Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Visiting friends

Sunday June 23, and Monday June 24, 2013
Site 27, Winhall Brook COE
South Londonderry, Vermont

 

SUNDAY JUNE 23

 

Today we take a drive up to Woodstock Vermont.  Not to see the popular little town but to visit with a high school friend of mine who lives there in this cute little house.  He already knows what it is like to live in a very small space so RVing will be no problem for him to adjust to.

 

Jody's house (1)

 

 

This is Jody and his King Charles Spaniel Sparky.

 

Jody1

 

He has really got the set up for frugal  living, a great little outhouse and an outdoor shower.

 

Jody's house (4)

 

Jody's house (5)

 

Pretty fancy throne don’t you think??

Jody's house (6)

 

 

In the back yard is the 3 sided wooden shower with the shower curtain rod.  No curtain set up yet this year since he’s been gone from home helping another friend of his who has had a stroke.   I’m hoping he’ll be able to return soon to this place he loves.

 

Jody's house (7)

 

Yes that was a vintage RV above in the driveway.  He’s restoring this 1960’s Bailey Mikado T, a Canadian Import.  Nice and small, easy to tow.  Full timing?  Who knows given the size of his house he probably can.  :-))

 

Jody's house

 

It was great spending the day with Jody and Sparky.  Isn’t she a gem?

Sparky

 

 

I sure hope they both get back out to their fine spot soon.  They look just right sitting in their chairs watching the world pass by.

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Lest you think this spot looks tooo idyllic, he provided me with this picture of other times in the year.

Cabin in snow

I think I won’t be visiting at this time of year. 

 

 

MONDAY JUNE 24

 

Today is our last day in Vermont sadly.  Yesterday I visited an old friend,  today we return to visit a new friend, Lowell Lake.  The day is much different from our last visit but just as much fun.

 

 Lowell Lake #2 011 (84)

 

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It turns out to be frog day at Lowell Lake.  They are everywhere and calling to each other.  All we have to do is move slowly along the edge of the lake and there they are if you look closely.   Sometimes I can see them but not be able to photograph them from their hiding place.

 

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    Lowell Lake #2 011 (74)

 

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and sometimes I don’t have to look so closely.  The frog on the log is my favorite of the day.  Right out there in broad daylight he looks pleased with himself.  He never moves a muscle no matter how close I get.

 

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RIBIT!

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  We also get a good look at the bladderwort today.  It’s another carnivorous plant.  If you didn’t see my post about the great pitcher plants and Venus flytraps on our last visit to Lowell Lake, it is here.

 

 

Bladderwort’s look like they are sitting on some sort of floating stand. They are submersed free floating plants.  They have flowers on erect stems above the water.  The entire floating plant is only about 8 inches tall.

 

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Bladderworts get this name because of the  tiny bladder like structures on their branched underwater leaves.   These small hollow sacs  capture and digest tiny animals like insect larvae, read MOSQUITOS, water fleas and others.    They are now my favorite plant, they capture mosquito larvae!!. Because of their ability to ‘eat’ animals, bladderworts can live in nutrient poor, rather acidic, boggy conditions

 

 

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Nice reflection.  Looks like a mirror plant and not the stem that is under water.

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We pull over to have our lunch and as we eat, the sky begins looking pretty sketchy.

 

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Shortly we hear the low rumblings of thunder which we have learned means the rain is on its way.  Since we are on the opposite side of the lake from the take out, we decide we don’t want to be the highest spot in the middle of the lake during a storm so we set out to paddle around the edge to get back.

 

But of course we don’t make it.

 

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David is ahead of me and he stops under a big pine tree along the shore .  I pick a Hemlock which keeps me pretty dry for quite a while.
But once the leaves get saturated, I’m getting wet.

 

 

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As I’m waiting I look out in the middle of the lake and there is that illusive loon.  He’s pretty far away but it is so exciting to see him in the binoculars that I try to get some pictures.  This is the only one that turned out even half way.  But I love it.  Really hope to see and hear more loons when we get to Maine.

 

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David comes back to check on me and we both determine that his spot under the pine tree is dryer than mine.  There’s an anecdotal  recommendation for you.  If caught in rain while kayaking and there are large trees overhanging the lake shore, get under a pine not a hemlock.

