Summer Camp, South Hero, Lake Champlain, Vermont, USA

"Summer Camp" isn't just for kids. After our photographer's weekend was over (which was chronicled in this blog over the past two weeks), we stopped off on the way home for a brief visit with friends at their Lake Champlain camp. The New England tradition of keeping a summer "camp" is alive and well here. (Many/most camps might also be called summer cottages for those of you not familiar with the term as it applies here).

The lake setting offers the full range of water activities - the only thing missing is fine beach sand. And yes, the docks are disassembled and removed each fall to protect from the ravages of winter ice.

A resting gull at first light.

Glorious early morning light to start another summer day in beautiful New England. A "camp" is different from "camping" - no tents, mud, nor sleeping on the ground - it's very civilized and appealing for those of us "of a certain age."

A Long Weekend in Vermont: Trapp Family Lodge Garden - Part 12 - Stowe, Vermont, USA

The Trapp Family Lodge is located on 2500 acres near Stowe.  Situated majestically on a hilltop, they maintain a beautiful flower garden for their guest's and visitor's pleasure.  And yes, this is the same Von Trapp family that served as the foundation and inspiration for the wildly popular 1960's Academy Award winning film, "The Sound of Music."

And this is another illustration of the value of wearing red and/or carrying a red umbrella on a photo trip.

One of the other photographers in the group was experimenting with a motion blur technique so I tried it as well. I couldn't quite get my point-and-shoot camera to offer a combination of slow enough shutter speed AND small enough aperture to get exactly what I wanted but, these turned out pretty well anyway after some experimenting. 

The technique was to simply rotate the camera about it's own axis while simultaneously pressing the shutter release.

Above, the baseline image.........and below....... the first result.........

It was difficult to keep the camera's center focus area on a particular flower since I held the camera in mid-air in front of me without looking through it.

I couldn't slow the shutter speed less than 1/20 second since my smallest aperture available was f8 without grossly overexposing the image.  (ISO was set at 80). I had to wait until a cloud passed overhead to take advantage of the reduced light levels. The ideal would have probably been somewhere around 1/5 second at f22 or thereabouts.

The other option was to try to spin the camera faster - easier said than done.

The baseline.......

..... the spin.

The baseline.........

.....the spin.

And the final image above - my favorite of the bunch - I was so excited, I forgot to make a baseline image.

As we wrapped up the trip and prepared to head home to Massachusetts, one last idea presented itself. Since we are all (well, almost all) of "a certain age," a Beatles Abbey Road inspired tribute photo seemed appropriate when we found ourselves at this crosswalk.  By the way, for future reference, where can a person nowadays find a John Lennon white disco suit? (Photo courtesy: Amy Davies Photography).

A Long Weekend in Vermont: An Old Barn - Part 11 - Warren, Vermont, USA

A Vermont barn nearing the end of its useful days.

Interesting construction techniques on this corner support.

Classic New England scene: weathered wood siding, white birch tree, the only thing missing is............

......fall color! Just a hint of what's to come - soon!

A Long Weekend in Vermont: Bingham Falls - Part 10 - Stowe, Vermont, USA

Bingham Falls is part of Mount Mansfield State Forest located outside the town of Stowe. A short walk down a rocky trail leads to this small cascade and shallow pool.

Peaceful and calm - suitable for all ages.......

......but no jumping nor diving - that's farther down the trail.

Farther down the trail, there is more of a party atmosphere as many people lounge about watching the brave (or fool-hardy) jump from the perimeter rock walls into the water.

The rocks that surround the deep pool afford numerous spots from which to jump into the water. This GIF shows the last part of one diver's back flip jump!

These next five images are the component images from the GIF above.

One of the higher jumping off points.

One in mid-jump, the other waiting his turn.

And yes, there were adults with some of the kids including one father who was a jumper also.

Even one member of our group joined the youngsters in hurling himself from the rocks into the water.  Pretty impressive for someone "of a certain age."

After the jump, chillin' at the base of the falls.

I think I'll stick to experiencing the jump through a camera lens.

A Long Weekend in Vermont: Random Sights - Part 9 - Waitsfield, Vermont, USA

A quiet sidewalk in downtown Waitsfield. Somehow, the color green seems greener in Vermont.

Who can resist a pink VW bus with a portable ice cream freezer and dispenser!

The Mad River flows through and alongside the town of Waitsfield and is a popular float river for visitors.  Have no fear for this intrepid toddler........

 .....mom is following close behind in her own tube.

 The ravages of time, weather, and neglect take their toll on this abandoned barn.

Holes in the roof accelerate the decay process.

This companion structure has already joined the blooming goldenrod in its return to the earth.

A Long Weekend in Vermont: Vegan Cooking Class, The Kitchen at the Store - Part 8 - Waitsfield, Vermont, USA

If there was such a thing as the "main event" for this long weekend in Vermont, this was it: a vegan cooking class on Saturday evening at the Kitchen at the Store in Waitsfield. And what a class it was! Had I been given a magic wand to create any kind of class I could imagine, nothing I could dream of would have been any better that the experience that Chef John Lumbra (front center above) and our group managed to create for ourselves. And I am not much of a cook in real life.

Before we got started, Chef John (at right) discusses an important rule: no drinking wine until AFTER all the chopping/sharp knife work is complete! Smart rule.

Everyone donned a red striped apron and helped out as little or as much as desired.

Our menu:

Starter: Chilled Avocado and Tomatillo Soup

Bread: Naan (an Indian style bread)

Main course: Red Lentil Dal

Main course: Green Beans and Eggplant with Thai Red Curry

Dessert: Watermelon Soup

Chef John was always nearby guiding, demonstrating, and regaling us with tall tales of kitchen lore from his lifetime of food/restaurant experiences.

He was as much a lively entertainer as he was an excellent chef.

The purpose-built kitchen was the perfect laboratory for both participation and observation. Above, preparing to chill the avocado tomatillo soup.

Preparing the watermelon soup.

Eggplant ready for the sauté skillet.

Chef John discusses the secrets of cast iron skillet management. 

Pointing at something.......

........ and more pointing at something.

Browning the naan in the skillet before baking it in the oven.

And the eating begins.........

Chef John watches his students enjoy the feast.

Finishing up sautéing the eggplant, bean, and Thai red chili course.

Just about ready to serve the eggplant, bean, and Thai chili dish.

And yes, I can take a joke. (Photo courtesy: Amy Davies Photography).

Chef John ladles out the final dish, a dessert of watermelon soup.

This was one of those rare occasions in life where everything came together in perfect harmony - location, setting, people, conversation, food, and wine. A wonderful experience is all respects! I'd go to class again in an instant - but only with Chef John - he was the best!