Monarch butterfly sampling a dahlia

Monarch butterfly sampling a dahlia

What a difference a year can make....

Last year we were giving witness to the power of Mother Nature to bring down mountains with some rain. This year we are admiring the whimsy of Mother Nature for creating beautiful butterflies to tease us as we walk by the gardens. The contrast could not be more profound.

Today happens to be primary day in Vermont. Who knew! Mary and I dutifully cast out ballots this afternoon at town hall for some politicians who felt it was in their best interest to hold an election where nobody came. Hopefully it does not work out that way.

We were actually tipped off about the election 2 days ago. A republican state rep for Killington sent out an email asking people to take a democratic ballot and write in his name. He was hoping he could snipe the lone democrat on the primary ballot, thus avoiding any kind of election at all for the house seat he currently holds in the fall. Oops... he was found out. Of course, what he tried to do is perfectly legal, if not a bit unorthodox. The real shame is that the democrat kept such a low profile for the primary that the republican thought he would be able to get away with it. A pox on both their houses.

Which brings us back to the butterflies.

A year ago in the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, the citizens of Vermont put aside their political differences in the face of tremendous adversity. When Mother Nature moved mountains, the people of Vermont responded with the proverbial "is that all you got!". The bonds formed between people all over the state will be a unifying theme for years to come. If only the political class could figure that out instead of trying to game the system for their advantage....so it goes...

And the butterflies are oblivious.

Vermont is a beautiful state. The gardens all around the inn that Mary carefully tends are an example of working with nature versus fighting it. And, at least for a few days, the butterflies have voted with their wings!

Where ever you may be keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!