Birthday Weekend in Vermont

Having enjoyed Vermont so much this fall, we decided to visit again, this time in winter and, after the events of the last few weeks--deaths and politics--it was good for us to get away for a holiday weekend (I'm sorry we missed you this time, Sew and Sow.)  And it was marvelous!  Here are a few snapshots outlining the fun.




Our first stop in Vermont was the Vermont Country Store.  It's a rest stop, snack place, and souvenir shop.  We started our holiday shopping, picking up things for each other and friends and family.  We did not buy the hat that Bud models here!

A lovely tree with cookie ornaments

Next up:  King Arthur Flour.  Last time, we arrived very late in the day, when the bakery was almost completely empty of its goodies.  So we made an effort to arrive midday.  Oh, so good.  We had lunch--tasty grilled cheese, delicious homemade kaiser rolls, chocolate croissants, cardamom roll, and my favorite almond cloud cookies.  I liked the quote on the wall near the cafe, "All sorrows are less with bread" (Cervantes.)  And of course we did some shopping.  Sis was so excited to pick up boxes of cinnamon puff muffin mix, her new favorite.  And I got some unique mixes--Portuguese sweet rolls, Scottish oat bread, orange cranberry brioche. It was a tasty way to begin the weekend.

Another stop we made on the way was the Vermont Toy and Train Museum in Quechee.  There we wandered amid the displays of toys from our childhoods--Cher doll, Luke and Leia dolls, Donnie and Marie dolls, Holly Hobby dolls, various lunchboxes including Holly Hobby, Happy Meal toys, bubble bath dispenses, boxed Halloween costumes with plastic masks, Fisher Price Little People.  And there was a great model train through the Vermont countryside in summer, fall, and winter.


In the same complex, there were various shops, including an antiques store, with old photos ("instant ancestors"), tools, tea sets, food tins.  Fun to wander with the kids.

And then we arrived in Woodstock, considered one of the most picturesque towns in the country.  With holiday decorations, snow, early American houses, a preserved downtown including old dry goods store and pharmacy and unique shops, covered bridge, nearby river, and the surrounding mountains, it really is a great little place.  And we were staying at the Woodstock Inn, a venerable hotel sitting back from the town green.  (Lambeth, the kids said it was second only to the Lainston as their favorite place to stay!)

In our room were two treats--chocolate-covered strawberries and a notice that we would be riding in the town's Wassail parade, on the hotel's own wagon, both arranged by Mama and the concierge for my birthday!!!!  Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.  It made for the perfect weekend.

But before the parade Saturday afternoon, we spent Saturday morning wandering the town, listening to the high school band play carols, and visiting the Dana House and the historical society with its displays on Christmas past.  (This was after breakfast, when we discovered our waitress grew up in the town we live in and her cousin owns the deli near our pediatrician's office.  Small world.)  Sis and Bud even ran down to the river behind the house, enjoying the snow (which we haven't really had in Connecticut.)

The parade!!  Mama had given me a heads-up about it, actually, first to see if I were interested and second so that I could pick a festive outfit.  As the theme was Victorian, I wore one of my long historic house skirts and my lovely blue wool cloak from Gommie, under which were layers of sweaters, leggings, extra skirts, and warm socks--because the morning temperature had been 3F!!  We all got a ride to the staging area where Sis was in her element around all of the horses.  Across from us was the donkey brigade which we just read about in the morning's paper (the group helps youth and adults with developmental disabilities who take care of the miniature donkeys.)  The little donkeys wear stuffed animals on their backs and pull small carts, led by their handlers.

And then we got on our wagon, wearing matching plaid fleece scarves supplied by the hotel.  The festooned wagon was led by two humongous Belgian draft horses.  We rode along with another family and an older couple, singing "Rudolph," "Jingle Bells," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!" and waving to the crowds (over 2,000 cheering people!)  It really was wonderful to see all the holiday cheer.  And I liked seeing the old town from the wagon, which put me back in the 19th century.  Though, it was pretty cold.