 

 Lowell Lake #2 011 (22)

 

The rain slacks off, and this fog smoke moves across the mountains as we make a break for the take out.

 

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Of course we only make it half way when the sky opens up again.  So we paddle on, climb out, throw the boats up on shore.  I run up to the parking lot and bring the car down.  We jump in.  We wait as we dry off for it to stop so we can get the boats on the car and head for home.

 

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The boats are waiting too.   We’ve sure had a LOT of rain since we left Florida in late May.  Everywhere we’ve stopped along the east coast, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and now Vermont it has rained, A LOT.

 

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Tomorrow we move on to New Hampshire and you’ve guessed it, they are predicting RAIN!!  


Sure wish I could send this rain out West where they really need it.   We’ve had WAY more than our share.

28 comments:

  1. Loved the Frog Pictures.... He sure is a brave little soul. I tend to be a fair weather kayaker. I like the water under me not on my and don't get me started about the thunder and lightning. Great pics and info about the bladder wart!

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  2. I'd love to have the rain right now. And to me the cabin in the snow looks idyllic. Imagine the stillness of the scene. I have always wanted to live in a tiny cabin in the woods, but I doubt I'll ever realize that dream.

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  3. That frog is so cute! He sure was keeping his eye on you.
    We even had small hail along with the rain here in Flagstaff today. First rain we've seen in a long, long time so it was a real pleasure.

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  4. I was all over that cabin until the snow picture. I guess I'd have to take the tiny trailer south and be a snow bird. Really idyllic, though. Except I'd do a composting toilet instead of the long drop, of course.

    Love the frog on the log! Dude even has a moon tattoo on his chest. He's a tough one. :0)

    Nice close up of the bladderwort. If they eat mosquito larvae then they're my favorite, too!

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  5. You got to see a loon! Lucky you! I hope you get to see more in Maine - I do love those birds. Looks like a beautiful paddle, despite the rain - I'll definitely remember...a pine, not a hemlock ;) I had no idea Jody lived in such a small place..! His dog sure is a cutie.

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  6. Wonder if I got some river water and some bladderworts ... if they'd live around my yard. wouldn't that be something. a bucket of plant instead of a potted plant.

    hahaaaa great frog. what a todo ... as always ... great fun reading about your day. even the rain. I know the feeling. It does feel nice though when you're inside and that close the rain. Homer has a good sound when the rain pours down. BUT not for hours and hours and hours...

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  7. Great frogs pics! Your friend has a cute place. I am sure he will do very well in an RV:)

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  8. That is quite the cabin your friend Jody lives in--reminds me of a place Thoreau might appreciate although I have heard he had more amenities than he portrayed at Walden Pond.

    I can't believe you were able to capture the frog photos. They ALWAYS jump just when I am about to click the shutter.

    Interesting to learn about the bladderworts. Nature is amazingly balanced.

    Hope you have some dry days ahead. We managed to leave California just as it was heating up. Oregon is unseasonably warm too with a high of 88 today, but at least the humidity is low and the nights are still cool in the high 50s.

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  9. Love the frog fotos!!
    And, all your pictures - such beauty you're sharing with us!
    Yes, lots of rain too!

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  10. Turtles!!! Great pictures... beautiful place.... don't you just wish you could stay & stay???

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  11. When I read a out loons it reminds me of "On Golden Pond". I loved the movie. If you haven't seen it you might enjoy it. I haven't read the book, but I could watch Katherine Hepburn all day long. I have the DVD but just downloaded it to my computer and I'm listening to the loons "welcoming them back" as I write. Wonder if you and David have been on their pond. :)

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    1. Well, what do you know, the film was made on Squam Lake in Holderness NH. I've probably seen the movie a half dozen times and cry every time. What a place to grow old in. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Golden_Pond_(1981_film)

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    2. I hope that's near where you're headed.

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  12. Your paddle looked like our hike yesterday. It is still raining here in Maine;o(( Sure hope it lets up soon. We have the added joy of dense fog. Most days it is noon before we can see across the lake. But when it clears, oh it is so beautiful!!

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  13. Thanks for introducing me to your fan club, Sherry. You're right about my being able to live in small spaces having been in the Navy for 7 years, a commercial fisherman for 17, a dying-to-get-back-to RVer, and now the cabin for 10 years, I could write the book on How-To when it comes to living comfortably in a cottage.

