Fair Time

The Champlain Valley Fair is in town this week and typically that means that summer is coming to a close.  School is back in session and the weather is soon to start being a bit cooler. I haven’t been to the fair this year, and most likely won’t make the event due to my schedule much to my chagrin.  I have always liked taking the kids to the fair, not because it offers a huge assortment of rides but because it always brings back the memories of being a kid and feeling like a kid. All the vendors, the smell of onion rings and French frys wafting through the air. All the laughter, and  screams of excitement from the kids.  Even on a small scale it is worth experiencing.  After all, isn’t that what it is all about.

Back to School

My daughter was quite sad today as she headed out for her first day of eighth grade. Of course she was even more disappointed due to the fact that her brother doesn’t start until tomorrow because he is a sophomore in high school. I think she thought it was black Wednesday. Needless to say, her brother did his best last night to let her know how wonderful it was going to be today to spend his last day of summer vacation doing whatever he wanted to do. I remember these days well from my childhood, and I can’t help but feel a bit sad for my daughter. The end of summer always comes quicker than any of us would like it to.

Our Last Harrah

 

This summer has passed so quickly due to the amount of rain we have had. In fact we set a record for the lake level for this time of year. Many people have had their docks under water most of the summer,  And some people had to pull them out completely because of the high water level.With that said, the forecast for the next 4 days is predicted to be sunny. In fact, I think this is the first time all summer where we have had a prediction this good for this long. So I say, make the most of this last chance before the kids go back to school and enjoy what mother nature is offering up before we get back into the school routine.

The Bad Word

 

If you have kids at home like we do, you might be learning that there is a new bad word that should not be used around your children right now. Interestingly enough, it is our children that wince when they hear the word and they plead for us to not use it in their presence. In fact, if they hear just a faint whisper of the word it causes awful noises to come from their mouths followed by instant begging for us to stop. I can feel for them because we all have been through it and even I am not happy to have to mention the word because it means that summer is almost over and family time becomes much more limited. Yes “School” is just around the corner and we all must accept that fact.

Losing Weight

Have you ever had extra weight that you would like to get rid of and just can’t seem to get it done? If you are one those individuals like myself that are constantly fighting that battle, don’t feel like you are alone. It seems like I am constantly trying something new to try to take make that dreaded last 10 pounds disappear. Sometimes I make it happen, only to have me change my approach and then it reappears. I find that as I get older, it takes longer to lose it, but the one thing I know for sure, is that I am not going to give up the battle. At least not yet.

Wake Boarding or Bust

My daughter just learned how to snowboard this past winter and therefore had to learn how to wake board this summer. Needless to say we gave it a try the other day thinking that it would probably take some time for her to get it. Well get it she did. She popped up on her third try and hasn’t  wavered since. It is incredible to me how quickly she got it. Oh to be young and invincible again. I marveled at her slicing back and forth not long after she got up. With a grin from ear to ear she balanced herself for more than a mile. I couldn’t have been prouder and happier as a Dad.

Family Time

 

I just got back from a bit of a vacation with my family yesterday and want to let you know that we had such a great time. I believe that your family is the most important thing in our lives, other than our health of course and there is nothing better than creating memories that will last for a life time. We were lucky enough to spend 5 days at our camp on Lake Champlain and actually were able to get out on the lake in between thunderstorms. We love to be outside and spending time with our two kids without cell phone coverage was simply wonderful. There is nothing more relaxing than  a day on the Lake.

Lots and Lots of Rain

This summer has been one of the wettest summers on record. The lake level is extremely high and lots of docks are under water. Just recently we pulled our dock in 12 feet and no longer need a ramp to get on it. It is incredible how much rain we have had, yet all of us have found a way to make the most of the few opportunities that we have had with the little sunshine there has been. Sometimes it is hard when you don’t see the sun for days but you have to buck up and appreciate what you have.

Living in Vermont

Living in Vermont and the Champlain Valley

 

As a native Vermonter I am in a position to speak intelligently and from the heart about living in Vermont. My perspective is one not so much from the objective standpoint as it is a realistic standpoint. Living in Vermont is one of the best experiences a person can enjoy. I have lived and worked here for 48 years and I dare say that there are not too many days that go by where I don’t thank my lucky stars that I live here. Vermont has everything an avid outdoorsman, athlete, and or nature lover could want. With it’s breathtaking views from the lovely Green mountains to the scenic beauty of Lake Champlain, we live in an incredibly special place.

 

Having four distinct seasons brings so much opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of pleasures. In the winter we enjoy downhill skiing, cross country skiing, pond hockey, snowmobiling, and hiking.  In the spring we enjoy the runoff prior to maple sugar season, spring skiing and the beginning of baseball.  In the summer we hike, boat and fish on the lake and all our small wonderful streams. We enjoy the beach and bikepath and continue to take advantage of our mountains, whether it be on foot or on bikes.  In the fall, we enjoy the beauty of the fall foliage season with all our changing colors of our abundant maple trees. Soccer, football, and field hockey parlay their seasons during this time and we finally prepare ourselves for what mother nature is about to bring us again in the winter.

 

There are so many wonderful things to do here, the Flynn Theater in Burlington for different kinds of shows, art and culture, the Shelburne museum for our historical biography and Shelburne Farms for a true Vermont experience. On the water front during the summer in Burlington we have the chew chew festival, the fireworks display on July 3^rd, the antique boat show, and the Vermont City marathon in May to mention just a few opportunities for enjoyment.

 

Our school systems are top notch, we have a low crime rate and our commitment to the environment is well documented. We are independent thinkers and are proud to be who we are.

 

If I had to guess, I would dare say that we live in one of the best places in the country.

Education in Vermont

Education in Vermont is a wonderful experience for your children. Our local schools are committed to providing the foundation for future success in higher education and in life for our kids. Vermont is a truly a special place when it comes to our schools. With the student teacher ratio much lower than the national average, it allows for more one-on-one interaction between the students and the teacher. The quality of the education your child receives always begins at home, combining that with the support and instruction our children receive through our local schools, prepares them for truly bigger and better opportunities down the road. In Burlington alone, a number of the top students are moving on to Division I colleges after they graduate.