In the Midst of the Green Mountains, December 2012

Dear Friends and Family,

This year has been a lot of work but mostly a lot of fun. Winter in Vermont was looking pretty bleak last year. For the first time ever we had season passes at Sugarbush Resort and we were glad we did, because there wasn’t enough snow to ski some of our favorite backcountry locations. As the winter passed and the snow refused to fall we decided to take a mini vacation to Jackson Hole in February to make sure we got our fill of skiing for the year.

The week before we left Vermont finally got some good snow, and Seth and I took advantage of it to practice for our western adventure. Seth took me to the tip top of Castle Rock Peak and we immediately left the ski run to play in the woods. The trees were so tightly packed and the slope so steep that after every turn I had to sit and think about where I could go next. After an hour or so we were a quarter of the way down the mountain, and I decided it would be easier just to slide down on my butt. I took my snowboard off and started sliding. It worked for a few minutes until I sank and had to dig myself back out. Further down the mountain the terrain became more undulating. I had to gain enough speed while I was turning downhill through the trees to make it back to the top of little uphill sections that popped up unexpectedly. It was a classic New England ski run. When we finally emerged at the bottom, caked with snow and with twigs and pine cones sticking out here and there, I took my snowboard off and told Seth I’d meet him in the bar when he was done torturing himself.

We flew into Jackson Hole during a raging blizzard. Our plane was the last to make it in that day, and when we touched down we were engulfed in a cloud of snow from the runway. When we finally skidded to a stop, the passengers all erupted into spontaneous applause for our amazing pilot. We left the airport and the Grand Tetons greeted us once again. (This picture was actually taken right before we left, not during the blizzard.)

When we made it to the top of the mountain on the Jackson Hole tram, we skied down the first bowl in at least a foot of new powder. I thought I might have accidentally jumped off of the mountain and into a cloud. When we finally stopped for a breath I grinned at Seth and said “we need to live here.” He heartily agreed and we spent the last half day of our time there jaunting about and looking at houses.

We celebrated our first anniversary in April! It was kind of humorous, as neither of us really had any ideas about what one should do on an anniversary of this kind. We ended up grilling on our deck (which Seth built last year) and sipping champagne that we received on our wedding day. We lounged and talked and watched the sun set through the filtered light of our maple tree. We watched the stars come out and finally decided to go in. While Spring had won the battle for day Winter was quickly making a comeback as night fell.

In the summer we made the trip out to Denver so that Seth could race the Pikes Peak Hill Climb for the second time. The Waldo Canyon wild fire had blown into an inferno right before we left Vermont, and Manitou Springs had been evacuated, but then the evacuation had been lifted. The race was still on and we decided to at least get as far as Cincinnati and see how the situation developed. The night before we left Cincinnati we learned that the fire had taken a turn towards the mountain and the race was going to be delayed, but no one knew the details. We decided to head out to Colorado anyway. We were staying with Dad and Cindy and were looking forward to meeting some brand new family members. Plus we had tickets to some concerts at Red Rocks, possibly one of the best outdoor places in the country to see live music.

The day before we left Colorado we were able to make it down to Pikes Peak to ride our motorcycles up, though it was certainly not a race. It was (finally) raining and actually quite cold, and although Seth was quickly ahead of me, Paul, on his scooter, was mostly hoping to make it to the top. We had to stay at the summit house for at least an hour before we were warm enough to even consider the trip back down. On the way down we could see the burnt and scarred landscape left by the fire on the other side of the valley. We decided that we needed to move to Colorado Springs, and Seth even started looking for a job.

On the way back from Colorado we were in Kentucky for a week. Meetings at work made us realize that really, after all that, we need to move home. That’s the last place we’ve been, so we’re still planning on moving to Kentucky this summer. (Although we have a trip to Bangladesh scheduled this spring. We’ll keep you posted.)

We still have a lot of work to do before we can sell our house. Seth tore down the gararge this summer, and built a shed to take its place. We replaced our front door, which was literally coming unhinged, and will have to make the entry area presentable in the spring. We’re almost finished remodeling the kitchen, and then we’ll start on the living room. One more room to go! It is our fondest hope that once we sell this house we’ll never have to drywall or plaster another inch. I’m sure it’s not very realistic, but hey, a girl can dream!

Love,

Joanna & Seth

And Thunder

Tearin' Down the Gararge

Did you know that New Englanders say "gararge" instead of the proper mid-American "garage?" It is kind of hilarious to hear people say it over and over. To be honest I can't get through a conversation on the topic with a blue blooded Yankee without giggling a bit.

We've been planning on tearing down the gararge ever since we saw it, but since we're moving it didn't make sense to spend the money it would take to build a new one. (Estimates ranged from $8,000 - $25,000.) Soon after deciding to move, we decided we should leave the gararge and spend our money on completely finishing the interior of our humble abode.

Last summer we built a patio/deck, which significantly increased the loveliness of our backyard. As we lounged one evening under our all-providing-maple-tree Seth commented how nice our backyard looks now, and how it will be a nice picture to have on the listing when we do put our house up.

Then we noticed how difficult it is to take any picture of the exterior of the house without the gararge imposing its abandoned, falling down charm into the frame.

Then we were horrified by the realization that this gararge, by far the worst feature of the property, is the first and last thing any potential buyer will experience when they visit our house!

Clearly it had to go.

We installed a metal shed in the back yard to house our meager but growing supply of lawn implements. It took a little longer than expected.

Then Seth started the gararge demolition. The first thing he had to do was climb on top of this building, which, for the past six years we've been assuming could fall over at any time. I watched in horror from the designated "safe zone" as Seth spent nearly 2 days on top of the gararge. (Seth wouldn't have Thunder or me anywhere near the deconstruction site during these dangerous moments!)

On Saturday and Sunday I was able to help take some of the walls apart, and I have to tell you, we were overjoyed to discover that there were two layers of shingles underneath the plywood exterior of each wall.

Once we got the shingles off of the outside, we had to take the cardboard lining off of the inside. I'm telling you, this building was truly a piece of art. It belongs in a museum.

This is when Seth found a snake in the wall and flung it passed me into the yard. No further comments.

We quickly filled the dumpster we were renting and called to have it dumped and brought back. By Monday evening Seth pretty much had the whole gararge down, its pieces scattered here and there waiting for room in the dumpster.

On Tuesday morning at 6am, Seth and I were fast asleep. The sound of a diesel truck crawling up our hill slowly filled my senses until, now awake, I realized that the truck was here to take the dumpster away. I assumed based on no factual information that they didn't need anything from Seth or me, and fell back asleep. At 7am, diesel truck sounds saved my from my snake infested dreams and I realized that we had an empty dumpster to fill.

Seth got up immediately, had breakfast and got to work filling it up. By Tuesday evening the dumpster was full, the remains of the gararge floor and foundation were power-washed and the yard was, in general, spic-and-span.

Seth's a hard worker! He makes me feel like a lazy lounge lizard.

Thursday the dumpster was picked up and now it's as though nothing ever happened! Except, you know ... there's no gararge anymore. Where'd it go? I think it heard there was a snake in the yard and hi-tailed it outta here!

I can't say I blame it.