Over the past year and a half our family had grown quite attached to what was fondly known as the “Mini Ilsley.” The Main Street cornerstone was along our daily commute to and from school and we adored the cozy games and seating in front of the large picture window. Families would wave to those […]
Ilsley triumphs again Read More »
Most days when I pick up my first-grader from school and ask how the day was, the response I get back ranges from a tired grunt to a simple “good.” Last Friday, I got an energetic, “It was GREAT!” My son went on to describe a guest children’s book writer and illustrator, Rosemary Wells, who
Let Your Kids Get Hands On Read More »
Before pushing the passing winter too far into the recesses of my memory, I choose to pause and take stock of how much living and growing can happen in a single season. This weekend marked the end of the season of skiing at the Middlebury Snowbowl, which has been our family’s playground and sanity salve
A kid can do a lot of living in a season Read More »
I am, admittedly, a stuff snob. When our first child was born, my husband and I, perhaps rudely, rejected plastic toys with mechanical parts, songs and glitter. We opted for beautiful wooden objects, books and sentimental blankets and stuffed animals that we saved from our own childhoods. Suffice it to say that in the years
An ode to our bounce house Read More »
If you ever begin to fear that random acts of kindness or joyful interactions with strangers have become a thing of the past, then I have a recommendation: Set up a lemonade stand. This simple and timeless ritual inspires the very best of humanity. We set up a stand on Sunday, in the gap we
Fresh squeezed fun Read More »
I’d peg last weekend somewhere between the perfect American Dream and “Groundhog Day.” With Independence Day on a Friday, it was destined to be a packed weekend no matter where in the country you were, but I think Addison County — and my own little family — might have outdone ourselves. We kicked things off
A red, white & blue whirlwind Read More »
