Between the suggestions of our good friend Connie, tourist brochures, and something in the records we often go on little trips on Saturday. Texas Falls, which you see in the picture, is the most photographed spot in Vermont according to the Internet. Connie has suggested several times that it's the perfect picnic spot. Nearby, she remembered was the house where Robert Frost, New England's favorite poet, wrote his famous poem Stopping By the Woods. So, off we went. Texas Falls is certainly in a beautiful location but we didn't get to see it because the bridge from which you view the falls is currently being rebuilt. The roads in the area were being repaved and we never did find the Robert Frost house.
Last week, we made a trip again to Bennington on official business and discovered that the aforementioned home is actually in Shaftsbury which is a hop, skip and jump from Bennington and in our mission.
Old First Church in Bennnington where Frost is buried.
Robert Frost's grave. The trees shaded this headstone.
We often notice the inclusion of a pew at the local church in a will or inventory. Notice the cushions and pillow.
The high podium is used for special occasions.
Robert Frost's home in Shaftsbury.
It was exciting to see the actual first draft of the poem which was written on a very hot July day, incidentally. This is the most widely read of his poems and he said he didn't like teachers to find special, hidden messages in the poem. The site is beautiful. Robert was a gentleman farmer who loved the thought of farming, but not the work. He and his son planted 1,000 apple trees on this farm.
We're on the downhill run of our mission--seven weeks left. We're trying to finish our current project. We will miss Vermont when we have to leave, but we are anxious to be home.
