dual personalities

Boy #3 is now at college in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont. Everything went off without a hitch. We left at 7am and got there by 10:45. The day was sunny, the temperature in the low 70s, and the campus enthusiastically welcoming (so many smiling, high-fiving student orientation workers!).

Here is the incredible view from Tim’s dorm room:

and the view from the main quad, looking toward the music building (on the right) where he will be spending most of his time:

The room was standard cinder block; not too bad, but certainly not luxurious. Notoriously camera shy Tim peers inside:

We unpacked the car, made his bed, grabbed lunch, which the college kindly provided, and said our goodbyes (I even got a hug). Much to the boy’s relief, we were out of there by 12:15. So hubby and I decided to walk around village (it’s down the hill and about a mile away) and do a little shopping.

It’s a nice little place. We found Marvin’s country store,

which is famous for its maple products and locally made fruit preserves, and where we bought some Wild Blueberry Chutney. Does anyone have a clue what to do with blueberry chutney? Suggestions?

The town also has several beautiful, old churches (picture via google image)

that unfortunately have now been turned into ‘arts centers’ (sigh) — oh, well at least they’re still being cared for.

On the way home we stopped at a couple of antique stores and saw a few VERY NICE pieces of furniture, but it was so hot inside these buildings that I had to give up (we’re talking sweltering 80s and no air-conditioning. It was so much cooler outside). But hey, I’ll just go back in October when I pick up Tim for Fall break.

All in all, it was a very pleasant trip and I think/hope the school’s a great fit for Tim. Over the next four years I will be delighted to spend more time in rural Vermont where there are so many real antique stores, as opposed to rural northern New York where there aren’t.

It sure is pretty, isn’t it?