
Back Home from Maple Country
Come autumn – which by the way is in the air in green mountain country for clusters of trees, large and small, have started turning shades of rust and gold – and Vermont shall be aflame with brilliant oranges, golds and vermillion that should make the mouth hang open in sheer surprise. Here I go by my reaction, yours can be more muted or elegant depending upon your personality. I am also going by the photos I have seen of that colour-drenched landscape so far, yet I can imagine, and imagination is the bedrock of true pleasure. Those trees laden with colour and promises of what is to come showed up in fits and starts as we wound up and down, turned corners and crawled around the countryside in Vermont in our car. It was cold, around 12-14ºC, and we were shivering in the late evenings because a jacket can do only so much for you in mountainous climes.
When the seasons change everything seems to fall in place so effortlessly. It is amazing how our moods are tempered by the advent of beauteous spring and autumn. That hint of softness in the sunshine, the trees responding in their own ways, wearing leaves or shedding them by and by, the pleasant nip in the air, … it is just the time for hatching plans.
We made plans too. For the trip. Three days and two nights are not a lot but one whole day at your command? You know what difference it can make. But what do you know, ‘the best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men’ will go ‘aft agley’, so with precision ours went awry. Plans of hiking and making acquaintances with the boys of the forest fell through spectacularly. The second day of the trip, designated as hiking day, turned out to be trapped-in-a-washing-machine kind of a day. We were caught inside our car, and it came down relentlessly, that rain. We ran in and out of country stores in the small villages to soak up the warmth of cafes and antiques.
The mountains however showed up in that avataar which you can admire if you have a romantic buried deep inside you. Mist curling along the ridges of the smoky green hills, trails of it floating along the middle, rivers rippling with water that looked steely cold, the solitary man fly fishing in those waters in the dark grey evening, …it was like we had been whisked into another world.









Then we tasted the land. In generous lashings of maple syrup upon buttermilk pancakes, the fluffiest and best I have had in a long time at American diners which specialise in breakfasts. I could see why everyone in the diners and cafes were larger than life. They appreciate the goodness of pancakes and maple syrup laden with vanilla cream and butter. It came back to me then, Javon’s ultimatum, that I would slowly grow thicker around the edges. One day I would wake up and see a big reflection in the mirror. Thus it was that I got to impose a measure of self-control.
Now we have come back home with treasures from maple country. A bottle of maple syrup that is so flavourful that I can vouch for it with every fibre in my being, a small cookbook that doles out recipes on how to bake and cook maple-laden goodies, books acquired off shelves of antique stores, preserves and chilli butters and gourmet crackers and it seems just right that we are home now. To take a break from a weekend of going berserk and to plan more such weekends.


116 Comments
KathrinS
Looks like you saw some stunning scenery – one can only imagine what it’d look like in sunny weather! Love the bears, so cute.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you Kathrin, how is England treating you? I did get a bit of good weather as well so I could bear to take that soggy day with a fistful of salt. The bears, ah! I miss them already 🙂 xx
KathrinS
Good so far! I’ve been here for a day now? will post an update in a minute, actually.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Looking forward to it. xx
KathrinS
England is good – if rainy. I’ll post an update soon!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
That is trademark English weather but she shall throw up unexpected sunshine and oodles of beauty too. xx
KathrinS
Can’t wait!!
beardsandblush
Everything about this post is so cute, I wanna be there..Hope you had a great time !
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you Autumn. You are in my post you see 😉 I will post some pretty blue pictures too later because yes I had a glorious time, my girl. xx
beardsandblush
Haha, yess I saw ?it was typical Autumn weather too. And yaaas!!! Can’t wait ??xx
Dippy-Dotty Girl
🙂 🙂
Carmen
That maple syrup looks like liquid gold!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
And the bonus, it tastes better than any other maple syrup I have ever tasted. xx
rhythminlife
Yes to that plate ?. Autumn in all it’s glory gets thinking of PJs, socks and a good book in the comfort of my bed. In that same season, we can smell the holidays around the corner.?
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hey Susan, I hope you are alright given the condition in Texas.
