Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Dog Sledding [110]

 12/20/08: Ken Haggett and his 18 Peace Pups are a home-grown dog sledding team in Lake Elmore.  For years now they have been pulling dog-lovers through the wintry wonderlands of Vermont.

Exxon is the alpha dog (left), Dubois is the lead dog who almost died as a pup, and Muddy is a little jumpy.  Each Siberian Husky is a complete individual with unique markings, a distinct bark and an urge to RUN.

Music: Lowell Thompson: Lowell Thompson, "Let Go"

Location: Lake Elmore, Vermont

Monday, December 22, 2008

Winter Musings


Today I trudged to my sister's house along un-plowed sidewalks lugging my sister's half of our CSA. Winter fought my every step, lashing angrily in my face, causing my clumsy feet to slip and slide beneath me, daring me to give up and return to the safety of home.

Refusing to relent, my feet continued to trudge along in slow motion through the heavy snow, as though encased in syrupy molasses. What is normally a 10 minute walk dragged into 30 minutes. Dark was falling and I was the only person silly enough to be out in the storm. I felt small and fragile next to the fury of winter.

I longed for Oakland and those endlessly sunny days, wearing shorts-n-flip flops, and easy unencumbered 80 mph movement from place to place.

Hours later I was shoveling my driveway for the 6th time this weekend (I am so not kidding, the snow has been relentless) and my cell rang. It was Jen Hing in Richmond, CA. We haven't talked in ages and I started laughing like an idiot. How did I end up here in the midst of a snowstorm fighting desperately to keep my driveway clear while Jen is across the country in the land that is forever sunny?

Life is funny that way. Who the hell knows where you will end up and why?

After a nice talk I went in to get cozy in my lovely and odd, old Vermont house. I am not really sure how I ended up back here in this winter wonderland but I do think I am supposed to be here. And having grown up with this relentless snow, there is a part of me that will always be enchanted and awed by it, despite its ferocity.

Maybe it is good to feel small and humble 10 months out of the year?

These are some photos of our snowy wonderland that I took two years ago when I was walking around in a state of confused shock. The blankets of snow comforted me then. It was a sure sign of beauty and goodness that I desperately needed at that dark time in my life.

And then came Stuck in Vermont and a warm home of my own strong enough to be battered by a winter thick with storms. In short, I am a very lucky and humble girl this winter holiday who needs to get outside to start shoveling again.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Alison Bechdel [109]

12/13/08: Vermont-based cartoonist Alison Bechdel talks about fame, her 25-year old comic Dykes to Watch Out For and her celebrated novel Fun Home while explaining why the personal has always been political for her.

Featured: http://www.dykestowatchoutfor.com/index.php

Music: Antara, Harbor All The Strays, "Paint"
http://www.littleweirdgirl.com/

Location: Bolton, Vermont

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The Bobbin [108]

PLEASE WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY!

12/7/08: Mommy-owned and operated The Bobbin Sew Bar & Craft Lounge welcomes nursing moms, kids, crafters, novices and community members to take part in the fun.

Whether you are knitting, crocheting, sewing, shopping, hanging out or just observing, The Bobbin will keep you entertained.

So why should you pledge to buy locally-produced handmade goods this holiday season?  Meet some of the artists and decide for yourself.

Featured:
http://www.thebobbin.com/
http://www.happyfantastic.com/
http://www.urbanfarmgirl.etsy.com

Music:
The Smittens
"Baby, Don't You Know"
The Coolest Thing About Love

LOCATION:
The Bobbin Sew Bar
& Craft Lounge
Burlington
Vermont

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Moffatt's Tree Farm [107]

11/29/08: The Moffatts have been growing Christmas trees since the 1930s.  For three generations they have been patiently cultivating their 700+ acres of land and shipping their trees across New England.

Organizations like Vermont Land Trust and
Vermonts Use Value Appraisal Program, also called Current Use, help family farmers like the Moffatts keep their land undeveloped and au natural for years to come.

Featured:
http://www.vlt.org/
http://www.vtfpr.org/resource/for_forres_useapp.cfm

Music:
Pariah Beat
Pariah Beat Radio
"Don't You Think About Me Anymore"
http://pariahbeat.com/

Greg Davis
Curling Pond Woods
"Curling Pond Woods"
http://www.autumnrecords.net/

Location: Moffatt's Tree Farm, Craftsbury, Vermont

Monday, December 01, 2008

I'm Alive!


Oh bloggy, I am so sorry for having forsaken you all these weeks. The lure of Facebook is so strong though. Why post here when I can post on FB and automatically reach out to hundreds of friends across the globe? My little online diary just pales by comparison, feign to deny it.

And to think that one year ago Facebook meant nothing to me. That status updates were not my hourly source of amusement. That I was not able to easily click on over to see photos of friend's of friends Halloweens and Thanksgivings.

Facebook is the brightly lit window on a cold winter's night that I love to peak into. Only I get to peak into windows across the world! Croatia, England, Denmark, Belgium and all over the USA - it is a Voyeur's Delight!

My old Stuck in VT blog got a face lift thanks to Don at 7 Days. For some reason people keep going to it despite its long ago retirement (turns up high in google searches for some reason or other) so we are resuscitating it. Happy days!

This weekend I learned that I need to buy some real boots. If I am going to live in VT, I need to be prepared. After a 5 hour shoot in the freezing cold (pics here), I was frozen through and through thanks to my stoopid fashion boots. This week, I search out some Mucks. It is time to embrace being a VTer, long underwear and all.