A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-11-03...Welcome to "Les Verts Mont"

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Please join us as we tour
"Les Verts Mont"

What comes to mind when you think of Vermont? Great skiing? Maple syrup? Covered bridges? Maybe, if you are a history buff, Ethan Allen and the "Green Mountain Boys"? Well, Vermont is all this and much more. When I set out to discover Vermont, I realized that I knew practically nothing about this state. Now, having done some exploring during my travels to some interesting Vermont websites, I am ready to pack my bags, go for an extended visit and see this beautiful state for myself.

A bit of history.....
(the condensed version)

Vermont is the second smallest state in the Union, with fewer than 1 million people. Originally populated by various indigenous peoples of the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Abenaki nations, the land now known as Vermont was first seen by European eyes in 1609, when the French explorer Samuel de Champlain sailed the lake that now bears his name. The French must have paid their visits during the warmer months, for when they gazed upon the mountains that form the spine of the state, they named them Les verts monts, 17th century French for the Green Mountains. As happens with language, Les Verts Mont became Verts Mont, which then became "Vermont". And as happened with explorers, Champlain claimed all he saw in the name of France.

In 1763, England was granted the area via the Treaty of Paris, which ended the French and Indian war. Locally, the land was at various times claimed by both New Hampshire and New York; however, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys put an end to that, and by 1777 Vermont had achieved independence. In fact, Vermont remained an independent republic until 1791, at which point it joined the United States as that fledgling nation's fourteenth member. Nonetheless, to this day Vermonters remain fiercely independent.

State Motto: "Freedom and Unity"



So, who were the
Green Mountain Boys?

They were a citizens' militia founded in Fay's Tavern in Bennington in 1770. This militia could be called up to protect, by force if necessary, the ownership of the land in the New Hampshire Grants. Ethan Allen was its first, and by all accounts very charismatic Colonel-Commandant. Some of the methods of coercion used by the Green Mountain Boys are questionable at best, violence and intimidation often occurring as they defended their lands against the hated "Yorkers". However, this group of Yankee Vigilantes was very instrumental in resisting New York's claims to land in what is now Vermont. It is worth noting that the Green Mountain Boys took no lives.

Ethan Allen demanding the
surrender of Fort Ticonderoga


Today's "Green Mountain Boys"...

.......
the 158th Fighter Wing
of the Vermont Air National Guard.


Facts and Trivia about our fourteenth state...

Did you know that the world's largest granite quarry is located in central Vermont? It is. At the "Rock of Ages" quarry, where granite is mined and memorial stones are manufactured, sheer cliffs descend 600 feet to the quarry floor below. Tours are available during the summer months.



Also in central Vermont is what is believed to be the world's ONLY "spider web farm". No kidding. Will Knight, maker of collectibles and fine woodenware, noticed he had an abundance of spiders on his farm. Each spider wove it's own individual web design. Will began collecting these webs and making unique web items from them. He also devised an ingenious method of encouraging the spiders to weave just for him. He harvests them through a painstaking process and mounts the delicate, silk webs on wooden plaques and jewelry boxes.


Mr. Knight says, "Our spiders hunger for their work and provide us with genuine masterpieces of natural art. Enjoy the beauty of a silky spider web without the spider. Admire the precision and the perfection of the orb weaver, araneidae, preserved and protected as a work of art."

Another interesting fact ~ Robert James Waller's novel "The Bridges of Madison County" could easily have been set in Vermont rather than Iowa, with a slight name change. There is no "Madison County" in Vermont, but there are many beautifully restored covered bridges. In fact, Vermont has the largest concentration of covered bridges in the United States - a total of 114 in this tiny state, many of which are still in use.

One of the covered bridges in Vermont
and a bit of folklore surrounding.....

"Emily's Bridge"

Located in Stowe, Vermont
(John N. Smith, c.1844) (Photo © Dave MacKenzie)
Howe Truss, 50', spanning Gold Brook on Gold Brook Road.

There are at least three dramatic stories about how the name "Emily's Bridge" came about:

- In the 1800's, Emily was jilted by her fiancé and hung herself
from the rafters.

- In 1925, homely Emily fell in love with Donald, who got her pregnant. When Emily's father insisted that Donald marry Emily, Donald killed himself here. After the birth of twins, Emily followed suit.

- (Date unknown) Emily died after her horse threw her here; she was on her way to her wedding.

Whatever the truth behind the name, there are numerous "eyewitness" accounts of continued haunting of the bridge, supposedly by Emily's ghost.

Click HERE for a complete presentation of photographs
and historical information on Vermont's Covered Bridges.

Last but not least, this profile of Vermont would not be complete without mentioning their world famous maple syrup. Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S.

The first American Sugarmakers were early Native Americans of New England who called their delicious maple syrup, "sinzibukwud," which translated means, "sweet buds." The world is forever in their debt for teaching their Sugarmaking trade to the first American white settlers. Read more about it HERE.

A Vermont Maple Syrup Recipe
and Harvest-time Tradition
Sugar On Snow

-Vermont Fancy, Grade-A Light Amber Maple Syrup
-Pure white snow
-Sour Pickles
-Donuts

Boil syrup to 255 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoop snow into large bowl or pan. Drizzle hot maple syrup lightly over snow. Use forks to eat the sticky top layer. Follow with a bite of your favorite donut or a sour pickle. (I am not making this up. LOL!)

The heated syrup will form a lace-like pattern across the top of the snow and quickly harden into a delectable confection. Build a fire pit, round up a few avid maple sap gatherers and you have the makings for a.........

"SUGAR ON SNOW PARTY!"



