Friday Night Fun!

The North Chittenden Tates came to the IceHouse for some Friday night eats and a general time of fun family time. We enjoyed a fire in the fireplace and leftovers topped off with 4 different types of pie.

Obadiah, little monkey man, enjoying the view from Joel's outstretched arm!
The vegetable and dip platter when Obie was done! Be aware he is a double and more dipper!

Our resident coyote watched over all the proceedings.

L

Lucy and Elisabeth during the play.

The girls put on a play. Elisabeth was the narrator. Grace played a spoiled princess who learned an important lesson about living God's way. Lucy played a succession of hapless applicants for the position of friend to the princess. We begin with a picture of Grace and Lucy taking their bows.

A Day off Well Spent!

This was a serious problem!

Empty cookie jar meet oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! Delicious!

Quote for the Day!

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other manner.
Mark Twain

Thanksgiving Greetings!

Snow is falling in big fluffy flakes outside and I am content to spend this day off sitting indoors and watching it fall. Miss Scarlett is resting today. . .her check engine light came on while I was driving home from work last night. She has an appointment for a check up on Monday. Seems to be driving just fine so am hoping it is just a minor blip! Cars!!!!! I think today will be a bake cookies day. We may get together with the North Chittenden Tates later for some fun and will take cookies with us so as not to leave them here to tempt us!

Body Art to a New Level

Check with the Widjiwats. . .this might be a grifter.

Snow in the Air

A lovely Saturday off stretches before me like a fresh canvas awaiting the brush strokes of an artist. Barry has gone to his Saturday morning prayer meeting in Orwell. His trip will include a visit to the transfer station, aka the dump, in Benson. I have an appointment for a haircut at noon and have a grocery list in the making. Saturdays are not my favorite day to be at the grocery store but the chore needs to be done. I do not have to do any Thanksgiving shopping as this is my holiday to work. Happy Thanksgiving to all in case I don't post again before then.

Such a Grand Way to Spend a Friday Evening!

All the Vermont Tates, even Obadiah, met up at the College of St. Joseph's athletic center tonight to cheer for the Houghton Highlanders basketball team. We were joined by Nick and Katy Thornblade who had made a banner for the event. There were a surprising number of Houghton fans and we were by far the loudest fans in the gym! Not that the College of St. Joe really had anything to cheer about for the Highlanders defeated them soundly! They are undefeated this season! (This was their first game!)

I forgot to take a picture of the scoreboard and once the game was over it was turned off.

Thanks for letting us know the date and time of the game, Lydia!

Job led us in a crescendo cheer for his alma mater!

Nephew Daniel and GreatNephew Jacob

A happy looking pair. Jacob has grown a lot since his first pictures this past summer. How we wish you lived closer to us!

John and Obie October 2008

Came upon this picture stored on my computer when I was looking for my picture of Daniel and Jacob. I really like this picture of John and Obadiah, taken while Joel, Christine and family were visiting John in Georgia.

I love Sunday Afternoons!

The Bannerman's farmhouse. It is beautiful and so very homey. Bill B. grows beautiful orchids. This big house has front and back stairs something I absolutely love about big old houses. Our IceHouse is directly across the driveway from the big house.

This is the back of the IceHouse. The window to the left is the one BJT looks out of when he is at his desk in his corner. To the left of the picture if we were to pan to the left you would see a little apple orchard.

This is the little barn/garage below the ice house close to the road. The bottom part which we can not see in this picture is a two car garage. The weathered gray barn visible through the trees is on the other side of West Hill Road, the dirt road on which we live.

This is the back of the IceHouse from the apple orchard. Now you can picture us over the winter. Ah, snow in abundance!

This is Fred, an antique Springer Spaniel. He accompanies Barry on all of his walks. The banana boxes are full of kindling and the pails are for the sand we will inevitably need for the driveway come ice and snow.

Scenes from our Winter Abode

As you can see most of my plants have made the trip from Benson to Wallingford! They are happy just to be with us. The window on the right looks across the driveway to the Bannerman's house. The window on the left looks out on our parking spot and down toward the road. I will get some pictures from outside when the sun shines again.

These are the stairs we climb up to our loft bedroom. They are fun until you try to carry the laundry basket down or up!!!

This is our wonderful fireplace. Makes a very cozy spot on a snowy winter's day. To the right of the fireplace is Barry's assortment of kindling.

My corner!

Barry's corner. His window looks out on the back of the property.

WELCOME TO MEDICARE, PEGGY!!!! I guess that gives away what birthday today is for you!

Closing Up Day 11/03/08

Rather cold and forlorn looking as we leave for our 6 month hiatus! We will go back out this next weekend and put in all the porch furniture and take down the flags. Our water was turned off this morning and our phone has been switched to the away mode. Both of our cars were packed and ready for our trip south! Well, Wallingford is south of Benson!

Heading out!

Mysterious Mail Arrival!

A week or so ago a little package arrived via the post. With great excitement we opened the package and were so touched to have been remembered by our Norwegian, Lisa! Thank you, dear Lisa!