first snow and work ethic

This past Wednesday we had our first real snow!  Here on Shoreham we were recorded as having received 7.5 inches, though it seemed like even more to me.  Whatever it was though it was a considerable amount for starting of the season and quite a change from the mild weather we had been experiencing.  Joseph was, like every other kid around here, completely overjoyed and began the process of rounding up his outside gear as soon as he woke.  He played outside for quite a bit.  Then I asked him to clean off my car, which you can see he took very seriously!  ;-)

Message in a bottle (from Joseph)

I need treasure.


I really need it.


I am a pirate at home in a house who needs lots and lots of treasure.


(The other day Joseph asked me to get down a glass bottle I had on display.  On his own he decided to dictate this note and then place it in the bottle. I just think it is so cute and so Joseph.  He is still waiting to set it to sea.)

New to the world!

Joseph and I just returned from meeting Ethan Richard Quesnel, the child of one of my oldest friends, Alice. He was darling and adorable, Alice was calm, happy, and beautiful as always. What a great family! It is amazing to meet someone so very new to the world.

Congrats to Ricky, Alice, and Ethan!

Excuses, a beautiful wedding, Devil’s Chair, and a 50th anniversary

First, I would l like to start with my explanation/excuses for my lack of photos:

1) Joseph, and Brad for that matter, are not fans of my constant picture taking.  I mean, I have had to bribe Joseph for posed pictures for at least two years.  Now he is harder to bribe and I care less.

2) My phone doesn’t seem to take as great pictures anymore.  My camera is pretty much dead.  Meaning it really is time for a new camera, but if you know me you know this is a major decision which takes quite awhile. 

3) I am kind of ambivalent about all this photo taking.  Sometimes I really feel that the focus on the photo takes away from enjoying the moment.  But, then again I do think later it helps with remember the moments . . . hmmmm.

For the pictures I did take (or cut and paste from other sources):  most notably we had cousin Heather’s wedding to Marcel, mid-September.  The wedding was at my grandmother’s cabin in Lincoln.  It was GORGEOUS!

wow.  just wow.

Cake made by Heather’s cousin Jamey-Lee.  It was beautiful and soooo YUMMY.  Jamey-Lee also did Heather’s dress alterations, including an emergency fix right before the ceremony when some flower pollen stained Heather’s dress. 

 

So pretty!

 

And speaking of soo pretty, Heather’s mom, my aunt Eileen, was GORGEOUS (as always)!

 

We spent the night at the cabin and then Joseph and cousin Jasper had a blast playing on Sunday.

Heather and Marcel also had their engagement photos taken at the cabin and I just LOVE them:

  

 

Hiking, something I often mean to do, but don’t actually do as much as we should.  It really is such a blast for both of us!  Here we climbed Mt. Philo, and as usual I let Joseph persuade me to take the adventurous route. 

 

It was stunning and exciting.  We ate our snack in a cave!  And then there was a nervous point when I was trying to figure out where the heck we were—but finally some came by and helped us out. 

Brad’s Uncle Victor and Aunt Pat’s 50th anniversary.  Lots of fun to see all the Bergevins! (Of which there are a lot.  Apparently Pat and Vic didn’t want a big party so only immediate family was invited.  There were about 80 of us there.)  

As usual we took a break for the bustle to explore the old dairy barn.

Like shopping, but not spending money?

Me too!  And most everyone probably.  Fortunately, there are lots of cheap options for us.  Yard saling is one of Brad, Joseph, and my favorite pastimes.  Sometimes we go all out; find them listed on craigslist, MapQuest ‘em, head over at opening and FIND TREASURES!  Town-wide sales are fun and annual fundraisers are great.  I am a little sad about the end of yard sale season, but realized we have enough thrifty options to make up for it.  So I decided to make a list!

Thrifty shopping favorites:

1) Yard sales

2) Craigslist:  We are always checking this.  Great for buying and selling.  

3) HOPE:  Used to be ACCAG, housed in a complex of local non-profits, just one part of which is a resale shop.  You can donate ANYTHING and find lots of treasure for really cheap.  My primary source for books (I love used book stores as well, but am almost too cheap for them.  HOPE is cheaper.)  And the money goes to the charities and it is staffed by participants in the programs. 

4) Junebug: Local children’s store, same idea as Once Upon a Child, but cheaper, friendlier, in Middlebury, accept more items, and proceeds go to charity.

5) Neat Repeats, Your Turn, and Sweet Charity:  More awesome local non-profit thrift shops.

6) Ebay:  I have just started using this myself.  My first score was 22 Berenstein Bear books for $7 plus $5 shipping.  I’ve been coveting a collection such as this since, well, since I was a child.  Joseph’s xmas present!

