Leaf Peeping and Vermont Hiking

Best weekend ever with Kemp.  Hiked Mt. Killington and Camels Hump, camped in car (of course), visited Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory and Rock of Ages granite quarry.  Love sister time.

It rained nearly all weekend but the overcast weather made the leaf colors even more vibrant and the trials were empty!  sisters + mountains + solitude = HEAVEN

The Skinny on Walden

Waldon Pond became famous by the book, Walden, or Life in the Woods written by Henry David Thoreau.   Thoreau, a writer and philosopher, lived at the pond for two years while he experimented the lifestyle of simple living.  The pond, near Concord, MA, is preserved by the state reservation and is a wonderful retreat from the city.  I have spent many days here enjoying the water and woods nearby.



"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.  I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary.  I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."

Henry David Thoreau, Walden "Where I Lived and What I Lived For"

Walden Pond in Autumn (thanks google)

The pond also makes for a great midnight swim to celebrate one's 25th birthday with Boston's best friends Kalli and Kristin.  Thanks for the memories Walden.

Summmmmmmmmerrrrr 2012

On a recent ferry trip back from Martha’s Vineyard, with the moon shining on the ocean, I stood on the edge of the deck and thought to myself, “Golly, I love New England.”

Time and time again I am reminded how neat this place really is - many wonderful adventures I’ve realized, the backroads I’ve discovered, the townships and street corners I’ve walked, histories I’ve learned, and places I’ve fallen in love with.  I do love New England.

And there is more to love.  Please let me come back!

Love me some New England summer!

One of several camping trips this summer.
Nickerson State Park, Cape Cod, MA

Lighthouse on Cape Cod, MA

Hansel and Gretels house on Martha's Vineyard, MA

My future cottage on MV.

Magic of Fenway.  Great seats.  Boston, MA

Firewater in Providence, RI

To the top of Mt Lafayette.  White Mountains, NH

First battle of the American Revolution took place 5 miles from my house.  Reenactment every year on the same grounds.  Battle of Lexington, Lexington, MA

The home of John Adams.  "Peacefield", Quincy, MA

Fun-yaking on Deerfield River with friends.  Right before heading to Tanglewood for a celebration concert for John Williams' 80th birthday!  Berkshires, MA

Leaders from Behind.  My Spartan race team.  Amesbury Park, MA

To the Mothership!

Attention: Friends and Family -  I am moving to Utah.  Not sure how long I will be there but I have a couple of things to take care of while I am there.

Why?  I have been in New England for two years, working, playing, saving and I feel that I am in a good place and time to take action and accomplish some very important goals I have set for myself.

When?  I will be leaving New England in October after my little sisters fly to Boston.  We will spend a couple days around the city, visit the nieces, view some sights, pack the car and head West on a week-long cross country trip to Utah.

What?  Without going into too many specifics (you can ask me more details off-line) these are some of the objectives I have established for myself while I am at home:

1-   Write a book on Grandma Stuart’s life – pending project for the last six years that I am finally getting around to doing with Grandma.

2-   Start a travel agency – taking classes and certifications right now and hoping to be open to business by the end of the year!

3-   Accomplish some fitness goals – begin training for Ragnar relays (180 mile running relay races) and long bike rides, super-healthy eating, and taking a weekly yoga class.

4-  Get certified to become an aerobics instructor – been on my New Year’s Resolution list for the past four years; I think it is time to just do it.

5-   Take the GRE to apply for master’s program – wanting to get an MBA and I have a couple of schools in mind, most of which are in the West.

6-   Lots of Mormon boys are in Utah – did I really just add that to the list?  :)

After this is done, then what?  Good question.   The answer is TBD.  Maybe go back to school for an MBA right away or get job in Utah or back in Boston.

Moving forward....