Fall Colors of New England

HOMER ADVENTURE PART 1

Our latest adventure was a trip to the East Coast. Brittni & Jim live in Billerica, MA, and Nicole & Brian live in S. Royalton, VT. W were excited with the prospect of getting to see them both in one trip. So bright and early on Saturday morning (I have given up on ever getting to sleep in on a Saturday)we were headed to the airport. We had to fly different airlines as we were using frequent flyer points. (Alan's traveling for work comes in handy). So Kaitlyn and I (Judy) flew Delta into Boston, and Alan & Eliza flew Southwest into Manchester, NH. We beat the other two in by a few hours so we headed to a fabric/yarn shop that was going out of business. Brittni is quite the knitter, and has also pieced her first quilt top/tree skirt. It is gorgeous!!
Sunday morning found us headed up to VT to visit with Nicole & Brian. Brian is in the Master's program at the Vermont Law School. Next year he hopes to continue on to the Law school part of his education! As much as I hate to say it- for you Brian I will- Boy Power!! Nicole works at the School, but exactly what she does I am not sure. But she can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan... Girl Power!!
We spent some good times in the outdoors. The weather was great, the colors were magnificent, and a good time was had by all!!
Sunday afternoon found us at the birthpalce of Joseph Smith in Sharon, VT. Nicole and Brian live less than 10 minutes from here.

Nicole and Eliza with a colorful background.

Eliza and Kaitlyn in front of the J.S. monument.

Nicole & Brian. Can you believe it took six shots to get this one?
McKinna, this one is for you!! It was right down from the J.S. memorial. I made your Dad stop the car so I could get a few pics for you!! I know, I'm just nice like that!
We also visited the booming metropolis of S. Royalton and visit the Law School. I am sure the Law School is at least 4 city blocks big!! And the phrase "don't blink or you'll miss it" might have actually been coined for the town of S. Royalton.

Kaitlyn & Eliza -future college students
A specialty of the Vermont Law School is environmental law. While we visited the school Nicole took us to see the special toilets they have in one building. She said they even have had outsiders come and take tours of the 'facilities'. I'm with you- pretty crazy. I have pics of the toilet, but this is a family friendly blog so will just show you the sign above the toilet-



The next set of pics are Kaitlyn playing in dry leaves. Some years, at our house, we can't even play in the leaves as they are soggy.




Then there is Alan doing what one should do on vacation.


Alan and Judy decided to try out the 'golden years' for a minute.



Monday our adventure took us to Quechee Gorge. We hiked down to the bottom and then back up. It was a nice walk and the scenery was beautiful.







Next we headed to Woodstock. On our way we stopped at a really cute little bakery for a little breakfast. In Woodstock we walked around, had some delicious sandwiches, and then ended it with pumpkin pie ice cream. I, for one, could really learn to love visiting all the small towns. They all have such great architechture, fun little stores and fun photo ops (ya, I couldn't resist that one).





After our time in Woodstock , we hopped back in the cars and zoomed off to Rutland. Here we used our navigational skills to find our way through an enormous corn maze. It took us over two hours to get through both halves, get our cards punched (of course we are expecting a prize in the mail soon for all our efforts), and make it out just in time for the last hay ride before the place closed. It was a great farm. If we had had time we could have gone into a smaller child's maze or into a storytelling one.






We stopped and bought pumpkins on the way home. We also bought stuff to make a picnic for the next days trip. I had packed our carving tools and took them east with us, just for the occasion.

Brian- hoping he doesn't hurt himself with one of my carving tools and sue me!!

Eliza- I am excited to see what she chooses to make hers look like!!

Nicole serious about her pumkin carving

Kaitlyn demonstrating what her pumkin might look like when she's done.





STOWE
On Tuesday we were off and away again. This time with picnic in tow we headed North to Stowe. This is one of Nicole's favorite places. After having visited I can see why. We ate our picnic at the ski resort. The leaves here were past their peak. You can see in the picture that a lot of the leaves had already fallen from the trees.

As we drove up to Smuggler's Notch we went through this tunnel of trees. On our way up the wind blew and the leaves were falling off the trees and dancing in the wind. They provided us quite the show. It was quite a fun thing to experience. I was hoping it would happen again on the way down, but it didn't.

We climbed up the rocks. They seem to have fallen in quite a unique way so as to make many cave-like areas where you can climb through and then come out a different place. I could see that it would be fun to spend a day there having a marvelous hike/climb.



