We joined our friends for one last snow-filled trip north on Easter weekend. I worked until noon on Good Friday then squeezed in a sixteen mile run before meeting Tom and Jana at the commuter lot, our usual spot. Knowing it’s mud season in VT in April, Bill and I left our snow shoes home, took our spikes instead for our intended climb up Mt Ascutney. We vowed to get to the top this time.
It was overcast when we woke up on Saturday morning in Brownsville. Jana dropped Tom off atย Okemo Mountain for a day of skiing so we’d have a car. It was raining where we were, snowing where Tom went. Bill and I got up late, drank our coffee in the living room and didn’t make it outside until Jana’s return. We vowed to hike Mt Ascutney Sunday morning.
We decided to spend the afternoon at Simon Pearce in Quechee. After eating roasted garlic soup, smoked salmon quiche and crispy, spicy calamari salad in their restaurant overlooking the falls, we headed downstairs to see if anyone was working. To our delight there was a young man blowing glass. He wore shorts and a tee, his long hair pulled back in a tail at the nape of his neck. We watched him complete the entire process of making a water glass, from blowing the glass to shaping it and all the steps in between. He was friendly, asked us for questions.
“Go ahead, ask me something,” he said to the small crowd gathered. “Really, I don’t have to pay attention to what I’m doing.” He smiled, we laughed.
He told us he’s made 68,000 pieces in the 4 1/2 years he’s worked there, told us a student might make 800 pieces while enrolled in a four year program. He planned on making fifty water glasses that day, each one within 1/16″ of the sample sitting on his workbench.
“I only get paid for those,” he said. Expensive piece work, I thought.
After watching him finish a glass, measure it against the sample with satisfaction and start another, we wandered outside to the falls. Still overcast, everything was grey washed. We shouted to hear each other over the roar of the crashing water. We took some pictures and wandered back in to poke around the gift shop. There were beautifully cut vases, pitchers, water, wine, champagne and martini glasses, bowls, platters. I headed straight for the seconds, the ones our friend downstairs didn’t make to spec, but ultimately left empty-handed.
We left to pick up Tom, driving through picturesque Woodstock. Back at the condo Jana napped, Bill, Tom and I read. Later, we headed out to the only restaurant nearby which, lucky for us, serves excellent food. Before bed, Bill and I made a plan to get up early and hike to the top of the mountain before heading south for Easter with his family.
Categories: Musings, Travel, Uncategorized
What fun! I’ve never seen someone blowing glass before…very cool. I absolutely love the picture of you and Bill, Geralyn! You both look so happy. ๐
It was pretty cool watching him, Jill. He made a perfect water glass from a hunk of glass in just a few minutes. When we were in Murano, Italy a few years ago we watched this old man, who’s been blowing glass there for over 30 years, make a horse within a minute or two. Fascinating! Thanks for the compliment to Bill and me. ๐
Glass blowing is amazing! I always wanted to go to Murano and see it! And those pics are amazingly pretty!
It’s crazy how they can turn a blob of smoldering glass into something so beautiful in such a short time. Thanks for reading and commenting!
You always do adventurous things. Good for you. I think it is great and very informing. Keep it up. You and Bill look great as always. Love
Thanks Auntie! We had fun…heard you had a good Easter too! Love you.
Wow so cool. I love Quechee VT – beautiful scenes. The glass blower, the best. Sounds like you had a wonderful time!
Thanks, Mary. Quechee is a nice little town, isn’t it? Glass blower was the best!
I like that you ‘squeezed in a sixteen mile run’. Gee wiz!
Ha, ha! I really had enough time to squeeze in 18 miles but the mind and body said no. Gotta respect both of them! ๐
Yup. Next time you run, please run one of those miles for me.
I was never a great runner, but I miss long, brisk walks.
You have the coolest little adventures with your friends! (And I love those curly locks.) The photo of the falls with the covered bridge is fab. We have a glass blowing shop in Boise, also. It is a really fun place to hang out and they love to get people involved and give lessons.
Thanks! The guy working was extremely friendly and eager for us to ask him questions. We thought it was because we were in VT but, maybe, all glass blowers are super friendly and happy! ๐ I have to say, I’m grateful for all the adventures, big and small, in my life.
Falls always appeal to me, and full of melt water they’re at their best. Snow… I can live without ๐ But we do have a glass blowing centre half hour from home and I love it. I must be due another visit. Nice to meet you!
https://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/jos-monday-walk-roker-pier/
Nice meeting you too, Jo. I could have watched him blow glass for hours! Thanks for reading and commenting.