The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-28
Bits and Pieces About Vermont
By Alma Archer


nfemos of Vermonter: Guaranty Trust co. executive left flock of business on hand at 140 Broadway, purchased grille from can1y old Gimbels, and started for Green Mountain vacation. Giant size broil- CT was wrapped with handles stick ina out. Have you gotta new ten his racquet?" called doped bank messenger. Two strangers on street accosted c. T. executive, saying, eHey, where va gonna get steak to put in that thing?' He ex- plsined 1t was just decoy he was going to use to lure a couple ot stray cows with, then wrapped aI1- other piece of paper around handle , to avoid exposure to further wise cracks. On subway, someone idled loudly. "Why don't you get a case for your banjoP"
 Vermont vignette: The house is a desolate pile of gray, weathered kindling wood. A beam still stands, marking the barn site. Lavender Canterbury Bells bloom perennially. reminding visitors of an old-fash- toned New England garden. It was 10 years ago, when Mrs. R. was breakfasting with the three chill clren, that her brother said, Come drive with me to Boston" So she did--Mrs. R. and the kids. Coffee cups, egg plates and uneaten toast remained on the table. Doors weren't even locked. Later hungry pair of horses and COWS peeked in the windows, looking for their family. The Rs landed in New York. Green Mountain neighbors cleared away tho dishes. Porcupines cleared away the house. Cows joined other herds mo one tells what happened to the horses.
 Bobcat Mountain after Sundown: "A gentle lawn, so young and tender it's still wearing spots, waits quietly by the stone wall while gay buck leaps after the doe. In conference at the bear pit: Reynard the Fox, Bruno Bear, Harriet Hedgehog, Chollie Chipmunk.
 
 :Coco-C Cola secretary of D'acy Adv. aAgcy. saying the Rosary on noun tain summit beading special prayers for safe return of American boys overseas. (Nearest Mass would be 30 miles round trip with gasoline ra- tioning thereby curtailing anything but prayers in Natures own cathe- sdral. (Really high churchD
 It Happened at Midnight: Porcp- pine stole onto terrace to swipe nifty corrugated box around soldier gift from Germany. Visiting Army pilot took aim by flashlight, shot between fancy iron curlycues of chair, url- sttier glass table top, and over G. I. 2can. missing everything but porcu- pine--Which fired needles in return. vermont recipe for Porcupine Stew: Hn1it beastie down belly with sharp hunting knife to avoid quills. Skin Dress. Soak animal overnight in vinegar and bicarbonate of soda Stew until tender, or parboil and bake. Meat resembles coon and Is quite dish"
 Sounds in the Night: Eyes shine in the darkness. An eerie, shadowy form gracefully goes over a stone wall. A scream freezes the blood in your veins. It's the BOBCAT This lynx in the darks plays cen- triloquist so neatly, you think one minute baby has been abandoned on your doorstep whimpering, and the next instant you're sure 8 wo- man is being murdered down the lane. so terrifying is the shrill, I historical outcry. It's good sense to sfay indoors after dark in the tinl- berland. Respect animal life. don't 'tmclest it. Human beings are the 6ntruders in the domain of wild life.
 Things I Never Knew About Yer mont: A bulging barrel of about 3lK gals. of maple sap will make a 1allon of syrup. One tree, If 1t runs rirht. will yield about two buckets ssp . day, or say five gal. in good ssr, weather. So, 1t takes one-hall dozen trees for the bulging barrel [ dav. A freeze at night and thaw \ in the day makes good sap weather
 like, say March 20. (See how much trouble you and stack of wheats are?) Eleven lbs. syrup equal about 8 lbs. sugar after 14 hrs. boiling It's the evaporation of the sap oi the sugar maple tree which pro- duces syrup or sugar. Trees are bucketed usually two weeks. put sometimes only four days. If buds start. it taints the sap. All syrup arading is under State control. Fire-wardens don't have fire-fight- ing equipment <. You practicaliy never see . turkey .. Telling a tree requires a rhythmic hand on the ne climatic conditions explain fhe abundance of redheads =. :. Auctioneers sell "half a baseball tean.s referring to pitcher and catcher :. water witches who To- cate springs or water veins, prefer the crotched branch of an apple