summer | 129twigandvine

Dachshunds on Parade

16 Jul 2012 11 Comments

by Sue Schlabach 129twigandvine in Holidays, Summer, Vermont Tags: Dachshunds, Fourth of July, Parade, Strafford Vermont, summer

The town of Stafford, Vermont, holds one of our favorite parades of the year the weekend closest to the Fourth of July. Last Saturday rain threatened, but held off. And still a crowd formed around the green in Strafford’s upper village to see kilted men and women play kazoos, gleaming tractors, welsh ponies ornamented with flowers, kids on tricycles, antique cars, and—our favorite—the dachshunds on parade.

My husband grew up with two dachshunds, and stories about them are immensely popular around the dinner table. So we go to see the dachshunds, to visit with our Strafford friends, play old time games on the green, and rummage through the library book sale (almost as much of a highlight as the wee dogs).

Jump In

13 Jul 2012 5 Comments

by Sue Schlabach 129twigandvine in Summer, Vermont Tags: Girls jumping from a dock, jump in, leap of faith, summer, swimming, Vermont

No matter how cold the water is, my daughter will always jump in.

I admire that quality in kids. This weekend it will be sweltering hot and we’ll be camping on a lake. I plan to take a tip from the youngsters and make the leap without dipping a toe.

Welcome Summer

20 Jun 2012 18 Comments

by Sue Schlabach 129twigandvine in Artisanal Living, Garden, Natural world, Seasons, Summer, Vermont Tags: fiddle camp, fiddles, foxgloves, horse and fiddle camp, horses, ice cream, longest day of the year, river, summer, swimming

In six months the sun will be setting at 4 pm and I’ll be longing for this day.

The first day of summer dawned with the promise of intense heat. There was barely dew on the grass when we went out to eat breakfast in the garden. The lambs got busy grazing, sensing that later they’ll be chewing cud in the shade.

How will you spend the first day of summer?

I will wander down the hill and over the river to drop two girls off at a farm to ride horses and play fiddles all day (a whole week of horse and fiddle camp!!! only in Vermont…). Then over the big hill to the next valley to work and meet an English artist who is bringing her portfolio.

Back over the hill to collect hot dusty girls who may need to dunk in the river. Heck I may need to take a dip. Note to self: pack bathing suit and towel in with the laptop, camera and work bag.

Perhaps there will even be ice cream as the hot hours drift slowly, soooo slowly, toward that late sunset we dream of in the dark of December.