Vacation 9/7/09-9/14/09

My end of summer vacation week was spent differently this time, than it has over the past few years. In the past, my vacation normally existed without plans as I'm one that loves to go into each new day going with my feelings of the moment. Those times away from my work were normally spent quietly, and usually alone through most of it. This was by choice, as I find much comfort in alone and quietness, which is something that I don't have much of during my regular schedule.

There were also those few times when I would take off with my sister for a few days, to the mountains and once, a few others joined us for our little trip. Last spring, These times are treasured times and we still talk about them.

Whether alone, with my sister, or with others, I always have gone back to the same place up into the White Mountains of N.H. and stayed at the same Hotel. Last spring, I even went there alone, and altered it slightly by staying in the suite. I have also enjoyed and though it was to the same place, every time I went, it would be still, different.

And so, I write about this vacation. I think its the most different of them all because each day of it, I planned something. So unlike me! But, in doing so its made this vacation different than the ones before it. And though I've enjoyed them all and who I was with; this vacation seemed to include everyone at one point or another.

So, here I place my vacation journal for the Autumn 2009:

On Friday, 9/4, my last day of work before my vacation and the day went by smoothly. I made sure that all my work was up to date, my office clean, and that I prepared ahead whatever I was able to so that when I return after vacation, "catch up" won't be to to bad. My goal is achieved, and I'm able to walk out the door without unfinished work lingering over my head. Off I go. That night, I went to bed fairly early, because I want to wake fresh and ready to take on, whatever I feel like!

Saturday, I slept in some in the morning til near 10am. I took my time that morning with coffee. It was a beautiful sunny day and then I got busy with some house work, which I enjoy doing on Saturdays when no one is home. It was a quiet, peaceful day. Later in the day, I watched Noah into the night. I took him to the park with Heidi, Charlie, Ashley and Kelsey. It was a wonderful time.

Sunday, we got together at my house for a cookout. It was Labor Day weekend, the offical end to the summer. I made potato salad and lots of other goodies, and everyone brought something. It was nice getting together and another perfect weather day.

On Monday, we went to the Fair. I had not been to a Fair for years. I'm not sure exactly what got into me to want to go now but I went. It was the last day of the fair. It wasn't crowded and it wasn't too hot.

Tuesday, I traveled to Vermont, to see the Quechee Gorge. It was a beautiful ride on a beautiful early fall day. Stopped for a hearty breakfast on the way and it filled our stomachs until the next day! The Gorge was beautiful.

On Wednesday, I headed north with Don into the White Mts. A place it seems I've gone each spring and fall for the last last few years. We shopped some, took rides through the mountains, watched movies, and walked lots. The weather was beautiful and it was really a nice couple of days away once again.

Same place - Different road

My usual vacation place had a few new twists and turns in it. We called it "exploring". It started on a road we probably shouldn't of been on but we took it. It was named Hurricane Road for a reason, and I learned why first hand. A bit spooky when we entered the opened gates, which we're sure they must be closed at least for the winters, if not, nightly. There are no houses on Hurricane road, no lights, no electric. We assume it might be used for a "short cut" from N.H. to Maine because once at the other end of it, Maine is nearby. Its a short cut because rather than drive around and around the endless white mountains and through the thick, deep, state forests, this road takes you over a mountain; UP and DOWN, over it! Its a climb! Well, today, the gate was open. It did say no trucks but we assumed it meant "bigger than the one we were in" kinda truck. So we went through the gates.

