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The Magic Of Summer In Vermont

photo by Rebecca Leger Off we go into the wild blue yonder! The joy of a summer day and a swing!

photo by Linda Farley Devino Gardens across the Champlain Valley are calling! Bring your appetite!

photo by Danielle Boise Nature calls those from here and from a far to enjoy the beauty of a Vermont summer!

Tuesday July 1, 2014

By Cookie Steponaitis

Tourists seem to have a hard time understanding what being a small state truly means and sometimes even the natives get tongue tied when they try to explain Vermont and a Vermont summer to visitors. “Hey there,” shouted a car full of folks from out of state through their car window. “Just how many people live in this state anyways?” Stopping a minute to think the response fired back, “Somewhere around 640,000 give or take.” “Is that all”, came the voice tinged with disbelief. “Why there is more than that in just a couple of the boroughs of New York City.” Repeating the number to his kids who seemed to nod and be equally perplexed he fired off a second thought. “How do you manage to get anything done and what happens if you get a rush of people or anything?” Again, thinking through a response the answer came back, “We generally are fine and seem to take one thing at a time.” With a smile, honk of the horn and still shaking their heads in disbelief the car disappeared down Main Street and off to a vacation destination in the county.
Just how to get across the Addison County vibe to people from outside the region is often the topic of many a lively discussion and debate; how to explain the scrumptious taste of summer berries mixed with whipping crème, the ‘bill-tilting’ or the face off duels of Red-winged Blackbirds in flight, the desire for life, liberty and the pursuit of fresh vegetables in gardens and local farmers markets or the strike of hammers and mallets as the old timers patiently craft stone walls, leather goods and other time honored products. Maybe you could mention the fields of Queen Anne’s lace, profusions of wild thyme, iridescent hues of Iris or the growing blooms of the fall apple crop. If all that fails mention the time spent fishing the waters of the lakes, rivers and streams and staring in wonder as a matched team of Belgians pulls a plow in a fertile meadow alongside a tractor costing over three quarters of a million dollars. Lastly, mention the Tunbridge Fair, Addison County Field Days, the Champlain Valley Fair or your favorite waterhole for swimming.
Summer, between the moments of fun and timeless traditions is also a time of construction, renovation and rebirth of parts of our towns, cities and farms. Plans made during the winter months come to fruition during the months of longer days, more sun and a sense of limitless possibilities. Many brides and grooms take their walks together to begin a new life and even more family’s welcome new children and farms new baby animals. So, to answer the original question posed ‘just how do we do it and how do we get along?’  We do it with joy, pride, a bit of ingenuity and a lot of community. The Champlain Valley not only gets along but thrives. Summer is upon us and for four short months the Champlain Valley knows no boundaries and visitors have no limits to their curiosity of what makes this place so special to those who call it home.

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