After the parade, we warmed up by the fire at the hotel with hot chocolate (and Bailey's!)  At 4pm, we went to look at the town tree, Yule bonfire, and luminaries as the sun set.  Dinner was the Wassail Feast at the hotel, with a variety of dishes such as prime rib, sliced salmon, Yorkshire Pudding, pumpkin bread pudding, buche de noel, and trifle.  Mama and I made Yard of Flannel--hot apple cider and rum-whipped cream--and sat by the fire.

That evening we sat in the room, warming up from the day.  I worked on my crocheted birthday blanket, in Lion Brand Thick and Quick Celestial Stripes.  The kids made Rainbow Loom bands and played with their light-up wheelie bopper toys from the Vermont Country Store.  (It was a no-screen weekend.)

Sunday, though it was cold again, we went to Billings Farm--with its draft horses, decorated farmhouse, and craft activities.  The kids dipped their own candles and then Bud made a pomander with cloves and a clementine.  Sis was enamored with the white Percheron draft horses and some more Belgians.  And I liked the snow, the barns, and the warm kitchen with apple pie and roasted pumpkins.

  

On our way home, we ate at delicious Worthy Kitchen (poutine!  fried chicken!  pickled pineapple!)  and then moseyed our way home.  We did stop at the lake we'd visited with my folks in October--it was completely frozen and snow-covered.  I did a 20-yard hike into the woods and watched Sis poked the ice with her toes.   

We got home after dark, with snow falling gently on our town, the last little treat of the weekend.

My favorite photo, from town (actually taken from the car as we drove by.)

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There was one uncomfortable thing that happened repeatedly in Vermont:  there were a lot of questions about our family, race- and/or gender-based.  From the woman at King Arthur Flour who thanked me for having a big heart and adopting Sis, to a white woman who said hi to Mama in Mandarin and was surprised she didn't speak Chinese, to the six or seven people (and I'm not exaggerating here) who mistook Mama for a boy/my son, Sis for a boy, and Bud for a girl.  Never have so many assumptions been spoken to us aloud by so many in such a short time.  It was rather disconcerting.  We've had less trouble in rural Texas, for goodness sake.  Come on, Vermont, what's with that?  (And no, it wasn't just the tourists from elsewhere.)
SaveSave

The Holiday that Wasn't

We sorta missed St. Patrick's Day today.  After all of our celebrations yesterday, I failed to realize that NYC's parade was not on Sunday but on Saturday--the God thing, I guess.  I was so disappointed when I realized it last night trying to set the DVR (add to that my loss in the soda bread contest, I guess--no call either way--and I thought I was one of the only competitors--and it was rather a bummer weekend.)  My first parade knowing we were a bit Irish (probably between 1/16th and 1/64th, since I don't know the heritage of some of those ancestors.)  I have such fond memories of that parade from living in NYC--bagpipes playing early in the morning as parade participants warmed up along the side streets of 5th Avenue, be-wigged stepdancers in their embroidered finery, hundreds of firefighters and police officers in their dress uniforms, and all the drum corps rat-a-tat-tatting.  Of course, neither the politics nor religion of Ireland or the parade officials (the anti-England, pro-Catholic, anti-LGBT) appealed much, but I loved the pomp.

So, the only celebration we had today was eating delicious leftovers, including a new hash Mama adapted from various Bubble and Squeak and Colcannon recipes.  And it was so good.  Though, I think, as a whole, we've had too much cabbage these last few days!

But we'll enjoy it again next year, along with soda bread and the parade.

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Bubble and Squeak cum Colcannon

leftover boiled potatoes, cabbage, and carrots from boiled dinner, cubed and lightly smashed
1 green leek, sliced
1 bunch curly kale, torn into pieces
1 scallion, sliced
some broth from boiled dinner
approximately 1-2 tablespoons butter (Kerrygold of course!)

Saute leeks in a small amount of olive oil until tender and remove from skillet; saute kale in small amount of broth until tender.  Return leeks to skillet, add potatoes, cabbage, and carrots to the skillet.  Add sliced scallion and top with a butter.  Heat through, stirring occasionally.  At the end, do not stir but allow to brown and crisp on one side.  Season to taste.

