Last week was so hot!   On Wednesday it was close to 100 degrees!   I was driving near a dear place that day on Lake Champlain and decided to pay it a visit- Shawnee Shores with the "The Million Dollar View".  This was the home of our friends George and Martha.

 The two lived here for over 60 years!  Both, like me and a many of us,  moved from out of state. George, when he was a boy immigrated here with his mother and two brothers from Toronto.  Martha, from Ohio when her and George were married.   A World War Two sergeant nurse and a World War Two conscientious objector, shared their lives here and influenced many more.  Plus, they had a famous turkey farm! 

I would have to say that George was a Vermont folk artist!  He loved to make quirky sculptures from drift wood and copper scraps.  However, most of all he loved to make bird houses!  As I walked around his yard I could not believe all of the bird houses tucked in every nook and cranny.  The neat thing is that almost every bird house had a nest in it.  Mama birds were scolding me all over the yard as I went from bird house to bird house taking pictures.  George would be so proud!

In last several years his houses got more and more elaborate.  Bird House Condos!

Do have any pictures of some more of George's creations? Or do you have anything to add?

The Photo Booth-

Bethel Mountain, Early Morning. by C.A.

If you have a picture of somewhere in Vermont, email it to me and I'll post it!

The Photo Booth

State Route 89 North. by J.A

 

 

If you have a picture taken in Vermont, send it to me and I'll post it!

A Bee Swarm in Ripton!

At first, I was just going to add these pictures to The Photo Booth page.  Then when I was reading a little bit why honey bees swarm, I thought it was so amazing!

by C.A.

by C.A.

This is something that mostly happens in the spring time.  The cause can be anything in the hive, from disease and lack of food to over population. The swarm is formed when a queen bee leaves the nest, taking with her the majority  of the worker bees.

The swarm will land for a few minutes up to a few hours, swarming around the queen bee. Meanwhile, scouts are sent out looking for a new potential home.

For someone like me that is allergic to bees, the good news is that it's not much of a threat!  They gorge on honey before leaving their hive, which makes it difficulty for the bee to sting.

Know anything else interesting about this phenomena? 

First Seasons Green Houses!   2153 Button Bay Rd Vergennes

(The day I took this picture there was no sign out.)

Over forty years in business!

It is SO much fun to go plant shopping at First Seasons.  It feels like a definite adventure.  I never know what I'm going to find and the prices are so reasonable!

There are a bunch of greenhouses loaded with plants. (24 I believe)  You take a winding path to each greenhouse, it's a pretty big lay out.  Oh, don't forget to get a price sheet on your way in.  If you do forget, there are prices are taped in the outside of most greenhouses.

A few years ago we bought a hydrangea tree here for $30.00 (in fact we've bought most of our perennial plants here) and it's doing really well.  A few days ago I saw one for sale at another nursery, for $150!

As the summer goes on the plants get cheaper and cheaper.  You'll probably end up  taking several trips out.  Also, check out the pot section.  (You might need to dig around for minute.)

Some ancient ruins along the way.

Tons of Veggie plants!

 

Don't forget your mud boots!

The Photo Booth

-If you have a picture you've taken while in Vermont, email it to me and I'll post it!

Bread Loaf Mountain
by J.A.

The Photo Booth

-If you're traveling around Vermont and you take an interesting picture, email me and I'll post it!

A Robin's Nest
Whiting by C.C.

Freezing Rhubarb. Hey, I never knew you could!

So when someone told me you could freeze rhubarb it totally changed my life! (ok that might be going a little overboard)  There is always a ton of rhubarb around, but it's not something I can use all at once.  Plus, strawberries are so delicious with rhubarb, but strawberries are not going to be ready for picking for a little while yet.  Freezing makes everything so much easier.

Freezing the rhubarb pieces first on a pan makes everything freeze faster and not stick together in one clump.

Find the recipe at- marthastewart.com
Rhubarb Upside-down Cake

 This is an upside-down cake I made. It's one of my favorite recipes using rhubarb (I had some strawberries in the refrigerator I added). Of course, my cake looks a little different then Martha Stewart's.  Maybe I should call mine, It May Have Fallen From a Three Story Building Cake.  Either way, it's delicious!
Do have a any favorite rhubarb recipes?  Let us know!

I keep my cut rhubarb in a glass of water until I can chop it up.  Look what is did on it's own!   I thought it looked really neat.

The Photo Booth

-If you have a picture taken in Vermont, email it to me.  Include a description and I'll post it!

Salisbury by A.C.