Vermount, swimming

Where have we been, what have we been doing? Feels like a crazy pace. Feels good been busy.

Vermont

Vermont meaning, Green Mountain in French. I believe from the guide book. Anyway it is a beautiful state with rolling mountains. The people are unbelievably friendly. The drivers let you cross the pedestrian crossing without trying to take you out. The service is outstanding and friendly staff. The further you  move away from New York I think the better.

To get to Vermont we had to drive 5 hours, go through Connecticut, through Massachusetts. Just driving to Vermont for the weekend you get a sense of how vast the states are.

We hired a condo. What a laugh a small little chalet from a friend of a friend. Some South African. Basic but clean which is all that matters.

We took all the bikes up. We never rode ours. Too cold.

 Cold morning. Kara having a laugh on her bike.

 We stayed in the town called Stowe. The Von Trapp family built their lodge there. Stowe is very much geared for the skiing. We did not go at such a good time as everything was closed before the masses arrive for the snow.

 The village of  Stowe

 Leon did you say you want us to come and ski here down those rather large mountains??????

The views of the slopes. Lots of ski lodges with ski in and ski out facilities. 

 A beautiful ski lodge



The Von Trapp Lodge - Sound of music

The Von Trappe lodge


Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory
Ben and Jerry are still best friends today. they stared out as childhood friends and enrolled in a $5.00 correspondence course on making ice-cream. The factory is immaculate. The ice cream was amazing.

 Victoria's favourite flavour

 Leon are you a chunky monkey????

You again too many favourites

 All the flours that did not work out

Magic hat brewery

Nothing for you kiddies, not even a cool drink. Leon and I had fun tasting the beers.

We had election day last week so the kids did not go to school. I enrolled Kara into a cheer leading course at the high school. She had great fun with her friends. Not sure they going to be cheer leaders. Too much laughing and falling over.

 There you got it. Quick you heavy.

16 years
Leon and I celebrated our 16 year anniversary on the 11/11/2011. Good year

Connecticut Masters swim meet

Not the most flattering picture, sorry. I signed up and did my first masters swim.

50 m freestyle in 32.52 seconds. Not bad

50m butterfly 39 seconds. A bit tired

50m freestyle - disqualified the team as I left the block too early

A good afternoon. Lovely to have support from my special family.

 Kids getting in the swim mood.

 Me dying doing my butterfly

 Check out the tattoo. The ladies wanted to make the event fun so we all had to put tattoo's on.

Halloween

Lobster

When we went up to Rhode Island with Leon's dad there are loads of places to buy fresh lobster. Leon has always been keen to cook a fresh lobster but I am "No" I cant kill the animal and then eat it. So we bought the big stock pot. Bought the live Lobsters. Shame poor little buggers. I ran away and lay on the couch for a much needed rest while Leon did the deed. Not sure how strong Leon is feeling right now. The kids were making rather unpleasant noises and asking lots of questions. Victoria was her green with the thought she would have to try Lobster. She was let off the hock on this round.

The lobsters live and kicking

The lobsters cooked and ready to eat. We had to use the Internet to see how to chop the things up.

This is all we got from two lobsters. Who is eating and who is looking?



Pizza

New England is renown for its Fall, so we headed up to Litchfield to have a look. Beautiful scenery. We stopped at Bohemian Pizza for lunch. All the walls and ceilings were covered in Record sleeves.

 Our pizza to share. We even had leftovers. The portions in this country are so massive.






Sunday walk at Mill pond beach, Westport

We have not done much cycling as family but do try get out and about and explore different beaches.

Halloween

Our second Halloween since been in America. We decided to stay close to home to do trick or treating. The town had sent emails to everyone asking parents not to proceed with Halloween because of the bad snow storm we had on Saturday night. Lots of houses without power and water. All the power lines are above ground so with snow early and leaves on the trees, this caused massive amounts of tree to fall which then pull the power lines down. The damage from the snow has been so much worse than with Hurricane Irene. Huge amounts of people of without power. Loads of trees down. Our front garden is a big mess. Most parents did not listen and carried on with Halloween.

Victoria went as pirate.

Victoria's class had Halloween cupcakes to decorate. Bone sprinkles and sugar spiders

I thought the little boys costumes was pretty cool.

Sarah and Macy the dog with their bumble costumes

Our front garden after the snow storm.