That smell btw is everything that spells delicious. You got it! xx
rhythminlife
The storm has been in South Texas and we live in North Texas. We are praying for the people down in the southern part. Thank-you very much my dearest for checking.❤
Dippy-Dotty Girl
I should have asked your earlier. I am glad to hear that…you take care and enjoy the change of seasons. xx
almeidadepaulo
Wonderful pics Dippy!!!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hey, thank you. Always appreciated 🙂
usathroughoureyes
Great photos. Those pancakes and sausage look so inviting.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you. They look every bit as satisfying as they were. With every bite of the pancake I did a whole lot of hmmm till my husband asked me to look around and see what regular hmms would do for me! 😉
usathroughoureyes
LOL, LOL!
T. R. Noble
Loved the photos 🙂 it seemed like a really nice time. Quiet and cozy :)!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you 🙂 It was…no craziness this time much. xx
Abbey | threecatsandagirl
Ahhh that breakfast looks so good! I love the maple leaf syrup bottle! That’s too bad it rained :/ your pictures still turned out nicely though!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thanks Abbey. Yeah it was not too bad despite the fact that the sky had parted! 🙂
Abbey | threecatsandagirl
Yes, that would be slightly anti-climactic!?☔️
lifeofangela
Such gorgeous sights even with the rain! The mist made it magical indeed, and as always I’m jealous of anyone near pancakes and maple syrup 🙂
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thanks Angela. I think you would love the fluffiness of these. I have not tasted as good pancakes anywhere yet 😉
Sudhir Chauhan
beautifully captured….. enjoyed your post……
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you 🙂
Miriam Hurdle
You took some nice shots regardless of the rain. The blueberry pancakes look yummy. Now they make me feel hungry…!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thanks Miriam! It was tiresome, the rain, but we had to make do. Blueberry pancakes can do that to one but they are worth the hunger pangs 😉 xx
Miriam Hurdle
Yes, I know. We were in Amsterdam and it had pouring rain, but we want to go to Van Gogh Museum. We ran in the rain to catch to trolley. *•♥•*
Dippy-Dotty Girl
We were caught in the cold winter rain of Amsterdam too. The misery of it! All I wanted to do was crawl under the covers and be done with it. Museums are the best solutions to such moments.
Miriam Hurdle
I learned quite a bit about Van Gogh!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
The rain was a bit of a backhanded blessing 😀
Miriam Hurdle
Yes, surely it was!
Osyth
Practice those pancakes …. I’m reserving a short stack at our place when I get back to the States 😉 xx
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Ahahaha sure, I shall work on the pancakes till I achieve perfection but then the dilemma remains. How to wiggle my way through the doorway frame? Unless you have them enlarged to accommodate a pancake lovin’ soul. xx
Osyth
Just go for Texan door frames!!! They are vast like everything else in that State. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to invent baked goods that don’t tax the cummerbund?!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
You have such brainwaves. As for baked goods and cummerbund *sigh
I live in hope that such inventions do come to fruition soon. For me, such attempts are in vain. Any baked good that does not carry the requisite amount of flour, eggs, butter and cream – it shall not pass muster. Here comes Dotty to test out the mettle of those Texan door frames!
Osyth
It’s the only answer. And running – as you well know 😉 xx
amindfultravellerblog
Glad you guys had a great road trip. Cold, but beautiful nonetheless. Definitely time to plan more of those weekend escapes!
So you did get to see a bear in the end…..nice T-Shirt!! Xx
Dippy-Dotty Girl
No Lorelle, we missed out on hiking thanks to the one day when we could have ventured into the deep and dark forests. But well another weekend maybe, somewhere down the line. xx
Stewie Overseas
*gasp*…this…this is not maple country…
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hahaha I knew I was challenging a Canadian here 😀 xx
Mad Hatters NYC
I love when plans fall through and force you to create an entirely new vacation on the fly! Perhaps I enjoy it more when those plans aren’t mine, but still 😉
The diner breakfast is an American treasure, for sure. And you couldn’t make maple scones with that bear, so I think in the end you chose wisely! Give us a call if you need a hand with those maple-laden goodies 🙂
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hahaha I shall share some recipes from the cookbook for sure. For now I have to call a halt to my mindless indulging in the goodnesses of these sinful diners. Can I whisper that I love Denny’s? It was my first experience of a diner in your land and my husband is quite amused at my reaction but I cannot lie.
I would readily bake some maple scones for that sweet boy if only he were mine. Sigh. Missed opportunities. xx
lexandneek
If I could only put my hand through the monitor and grab that Maple Leaf bottle of liquid delight, I would! Sorry, sometimes my impulses overtake any sense of decency that I may pretend to have 😉 Anyways, the photos are beautiful and the bears are too cute. The rain looks so refreshing and your meal is making my stomach growl. Lovely post. – Neek
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you for the lovely words, Neek.
