The stars and stripes of the United States of America 

Today is a solemn day in modern American history.

To all who lost loved ones eight years ago, our hearts go out to you.

And to all of those who have been called to serve to respond to the tragedies of eight years ago, and to their families, you have our gratitude and support.

And to our leaders, whether we have agreed with you or not in how you have lead our countries response, you have our respect.

God Bless America.

The Killington Classic Motorcycle Rally returns this weekend. 

As we enter the fall season, there is a lot going on at Killington this weekend.

The Killington Classic Motorcycle rally returns. "Thunder throught the Mountains" is being produced by Killingtons' Economic Development and Tourism Commission with assistance from the Killington Chamber of Commerce. The Killington Classic begins this afternoon and continues through Sunday with a variety of events around town. See the Killington Classics' website for more details.

Also this weekend, visitors to the region can tour the area and collect pictures of Hay Sculptures placed outside many local businesses. A Hay Sculpture Map has been posted online by the Killington EDTC for people to print out and follow.

Where ever you may be this weekend, hit them straight and don't forget your sun screen.

killingtonblog.com Updates 

Two weeks ago I introduced a mobile version of Killingtonblog.com. I have continued to improve the blogs performance on mobile devices since then as I was able to collect some test data from people looking at the blog. Thus far I have been concentrating on smart phones. The blog has been tested against the following devices : Iphone, Ipod Touch, Blackberry Storm. Based on my testing, it should work with most Blackberry models. It should also work on many full feature phones which accept a "handheld" option in their browser setup.

I have also made some feature changes to the photo galleries used on the blog to make them more interesting. The current active gallery as I post this is the "Fall Foliage Gallery". You will notice in the gallery that I have added a small caption underneath the thumbnails with the date the pictures reference. Just for fun, I also listed a link to the "2008 Fall Foliage Gallery" so you can compare the progression of this years foliage changes to last year.

While I was at it, I did the same thing with the "Snow Stake Gallery". The snow stake gallery for the 2009/2010 season is not active yet (that will happen when I snap the pictures of the first snow fall for the season at Killington), but I have also linked it back to the "2008-2009 Snow Stake Gallery" to allow comparisons with last year.

Hope you enjoy the new blog changes. Where ever you may be, hit the ball straight, and don't forget your sun screen!

Cookie Monster at the Sunup Bakery on the Killington Road. 

All around Killington, hay sculptures are being set up to pay homage to Vermont agriculture and the arrival of fall. The Killington Hay Festival, a product of the Killington Economic Development and Tourism Commission, is underway.

Around Killington, and up and down Route 4, there are 34 hay sculptures set up. Animals of all kinds, as well as characters of whimsy, are being created with some imagination out of bales of hay. A guide map to all of the sculptures and clues for the Hay Festival Scavenger Hunt are available at the office of the Killington Chamber of Commerce on Route 4.

If you visit Killington in the next few weeks, get your camera out and get your picture taken with your favorite hay sculpture. Life can be so simple some times.

The first trees to show fall colors - behind the Wobbly Barn at Killington. 

A beautiful stretch of nice late summer weather has descended over Killington just in time for Labor Day Weekend.

Cool temperatures had visited the area earlier in the week. There were actually a couple of days where I shed my summer shorts in favor of full length slacks. But not today. Temperatures at the inn are in the low 80's under a sky filled with puffy white clouds. Just a beautiful day.

Visitors to Killington this weekend will see the first signals that the season is changing. All around town, the usual "early" trees are starting to show their colors in the middle of a sea of green. For some reason each year the same trees change color several weeks ahead of the rest of the forest. Today's picture is from the front of the inn looking over the Wobbly Barn at one of the trees on Roaring Brook Road. Each year this tree signals the change of the seasons, even though the other trees around it are still in their summer plumage.

Where ever you may be this Labor Day weekend, keep it in the fairway, and don't forget you sun screen.

Birch Ridge Inn, Killington Vermont 

There is no doubt about it...Fall is in the air at Killington.

Over the last week, while daytime temperatures have climbed to the high 70's, and perhaps a low 80 if your are in the sun and sheltered from any breeze, nighttime temperatures are getting quite cold. Many nights have been in the high 30's at best. And the trees in the area are starting to take notice.

Of course it will be a while before things really begin to change. Around the inn, the trees which normally start to change colors early have begin. But the majority of the trees are still bright green.

Today I began the daily process of taking a picture of the inn to document the arrival of fall foliage in Killington. It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds in the next few weeks.

Sometimes life is just messy 

When we were walking back and forth from Deers Leap earlier this week, there were stretches of the trail where the mud was ankle deep. You just had to go with it... To go off the trail would do more damage to the surrounding terrain. And I was struck by how, even though we were having great fun on our hike, the mud was a parable about life. Because....

Sometimes no matter what you do
you are going to be all covered in goo.
Getting into the mud can be so much fun,
whether in a downpour or in bright sun,
but it's the way out that defines how the mud sticks.

I was saddened this week to hear of the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy. Being from Massachusetts, the Kennedy family takes on a different meaning than some other parts of the country. In my high school years, I met the senator several times. From debate society gatherings, to Archdiocese of Boston events, he was even then a living legend in the folk lore of the late 60's in Boston. In 1970, I had the honor of being appointed by the senator for a seat at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Unfortunately, I did not pass the entrance physical to be a pilot, so I never made the trip out west. But I can still remember the look of pride on the face of my mother when the telegram from Senator Kennedy's office arrived at the house in Arlington notifying me of the appointment.

For some unknown reason, I have had a song by 70's rock band Kansas rattling around in my head for the last few weeks. I'm not sure why; I must have run into it on a local radio station in the car while out of the inn or at the physical therapy office for my shoulder. The refrain is particularly poignant in light of Senator Kennedy's passing. It goes like this:

Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more.

Where ever you may be, if you find yourself covered in mud...clean yourself up and keep on going!