7) Friends:  We trade and hand stuff down all the time!  Sadly Joseph has outgrown Wyatt, our best source of hand-me-downs.  But now we are getting them from my cousins.

Where does he get it from?

Coordination/athleticism:  Brad (thankfully)

Sense of adventure/ interest in trying new things:  Me

Sense of direction:  Brad

Very keen observation skills: Brad

Life of the party-ness;  ???

Being extremely OPINIONATED and STUBBORN (or we could say he knows what he wants, isn’t afraid to express it, and is very persistent):  BOTH (no question about it)

Dark, dark brown eyes and long lashes:  Brad

Perfectionism: Me

Competitiveness:  Both

Flexible tongue: Me

Potty humor to umpteenth degree:  Brad

Creativity/imagination: Me

Long, fast growing nails: Me

“Husky build”:  Both

Great appreciation for food, especially sweets:  Me

Impeccable memory: ??

Love of books:  Me

Compulsion to climb anything:  Brad

Non-interest in ever playing by himself:  Neither

Interest in talk, talk, talking and a immense vocabulary to go along with it:  Me

Fair skin:  Both

Skin issues:  Me

Tons o’ hair:  Me

Tech savy:  Me

Apples!

I am coming to terms with the fact it really is fall.  This summer seemed to go so fast (though I know it always seems that way) and had such highs and lows.  But, I do love the traditions and beauty that go along with autumn.  Last week Joseph and I headed down the road for our own little apple picking expedition.  

This was the first year he tried out the climbing tree method of apple picking and that certainly added to the fun.  He was also very methodical this year .  He considered exactly which apple looked biggest and then very carefully checked the apples for any blemishes.  We also did some taste testing and selected Golden Delicious and Macintosh as our current favorites.

 

Joseph requested an apple pie and so we later went all out and had a wonderful backing project and made my favorite apple pie I have ever made.  Fall at its best! 

  

Happy Fall!

Finishing up the summer photos . . . and starting fall

There is no mistaking fall in the air now.  Last night was all about wool socks, fleece pants, and hot, hot soup.  I would have made our first fire of the year, but didn’t get home until too late because I was at a class.Today, I am intentionally using the oven to heat things a bit, as well as try roasting what is probably my last batch of tomatoes before a frost hits.   

Anyways, I guess it is time to finish posting and organizing pics from the summer.  We are starting way back in the end of June/beginning of July when my “besty” Jenn was here with her fam for her little brother Chris’ wedding.

We had a wonderful day at the river where we grew up.

And a great party at another friend Jenna’s childhood home.

more river

They even fit in a visit here one evening!

The main event though was of course the wedding.  Joseph ended up being the last minute ring-bearer.  This was lots of fun and highly stressful for Joseph and I.  Neither of us are the best with getting dressed up and all that goes along with these huge events.  It was A LOT of waiting and not knowing what was happening and waiting and trying to be flexible for Joseph.  

 

Out of his fancy clothes and DANCING.  Now he was in his element.  He and Sophia danced all night long.  Seriously.  The party was perfect for him.  He danced until past 10 and his legs were hurting.  I didn’t even have to worry during the party; I always new where he was—on the dance floor!

More summer pics:

               

a fun summer walk behind our house with lots of hamming it up

 

playing at the cabin with visiting friends (from Senegal and DC)

playing at grandmas with all the step-cousins (even the ones that live in Italy)

 

we enjoyed their new pool LOTS this summer

   

more Field Days pics I just found

           

a walk in Weybridge with grandpa Bernie

 

magical

 

a visit from Jordyn 

Nora’s birthday at the cabin

 

Heather’s Bridal shower!  Eileen dreamed up the theme and I went crazy with some fun games.  It was a complete BLAST!  If you have a party and want some funky games; I’ll be your girl!

   

first day of school this year (best pic I could get)

 

Shoreham Day!

 

Lego competition at Shoreham Day.  We loved Shoreham Day (also celebrating Shoreham’s 250th birthday this year) and spent all day there.  From the huge book sale, great food, bouncy houses and games, tractor pulls, to the lego competition, street dance into the night and fireworks, it was a wonderful community event.  

 

The lego competition was serious stuff.  The teenage organizer put a pile of legos on the table, set a timer for twenty minutes, and the kids worked silently on their creations.  Then other kids walked around, asked questions, and then conferred to determine a winner from each table.  The winner got to keep their legos.  I loved watching Joseph and the others work so diligently.  Joseph played two rounds and even was designated a “winner” the second time ;-)

land Brad may buy (on a back road in Shoreham—his offer has been accepted, but we are still trying to figure out the    

hiking at Mount Independence in Orwell

 

Vermont State Fair!

   

“Helping” Dad at work