It did not take long to figure out why no "larger" trucks were to enter those gates, the very narrow road ahead of us did not leave much room for another vechicle to go by and it was a two way "road", if that is what it is called; seemed more like a lane than a road. There were no places to change your mind and turn around either, once on it, you were on it till the end. Now you'd think that a road such as this would go unused, but to our surprise, and always at a bad time, BOOM! There would be a car (thankfully a small one) that would be flying, and I do mean flying past us. They must of driven this road a millon times because they surely knew where they were going and what they were up against. We didn't. Up, up, up, up, that road climbed, with bending corners shaped as and L, and still, up further as though we headed into the sky. There were a few drops down and the road seemed to disappear, when we were climbing once again. At the very beginning of the upward climb, the forest deep out my window, and oh so pretty. The top picture of this blog is a waterfall in the forest, though there was no stopping to take it, so I just snapped as I was able to.

Once at the top of this narrow mountain road, you could see forever. The mountains and lakes, as though we were sitting on a cloud looking outward. We also could see the road before us, and its drop down. Yep, what goes up, must come down, including us. We couldn't sit and take in this unbelieveable view for long. There is no where to pull over. You sit in the middle of the road and actually the middle of the road, IS the entire road. So, downward we went.

Passing forests with trees so thick at times, making one wonder if anyone had ever set foot onto this land before. It gave proof of the harshness that winter left behind in twisted branches, and broken trunks. Looking out into the sky as one traveled down this narrow mountain road, felt like you were slowly falling back to earth from a cloud. How beautiful it really was and fun! We did it again, and then yet again. No doubt, we will return to this narrow little road that brings you up and over a mountain, into the sky, and then back to earth once again.

Looking Out at the world and looking down, our one way back to earth. I call this the road less traveled, for sure!

Bit o sweet honey

"What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?"

Vacation

Vacation has started and I'm thrilled. I've already taken a 4 hour nap once home from work tonight. It was the kick off of my vacation. Now, its after 11pm and my hours begin to change and reverse from day and night. And I've even made some plans! A cookout on Sunday for Labor Day, which represents the official end of the summer to so many. After this weekend, so many return from their vacations, kids go back to school, the leaves are changing, apple picking time comes along, the nights have already started to cool which is wonderful. Autumn is also my favorite time of year. I don't mind that the summer now nears it's end. I enjoy what is ahead too much. So, besides a cookout on Sunday, which will be my own celebration of Labor Day, the end of summer, the start of my vacation and the joy of autumn in the air.

I also am making plans, (Yes, i did say "plans", which is something in itself that I don't normally do) to go to the Fair on Monday with family. I haven't been for years. I dislike the heat of the day and the crowds and lines but, I'm on vacation! And i'm in the mood for a few autumn like things such as a fair. I enjoy the craft parts of them and displays.

So there is Sunday and Monday. Of course tomorrow, Saturday, I'll do some things around the house and some cooking but I enjoy that also.

I don't have further plans from that. I might take off for a day with my sister, our cameras and out to lunch. But then again, I might even take myself up to my favorite place up north for a few nights. I also would like to take a day trip, or even over night, up into Vermont's Quechee Gorge. I'm gonna go with the flow of how I feel. This vacation is, as with any of them, so needed as I feel drained. One thing I do know for sure is that I won't be going into work this week and I'm not going to be focused on it.

So stay tuned for plans and results of the days of vacation!

The girls started school the other day. Ashley just had her birthday last Sunday. Got them much school clothing and supplies and really enjoyed my time with them. Noah just got his first pair of shoes; a pair of white puma sneakers size 4! What a big boy. He will be 6 months old this Tuesday, the 8th. He has started sitting up on his own and he is rolling all over the place now. Tammy moved his crib out of her room into the loft. Slowly, Noah is taking over the house. We're going to build a wall on the loft and make it into a regular bedroom for him. He seems to be sleeping better just in his crib in the loft as he is going to bed earlier now. They grow so fast. I'm really trying to take my time with Noah and enjoying every minute that I can, knowing that each moment, each day passes and it will never return again.

I've been working on some slide shows. I'm learning more and more with each one that I create. I've really been enjoying making them. I'm also working on a scrapebook of my flowers. Hopefully this week, I'll get to work on both, some. So much to fit into a week's vacation, its exhausting!