The decision to go to kettle pond literally involved getting a map, pointing to it and deciding “Let’s try hiking here!”.  We had no idea what the trail was going to be like but it was secluded and not too worn and lovely.

In a time when it’s so easy to get information online beforehand, it’s amazing to try hiking somewhere without knowing anything about it.  It’s amazing to serendipitously time a hike perfectly, so that you reach the end of the trail as it starts to get dark.  It’s also amazing to hike somewhere and feel like there are secret trails made just for you, and Kettle Pond had that kind of feeling.

Photos 4, 8, and 9 by Naveen.  Also, I used my new/old Polaroid Land camera while in Vermont and had lots of fun with it!

You can tell when animals are well-loved, you know?  They’re comfortable and friendly around people, they are affectionate and pleased with attention without being needy (though they might still chew on your shoelaces cutely.)

It was super apparent that the goats at Big Picture goat farm are well-loved.  The goats were so chill and friendly and welcoming.  Their goats loved to come up to us, to kiss and be kissed, their cute tiny little teeth loved to nibble on shirts and backpack straps, they loved to nuzzle their heads on our legs.

The goats names are so fitting and so sweet: Eloise, Winnimere, Orion, Django, Ginger, Fern.  And many more.

We saw floppy eared goats, perky eared goats, milky white goats, brown goats, multi-colored goats.

We met the sweetest and sleepiest two week old goat kid, dubbed Gingerale, since his mom was Ginger.

Louisa and Lucas, who run the farm, told us super cute stories about the animals– for instance, their llama didn’t get along with any of the goats when it arrived– and it used to cry itself to sleep at night from loneliness.  But as soon as a new batch of baby goats was born, it took to them immediately, and the baby goats loved the llama back.  Since then it’s been their official babysitter.

That kind of genuine love is apparent in Big Picture Farms caramels too–there’s something so distinct and special about them.  They’re sweet in a mellow way, chewy without being too sticky, there’s a creaminess from the goats milk, and the sea salt finishes it off.  After being introduced to the caramels (Joshua had picked up a box from the candy store, during his visit here, and I subsequently bought several boxes from Birite), I visited their website and saw their adorable goats, and I knew I wanted to visit them if I were ever in Vermont.

That some time happened to be last weekend– when I found super cheap plane tickets to spend the weekend hiking with my friend Naveen.  I wrote to Lucas and Louisa, who informed me they weren’t necessarily set up to take visitors but since I was coming all the way from San Francisco, they’d be happy to introduce me to the goats.

After an afternoon of goat petting and nuzzling, as Naveen and I said goodbye, we gave them silly watercolors we had made of the goats, and a polaroid taken of the goats that afternoon.

Know that when you eat Big Picture Farms goats milk caramels (if you’re in San Francisco, you can get them at BiRite or The Candy Store!), that they were made with love by the sweetest couple and the cutest goats on earth.

(photo 6 by Naveen)

A magical weekend in a magical forest in Vermont!  These pictures were taken on a hike in the backyard of the Airbnb I stayed at!

One of my best friends is currently visiting from Toronto!  The weather in San Francisco this weekend was even more magnificent than usual, so on Sunday, we set out to have a music bike picnic.  There are many suitable places in the city for such a picnic– I love all the hidden patches of green– but I wanted to go somewhere neither of us had never been before.  We biked around the Presidio until we found this spot with a low wall backed by a welcoming number of trees and set up there.  The picnic involved bread, cheese, strawberries, raspberries, chocolate covered graham crackers, and madelines.  And then lots of ukulele and pianica duets.  And then, bubbles.

I love how many magical spots there are in the city that I haven’t discovered yet.  And I love how biking there with a basket full of food and instruments makes it more magical.

Do you have a favorite hidden spot in your city?

(first photo by Joshua)

I can’t have been the only one that formed a lifelong dream to watch maple syrup being harvested and eat maple syrup poured onto snow, after reading Little House on the Prairie.  My favorite thing by far about those books was the descriptions of food, Ma’s hearty meals, made full of love, and made more delicious by the fact that they had all worked so hard for all of the ingredients.

“Here, Laura and Mary,” Pa said, and he gave them each a little round package out of his pocket. They took off the paper wrappings, and each had a little, hard, brown cake, with beautifully crinkled edges. “Bite it,” said Pa, and his blue eyes twinkled. Each bit off one little crinkle, and it was sweet. It crumbled in their mouths. It was better even than their Christmas candy. “Maple sugar,” said Pa.

“Grandma…poured hot syrup on each plate of snow. It cooled into soft candy, and as fast as it cooled they ate it. They could eat all they wanted, for maple sugar never hurt anybody.”

I finally fulfilled this life dream!  I spent this weekend at a maple syrup farm in Ontario.  Everything about the weekend was exactly as I imagined.  It was snowing, and the maple syrup farm was so quiet and beautiful and peaceful.  Staff cheerfully explained the syrup making process, and how it has changed through the years.  We got to sample four grades of maple syrup, each made at a different point in the maple season, when the soil has varying levels of nutrients.  Eating the maple taffy was like chewing sunshine– it melted in my mouth in a soft, warm, golden, dappled sweetness.  And I was super happy to share the weekend with my best friend and favorite Canadian.  Lots more pictures coming!  Photos 4 and 5 by Joshua.

I’d been hoping to go to the Charles Schultz museum in Santa Rosa with someone who likes Peanuts as much as I do (I named my bike Peppermint Patty after all, and my 2nd bike to lend to guests Marcie.)  Vivian was in town this weekend and Vivian definitely qualifies as someone who likes Peanuts as much as I do!  And what better time to visit than before Christmas!  We went with Christine, and watched a special making-of documentary about the Charlie Brown Christmas special, saw lots of original artwork and sketches, and drank Peppermint Patty Hot Chocolate at the Warm Puppy Cafe.  We would have skated at Snoopy’s Ice Rink (founded by Charles Schultz, and he used to referee children’s hockey there too!) but there was kid’s hockey practice.  Kids in hockey gear are so cute and bulky!  Everything about the museum and cafe and ice skating rink were super adorable.