Dreamy Creamy Vermont

Heading up to Martha's is always a treat. It's one of the last places in the country with no cell reception. Pearl took a break and I relished in being "un-plugged".

We spent the weekend in VT with much of A's family. The weekend was full of highlights, but the biggest was the 40th birthday party. It seemed like a quintessential VT party to me, but I'm a Cali girl. My judgement could be tainted. This party was fantabulous! It was put on by A's cousin's husband's brother. Got that? Taylor helps to run the family dairy farm (which is way fun) when he's not planning parties to celebrate 40th birthdays. There were about 10 people who had "Happy 40th Birthday" sung to them. A's cousin and her husband being two of them.

The party was held on family owned land (a hay field in the process of being turned organic) with a great view of the valley and no neighbors to disturb. Picture a big grassy green hill with a lit up white tent. Under the tent is a swing band, a table full of homemade desserts, and a couple kegs of VT beer. The "little cousins" (A's cousin's kids) were super awesome swing dancing partners. Colton wins the prize. He was demonstrating moves that will be all the rage soon. We enjoyed watching his enthusiasm and creativity all night long. There were rumors that he had a 3 hour nap prior to the party. Zoey didn't understand why she wasn't at the microphone singing, but her dancing was spectacular. Ella got kudos for not losing her flip flops through all the swing dancing. We had a great time!

The rest of the weekend involved:
-hot cinnamon rolls from Connie's Kitchen (I understand her kitchen has grown in size over the years),
-a trip to Willey's Country Store where Ella helped me pick out a purple t-shirt (I figure all Cali girls needa VT Country Store t-shirt),
-tubing on Caspian lake (Uncle Pete was a little confused on the hand signals, Jake, Jack, and A also rode the waves, I took pictures from the boat),
-lounging on the floating trampoline,
-catching up with everyone at the lakehouse,
-touring the Dairy Farm while the cows were being milked (Hi'i hooked a cows utters up to the pumping machine and then introduced A to a suckling calf. They stuck their hands in this toothless calf's mouth and pulled them out all slimy. Kris took our picture in front of the beautiful VT view),
-picking blueberries and raspberries on the farm (a never ending organic supply!)
-enjoying dinner prepared by Martha (assisted by Ann) which included delicious summertime corn on the cob (YUM!),
-dessert party! swing band! Colton!
-S.U.N.day (Sleep Unil Noon day....I only made it until Nine, beautiful VT was calling),
-munching on blueberries,
-playing nine holes of golf (yes, me! A is actually pretty good at the game of golf, Jake was captian of the Colby golf team, I wasn't too far behing Uncle Pete...ha!),
-BLTs for lunch at 3pm and more corn on the cob (YUM!),
-good byes (sad),
-driving back to Beantown with Jake and Hi'i. It was great to have their company.

Vermont is the most relaxing state I've ever been to. There's just something about the air in VT that lowers my shoulders and relaxes me. I heart VT and our family based there. We'll be back.