Holiday Road in Orwell

The festive display on Main Street in Orwell caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to be so comforted by the town's holiday decorations, especially because my senses have been overloaded with holiday songs on the radio and Christmas commercials on television. With all of the noise, the season can seem like a hectic blur.

I had been driving aimlessly for more than an hour on Sunday looking for people, places and things to photograph. The sky was colorless and the snowy mountains were covered in clouds. There was a subdued feeling in the air that the long Thanksgiving weekend was over, and I was struggling to feel the holiday spirit on such a drab day.

Then I drove east on Route 73 to Orwell and my day completely changed. I saw a Christmas tree on the Orwell town green, telephone poles adorned with wreaths, and the local general store decked out in ribbons and garland.

As I continued eastward on Route 73, I came across Red Sky Farm Market, a small farm that sells wreaths and Christmas trees. I stopped by, talked to the owner for a bit and ended up buying a handmade Christmas wreath before heading home.

For a town with only about 1,200 residents, Orwell's sense of community and festive spirit is impressive. In the midst of the Christmas rush, it's nice to soak up a small town's quiet holiday glory.

**If You Go: Town of Orwell
Red Sky Farm Market
Buxton's General Store/VAICS
Map

Red Sky Farm Market on Route 73.

A wreath at Red Sky Farm Market.

A Christmas tree in the town gazebo.

Views from Bethel Mountain Road

A handful of Vermont roads are closed during the winter months because they are too steep and challenging to navigate in the snow. Most of these mountain or "gap" roads cross the Green Mountains and are closed to traffic between November and May.

Bethel Mountain Road between the towns of Rochester and Bethel is open year-round. The road, which climbs to more than 2,000 feet and connects Routes 100 and 12, offers views of the Connecticut River Valley and the Green Mountains.

I normally don't drive solo in my 2003 Subaru over steep mountain roads. But recently I decided to make the trek over Bethel Mountain Road by myself. When I pulled over to take this photo near the summit, I was a little nervous. My car has 137,000 miles on the odometer, and I have an occasional fear of heights. I'm also a slow driver, so the thought of descending down the mountain was slightly nerve-wracking.

Given that combination, I didn't get to enjoy the views as much as I had hoped. I caught a glimpse of Killington to the south and the river valley towns to the east. From what I could see, it all looked beautiful.

But next time I'm going to ask Dave to drive.

**If You Go: Town of Rochester

Town of Bethel

Map

Searching for Wildlife Along Dead Creek

Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area is a popular spot for birdwatching in Vermont. Located on 2,858 acres in the towns of Addison, Panton and Bridport, the area is excellent for viewing Canada geese and snow geese in the fall. More than 200 species of birds have been seen here, including bald eagles, short-eared owls and northern harriers.

Established in 1950 for waterfowl protection, management and hunting, the area is owned by the State of Vermont and managed by the Fish and Wildlife Department. Limited public viewing areas and access to Dead Creek can be found along Route 17 in Addison. The area is especially popular in the fall, and every October nature lovers come from miles away for Dead Creek Wildlife Day.

When I visited Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area over the weekend with my camera, it happened to be a quiet day (I take lousy bird photos anyway). But on a good day, it's one of the best places to watch birds in Vermont.

**If You Go: Audubon Vermont
Map

**Recommended Vermont Birding Blogs:
Tails of Birding
One Jackdaw Birding
The Daily Wing
Bird Diva

Late Fall Sunset on Lake Champlain

A November sunset over Lake Champlain.

Afternoon sunsets in November and December can be hard to take. The shorter days and lack of light this time of year are not exactly what you would call uplifting. I happen to enjoy November in Vermont, but it's taken me nearly 40 years to come around.

Sunsets in late fall and early winter have a certain edge to them. The sky is crisp, bright and blue, and the cold air seems to make everything a little more intense.

These photos were taken last week in Burlington along Lake Champlain on a gorgeous afternoon. I'm glad I had my jacket and gloves with me that day. Because when the sun goes down in November, it gets chilly really fast.

**If You Go: Burlington Waterfront
Map

Dusk in Burlington at 4:30 p.m. last week.

Hancock Barn

A lovely old barn along Route 100 in Hancock, Vermont.

**If You Go: Map

A Sense of Balance in Chelsea

One of the twin general stores

It's been years since I've visited the small town of Chelsea. Since returning to Vermont, the town has been on my list of places to see and photograph. Finally, this week, I went back.

Located in Orange County, Chelsea is home to only about 1,250 residents. What makes Chelsea so unique and memorable are its two town commons and twin general stores, all of which date back nearly 200 years. A beautiful, white building stands at the head of both commons — the Orange County Courthouse and the United Church of Chelsea.

When I arrived in Chelsea and saw the pairs of buildings and the commons, I thought of how I would describe this timeless place. Three words immediately came to mind: symmetry, balance and unity.

**If You Go: Town of Chelsea
Map

The North Common in Chelsea.

The twin general stores were built in 1818.

The courthouse is located on the South Common.

Happenings around the region.

The church is located on the North Common.

November Landscape

Lake Iroquois in Williston and a view of Camel's Hump.

Sunny days are in short supply this time of year. On top of the cloudiness, the leaves are gone and the days are shorter. Sounds enticing, right? Actually, it really is nice. In Vermont we call this "Stick Season," which takes place between late October and early December.

The stark landscape is particularly beautiful right now as it contrasts with the snow-covered mountains. The higher peaks all have snow right now, including Camel's Hump, Mount Mansfield, Killington and Jay Peak.

Ski season will be here before you know it (Killington is already open). But in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this quiet little season.

On the Waterfront in Burlington

I am always up for a visit to Waterfront Park in Burlington. Whenever I find the time, I'll go there to watch the sunset or stroll along the boardwalk. The park is where the city celebrates the Fourth of July and where visitors flock to take ferry rides on Lake Champlain.

Over the past 20 years, the park has been transformed from a neglected space into one of the most scenic and popular places in Burlington.

Burlington was a thriving lumber port in the 19th and early 20th centuries when Lake Champlain was a major transportation waterway. But commerce along Lake Champlain went into decline by the 1930s, and the waterfront eventually sat abandoned for decades.

The waterfront's renewal began in the late 1980s when its revitalization came into focus. Now, the waterfront is a place where people gather to play Frisbee, ride bikes, listen to music, feed the ducks, and of course, watch the sunset.

**If You Go: Waterfront Park in Burlington
Map

Passengers board the Spirit of Ethan Allen III in October.

Finding Our Way in Vermont

On Nov. 1, 2006, Dave and I left Boston and moved to Vermont. We enjoyed living in the city, but we were tired of the grind and yearned for a more laid-back lifestyle. Vermont was my home, and we had talked about relocating to the Green Mountains for a while.

The process of packing up and moving north on that damp fall day was a liberating experience. We had quit our jobs in the city, sold our condo on Commonwealth Avenue and said goodbye to Boston. We weren't sure what awaited us in Vermont, but we were ready for a change.

Looking back, I am amazed by how lucky we were four years ago. Dave and I arrived in Vermont with no jobs but were able to quickly find employment in our professions. Our living arrangement when we moved to Vermont was great, too: we rented a converted barn in Warren and spent every weekend snowboarding on the mountain. I look back on that time with great fondness and affection.

Of course, the past four years haven't always been so easy. Like many people, we've faced difficult challenges, suffered heartache and struggled with disappointment. Still, we've also created a life here that we're deeply proud of. It's not exactly the romantic, carefree life we envisioned when we moved here four years ago, but in some ways it's better than we ever imagined.

It feels good to be home.

**If you move: Driving directions from Boston to Warren, Vermont