"These Green Mountains"
Diane Martin - Composer
Rita Buglass - Arranger

These green hills and silver waters
are my home. They belong to me.
And to all of her sons and daughters
May they be strong and forever free.
Let us live to protect her beauty
And look with pride on the golden dome
They say home is where the heart is
These green mountains are my home.
These green mountains are my home.

On May 22, 2000, in a ceremony at Twinfield Union School, Governor Howard B. Dean, M.D. signed Act 99, which designated "These Green Mountains" as the new state song of Vermont.

I could not find a midi of this state song,
but I did find this: "Moonlight in Vermont".










Thank you to the following websites for information and graphics:
The Ethan Allen Homestead and Museum
Vermont, the Green Mountain State
Vermont 'Sugar Shack Facts'

Thank you for joining us on our trek through Vermont.
Have a nice FRiday and a great weekend!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 07-07-03...Military Monday 07-08-03...FRPets - iceskater's Bubba/Lucy 07-09-03...Things I've Learned in Life 07-10-03...JH2 - "Is Iraq Another Vietnam?"

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
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4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[.30Carbine]

Take a virtual tour of the Calvin Coolidge Birthplace!

[WVNan]

Hi Aqua and everyone. Just dropped by to see what was up. I have lots of stuff to get done before 3:00 p.m. when we leave for Ohio with our church group to see the Passion Play. Evangelist will arrive tomorrow to stay the week with us during camp meeting. Must vacumn and dust. Have fun in Vermont today.

[Calpernia]

That was a lovely overview of Vermont Mama_Bear. I do snow cream every year with my children. BUT, you may keep the pickle. :P

[Calpernia]

I'll be right there for breakfast!

[.30Carbine]

Coolidge on Common Sense (from The Quotable Calvin, by Peter Hannaford):

The people know the difference between pretense and reality. They want to be told the truth. They want to be trusted. They want a chance to work out their own material and spiritual salvation. The people want a government of common sense.
~Speech accepting the nomination for the presidency, Washington, D.C., August 14, 1924.

It has always seemed to me that common sense is the real solvent for the nation's problems at all times - common sense and hard work.
~Interview with Henry L. Stoddard, December 14, 1932, New York City; published in the New York Sun, January 6, 1933, the day after Coolidge's death.

[.30Carbine]

You're more than welcome to come, anytime! (Or use the recipe, it's cheaper ; )

[.30Carbine]

Here's a useful tip if you visit VT in mid-summer, mid-winter, or anytime in the fall -

Avoid Stowe!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Burp!! Er, Bump!!

[Fiddlstix]

Good Morning Everybody.

You Know The Drill
Click the Pics J

Coffee & Donuts J

[.30Carbine]

You did a wonderful job compiling info for today's thread. I love that you included the Spider Farm! "Moonlight in Vermont" is a far better song to listen to than our new State Song. The music for this new ditty was written by a lesbian co-worker of mine. I believe it was chosen, in part, for its gratuitous mention of the "golden dome," which the former Gov. Howard Dean had recently spent a bundle on.

[.30Carbine]

I've seen the Bennington Monument...

(More info by clicking the pic)

...but have never done the tour or witnessed the reenactment.

[Aquamarine]

Enjoy your trip Nan. I have some things to do also, maybe Mama Bear will be up by the time I get back. There probably won't be any pancakes left by then though. :)

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Friday !

83 degrees as I post this, headin' for around 97-99 today. Heat Index = 104-109. Whew !!

[jwfiv]

Good morning, Mrs. Bear...and to all our Hostesses and all the Finest...)

Thanks for the thead today...I enjoy the Finest tours thru the USA.

Never been to Vermont, but I was in Massachussets for a frozen weekend in February, once...visited a Maple syrup maker, out on the backroads in the Western part of the state...wayyyyyyyy yummy pancakes, that fine day...)

Being a cowboy from the SW, I feel drawn to the magic of the New England states, so different than what I'm familiar with...and, covered bridges are magical.

Back in '90, I was in rural, upstate Pennsylvania for a week, to visit my brother and his family...it was October-time...the Lord gets to use all the colors in His palette when Autumn comes to New England...good grief, how beautiful!

A day cool and gray greets me this morning...but already, the news has me boiling and I'm ready to pinch the head offa any Dimokrat I see...hmmm, maybe I'd better stay home until I cool down...grrrrrrrrrr...)

[Mama_Bear]

Hi! So nice to see you here this beautiful morning. We've been missing you.

I will never forget that you were our Finest Featured FReeper on my birthday. I was so concerned that the birthday wishes that people were posting for me would preempt your day. But, you were so gracious about having to share the spotlight with me. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Cooked and slathered in real Vermont butter, blanketed in the best maple syrup on earth! The nuts in the bread give it great texture and super added flavor.

Wow! That sounds SO good. YUM!

[jwfiv]

jwfiv, wishing WVNan a safe and joyous journey...)

[Mama_Bear]

Well hello, Mrs. Mayor! Wonderful to see you this morning.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you! I just love what you are adding to our thread about your state. I was hoping that you would.

I enjoy the historical battle reenactments. We try to go to the Civil War reenactment in Fresno every October. It is touted as the biggest west of the Mississippi. As in your Revolutionary War reenactment, we can tour the encampments and talk with the soldiers who are historically "in character". But, unlike your reenactment which takes place on the actual battlefield, there were no Civil War battles fought in Fresno, only a few minor skirmishes fought in California during that war.

That's the way I enjoy learning history. Thanks for the link! :-)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Wow, Mama!

Great thread, fuzzy. Excellent everything! : )

PS I don't like Vermont syrup. : )

I'll be back later, have some things to do first.

Those pancakes make for whisker lickin', for sure! LOL