Nicole, Strong-woman Eliza, Brian, KD
Nicole KDAlan
Eliza- sometimes there is an easier way to get down! Eliza- these boulders aren't heavy at all!!


WATERBURY
On the way back down to Nicole & Brian's we stopped in Waterbury. Our first stop was at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. There we had the best tasting cider I have ever had. It tasted more like drinking an apple than you can imagine. Of course we had to buy some cider and some cider donuts. A tasty snack!!

COLD HOLLOW CIDER MILL

Cider Press

girly apples

Parental unit apples
They also had bees inside. Ya, I wasn't getting that close.
The bees outside must have been cold cuz they weren't moving very fast. They also didn't seem scared or annoyed by people. After all I put my lens practically right on top of a couple of them.

After eating the healthy stuff we stopped at a chocolate shop and had a few samples. Then we sampled maple flavored goodies at another little tourist stop. Our final stop was an the Ben & Jerry's Factory. We took the tour, had ice cream and checked everything out- including the flavor graveyard of all the flavors that are no longer available. I have pics of every headstone, but I will not bore you with them.
This is one udderly sad looking cow!
Choc chip cookie dough ice cream. I see that this dough has a couple of nuts in it.

After a full day we headed back to Nicole & Brian's and played games, and then fell into bed. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our East Coast adventure!! I know, I know, you just can't wait!!

26.2 miles and still alive to blog about it!!

Marathon: (mar ‘a thon)
NOUN
1. A footrace of 26.2 miles, 385 yards
2. A contest of endurance
3. The triumph of will over reason

So this adventure began with Alan saying he was going to do the Portland Marathon again. He hasn’t done it for a few years due to appendicitis w/infection a few years ago, & tearing his ankle out playing soccer a year ago. He has missed quite a few events he would like to have done. But he is back in the training mode again. I decided that he needed to have a training schedule as I did not want him to die of a heart attack. That would have been so not fair to the kids that are at home and still need raised. So, I, being the doting wife that I am (still haven’t given him the password to blog, so no rebuttal to come soon) figured out a training schedule. He would not follow it by himself, so (that doting wife thing-again) I started training with him to get him out the door. A month or so into the schedule he decided to tear some ligaments or something in his foot. Well, I was still training.

I woke up one morning
And decided to run a
Marathon
What in the heck was I thinking?

Did a few other events and figured that I would decide by mid August if I was really going to do the Portland marathon.
I have never had a desire to do the Portland Marathon for the following reason:
1. I have seen what Alan looks like and how funny he looks walking down stairs when he is done.
2. Hills. My first marathon (Jan 08) was in Phoenix and a very flat course. Loved the flat. Portland has a few hills.

A Marathoner’s response:
yes, it’s REALLY hard
yes, I have to train a LOT

I know that is only two reasons, but one must be excited in order to run 26.2 miles. Alan kept telling me I wanted to do it (easy for him to say), so I signed up.


After a week of not so good in the sleep department, I knew that adrenaline would have to kick in when the actual race day came. The weatherman said no rain on Marathon day. Weathermen LIE.

But in spite of it all (plus a few things I won’t mention to the whole blog world) I was at the start line bright and early with my loyal trusty biggest fan (Alan). Took almost 10 minutes just to get across the start line after the gun went off (these are chip timed so your time doesn’t start til you step over that start line). Off I went. The first hill was in the first 4 miles, but I did okay and tried to pick up the pace on the downhill and let gravity help things a bit. I will say that the Portland Marathon is very well organized. The water stations had plenty of volunteers to hand out water and whatever sports drink they were handing out at that particular station. They even handed out gummy bears. I figured out these take energy to chew. But you can pretty much swallow them whole with no problem. Better than choking to death on them while trying to breath and eat at the same time. And there were plenty of port-a potties. Something I, for one, am particularly thankful for!!!

By the half marathon distance my left heel and hip were questioning my intelligence. I promised I wouldn’t make them run for three days. At about the 16 mile mark you make the start up the hill to the St. John’s bridge. I tried not to look ahead too far. I usually just watch the ground in front of me 5-10 feet. This is actually a safety issue for those of us who might actually trip over something cuz we aren’t watching where we are going (tried that at about the 8 mile mark). It also keeps you from seeing what is UP ahead. Walked and ran the hill and then started in the downs and ups after the hill. Changed my MP3 player to a really good song with a beat set for a little quicker pace and it was really good for the next mile or so. 20 miles found me needing the port-a-potties. Those who run know that when you are running that many miles port-a-potties aren’t as bad as they seem at the kids soccer games. Saw Alan soon after and took some gel and water.

