Letter from Vermont

That dashing doughboy in the photo with Olya I last posted was our esteemed state representative Joe Acinapura.  Joe has been a wonderful individual to us in so many ways, encouraging Olya as she worked toward citizenship, fostering a supportive relationship with us and the inn, and generally being there for anyone who needs him.  He is a valued resource to so many of us in Brandon, and not above entertaining little Klara with hand puppets to make her smile.  So his “hello, welcome, new citizen” was especially meaningful for Olya and for me.

The “goodbye” was a little tougher on all of us.  Last week, Dick Kirby came by to tell us that “Bows ‘N’ Ivories” had lost a violinist.  Since Dick was standing right in front of me and I had eaten breakfast with Olya, I knew it must be Frank.  Frank Bunting died at his home on a Saturday morning.  I found out later he and I were Masonic brothers.  We Masons are fond of a certain aspiration from antiquity, to “live respected and die regretted.”  These words could have been written for Frank.  He was a beloved small-town attorney, and his sudden death was a shock and a loss to many.  His funeral at the church in Brandon where he and his wife were married more than 50 years ago was crowded with friends, colleagues, family, and acquaintances, all of us for a short while united as mourners.

 My fondest memory of Frank?  Some other time, perhaps.

 

The recipe for the Churchill House pancakes?  Very simple (this serves 2 or 3 people):

1 cup cottage cheese; 4 organic eggs; 4 tablespoons butter; 1/2 cup flour.

Melt butter in glass bowl in microwave.  Stir in cottage cheese.  Break eggs into mixture and incorporate.  Add flour and mix; batter will be lumpy.  Cook on lightly greased 350F griddle until bubbles break on top; turn and cook until golden both sides.  Pancakes will be tangy and creamy inside and slightly crispy outside.  Serve at once with warm Vermont maple syrup.

This season, we have been given quite the feather in our cap:  the well-known touring company Bike Vermont has selected us to host nine of their weekend bike tours this summer and fall.  We had two wonderful trips here in June and are looking forward to a fun season with these guests.  When the inn has just one couple as guests, it is special and quiet, and so serene.  When 16 or 18 bicyclists are swapping stories around the dinner tables, it is more like a house party — what fun to be around so many folks with a shared interest.  The atmosphere is more excited than is usually the case, and it’s a neat change of pace for us.

Here is a photo I took of Olya at her naturalization ceremony in May. 

Who is that fine-looking soldier whispering in my wife’s ear?  Some other time, perhaps.