Last times in Vermont (for now)

It has snowed pretty consistently since mid November and we've never lost our snow cover. I'm sure glad we moved our RV over to Saratoga RV Park before then. 

 

Leslie, Rowan and Gail getting our Thanksgiving Dinner ready

November and December seem like non stop holiday time. We alternate having our family between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year we went up to Middlebury to have Thanksgiving with our friends the Smiths and welcomed our two younger sons home with their families for Christmas. They both came for a week. James, Morgen and Kolya drove up from Washington DC and Sean, Will and Rowan from Boston. 

Christmas Eve Dinner: from left: Sean, Will, Rowan, Heather, James, Kolya and Morgen..

Everyone enjoyed the snow with lots of play and sledding. Visits to the Montshire Science Museum, King Arthur Flour, and Wonderworks kept the kids happy. Plus of course tons of presents, food, drink and conversation (and lots of hugs). More photos from Christmas at the end!

Usually it's the other way around!

Opening presents - Rowan enjoyed the opening
almost as much as the presents.

But Kolya is at an age to appreciate the  
presents, especially his new tablet.

I made Maple Pecan Sticky Buns (NY Times)
for the first time for Xmas morning Yum!

Scott having fun at Wonderfeet in Rutland

Lunch at King Arthur Flour

And here in Shrewsbury and Rutland there were so many holiday events. We couldn't attend them all! Some of that was due to our both getting colds. I got mine just before an appointment with my primary down in Boston so got tested for COVID and the Flu. Happily it was neither although the cold has hung on forever. Scott got his a little later and we're both need some warmth and sunshine to fully recover. In Boston we had our Holiday Open House, this year hosted by Sean & Will. I started this tradition when I was single in 1970 - so 55 years. Pretty amazing. In Shrewsbury we had the annual Cookie Swap and Silent Auction. The library was beautifully decorated with live music, lots of cookies and other treats and tons of friends. The Rutland Garden Club had a festive December Holiday Party and earlier I attended a workshop to make a holiday centerpiece. Our friend Barbara was visiting us and came too. 

Barbara and myself with a few of the Rutland Garden Club members at the holiday centerpiece workshop. 

My eighth Cooking Class to benefit Pierce's store was so much fun. We did Appetizers and Desserts which included two hot and two cold appetizers and two fruit tarts and a layered Chocolate Cake. The eight students were invited to invite a guest for the meal and we raised $460. As usual I worked shifts running the store (as a volunteer) and made the appetizers for one more wine tasting. Our last event was last night when my Book Club had a Potluck dinner here.

My students and myself pos in from of our dessert table. This was my eighth Cooking Class to benefit Pierce's Store.

But our sons left a few days ago and we're now packing up everything to leave. Tomorrow we close up the house and drive over to our RV "Baby" at the Saratoga RV Park in N.Y. Then Friday morning we head south. The sunshine and relative warmth is beckoning to us!!!

Will and Rowan 

Making corn bread with Sean and Rowan

Kolya and Rowan enjoy the new tablet

Reading stories with Morgen

Grandpa has a turn pulling Rowan
to the top of the hill.

Building things at the Montshire Science Museum