Winter in Vermont

I grew up in California, my dad is from a dairy farm outside of Buffalo, and did everything he could to get as far away as possible from the snow. Snow, to me, is still a novelty. In fact, I'm working on a series of snow based cocktails. I wake up every morning to a stunningly white setting with the subtle hum of the split heater keeping my room nice and toasty. The view never ceases to take my breath away. In fact, I got one of those old lady beds that tilts up so that I can sit in bed under the massive down comforter for hours on end. If only I didn't have an endless list of things to do, then I would still be in bed. I've even thought about putting a full coffee bar in our room so that I don't need to leave the confines of the cozy space.

I've been out here for a week, and it's flown by. Every day has had some mini adventure planned, that puts my actual list of things to do further and further behind. I honestly can't wait for some real downtime, but the temptation to drive 40 minutes to get a specific bottle of booze to make the perfect espresso martini, or drive 20 minutes south to pick up an 8 foot vintage toboggan, or an hour and a half north to do a Costco and Home Goods run, or a couple of trips to the co-op in Middlebury for hundreds of dollars worth of ingredients for a Raclette party, or a truly unhinged road trip to pick up 50 pounds of chicken carcasses and a $5 gold frame that turned into a two hour chat with a lovely elderly couple in their home, was just to great.

I'm learning a lot. Luckily the fully electric plug in SUV that I'm leasing is great in this weather, and never requires a trip to the gas station in negative degree temps. I am getting better at dusting off the snow so that it doesn't go directly into my face and down the front of my jacket, I figured out how to put on the rubber crampons on my snow boots for walks to the local market and bar so that I don't slip and break my tail bone again, I've switched to thick wool socks, and I shoveled the driveway for the first time so that the Airbnb guests could get out! Practically a native.

The other night I went to the town's full moon sledding party where my new friend and I went down the hill in the saucer shaped sleds that I'd used exactly once in California over 15 years ago, and drank mulled wine out of her thermos. Then we all gathered around the bonfire before departing for the short but chilly walk home. I tried out the pair of snow skates that I got for Christmas, and the security camera caught me not so gracefully falling in the fluffy snow. Tomorrow I try the snow shoes I lugged here from California that almost put my suitcase over the weight limit. So yeah, snow is still a novelty, and I love watching it from the dining room table while typing and wrapped in a heated throw.

The days are thankfully getting longer, although there is still never enough daylight to shoot the content that I'd planned on, and the mornings are too alluring to get out of bed. I have one more day before a quick turnaround in California, then returning with a friend so that I'll be forced to have some actual down time.