken breasts with tomato sauce and cheese, and some mixed veggies with scalloped potatoes. stay warm everyone, and have a great day today. have a safe trip to California Susan, be careful as I hear they are having problems with the rainstorms there. hugs…….. 🙂
It bit it! Softly, no blood or anything, but it clearly had boundaries around the edges of the box, and I crossed them!
sounds like Miss Kitty, unless you introduce yourself to her she will softly bite to let you know you crossed her boundary. I usually hold a finger or my hand close to her face where she can sniff it and see it and accept me. she was dumped on our front lawn 7 years ago and it took a long time for her to learn to trust us. she is now one happy cat here, and every now and then she feels a need to remind us she does have certain boundaries and they need to be respected.
Snow…beautiful snow…..unlike Iowa were we had a picnic (as in on the patio) in 71 degree weather on last Saturday.
Lee
Thank you for the beautiful pictures and story. It’s like a fairy tale!
I absolutely loved, loved this post! We moved to Wisconsin (from northern New Jersey) on the east side of the St. Croix River back in 1978. We had lots of snow when we first lived here, but it seems to get less and less. I was so envious of this trip. I love the pictures and story line. I love New England and before we moved her we were thinking of moving to Maine. Thank you for showing us what we are missing the most, the quaintness!
What a wonderful trip! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. My bucket list of places to see continues to grow longer…!
Beautifully Romantic!! Thanks for sharing. Vermont is beautiful in the summer too!! I loved the pictures! So glad you have a special Valentine’s Day!!! xo
I cannot resist: You are our pumpkin pie waffle, our apple crumb pie, our roasted acorn squash, our glazed carrots, our maple and bacon glazed brussel sprouts, and our french toast macaroon to our Bourbon Maple Syrup, dripping with personality!
That was great fun! Thank you Susan💕 We are totally blessed and get real Vermont syrup from one of our vacation rental guests that come every Oct. Can you believe it? They come to California in Oct and I’d love to be in Vermont at that time! FYI: Buck Mountain Syrup is the one we are privileged to receive.
Thank you for the wonderful vicarious trip to Vermont. I’ve never been but I did have a toy promotional doll from a syrup co. When I was a child. 🌨🌨🌨🌨☃️☃️🌨🌨
So beautiful. Thank you for always sharing your adventures!
Thanks for the chilly field trip this morning! I find myself looking for Petey. Does he only get to go on ocean crossings? If he had Uggs I know he would have enjoyed this too. Thanks again! Also, I am going to look for the King Arthur heart towel in their catalogue. Too cute!
Reminded me of Door County in Wisconsin. It is the thumb of Wisconsin that juts out into Lake Michigan. Something to put on your bucket list as Vermont is on mine. Thank you for the wonderful pictures and descriptions.
Would love to win the maple syrup.
Sincerely, Kay from Menasha, WI
Awesome~~ blog made me feel like I was ”with you all ” …fantastic lot of pictures that will be a GREAT memory… !! Thanks I really enjoyed this !!!!
Beautiful pictures and what a sweet time with your special friends. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, wow, thanks for taking me along on your wonderful winter trip – I haven’t been to that area in years and it is a lovely area – even in the warm weather!! There is also something wonderful I love to see in Vt, it’s the church steeples, but I imagine it’s hard to see them in the snow!!
Oh Susan! What a lovely wonderful trip! I’m not much of a cold weather girl but you make it all look and sound so fun and beautiful maybe I could take a sleigh ride one day! Just a weekend like y’all did then back to my warm Texas sun! I laughed out loud at Jack and strange zebra cat taking his ball! Ha Ha My dog Emmy Lou and kitties looking at me side eye like, “what is so funny?!” The kitty in the box looks a lot like my Twinkle! She can be grouchy and feisty too! Thanks for taking us along – of course I loved Rochelle’s horses! Beauties!
xoxoxo
Lisa
I loved your Vermont post. Isn’t it wonderful how just a few days away can transport you to such a different place and experience. Please don’t ever apologize that your posts are too long. They are such a joy to read and you tell marvelous stories. Thank you!
What a wonderful blog post! Your pictures are beyond beautiful! I’d love a trip like that! I always am ready for maple syrup to put on my buckwheat cakes! I was hoping to see you in SLO, but not sure if I’ll make it! My parents live there, so maybe my mom and dad can go! I’m a ways away in Modesto! Darn! Have a special time with your mom!💕Sherri
This post was epic! I enjoyed every bit of it. Thanks for sharing your trip with us in so much detail. I’ve always wanted to visit Vermont, especially in the snow. 🙂