ADVANCED WARNING:
If you start to feel good
During a marathon
Don’t worry, it will pass

I guess I now know what it means to hit the wall in a marathon. I told Alan my first marathon must have been a fluke cuz I felt good, for the most part, for the whole thing. Afterwards I walked around and then walked about a mile to the car with no problem. At about mile 22 my hip and heel were now not only questioning my intelligence, but my sanity also. They were even getting set for a revolt (I promised them I wouldn't make them run for a week). I had to alternate walking and running from mile 22 to 24.

Runners often straddle the line
Between CRAZY and INSANE

At about mile 23+ they were handing out tiny Dixie cups of beer. They said it was to encourage the runners for what they could have when the run was done. Now mind you I don’t drink- (never have) any kind of alcohol. But at that moment I thought if they could guarantee that it would take away the pain INSTANTLY, I might use it in the name of medicinal purposes. (not really!!)

YES, I am:
1. crazy
2. in pain
3. paying to do this

When I hit mile 24, I just told my body it was going to have to suck it up cuz I just wanted this whole adventure to be done, but I was not quitting. So off I went again only at a much slower pace. When I was finally over the final bridge (for all you who are not Portlander's- there are tons of bridges crossing the river that splits Portland in two), and, then saw the 25 mile sign, I knew I could make it, and barring some unforeseen dilemma I would actually beat my previous marathon time.

At 20 miles I thought I was dead
At 22 I wished I was dead
At 24 I know I was dead
At 26.2 I knew I had become too tough to kill.

I don’t know who sets the course for the marathon, but if I ever meet them I might kick them in the shins. The last .2 is uphill.

yes, I know it’s HARD on the body
yes, I know I’m CRAZY and,
every MARATHON is 26.2 miles

They have a Fat Lady singing near the finish line, and boy are you ready for her to sing!!!


I came
I ran
I conquered!

And when it was over this time I didn’t want to run, or even walk one step farther. But my body, though not hungry, was wanting the fruit bars, orange juice, apples, grapes, cheese sticks, yogurt and other assorted goodies that were waiting for me. I quess that’s how they lure you out of the finisher’s shute. Picked up my food goodies, and my finisher’s shirt, found Alan and headed the 2 blocks to the car. That was a long two blocks!!!!

It’s not about winning
It’s about finishing

Happiness is… Finishing the race : )

Fam Faves

Since you can pretty much do whatever you want on your blog, I thought I would put a bit of history on ours. Thought I'd put a few pics and "show & tell" some of the thngs the members in our family like to do.
I'll start with Nicole. Nicole graduated from high school and went to Southern Virginia for her first year of college. After coming home and working, she attended BYU-ID. This is where she met Brian Anderson, who would join our family in Jan '05.


They both attended & graduated from UNLV. They moved to South Royalton, VT, where Brian is getting his Masters and Nicole is working. They are the proud parents of 2 dogs- Buddy and Bandit.




Brittni graduated from high school and headed East to Boston where she attended Boston University. She is our self proclaimed computer geek. While in Boston she had a chance to see alot of the area including a summer on the Cape. Her mother is still jealous!! In April '07 she married Jim Daron in Bennington, Vermont. It was a beautiful weekend. The weather couldn't have been any nicer.




They bought a house in July '07, in Billerica, MA. They reside there with their two turtles, Sherm & Norm. Brittni loves to knit and Jim loves his Boston Red Socks!!

McKinna just graduated in June '08. She is big into steam engines. She went back to Ohio for a big steam up. She has attended steam-ups in Brooks, OR both this and last summer. She is attending BYU-ID, and seems to be keeping busy, busy, busy!!




Kaitlyn is in her sophmore year at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, OR. She is into leadership, friends, babysitting all her 'little friends', hangin' with friends, and Lacrosse.




Eliza just turned 8 and is in the third grade. She knows her times tables up to 12's, but please don't ask her. Her Dad has grilled her all summer and she is mighty tired of it. She loves to play chess, and soccer. This is her second year in soccer. She just scored two goals in her game tonite!! She's a super star!!




Alan & I love to travel. Or maybe it's that I love to travel and Alan just comes along for the ride. Whatever, we have had some great adventures. Our latest big adventure was a trip to Italy in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary (ya, I know, we don't look that old (haha)-or act that mature). We spent 10 days and saw some wonderful sights. I loved the architecture and I love taking pictures, so you know I had a fabulous time- almost 2000 pics worth of fun. Thank goodness for digital!!

Family & all the Wonderfulness of it!!!!