That only means we can have a tug-of-war through the screen 😉 Or if you bribe me sufficiently, I might let go of that bottle of pure delight. Sometimes I gush too much over food methinks. It probably does reveal my glutton genes (as Adi refers to them).
I like people who know what they want and are ready to fight for it. xx
lexandneek
Bribes sound great! Let me know what I can do 😉 Hooray for gluttony!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hahaha absolutely I shall figure it out. The mind is going crazy at the scope of the open invite. xx
kasiawrites
Wow the rain really does make it look so much different and yet still beautiful!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you Kasia. It was frustrating but then you have to find the beauty under the leaking skies 🙂
kasiawrites
Very true ??
starringpamela
Your photos look so amazing! I’m glad you found some nice bears although I know you could have beat them up if they were mean hahahaha.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hahaha thank you Pam. I would have inundated them with maple goodies (boy would they find reason to complain) 😛
TheresaBarker
I love the “Drenched” photo. I wish we had some of that rain about now! Oh, well, maybe next month. 🙂
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Even though I love the poetic nature of that pitter patter, Theresa, I like it more when I am inside a room tucked into a couch with a book. But well why should I complain when I did get drenched and misty vistas 🙂 Amen to the skies leaking in your part soon! xx
TheresaBarker
Yes, I know what you mean, non-stop rain when you’re trying to travel – especially outdoors – is no fun! 🙂
Cherylene
Great read! You are just torturing me with that plate yummy!!!!! 🙂 Thanks as always for sharing.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you love. Well at the risk of clogging the arteries during the weekend, whisk up a batch of buttermilk pancakes? 🙂 xx
Cherylene
Girl, once every so often it’s good to munch on the good stuff. Balance is everything. 🙂
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Trust me, I act upon it. xx
Cherylene
Life is too short not too! 🙂
annika
Your photos are amazing…we were in Stowe last month for a few days and my photos have nothing on yours. You must return with proper attire and better weather, the hike up Mount Mansfield is quite spectacular!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you Annika, but there you can see why we were immensely frustrated to be caught up inside when we could have been huffing and puffing up Mansfield. But well another time. I have some more photos of Stowe which I shall disgorge in time. But the fact that you got to do the hike is enough. Who cares about drenched photos 😛
Holistic Wayfarer
A veritable feast for the eyes. I can’t show my boy the hot cakes and sausage. Nothing I serve will be as good. Ha ha ha.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Haha the words of a wise mom right there! Thank you Diana 🙂 Trust you are living up the change of seasons. xx
crystalsandcurls
That is a beautiful photo of you my lovely! Also that picture you took with the mist and the mountains…truly atmospheric. I loved this xx
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hey Mia, thank you 🙂 I am partial to the whole mist-and-mountain scenario. Even dreary days gotta give! xx
afoodiehousewife
Lovely captures and stories as alwaysl! Glad that you had a nice time! Shall I let u in on a secret? Four years since we left India and I have never ever tasted Maple syrup! I have never even tasted pancakes!!! Just one of those feelings when you are hesitant to risk a meal by trying something new… 😉 Got to do it soon. Maybe i will love it and have just wasted four years of my life not enjoying a delicious food combo..sigh! xx
Dippy-Dotty Girl
What what what! I wish you could taste this maple syrup from Vermont. Canadians would have my throat but listen it is delectable. The flavours, oh. I could really gush on till you want to club me but really you have got to go get a bottle of maple syrup and whisk up a batch of pancake batter at home, with buttermilk of course, for some fluffy beauties. Then a pot of melted butter/clotted cream and maple syrup drizzled over a batch. You will possibly hate for urging you after 😀 But I am a brave one. I shall risk it. xx
afoodiehousewife
SOLD!!.. to the lady who wants me to try it so bad?? I am on it girl! Stay tuned…. ? x
Dippy-Dotty Girl
YES!
dartsandmaps
Vermont is breathtaking in the fall- even with the rain. There is nothing quite like a New England autumn. Even for a short trip its good to be back home, or for a first time visit!
Your photos are definitely postcard worthy! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hello fellow darter, I did hop over to your blog and read about you. Thank you for the lovely comment. I am yet to see its fall beauty but I cannot wait. Postcard worthy! Why that is high praise, yet here I am gathering it and feeling rather chuffed. x
wheretoeatabuja
What a lovely post . those pancakes had me salivate , I must confess 🙂
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you 🙂 Even remembering those pancakes feels like sin.
