Here are some pictures from a visit to Colchester Bog and the cos way leading out into lake Champlain and the Hero Islands and Grand Isle county. 

This is a posting about an adventure which took place on April 17th 2015.

 

It started to sprinkle on us as we stopped to look around mid-cos-way.

 Asher was amused that there was water on both sides of the path so we kept pointing to the water on the right and on the left.

We went out to eat at Three Brother's Pizza also in Colchester on the way home.

Palmer Sugar Shack, Shelburne

It was Maple Open House Weekend, so, for our third outing, we decided to make a trip to the Palmer Sugar house in Shelburne, Vt.

We chose it for the advertised live music and crepes. We got a late start and were hoping to get down there before they stopped serving breakfast. Unfortunately neither David or I got a good handle on the directions before heading out. I ended up taking the wrong route south from Burlington and before we knew it we were on the Charlotte-Hinesburg Road instead of the Shelburne-Hinesburg Road. Hummm?

After driving back and forth a few times I stopped to ask a post mistress for directions. She pointed us back in the right direction and after flagging down a pick up truck driver we were on a clear course for crepes.

A couple of large draft horses me us in the parking lot who were taking people out for wagon rides. Then we entered the shack. Inside we found a bustling, sticky party. We got glazed donuts, savory and sweet crepes (which involved a lot of waiting in line), and one was 1/2 price because of the wait and a missing ingredient.

After eating all of this and some maple glazed cashews Asher was ecstatic and David and I were beginning to realize our mistakes. Why had we opted to bring a 2 year old to a sugar shack just before nap time, and was their any way to dilute the sugar content in our blood...it was leading to heart palpitations and the feeling of wading through syrup.

We enjoyed the live music by Spencer Lewis, and the savory, egg and cheese crape was delicious and it was fun to see so many families with young kids enjoying the day. However, considering that Asher was up 3-4 hours beyond his usual nap time it is unlikely we will make a return trip next year.

For our second town we traveled to Richmond to attend a Cranky and Appalachian music concert by two very talented young women. David and I attended an Elizabeth LaPrelle Concert when we lived in Blacksburg Virginia and she was 16. We were very impressed, buying and sharing her CD. Then when I became interested in the art of Cranky making her name popped up again and I learned that she had partnered up with another musician and artist to produce an amazing array of Cranky scrolls to accompany their singing. I am so happy to have rediscovered Elizabeth and her new and continued work with Anne. Follow either of these links elizabethlaprelle.com or annaandelizabeth.com for more information.

My mother met us at the concert and we all got to sit in the front row. Asher enjoyed the music and running around with David at the end. I left very inspired about Cranky making and shadow puppet shows. The included a very intricate one accompanied by one of their songs. The image above shows the back of the screen (a blank white sheet) with an intricately carved framework and velcro to hold sheets of felt to obscure different parts of the frame. The scenes were uncovered sequentially to reveal the events of the balled. What fun!

After the performance we went to dinner at Parkside Kitchen in Richmond and had a very good meal including fried brustle sprouts, winter squash and garlic mac and cheese and maple fries. A very satisfying outing indeed.

Here we are at the restaurant in front of a Vermont mountain scene. Asher is ready for bed.