Columbus Day Weekend

Columbus Day weekend was good.

Friday night we spent celebrating my friend Ana's birthday with friends. Ana hosted everyone in her and Jose's apartment and it was way too much fun, like most parties in their apartment tend to be. (See: last year's birthday party/pajama party and the Cambridge Blackout party for proof.) There were drinks, snacks, cakes (yes, multiple cakes), more drinks and music. We sang Happy Birthday twice- once in English and once in Spanish and even skyped in an LGO from South America for a little bit. At the end of the night, we trekked to Harvard Square where we unintentionally crashed a Harvard Rugby party and I got a lot of beer (not mine) spilled in my hair. It was a great night all around.

Saturday, we were up bright and early to head to Vermont. I really wanted to visit Vermont during peak leaf season and see Burlington, which we've heard from multiple sources is a gorgeous town. Well, it did not disappoint. 

Our friends Clayton and Christen joined us for the day trip and we arrived at our first stop, Shelburne Farms at noon. Shelburne Farms is a 1400 acre working farm right on Lake Champlain. We decided to walk the 4.5 mile loop around the farm and check out all the sights. The first stop was here. 

A bakery, a cheese-making factory, animals, picnic tables and probably a lot more that we missed. 

From there we got back on the trail and headed for the Lake. Once we hit the lake, the 4 of us climbed down some seriously steep stairs (how do you like that alliteration?) to the water where we spent about 30 minutes taking pictures, skipping rocks, and discussing how someday we will tell our future kids and grandkids about how people used to throw rocks into water for fun. 

Skipping little rocks wasn't enough of a challenge for Chuck and Clayton so eventually they started skipping ginormous rocks. Or, attempted to skip them, anyway.

Back on the loop trail we passed the Inn (where we all decided to someday come back and stay for a vacation), the dairy section of the farm and more beautiful scenery. We ended back at the Visitor's center where we stocked up on cheese, maple syrup and some other goodies made right there on the farm.

Next we headed into downtown Burlington just to drive through and see, and then we were on our way to the Ben & Jerry's Factory for some ice cream and a tour.  I couldn't get any pictures of the factory because they specifically ask you not to take any pictures and I didn't want to risk get kicked out of a place that gives you ice cream.

After the tour we headed back to Boston because it was a 3.5 hour drive and we were all pretty tired from the drive up and all the walking.

Sunday was a mashup of several activities including an Independent Film Festival and Oktoberfest in Harvard Square with friends for me, some relaxation and a little work at home for Chuck, and then an evening of bowling and watching the Red Sox playoff game for us both. I took pictures of none of the above but I promise they were all fun. 

We watched most of the Red Sox game at the bowling alley and then got home just in time to see David Ortiz hit a grand slam to tie the game in the 8th inning, followed by a couple of good hits in the 9th to lead the Red Sox to a huge, epic win. ****This is where I acknowledge that yes, we are bandwagon Red Sox fans, as we don't typically care about MLB at all, but the Red Sox are in the playoffs and we live in Boston therefore I think it's perfectly acceptable for us to keep up with them and cheer for them because we REALLY want to be in Boston if/when they win a World Series because we've heard there are all kinds of parades and other exciting events in the city because Red Sox fans are diehard and crazy and awesome. The end.****

Monday was a day off for both of us and we spent it eating pancakes, catching up on TV shows we missed last week, grocery shopping, walking to Starbucks for a special Fall drink, and watching Breaking Bad, our current Netflix show of choice.

'Twas a spectacular weekend all around.