Serve with small slices of corned beef, if desired, and mustard.

Mama Hungry

Memorial Day

If Memorial Day is the unofficial first day of summer (the official one, of course, being the summer solstice in June), then we have kicked off the season in high style.  It was a glorious, mild, clear day, most of which we spent outside.  

First thing in the morning, we transferred our pupae from their plastic container to their new tent, where they will emerge from their chrysalids as butterflies in 3-5 days.  Then as Mama prepped our new deck canopy on the front porch (thanks to Ma and Gong, for the Mother's Day present), the kids played butterflies in their new sleeping bags (we'll be having our first sleepover at Ma and Gong's one weekend in June).  They would crawl into the half-size nylon bags (hers pink and green, his red and gray-blue), wriggle around a bit--"Mommy, look what's growing in your backyard!--and then emerge as butterflies and fly with arms outstretched and flapping around the porch.  "Tell us to 'go, butterfly, go' and 'faster, butterfly, faster.'  Then say 'butterfly, my friend, it's time to end.'"  At which point, they'd climb back into their cocoons and start all over.  

We headed to the back deck, having put the cats in "their room" while we went in and out of the  back door.  There, Mama put up the canopy, Bud played basketball on the newly-raised plastic basketball hoop, Sis narrated a story with various toys on boats in the water table, and I planted strawberry seeds (with some help from the kids).  We all played bubbles.  Sis went back to her story play and Bud grew increasingly frustrated trying to make various "machines" to shoot or flip toys using plastic buckets and shovels (big dreams, bad materials). Then, we paused for a snack--homemade vanilla ice cream!

Mama and I had prepped the custard the night before, realizing the kids would not be able to delay ice-cream gratification, and had frozen the core of our ice cream maker.  We plugged it in outside and all stood around watching the miracle of custard become ice cream.  The kids were fascinated.  Sure, it's not the old wooden bucket with ice and rock salt and drip spout (and loud motor, we didn't even have a hand crank back in the "good ol' days."), but it makes great thick ice cream right in front of your eyes.  The stuff of childhood summers! 

After a picnic of cheese sandwiches under our new canopy (and on newly-cleaned table, thanks to Sis and Mama, some vinegar and baking soda) and a generous rest time, we headed to our local Memorial Day parade.  We  immediately ran into friends and neighbors and found a good spot to watch all the happenings.  Bud and Sis stood glued--no need to put down the blanket or pull out the snacks--watching the police cars, firetrucks, local groups, and, most excitedly for Bud, marching bands!  Sis's favorite part?  Candy.  Yep, it's Memorial Day-cum-Mardi Gras, where we throw caution to the wind and encourage children to:

1. Rush out into the street.
2. Take candy from strangers.
3. Eat off the ground.

But, as a neighbor pointed out, we then confuse them by insisting that they not litter with those same wrappers, having allowed the breaking of all other ordinary rules! 

And what did we do when we came home?  Played parade, of course.  Focusing on the music and the candy.

What more could you want from summer?

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Vanilla Ice Cream #1 (Pure and Simple)

2/3 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 2/3 cups milk

1 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the eggs until thickened and pale yellow.  Beat in the flour and salt.  Set aside.

Bring the milk to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan.  Slowly beat the hot milk into the eggs and sugar.  Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat.  Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly.  Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs will scramble.  Remove from the heat and pour the hot custard through a strainer into a large, clean bowl.  Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the cream and vanilla.  Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight (my note:  don't forget to put the core of your ice cream maker in a plastic bag in the freezer, if that's the kind you have).

Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in 1-2 batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's directions (ours takes about 20-30 minutes).  When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat.  For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe contanier and freeze at least 2 hours.

(Final note:  I think my Penzey's vanilla extract overpowered this recipe, which was probably designed with your average vanilla in mind.  I almost think this would be good as a sweet cream recipe, no vanilla, since the book must have come out before that was a trendy flavor, and one of my favorites).

Bruce Weinstein, The Ultimate Ice Cream Book (one of our favorites!)