VERMONT February 2007 Click Image for Larger View Really, the best truck stop and diner that I've ever known. Lake Champlain makes quite a fine division between New York and Vermont. And Michelle loved the bridge over it. En route to the inn. The Inn at Buck Hollow, Fairfax VT. The side of the inn. The snow-covered steps led to our room, though we did not enter there. They also sold antiques! Exclamation! The Inn vs. The Icicles. The Icicles win. They always do. The barn behind the inn. Another barn, though not exactly behind the inn. It's no coincidence that the words shed and red rhyme. Or is it? We stayed in "The Yellow Room", which you can almost see here. This moose also stayed in "The Yellow Room." He was most troublesome. Michelle thought this was cute. I agreed. This is the Sunroom. Used by all guests, it made for a nice place to relax. There were many interesting folk art pieces to be found. And it led outside to a deck (where the hot tub was located). London, circa 1902. They also offered drinks and snacks. And while coffee and tea were available without cost, Michelle never bought me that soda I wanted. More folk art and antiques. We met Marlene Dietrich that day, too. What a "Chatty Kathy." A display in the dining room. And a hutch. A feline art-piece. Michelle called him "Ticklish Pete." I called her "crazy." The breakfasts we had were rather unbelievably delicious, including this juice. Or these maple, oatmeal pancakes with non-meat sausage patties and fruit. (Note: pancakes did not actually glow, as this picture may indicate.) We took a walk into the woods on our first full day there, that is, before the cold had become unbearable the next day. That shed! Again! And oh! How the sun crept its languid light between the trees, what found themselves enveloped in winter's cold and calm! But my, what a view. From the snow and trees. To the mountains. There were also many animals at the inn. These are the dogs. Gizmo, on the left, and Utah. Gizmo led Michelle and I on a fine walk into the woods. Michelle vs. Gizmo. The icicles still win. He is also an accomplished columnist. And then there was Utah. This is the day we were married. Our first dance but far from our last. One of the many dog battles. Horses could be found behind the inn. And also Michelle. This is Frisco, a horse that both adored and loathed to be touched. And then, with great determination, Gizmo awoke this horse from its slumber, as it breathed out its breath into the morning. But there was none other to compare to the follicle-girth of the aptly named Two-Ton Tundra. With her snap-open jaw and reknowned lap-action tongue, Tundra could be found in only a few locations, both of which involved guarding her food supply. Less grandiose, but equally adorable was Sherlock, also known as Shirley, for his reportedly effeminate demeanor. And here was Shirley's obsession. Most of the time we spent our time doing as little as possible. And loved every second of it. From quiet mornings... To snowshoes and outdoors... My hat was always magnificent. I was sad this night. Here we had our heated debate over the absolute truths to be found in the Newtonian and Quantum physical universes. And then became trapped in the mirror. Our last full day there we stopped down in Burlington. There were some interesting buildings to be found in one of Vermont's main college towns. Including the Vermont Pub & Brewery. Here's Church Street and the main pedestrian zone. And a sign for a Mardi Gras Parade and Block Party. Thus ends the photolog of our trip up north, but I'm sure we'll be back up there sooner than we think. And maybe I can finally get that damn soda.