This past weekend we were lucky to have family in from out of town to attend Eliza's baptism. Britt & Jim, and Grandma & Grandpa Rose came to visit. Grandma & Grandpa Homer arrived back from their summer stay at the cabin. We are blessed to have great family and friends. A lot of friends showed up to share the special day with us also. Paul & Michelle Duchateau came up from Salem, and quite a few wonderful friends from our ward now, as well as our previous ward, showed up. Alan baptized her, first saying the prayer in Japanese and then in English. I think a few people were taken back when he started out in Japanese. She looked beautiful in her white dress. She was given 2 necklaces, a bracelet, a brand new set of scriptures with her name on them, a "Secret Garden" book that she and mom plan on reading together, and an adorable cloth bag she can use as a luch sack, or just to keep goodies in, along with 8 dollars and some yummy fruit leather. After her baptism we had a BBQ at the house. We had friends and family and it was so nice to just sit and visit with adults while the kids played and ran around. Everyone pitched in and helped with clean-up and it was finished lickety split.
Everyone started to leave early Sunday morning, and I took my folks to airport this morning. It is fun to have them come, but a big let-down when everyone leaves.

Catching up on Life

Life at our home has been busy & hectic. Okay can I just use that as my excuse everytime there is a lapse in our blog? Okay, so we got the house painted, some of us turned a bit older (in my case just wiser- I wish), Alan & I walked and ran to the coast, our household downsized by one outgoing freshman BYU-I student, school started, and now we are starting to take on more house guests/previous residents as family arrives for the upcoming baptism of 8 year old Eliza Brooke Homer. We are excited that she is taking this big step to be baptized. We know she is a great girl, and we know that our Heavenly Father is happy with her decision.

This morning Kaitlyn, Brittni & I got up early to go to downtown Portland to run/walk the Race for the Cure. Alan & Eliza went as driver, cheerleaders and the support team (they do a great job!!) They had a new chip timed run, so, of course I had to go for that one. Kaitlyn & Brittni decided walkin was more their style (we know which ones still have the brains in the family). We were all happy to have survived it, and to have done something for the cause. All the added goodies they handed out were pretty fun too!!

FRESHLY PAINTED HOUSE

We finally broke down and had our house painted. This was a stresser for me (Judy). First I had to pick a color I liked. Then I stressed out after picking a color as the color I chose didn't look like what I thought it would when we looked at the little chip at the store, or at a 2'x2' square on the house. The painter's had to push our job back a week due to another job and rain trouble. The week they started it rained for the first 2 1/2 days so not much progress. Then they had forgot to back roll the big tall side of the house. Kaitlyn was also having a garage sale on the fri/sat of that week and I didn't want the painters working on the front of the house then. Plus Alan and I had our PDX/Hood 2 Coast race that weekend. You should have seen our property when we left- looked like white trash lived here- and that was probably giving it too much credit. Took them into the next weekend to get everything finished. The front & back doors took way longer than they thought (about 3 days to sand, stain and urethane). But we finally signed off on Friday along with writing out the check (ouch) to pay for it. But we are pleased!!! Mom, if you read this I know you find it funny that I would paint my house green after hating green when I was younger. Guess it must have been ingrained in me somehow.
BTW- the house actually looks green and not mud colored. The photo does not show the true color.

Where did summer go? Was it ever really here??

So the kids wanted me to blog, but I didn't realize I was suppose to write every day of my life!! Besides not having enough time for that, I really do not live an extremely exciting life.

So August is nearing the halfway mark. It will soon be time for school to start again! : (
But before that gets here we have a million crazy things in August-
-school clothes shopping
-getting the house painted
-birthday shopping for a soon to be 8 year old
-birthday shopping for a soon to be 18 year old college girl
-birthday shopping for a soon to be -ahem- older Mom
-Hood 2 Coast Relay for Alan
-Portland 2 Coast Relay for Judy
-Kaitlyn & McKinna will host a garage sale to raise funds for Garrett's service dog
http://4paws4garrett.com/
-Anniversary shopping **hint*hint**-Alan
-Trip to take McKinna to Rexburg, ID for her first semester at BYU-ID
-Trips for Alan to ALabama, California, and maybe Malaysia or China or somewhere like that (we never know til "tomorrow").
Then September hits with a bamm and 3 birthdays in the first week- CRAZY!!!

Where did the summer go?? It seems we didn't do much but work and hang out at home. One short trip to the beach & quick trip to UT, but not much else. And now it is almost history. Will life ever slow down? More importantly- will I ever get much accomplished??