50th UVM Reunion With Friends in Vermont

Unbelievably, this year is the 50th anniversary of my graduation from the University of Vermont.  There is a group of 11 of us who have been friends since our freshman year and get together every so many years.  This year, we decided to skip all the formal events in Burlington and rented a house on Joe's Pond, which is actually much more a lake than a pond.  I drove up with Susan through the beautiful Franconia Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where the leaves were just beginning to turn.  The weather brought back such memories of returning to school each fall to cool air, bright sun, great colors and wonderful friends.

The Gang-minus Jeannie

There was barely a moment that we weren't all talking at once.
There is always so much to catch up on.

The first arrivals:  Susie, Julie, Jeannie, Susan, Barbara, Lil
Nance and I.  Nancy Merrill and Helen came later.

Jeannie (Virginia), modeling our gift from 

Barbara: Resto Presto-water repellent, UPF 50 

pouch which opens to be an extra layer,

a raincoat, a groundcloth or blanket.

Lil Nance (Newton, MA) and Susie (Shelburne, VT)

Barbara from Atlanta

Early morning fog

Nancy M (Grafton, VT) trying
to wake up

There were wonderful walks around the
lake on an old railroad bed.

The walkers

Helen (Huntington, VT) arrives and regales us with her
stories.

Jeannie-everready to take care of us all as
we came in and out of kayaks

Lil Nance

Nancy M.

The whole gang minus yours truly

A million laughs

Kayaking was the favored activity

Our kayaks

Sightseeing

We had a great tour of the Cabot Cheese Company in Cabot, Vermont
There are close to a hundred independent farm families who have joined together to create a cooperative
to produce quality dairy products. Yummy stuff!

Next was a trip to Dog Mountain, a chapel and art
gallery, sitting up on a hill in St. Johnsbury, VT.

Inside the chapel are millions of notes that people have posted on the walls to their deceased pets.

Maple syrup and Vermont go together perfectly.  We
sampled syrups and candy and watched how the
maple products are created.

Back at the cottage, several of us decided to try the water-it was predictably cold but most of us just had to get in anyway.

Susie first

Our last night:  dinner out
I loved my dinner-a maple glazed salmon.

Saying Goodbye