Visiting our son, daughter-in-law, and sweet-as-pie grandson Rory has always been more Norman Rockwell-ian that any two people deserve and this visit was no exception. Kristen and Nathan live in a tiny little town about 20 minutes from Burlington although "town" might dress it up too much. There is a village green, a general store (with lovely wines and artisan breads), a Congregational church, and a white clapboard village library. There are also a smattering of houses around the green ... and Nate & Kris' 1810 house is one of the finest ... now. K&N, along with Kristen's dad, spent nearly 3 years restoring their 200-year old house to its former glory ... plus. When we are there, we are treated to staying in the guest suite ... which was redeemed from an apartment that was gerry-rigged onto the house. Now, with their expert craftsmanship and ability to move walls (since the house itself is all post-and-beam), the guest suite swirls seamlessly into the rest of the living areas. But ... if a rainy afternoon beckons to two tired grandparents, one accommodating grandson, and a well-trained granddog ... that guest suite can become an oasis of quiet reading and play time ... making yet another memory for Nebraska's cold winter nights.
While we enjoyed the sojourn in Jericho Center, we also had a tremendous time at Sugarbush ... the ski resort about 60 minutes away. Nate & Kristen had purchased a small condo (ski in/out) there last summer and spent the summer working on that project. As always ... the small project produced a condominium worthy of royalty ... but 'twas just us who were the beneficiaries ... at least for a weekend.
We left "home" ... because it quickly feels that way ... and traveled to Sugarbus to celebrate Rob's and Nathan's birthdays. We were able to wine and dine at some of the most elegant or unique (or both!) restaurants in and around Sugarbush. One of my favorites was lunch at Prohibition Pig in Waterbury, Vermont. (See Prohibition Pig). But truly, everything else paled next to the birthday dinner celebration at The Common Man. (the Common Man )
As soon as the snow flies, Rory and Nathan will be hitting the slopes. We were discussing the price of ski passes but it turns out that Sugarbush (perhaps like other ski resorts) provides ski passes at substantially discounted rates to those servicemen who, like Nathan, have been deployed in the past year. So this year, skiing will be both fun AND affordable. Lovely gesture on the part of the resort.
Here is the greeting as you walk into the Sugarbush condo ... yes, it spells SUGARBUSH ... much more three-dimensionally that my poor photography allows. And each letter handmade by Kristen ... such talent.
I once loved to ski ... and in my checkered past, actually skied at Sugarbush! How about that! But now, I must admit that my body simply won't take the punishment. I'm glad that all our trips to the Rockies, either in Colorado or Wyoming, had a lasting influence on Nate and that he wants to pass along his love of skiing to Rory. Will Rory shine at this sport? Enough for a Dartmouth scholarship (like I said ... a family of confident optimists!)? Who knows ... only time will tell but I know that Rory and Nate will have wonderful winters together in Sugarbush ... and when they return to the condo, Kristen will make their lives even more special!
So bring it, Mother Nature ... we hardy Midwesterners ... transplanted as they have been to New England ... thrive on snow!
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