Taking the show on the road

We'll be gone for a few days, all of us.

Here's where we'll be. These are from two years ago, the last time we were there in winter:

We've rented this place for years. It's upstate, down the road from Yasgur's Farm, past an alpaca farm, on ninety acres. Now, on the site where once was mud, and free love, and music, stands this.

The farm: this is what we call it, although the only animal there other than the deer, will be our borrowed dog. And it's not his first visit, either.

Every year, I ask the girls if they like it better there in winter or summer. It's a toss up.

In summer, there's swimming in the three acre pond on the property, and blueberry bushes all around, an apple orchard in front, and a jacuzzi tub. Not so fond of the tub, myself, but the kids act as though it's some sort of carnival ride.

In winter, the pond freezes over, and there's sledding right outside the door, a huge fireplace, and a jacuzzi tub. See above.

We've come here with an infant, now grown to almost four. And a Labrador, now gone.

We've come here first with American Girl Dolls, and later with ipods.

We've come here with friends and guitars, drums, keyboards. We've come here with oil paints and toboggans. We've come here to see concerts, and we've come here as the last stop in a month long journey.

We've come here with ice skates and bathing suits, lots of wine, and all the food we could possibly need. Although, there is always a fruit basket waiting for us on the eight-foot kitchen table.

It is here where I read Three Junes, learned to play Folsom Prison Blues, and, on a blanket underneath an apple tree, taught Anna to roll from her tummy to her back.

Today, we will go there with six girls, not a baby among them, yet all of them still young enough. Young enough to still want to go on a vacation like this with their parents, something we're told will not always be true.

We will bring sleds and skates, wine and clementines. Knitting and musical instruments. Movies and books and favorite pillows. And a borrowed dog.

We will bring our family. We are taking this show on the road.

More, later this week. Thanks for reading.
tt