Settling into my lawn chair in the parking lot, I extend both legs outward. My toes are pointing straight up, my forward lean angle set by my ski boots — super soggy and full of water. I don’t want to even think about touching my wet socks. And the aroma that wafts through the parking…

The Masters ended this past weekend, and like so many other golf fans, I was glued to my phone and television for four days as the pageantry and competition unfolded. The event did not disappoint as the world’s No. 1 Scottie Scheffler struck precision golf shots for four days, outlasting any challenges his competitors made.…

If you take to the water this spring, there’s a good chance you’ll spot a great blue heron, New England’s most recognizable large wading bird. But you might also see one of several other similar species that breed in or pass through our region’s wetlands. Telling these large waders apart can be tricky. What distinguishes…

Bears, Big beautiful creatures, Wandering through the forests, And fields of flowers. Beautiful sweet flowers. And it is not only the flowers that are sweet, But the bears, too. They are misunderstood creatures, Big gentle giants, They don’t want to hurt you, They just want to protect their families. They are amazing creatures, And you…

Arguably 2024’s most dynamic astrological event occurs this week — yes, I remember the Eclipse from last week. But this week, Jupiter and Uranus conjoin in Taurus. Renowned for its exciting, expansive and innovative potential, this combination can also bring turbulence and discomfort, too. You don’t have to be a Taurus to feel this. Somewhere…

By Erda Estemera/Unsplash Lettuce grows best in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil, so soil should be amended accordingly before starting this cool-season vegetable in a cold frame. By Andrea Knepper, UVM Extension Master Gardener Get a jump start on the growing season by adding a cold frame to your garden. A cold frame allows you to start…

Hal Borland, American author, journalist, and naturalist once said, “No Winter lasts forever, no Spring skips its turn. April is a promise that May is bound to keep, and we know it.” English writer Samuel Johnson said that April can be a moment of joy for those who have survived the winter. This April seems…

  I found myself stopping every few minutes. Not to catch my breath or recalibrate my route, but simply to stop moving for a moment and let myself really take it all in. Too much all at once, when there hasn’t been enough at all. From one of the most boring winters that I can…

Growing up, I was never the kid who caused a lot of trouble. I did my homework, played sports, and did my best to endear myself to girls. I suppose you could call me boring, but I looked at it as the easiest way to navigate childhood.  Not surprisingly, I had an older brother who…

The Outside Story By Decan McCabe The sharpest contrast between rivers and lakes is in water movement. While rivers flow inexorably downhill, lake water movement is more subtle. Anyone who has weathered a storm on a lake, however, can attest that less consistent water movement does not mean no water movement at all. In fact,…

I hear the wind wheezing by my ears as I race through the trees, the tips of my skis barely missing the trees. I can hear the snow blowers blasting snow and people carving on the slopes. The skies are clear, a perfect bluebird day! I dive in and out of the trees, under and…

My brother Billie met Ann Wallen when he attended Colton ski camp. Ann was helping out in the kitchen and knew we’d become friends, too. That was the week Dad bought our land under 6 feet of snow from Oren Bates. It was 1958 when Killington was just beginning. When we arrived to begin our…

From the sky, Thousands of snowflakes fall, Layering up, Making mountains of snow. Fluttering down, Like feathers. So beautiful and unique. Just like us, We are beautiful and unique, And don’t let anyone tell you, That you are not, Because, You are amazing, You are beautiful, And you are strong, No one can put you…

The adage that one door closes while another door opens is one I’m sure you know well. In theory, it sounds viable, practical and even doable. In reality, it doesn’t always feel so pleasant. How do you decide which door to close? How do you know you even want that door to close? If you…

Editor’s note: Bruce Bouchard, former executive director of The Paramount Theatre, and his partner Maureen McKenna Padula have traveled from Rutland to the Riviera Maya for the past three years. This series covers adventures, food, and testimonials from Vermont to the tropics. This is the last in the series as they Rutland travelers have now…