53 Building our Killington Dream Lodge

Part 26 in a series on the Dye Family Adventure by Marguerite Jill Dye

A child’s awe

Some of the stress and pressure in our lives was lifted once I quit my job to care for Danny, cook, keep house, and recover from months of sleep loss. My pay was low and child care high, so it was a simple financial decision. Another reason was Duane’s work was demanding with many night meetings and daily office chaos — it was a three ring circus.

We escaped to Vermont whenever we could—long weekends for quality time with my parents who were called “Gammy and Papa.” They doted on Danny, their adorable grandson, # 7, who loved their interaction. He felt right at home with them for they were the source of our family traditions.

I cherished being Danny’s Mom but needed to be my own person too. Since painting had become my passion, I joined a new gallery, Arts on the Square, in downtown Richmond’s Festival Marketplace. Several artists were offered studios. Cynthia Ray and I shared ours. She was like a sister to me, and helped me through motherhood.

Visitors to our studio asked me to teach them watercolor painting techniques. I began to

offer plein air classes, painting on site at outdoor locations. One of my classes was little girls from a private Richmond school. Their mothers dropped them off for our classes by the James River, in locals gardens and colorful neighborhoods. That’s when I discovered that I love teaching children out-of-doors (and in my studio in rainy weather). Their openness, eagerness and fearless expression make them natural creators.

Soon, Duane and I were asked to lead a China tour to Zhengzhou, Richmond’s proposed sister city. I hesitated and didn’t want to leave Danny. But my parents volunteered to care for him, so we planned and led a second friendship tour. Martial arts demonstrations by masters at the Shaolin Temple were thrilling to watch—sword tai chi, wu shu, and qi gong. Large groups of students practiced outdoors. Inside, experts flew over our heads in myriad maneuvers that imitated nature like monkeys, cranes, and praying mantis. They split wood and bricks with the side of their hands and used their minds over matter.

We traveled by train to Xian and saw the terra cotta army horses and soldiers. Gardens and performances in Suzhou, a boat ride on West Lake in Hangzhou, and the ancient dragon kiln for famous clay pots were a few of many highlights.

We ran through two airports with bags in hand to not miss our connecting flights. We couldn’t be late for a two-year-old. Once we arrived, Danny turned away for a while before he looked us in the eye. My heart felt a tug but soon he was in my arms, reconnecting as

mother and son. My parents had kept him busy and engaged with myriad “firsts”—new experiences, discoveries and a variety of new words. They developed close relationships that lasted for decades and helped make Danny the kind, loving, upstanding man he is.

Once back in Vermont, Danny explored the great room from end to end—trinkets, gadgets, the piano and more. He rode his horsy like a witches’ broomstick and pulled rolling toys with bells and whistles. Looking outside at red squirrels and hummingbirds feeding and frolicking on our deck, his curiosity led us to venture outside and discover fallen leaves, broken branches, violets, dandelions and grass to roll in, stones to throw and splash in mud puddles. To be in awe through the eyes of a child of cawing crows, hovering hawks, drizzling rain and the shining sun is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

As I consider my own life and motherhood, I see how very blessed I’ve been. My happy childhood and amazing family project of building our ski lodge from the ground up offered us unusual togetherness, excitement, adventure and the rare chance to witness Dad’s dream manifest into our homestead through lots of hard work and his focused intention. What a gift our parents instilled in us. I am forever grateful.

Marguerite Jill Dye is an artist and writer who divides her time between Killington and Bradenton, Florida. She loves to hear from her readers at [email protected]. Please spread the word her column is online.