Ethan Allen looms tall in the annals of America history as the leader of The Green Mountain Boys who captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775. Today we visited The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum near Burlington VT. This modest farmhouse was Allen’s final home. We learned so much about Allen and his family and the last two years of his life here on the Onion River, known today as the Winooski. The experience was a surprise for Jane who didn’t even know this historic site existed! Later in the day from the Colchester Causeway, we looked out to South Hero Island and imagined that day in February 1789, before this causeway was built, when Ethan Allen traveled across the ice here to collect a load of hay from his cousin Ebenezer Allen in February 1789, the day before he died.
Caligula at Strawberry Hill
The purpose of our trek to Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham in the southwest of London was to see a recently recovered bronze bust of the Emperor Caligula but we discovered so much more in the recently restored 18th Century “little Gothic castle” built by Horace Walpole.
I miss my weekly fix of Steve and Karen’s posts. Last one I saw was the Ethan Allen posting in October. Love their stories! Happy Holidays to all.
John Carney
Auburn, AL
(former Little Guy companion)
I too greatly enjoy their blog, and grow concerned when they go silent for so long. I have however, learned they are safe, but preoccupied. We will just have to patiently wait till they are able to post again.
Thanks everyone who have expressed concern for our well being, and nostalgia for our missing blog posts both here and in personal conversations. As Brian said, we indeed are indeed safe and healthy but have been spending our energy trying to wrap our heads around recent family losses. That said, hopefully we’ll get caught up on the blog in the near future.