Saturday, November 27, 2010

Visitors from North Carolina


In October, Eddie's sister Betsy, and her husband Pete, visited Vermont for a bit of autumn splendor in New England. Accompanying them on the trip was their sweetie pie Emma.....Maggie's cousin! :-) They were busy visiting all of their usual haunts - what is a trip to VT without a trip or two to Al's French Fries - and catching up with family in Hinesburg and Colchester. We enjoyed a lovely dinner with them the night before Eddie had to leave for Harvard. It was a short visit, however, work beckoned Pete back to Boston and North Carolina and we look forward to seeing them again soon?! Maybe a Southern foliage trip for us next November???




Betsy with Miss Emma.


Cheers to the trip to Vermont and for warmer temps!! It was a very chilly week and they both braved near record lows for the month of October. They were troopers though....New Englanders forever in their hearts!

Thanksgiving - 2010


Happy Thanksgiving everyone....from the Johnson household to all of you!!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving and were able to celebrate the day with my mother and our dear friends Deb and Don Urbahn. It was a "small-ish" celebration this year as a few of the "regulars" were not able to be with us....Deb and Don's son Nick is finishing up a semester at school in Chicago and remained with his grandparents to celebrate the day and their daughter, Emma, is finishing up a semester of study abroad at the University of Rome. We missed having them both here, however, did think about them throughout the day. Don's mom, Harriet was unable to make the trip North this year as well.....she usually tries to get us all motivated to shop the sales on Black Friday!

Ed and Bryan began the day with their annual shift at Sweetwater's Restaurant. Each Thanksgiving Sweetwater's hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for those who are in need of a warm dinner and/or companionship. This year Ed and Bryan took their turns taking orders for dinner and serving. Ed even made the nightly local news!!! ;-)

We had a feast beyond compare with everyone pitching in and contributing something wonderful and delicious to enjoy! Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday and we all feel truly fortunate and so blessed.




Bryan was in charge of the crescent rolls this year! Every year Bryan requests these rolls and it seems like we always forget all about them....they are either still in the fridge and we remember them when we are almost finished with dinner, or else they are in the oven cooking away and we have simply forgotten all about them! So this year Bryan was in charge of the rolls....here he is "rolling" away, almost ready for the oven....and we didn't forget them this year. Nice job Bry!



My mother and I with the 2010 turkey! A lovely 14 pound, fresh turkey from Misty Knoll Farm in New Haven, Vermont. Out of the oven and ready for the platter.



Our Thanksgiving dinner table.....notice the near empty basket of crescent rolls! Also notice where the basket is located....within a hands reach of the chef who made them and loves them so very much!!! :-)



Another view of our feast to include Ed!!



And what Thanksgiving would be without a post-dinner "rest and lounge" period??!! The game is on, (New England vs. Detroit - Pats won by the way...wooo hooo!), Ed and Don are in their two comfy chairs and notice the Bry Guy....under the table, wrapped in a blanket and snoozing away! Also please notice that my mother, Deb, and I are not in this picture.....WE are in the kitchen doing dishes!

Go Cats Go!


For the past two years Bryan has been a member of the University of Vermont basketball team - as their Team Manager. As Team Manager, Bry is responsible for all facets of making sure that all practices and games run smoothly, helping with the team member recruitment process, facilitating game film exchange and acting as a liaison with other teams/coaches and making sure that all players are hydrated during each game.

Ed and I have thoroughly enjoyed Bryan's experiences over the past two years and we are so very proud of him and the successful leadership role that he has taken on as part of the team. As an additional, very fabulous, awesome perk - we have enjoyed tickets to all of the home games - sitting right behind the team to cheer them on! It has been wonderful to see Bryan in a suit and tie at every game too..... ;-)

A highlight the season last year involved UVM winning the America East Championship and going on to play as the 16th seed in the NCAA tournament, held in Buffalo New York. The last time they were at the NCAA tournament was in 2005! It was a thrill for Bryan to be in Buffalo and to be an integral part of the success of the Vermont basketball team.

Currently in the 2011 season, UVM has posted 4 wins and 1 loss in non-conference play....the one loss occurred while playing UConn and even then UVM lost by only 8 points! A great showing and it could be a huge predictor as to what will come in this season of play. UVM's exciting conference season begins the first week of January...

We're looking forward to another season of thrilling basketball at the University of Vermont! GO CATS.......GO!!!!!!!!!!




Helping the team with pre-game warm ups.



"Now introducing the starting line-up for the University of Vermont Catamounts!"



Getting ready to play ball.......



Getting psyched! - Let's have a great game!!



Rallying the team for a time out and strategy session....

Harvard Bound! (Can you teach an old dog new tricks?......)



Can you teach an “old dog” new tricks? Well, that is what Ed attempted to find out in a month at Harvard University, as part of the Senior Executive Fellowship program. Along with 80 other government executives from the U.S., as well as China, Hong Kong, Australia and other countries, he was once again a college student - sitting in a classroom all day, (8am to 6pm) and many evenings, and then reading late into the night to prepare for the next day. Discussions, lectures and presentations covered a wide-range of topics…..policy formulation, leadership techniques, negotiation/persuasion skills, decision-making approaches, and other people/process/organizational lessons, with case studies galore. One of his professors is one of the few living members of the Kennedy White House staff, and in addition to lessons on government and decision-making, he shared priceless stories about JFK and life at that time.

Ed had the time of his life, although too little sleep, and too much eye strain caught up with him; he clearly missed his occasional naps! :-) With the little extra time available including the weekend, Ed also enjoyed the sights around Cambridge and Boston. He took a trip with classmates to Lexington and Concord, visited the residence of John and Abigail Adams, had dinner in Chinatown, watched the annual Head of the Charles Regatta, had a tour and dinner at the JFK Library, saw where George Washington took command of the Continental army, and enjoyed many other sights. A very memorable highlight of his experiences involved the Harvard Club complete with a fabulous dinner, outstanding speakers and talented entertainment. The ambiance of the Harvard Club was beyond belief! What an honor and a privilege to be a part of that evening.

Who knows if this may lead to the long awaited return to school and a graduate program for Ed? Watch out world – with now both a St. Michael’s College and Harvard University perspective, who knows what type of person Ed has become. :-)

So to answer the question: Can you, in fact, teach an old dog new tricks? .... The answer is a resounding YES!



The very beautiful and collegiate Harvard yard.



Rubbing the toe of John Harvard, founder of Harvard University.



Home away from home for four weeks. The entrance to Ed's apartment at Harvard.



Official!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Bon Voyage and Happy Birthday!

It was a dual celebration - a dinner to celebrate Deb's birthday and the opportunity to wish Julie a fabulous trip to Italy! This time we gathered at the Belted Cow Bistro in Essex Jct., to enjoy eachother's company and the scrumptious food! We enjoyed a lovely dinner....complete with the best cosmopolitans! Cheers to another year Deb and bon voyage Julie... Another great evening spent with cherished friends.



Cheers to Julie. Bon Voyage....Italy bound!



Cheers to Deb....Here's to another year my friend! (That was THE BEST COSMO)


All of us at The Belted Cow.....celebrating! CHEERS to all of us.....


Nothing like a bit of pastry from Mirabelles to acknowledge the celebrations.


Yummmm....chocolate mousse cake.....



Here's a sampling of the dinners that were enjoyed....thanks ladies for always putting up with my camera and my need to photograph the food! You are all THE BEST! xxx ooo