What’s the one thing that makes Vermont winters survivable? Friends? Laughter? Knitting? A chicken roasting in the oven? Nope: snow tires.
Driving to Burlington on a snowy Sunday morning to interview a young poet, I kept thinking, At least I bought new snow tires. When my daughter disappears in the darkness to work, I think, I’m so glad I shelled out for those tires.
On my way home through the Calais back roads, I pull over at the town hall, a beautiful and somewhat mysterious building to me — why is it here? what’s the history that’s now disappeared around this building? I’ve been listening to NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me and laughing so hard I’m actually crying.
Outside my little Toyota, I’m immediately reminded of winter’s enchanting beauty, the bit of wind on my cheeks and the snowflakes in my eyelashes. Sunday afternoon, and no one’s out and about, save for one grownup far down the road, walking a dog. Leaving my car at the roadside, I walk down to the meeting house and stand there, staring up at the steeple in the gauzy snow, listening. Then I put those snow tires to use again.
Winter seclusion —
Listening, that evening,
To the rain in the mountain.
— Issa
I always wondered the same thing when driving or walking past Pierce’s Hall in East Putney. Your post inspired me to Google it–after years of wondering! You may know the building: https://richholschuh.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/pierces-hall/. A little more history on another blog: https://cmrue.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/pierces-hall/. Thank you, Brett!
Actually, I do know this building — from a number of years ago when I lived in Brattleboro. Thanks for forwarding this!
I thought you might. 😉
Just read Ben Hewitt’s post and now yours – and glad for this grey dull CT shoreline mild winter as I am, just for these moments and a little after as your gorgeous images still shimmered in my mind, I wished I lived in Vermont.
Well…. not a lot of color here today, despite what Ben and I are writing 🙂 I would be okay with a little mildness pushed our way. But I’m speaking just for me!