    During my relationship with a very sweet lady friend of mine, I was fortunate enough to share use of her two motorhomes over the course of a few years - a 24' Gulfstream BT Cruiser, and a 38' Itasca Suncruiser. LOVED the BT! Absolutely hated the thirty-eight footer!! Sherry will tell you if I'm ever lucky enough to get back into a motorhome, it will definitely be a BT Cruiser. No offense to my little camper........

    Unlike Thoreau who, according to Big EZ Travels, was alleged to have certain amenities, I confess I DO HAVE all the amenities! As David will tell you, he was especially impressed with my 6'x7' bathroom which has a stackable Maytag W/D, an RV tub/shower, a sink with cabinet, and an Incinolet (incinerating) toilet. Speaking of which, (directed to Annie), at present the outhouse is not functional - there's no pit, yet. I had a composting toilet in the cabin for a few years and, IMO, it was horrible to deal with. Rather than write here all about my experience, you can read about it at: http://www.classifiedadphotos.com/incinolet.htm

    I don't believe Sherry mentioned that the cabin is 16'x20' with 240 sq ft of living space, and sits on a half acre lot. I invite you to visit my website to see just exactly what my little slice of heaven is all about: www.classifiedadphotos.com

    Hmmmmm. Now if only I could put it on wheels.................

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  14. Love the cute little cabin in the woods, and it's very pretty in the snow, but I wouldn't want to be there then!

    Sherry, you really need to put up warnings on frog photos like you do on snakes. :)

    Here is another anecdotal recommendation. They always tell you that the worst place to be during lightning is under a tree!

    Hope you get to see more Loons in your travels. I don't believe I've ever seen one.

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  15. Loved the little cabin...and Sparky, the dog.... :-) Loved the loon, too...Such a beautiful bird, they are much bigger than I realized the first time I saw one.

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  16. It's a shame they get so much off that white stuff up there. I loved it...except for the rain part :)

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  17. What a quaint little cabin your friend has. Love his dog :-) Vermont is lovely..and so is New Hampshire. Hope the weather clears up soon!

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  18. Half the country is drowning, while the other half is burning. Sure wish some of this wet stuff would go west where it is desperately needed. But I don't want those hot temperatures to come here during the exchange.

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  19. Nice little cabin in the woods and Sparky is a beautiful looking little Spaniel. I don't think I could ever live in a place without indoor plumbing though.

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    1. In his comment above Jody clarified that in his 6'X 7' bathroom he has "a stackable Maytag W/D, an RV tub/shower, a sink with cabinet, and an Incinolet (incinerating) toilet". So he's not back in the 19th century by any means.

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  20. Excess rain? Please send it to Arizona - we are very dry! Terribly tragic about the 19 firefighters that died yesterday in Yarnell. So many sad families today. :-(

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  21. I'm so glad you're not letting the world pass you by, you're out in it and enjoying all its beauty. And you're nice enough to share it with us. :c)

    Never heard of the Bladderwort, but it's my new hero plant. Where do they sell the seeds? ;c)

    So that's where the Budweiser Frogs retired to... :cD

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  22. Such a froggy afternoon. Love Jodi's place, but not in winter.

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  23. Wow! Jody's house is small. How does he do the shower and outhouse in the winter? Now I want copies of the 3 frog pictures AND that blue dragonfly. Can you email them to me so I can get prints from Snapfish? I will hang them on the walls somewhere!
    Have fun!
    Love you-
    Pam

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    1. As mentioned, Razzle, the outhouse isn't functional as yet, so it's not in use. I actually built the outhouse to replace the dilapidated original one that was on the property when I bought it.

      I do take showers outside up until it just gets too darned cold. Otherwise I have a full tub shower in the cabin.

      For those of you who fear all that snow, it's the one thing I miss most while wintering in Florida the past couple of years as I take care of my friend who had a stroke. She has a home in The Villages and I really don't like spending Christmas, for example, in 85 degree heat.

      Vermont road crews are the best when it comes to clearing the streets so I have no fear of being completely stranded. Plus, I have a whole house generator in case of power loss and a woodstove to back up the heat.

      It's a way of life up here. If you're prepared, it's quite comfortable and enjoyable, and not really all that hard to deal with. Just make sure your snowblower is always at the ready and your woodshed is full.

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