Not just pictures!

or why you have not received a postcard!
We have been exceptionally busy since we arrived here in Schuylerville (pronounced"Skylervil")
Fun busy, but still busy.
We emerged from a post-30 hours journey a little dazed on Tuesday 17th September. Susie was hosting the Wedding rehearsal dinner on the Thursday evening , for over 30 people, so there were glasses to be polished, shopping to be done, tables to be set, and chefs to be humoured. Kathy, the garage sale queen , also rules in the kitchen, as well as being a painter (house , but very exotic styling), a potter & ceramicist (mosaics & pottery, often expressed as installations in people's bathrooms, museums and art centres). She also teaches at the Adirondack School, where John is the Principal .
A quick family tree:
Susie- Michael's(you know him) sister
Married to John.
Mother of Sarah & Campbell (both live here in Saratoga/Schuylerville) and Patrick, Famous actor who lives in London.
Kathy is a beloved family friend (and did I mention? a great chef!)
Back to story.
Later on Tuesday evening, John,who has been complaining of a sore throat for 2 days, takes himself off to Saratoga Springs hospital. He is admitted for what turns out to be epiglottitis
and will not be out for some time but we don't know that at that stage.
Wednesday, Patrick, Annabel & son, Finbar arrive. We are still polishing glasses, shopping at the Farmers Market, now visiting John in Hospital , and realising he will not be out in time to marry Campbell & Kelly. We are creatively seeking solutions to this problem.
Thursday , the happy couple and attendant family & friends head off to the wedding rehearsal, and a priest has been found. Cooking is happening here in Monument drive. The party begins.
You have seen some of the photos.
Friday is clean up after the party & make smart for the wedding. But we have time for dashing into Saratoga Springs to meet up with Melissa who has just flown in from London. Great to see her & hear her stories.
The wedding takes place in a lovely setting on Friday evening. The bride is beautiful, the groom is gorgeous. We dance and frolic till midnight .
Saturday morning , Kathy arrives at 8 am to take Michael & I to a town wide garage sale in Schuylerville. We rescue other people's junk for a few pennies & call it treasure. ( Well, I bought 2 glass cups for 50 cents and saw similar ones in a antique shop for $10).Then we (Susie, Michael , PatrickAnnabelFinbar, Sarah & Dick, Melissa) headed off to meet up with Kelly & Campbell , Kelly's family and other collected friends from interstate, at Kelly's parents' place at Lake Desolation. Pretty location for a cabin. Yes, we had fun with the name!

Sunday, after church (did I mention that John is an Episcopalian minister? They had to find a replacement for the Sunday service as well. Who gave us a good tip for accommodation in Kennebunk). Breakfast at Sarah & Dick's. Venison sausages prepared by Dick, from scratch. Yes he had hunted it! PatrickAnnabelFinbar get in hire car & drive to their flight from Boston to London. Later we will discover all the things they have left behind.
SusieMichaelLizzie drive Melissa to Albany to catch train to NY. Miss train so eat junk food & crisps at terminal while waiting for next train. When we get home, the Rev. is home from sick bay. Yeah!!

Monday, truck delivered to truck hospital ( we did this last year when we were here!). Later MichaelSusie go to SS to pick up hire car for our road trip.
Tuesday morning, down at Stewart's
for coffee & eggwiches and the road trip commences.
Day 1 Kennebunk Maine
Day 2 Bar Harbor via Sabbathday lake Shaker community
Day 3 Acadia National Park , then head off towards home,but on a different, northerly, route through Maine. Stopped the night in Waterville
Day 4 homewards through Vermont via Montpelier & Waitsville. More on that later. Hint: Waitsville is home of Small Dog

Everywhere, the scenery & views are amazing. Vermont is definitely a return visit destination. The trees are beginning to change colour , the backdrop of mountains & hills , the views of rivers, rocky outcrops, all present a perspective that is awe inspiring. I know that some of my friends wonder why I like it here, in Australia we mostly get the Hollywood-Cola or the political/religious right view of this country, but I love coming here, the way I suspect the earliest settlers did. The joy of discovery!