Colors of my life
Stunning pictures and details, loved the misty one specially.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you 🙂 The photos somehow were the reward and the sight of the misty mountains…
Virginia Duran
The intro was so visual that it took me a couple of seconds to realize that we are still in summer and it’s warm here heheh. How were the pancakes?
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you sweetheart 🙂 That warms me to the cockles of my heart! The pancakes…sigh. What do I say. I am in danger of turning into one. Or that is how Adi warns me!
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-Eugenia
Stunning photos. Thank you for sharing.
Dippy-Dotty Girl
You are welcome, Eugenia, and thanks too 🙂
Paula
I’m assuming you gave the bear a hug as opposed to a punch, ?. So pretty there. I can just imagine what it will look like in a month!!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
If only we had met one! :-/ We sure hope to see the colours in New England… xx
Mary Brearley
Fantastic photos – but is it just me or do those bears look just a bit grumpy? 🙂
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thanks Mary. But if bears were not grumpy, we would be all over them 😉
Mary Brearley
At least one of them looks psychotic!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
The poor darling would surely feel disheartened 😛
Mary Brearley
Haha. Also the t-shirts are not flattering for the bigger bear 🙁
Dippy-Dotty Girl
We could put them on a strict no-cake-and-biscuit diet. xx
Mary Brearley
Poor bears. I’ve done that no sugar thing myself, I feel for them!! X
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Which makes me think that I need to go on one too. Solidarity. xx
Mary Brearley
Actually as a relatively painless weight loss programme, it’s good. You can eat chips and cheese still…. but it’s miserable 🙁
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Ahahaha only a cake lover would say that. Misery could deal with chips and cheese 😛 xx
Kim
Aw yay! I saw the maple syrup glass leaf in your thumbnail and knew immediately that you had visited Vermont! I love Vermont! Actually went to school in Burlington and it was an amazing time. Hope I can make it up there again during the Fall to see all the colorful leaves! 🙂 Looks like you had a great trip!
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Heh thanks Kim. I know that bottle is the perfect touristy acquisition and the occasional touristy indulgence cannot hurt surely 😉 You are lucky to have gone to school in Vermont. It is idyllic. I do intend to make sure I see the fall colours in Vermont or at least somewhere in New England. Cheers.
Anushree
I have just woken up with an empty refrigerator so that breakfast plate is making me drool. Rain does make everything look pretty in its own way but then that torrential rain is a complete spoiler. Good you had cute bears for company xx
Ps:- for some weird reason WP had you unfollowed so you might find a notification of a new old follower 😀
Dippy-Dotty Girl
WP clearly is not fond of me then 😉 Thanks for the follow all over again, Anushree.
Empty refrigerator and that loaded breakfast plate is a bit of a bummer. Have you just got back home from a holiday? xx
Anushree
Well how did you guess that?! My refrigerator is never empty otherwise, definitely not for breakfast. Lol. Yes, returned yesterday from a not relaxing but a very nice trip to a couple of Polish cities. Xx
Dippy-Dotty Girl
That is just the way with travellers, sweetheart. All is well. The memories of the last few days shall be succour till you sort out groceries 😉 xx
Anushree
And what about sorting the head? Away for a few days and already confused between salt and sugar jars hehe
Dippy-Dotty Girl
But oh that sounds perfect. You let the holiday take over the senses. A few days of sugar instead of salt will surely put things in place 😉
Anushree
Hahah, and put some weight in place as well !
Dippy-Dotty Girl
😉
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Sophie B.
Wow beautiful pictures! Cold, but must have been wonderful! Love maple syrup with pancakes ?
We have friends in Canada and they occasionally come over and bring us maple syrup in a leaf bottle ?
Have a nice day! ?
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you Sophie. Maple syrup from Canada — you have struck gold. Hold onto those friends yet 😉 xx
Liv
Ahh this post is so good!! Really puts me in the autumn mood and makes me want to go travelling so badly! x
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Hey Liv, thank you 🙂 I do hope you get back on the road soon. It is liberating. x
Kaito Ridge
Love the photos from your trip! How about all those syrup and pancakes!
Did you know you can make maple syrup at home? Stop by our blog for a visit, dedicated to DIY maple sugaring!
http://www.kaitoridge.com
Dippy-Dotty Girl
Thank you. I will check out your blog for a knowhow of making the heavenly juice at home!