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In St. Johnsbury we visited the Dog Chapel. 15 years ago Stephen Huneck, and artist, became gravely ill, was in a comma for two months, and the doctors had little hope for his recovery. But recover he did, and while having to completely relearn to walk, carve, paint, he had the inspiration to build the Dog Chapel. Along with his wife Gwen, the overcame the challenges facing them and managed to build, over time, the Dog Chapel in the style of an 1820’s era Vermont church.

The stained glass windows came out of an actual church that was being demolished in upstate New York. They give a unique lighting to the inside of the church, which of course has a doggie door on the front large enough for any breed. As the sign says, “Welcome all Creeds, all Breeds, no Dogmas Allowed”.

Inside, the walls of the church are covered with visitor sentiments for their lost companions. I personally have not yet had to outlive a pet – I get to look forward to that at some time. But our son, Nick, had a wonderful dog, Kona, who lit up the world. Kona was all about chasing a toy, especially a ball – he would chase a ball for hours if someone would only throw it for him. We left a sentiment in the Dog Chapel for dear Kona – hope he gets it.

While we zipped around to the different towns we wanted to experience, we drove some of the most beautiful scenic roads in America – at least according to 1,000 Places to Go Before you Die. We drove pretty much all of Vermont Highway 100, at least the portions that have been designated scenic byways. We also drove a bunch of Vermont Highway 14, again those portions designated scenic byways.

Along the way, we went by the entrance to Sugarbush Ski Resort, but being in Colectiva and not being certain of parking, we didn’t go in. The year I graduated from college and got a job at Broeker Hendrickson CPA’s, I knew there would not be much skiing in my winters for quite a while at least. Having never skied on a mountain – we only skied river valleys in Minnesota – my brother Jerry and I decided we would spend the last week of December at Aspen Ski Resort in Colorado. Well, Murphy took care of that – there was no snow in the Rockies in December 1976 and Aspen was not yet open on Christmas

day. So, Jerry and I scrambled and booked last minute at the only place with snow and rooms – Sugarbush in Vermont. Unlike skiing in the Rockies where the snow is dry and powdery, we found skiing Vermont to be just like skiing really really really big river valleys in Minnesota – the snow was wet, and would get icy when over exposed or over skied. However, it was our first mountain skiing at a real resort with real babes in ski overalls and sweaters in the bar after hours, so all it all, it was a spectacular time. Just driving by brings back really good memories.

Talk to you soon!