Friday, Sept. 28 Dad and I had a wonderful trip to see Cara and Aubrey. Of course we left late. Arnie decided to be very sad and soulful faced when I was packing my clothes. He laid on top and put a total guilt trip on me. We finally left around 3:30 after we had to turn around and come back for something important I forgot. The radio said it was Sept. 28 and it was 83 degrees. Did it break a record? How many of you are voting yes? I thought it sounded possible too. But, wrong. In 1900 it was 83 degrees in Rochester, NY. Global warming just evaporated along with Al Gore. Yeah!
After we pushed through major Friday night traffic jams in the Albany area and ate at a poorly managed Burger King in Troy, Why did we make this mistake again?, we made good time on the roads to Cara's. Probably because they aren't as traveled as you get further into the boonies at night. We arrived around 9:30 and were greeted by the traditional Ruby, mini love bath, and good Old Molson. Vermont had been about as hot as Rochester, but believe it or not that night Aubrey put some wood in the stove because the temp. dropped to 35 degrees. We slept under blankets! At the last minute I had decided to bring a long sleeved shirt and a wind breaker. I was sure glad I did, especially at night and early morning.
The weather was beautiful each day, and it seemed as though we drove in endless forest. It was a great escape. We went to the Peru country fair. It was big doings, a little bigger than the Fairport Farmers Market but not as big as Canal Days. However, in Vermont it was considered big. They said 10,000 people had come through that day. It was a great time with lots of local people milling around, live music, cloggers, folk singers, food. We met Cara's friend Grace and some other people that recognized her. One thing we discovered about Cara is that she knows and is known by a lot of people in that area. Someone was always waving or saying hi to her. Could this be the makings of a Vermont politician? Is the Windham planning board just a stepping stone?
Sunday morning, poor Aubrey was suffering more from a sciatica problem that had been developing since Friday night. He could barely move his leg in walking but he went along on a car ride through some back roads and little towns. Cara knows Dad and I love this kind of stuff, Charles Curalt and Ed Bellis style. Aubrey drove us in Cara's car because it didn't bother his back and legs like riding in the back seat of our mini van. We stopped at a uniqe used stuff shop, “Just Junque” and milled around a big variety of stuff. Amber, Nat, Holly, and even Lauren would love it. I don't know about Sheryl. Some very unique vintage items, artsy too, and there was affordable stuff, believe it or not.
We then ate at a little side of the road healthy foods diner. Very quaint. All the sandwiches were named after famous Vermonters. Believe this, there was a Joseph Smith sandwich. He was born in Shelburne, Vermont. There was also a Grandma Moses sandwich. It was quite a big list. The home made soups really were homemade, and very good.
Our next stop was The Vermont Country Store. It would take another e-mail to describe all the retro stuff in this store. Vintage toys, perfumes, house items, cooking utensils, hunting stuff, and more. Upstairs were clothes that I know did not sell in regular stores but were now priced at 50.00 for an old chenille sweater. There was also some old Christmas vintage cards, toys, and sundries. And..... the Vermont Country Store has a catalog. Believe it or not, the place was packed with people. So what if a pair of socks was $14.00 and a sweater jacket was $230.00. But to be fair, there was something for mostly everyone's budget. Aubrey found sciatica cream and pills. He said later that he could tell some difference. It is possible that the Vermont Country store had remedies that defy modern medicine. After all, most of this stuff was from vintage production, wisdom and marketing. I almost bought a black bear hat with a teeth baring furry bear body as the hat part. I thought it would make a great Christmas Chinese auction item. But my practicality kicked in and I left it for another buyer.
After leaving Aubrey home so he could rest his back, and then we went for the cherry on top visit to the Windham Hill Inn, where Cara works. It is beautiful, expensive, and very idyllic Vermont country views. We met her co-workers and had a tour of the downstairs Inn and the remodeled Dairy Barn rooms. We sat in a $400.00 a night room, and have pictures to prove it. Again, on the way home people waved at Cara. They know her car. One man was the president of the planning board.
We all rested from this full day, Cara made some great stir fry and we watched "We are Marshall", a true story about the death of the Marshall University Football team in 1970, set in Huntington, W.Va. Later we watched some episodes of Grays Anatomy as Dad fell asleep in a chair (surprised?) and Cara zonked out with the dogs in front of the woodstove.
I know why Cara loves this area so much. It is beautiful and away from the rat race. My only wish is that we could have stayed longer, but I'm not sure Cara and Aubrey are ready for that much responsibility entertaining senior citizens for a long stretch. It took a lot of effort and Dad and I are very proud and pleased. I hope more of the Cain Clan can take a little Vermont adventure to visit Cara and Aubrey. But do give them some notice.
BEAN! 
