We spent two nights up in the hills in Vermont this weekend -- beautiful country, and the blackflies waited to hatch until we were leaving. We've been to this campground before, and it's always a treat. The land is owned by the National Forest Service. The only buzz-kill was the unspeakably wretched behavior of the campers at the next site over. They were stripping bark off live birch trees, down to the golden layer where the tree starts leaking sap, which is a surefire way to kill the tree. Just for kicks. They were also burning things they ought not be, and the manager kicked them out, but they'd already stripped 8 trees by then.
There was a fieldstone foundation next to our campsite, which neighboring children found endlessly entertaining. We managed not to fall into it, coming back from the lakeshore after dark (good on us!). Most of the weekend was spent reading (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and knitting (socks, baby blanket) and taking in the view.
The socks smell decidedly smokey.
Sounds like a practically perfect weekend. The socks are washable, and until you do, the smell will remind you of the weekend ... and they're lovely, too. I covet your yarn, I freely admit it.
Posted by: ccr in MA | June 24, 2007 at 07:33 PM
Sounds like a marvelous weekend (other than the beasts next door). Hopefully we'll make it out on a lake camping trip this summer. We have an 18 month old, so I'm not sure if I can handle him 24/7 in the great outdoors. His favorite thing to do right now is run as fast as he can towards whatever presents the most danger at that particular moment. Ahhh, kids. Such a joy.
Posted by: Adie | June 24, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Wow, that sounds like a delightful weekend!
I can't believe the awfulness of your camping neighbors, though!
What do you think of Omnivore's Dilemma? I read it a bit ago, and was astounded by it. A clear concise distilling of the vague reasons I don't like the idea of agribusiness, I thought.
Posted by: Jenn C. | June 24, 2007 at 09:22 PM
I have never understood why some people will take the time and effort to trek out into beatiful natural splendor... and then trash it. I'm glad they were ejected.
Mmmmm... smoky socks.
Yours is the fourth or fifth recommendation for Omnivore's Dilemma I've seen. I will have to look for that book.
Posted by: Kathleen C. | June 25, 2007 at 09:01 AM
gorgeous first picture :)
i can think of worse things than woodsmoke-scented socks -- they'd make me thing of camping...
Posted by: johanna | June 25, 2007 at 09:27 AM
Oh, I'm not complaining about the smokiness :)
Jenn C. -- I'm working up a post (or several) regarding the book and a few other aspects of choosing food. Still trying to get my thoughts organized...
Posted by: Korinthe | June 25, 2007 at 09:36 AM
What a wonderful view. Just figure that you have incorporated the peace and beauty along with the wood-smoke.
And the scent memory will bring back the rest.
Posted by: Holly | June 25, 2007 at 09:58 AM