
Listening to the US presidential debates has reminded me that four years ago we were in Vermont in a staunchly Bernie Sanders supporting house.

The sheer abundance of autumnal leaves, pumpkins and rosy apples cast a glow of reds and oranges against the bluest sky that kept me in a state of permanent rapture!

It was a week of steep hikes and apple festivals, eating Ben & Jerry’s, actually watching a bear cross the road in front of us, and sitting on a swing seat on a wooden verandah sipping drinks and pretending I was Olivia Walton or Marilla Cuthbert.

We spent a lot of time discussing exterior house colours and trying to choose our favourites. This gorgeous purple house had paintwork picked out in green and sat next door to a house painted in bright sunshine yellow.

Our host had moved his Georgian house from the nearby town into the forest and painted it in classic colonial Barn Red and Prussian Blue, building up a small farm, with about thirty Dorset breed sheep.

We breakfasted on sausages and homemade sage cornbread that we ate still hot, straight from the pan. A jug of maple syrup was always on the table, made in the barn every winter when there was too much snow to move.

Larry was a wonderful host and a skilled craftsman and had made this rocking chair, with the seat woven to match the colours of the house. It sits happily by the fire in the kitchen and is just, I think, a perfect reading spot.

As soon as we got home I had to relive it through Diane Keaton in Baby Boom and I think I’m going to have to go and watch it again (and yes, slightly embarassingly I did go and see the actual house!)
Lovely autumn colours!
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It was amazingly picturesque!
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What beautiful images! I’ve always wanted to see New England in the Fall!
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It really doesn’t disappoint, it was exactly how I imagined and then got to come home to our own beautiful autumn!
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Sounds utterly idyllic – gorgeous colours!
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And I haven’t even mentioned the gleaming fire engines and picture perfect fire stations!
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How beautiful! I’m off to find a recipe for cornbread 🙂
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I’ve talked about it for 4 years but not actually made any, I think I should put that right – maybe on election night!
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That sounds like the perfect occasion. The whole world will be watching, too.
I found a recipe but will need to get cornmeal and buttermilk. I’ve never noticed either in the supermarket here before but apparently they are available. Cornmeal is called polenta here.
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I’m not surprised you want to return to that visit. It looks too fantastic to have really happened. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos and explanations. I do love my armchair travels, though I’m now fantasizing about a rocker by an open log fire.
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And an open fire in the kitchen. . .
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Lovely post! I live in New Hampshire and it’s a glorious autumn here right now. My daughter goes to college in Vermont. You’ve beautifully captured the charm and quaintness of the state.
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You’re so lucky! We went into Middlebury (?) a few times, is she at college there? I loved it!
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Yes, she goes to Middlebury College in Vermont. 😊
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Jane, I keep forgetting to tell you that I made cornbread! It turned out so well that I’ve made it weekly ever since. I’m serving it with butter and honey and am delighted to have discovered this lovely treat, so thank you very much 🙂
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Wow, that’s fantastic – I still haven’t made any, I’ll let you know when I do, you’ve encouraged me!
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This is the recipe I used. I tried cutting down the honey and sugar the second time I made it but it was better as per the recipe.
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/my-favorite-cornbread/
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Thanks Rose!
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Thank you for sharing this to remind me that Vermont is such a picturesque state to visit.
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It certainly is, I could hardly believe my eyes!
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This is a wonderful post. I am not from the US, but in my mind there is no better display of autumnal colours than in the US. Pumpkins, Halloween and Thanksgiving obviously – all these have such American association, and it is a lovely, festive season to travel there. I always really enjoy your posts and love your choice of books and films. It is simply great!
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Thanks Diana, and you’re right about America and Fall – it just glowed orange and red!
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