Last New Year's I shared my resolve for resolutions (which is not much); instead I made a bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish during our two years at Tuck.
I thought I'd post an update about how much we've accomplished in the last year, and what we've still got to squeeze time in for before graduation this June!
My Tuck Bucket List:
Visit the Simon Pearce factory store and see the glass blowers work we first went for ourselves, and have since been several times to show both our families and friends who've visited
Eat in the Simon Pearce restaurant completed, several times, love this restaurant!
Visit/windowshop in historic Woodstock, VT
Dine at the Woodstock Inn
Visit to the Tunbridge World's Fair missed it our first fall, but made it in fall 2013! It was a sight to be seen! 4H animal showings, antique New England farm equipment demonstrations, old fashioned apple crisp served warm with ice cream on top... worth the trip!
Watch hot air balloons fly at the Quechee (VT) Balloon Festival in June Will was already in Denver for his internship, so I went with some partners in Hanover
RIDE in a hot air balloon <-- evidently this is quite expensive and scary! Not sure if I'll accomplish...
Visit the Quechee Gorge and walk down it completed 09/13
Camp in a cabin on the Dartmouth Land Grant I've stayed in two so far! One we could drive to, the other we had to canoe to!
Hike Mount Gile (Norwich, VT) and climb the fire tower we (and our dog) have hiked several times. Really a pretty walk, with a great view of fall foliage at the end!
Hike Mount Cardigan (a "bald" mountain) and climb the fire tower
Hike Mount Ascutney
Run the Covered Bridges Half Marathon in June Completed! And it was 88 degrees when I crossed the finish line! This was my first half and longest rac eto date, excited for my next one!
Run the CHaD (Children's Hospital at Dartmouth) Half Marathon in October <-- Unfortunately morning sickness early this fall got in the way of my training. Maybe this fall it'll be my excuse to come back!
Learn to play ice hockey So done. I liked it so much I became a captain... Tripod Champions winter 2013!
See the Orozco Murals housed in Dartmouth's library (nominated for a National Historic Landmark designation)
Climb Baker Tower and look out over the Dartmouth Green
Experience the bonfire on the Green for Dartmouth's homecoming weekend
See a Dartmouth football game yes, multiple times
See a Dartmouth hockey game yes, multiple times (have cheered the men's and women's teams!)
Go snowmobiling
Go snowshoeing completed winter 2013; loved it! Hope to go much more this winter
Cross-country ski
Go dogsledding completed 01/13, incredible
Chop down our own Christmas tree <-- Uh oh, we didn't do this year!! We were only in Hanover about 10 days this December with the extended 2nd year break.
Go apple picking
Go berry picking <-- Planning for summer 2014, since we'll be staying in New Hampshire a bit past graudation
Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail
Walk Holt's Ledge in Lyme, NH
Skate on Dartmouth's Occom Pond
Play hockey on Occom Pond completed 02/13, at Winter Carnival
Swim in the Connecticut River completed summer 2013
Eat at the Norwich Inn Many times
Stroll the streets of Montreal completed 01/13 on the annual Tuck trip, can't wait to go back in a few weeks!)
Visit Burlington, VT completed 07/13 and went back in 09/13, love Burlington!
Take a factory tour of Ben and Jerry's ice cream plant in VT
Sample the products at Cabot's store in Vermont
Visit/stay in Dartmouth's Moosilauke Lodge <-- Not for lack of opportunities to go through Tuck-organized trips. If I miss this one, it's my own fault!
Go sledding/tubing completed, on the hills of Hanover's golf course, no less
See a production at Northern Stage Theatre (White River Junction, VT) completed 12/13; Will and I saw and loved their production of White Christmas
Audit at least one class at Tuck/Dartmouth completed winter 2013 (Intro to Entrepreneurship), considering Foundations of Leadership for winter 2014
Enjoy the best breakfast in the Northeast at Four Aces Diner many a weekend morning spent at Four Aces, yummm
See a performance at the Hop
Get a farm share in the summer and enjoy fresh, local produce completed summer 2013, loved my CSA, healthiest summer of my life!
Visit the local farmers' markets as much as humanly possible though, it turns out, when you have a farm share delivered to your office, you don't actually need to go to the farmer's market so much!
**Last but not least--something I have no control over so I can't really put it on the bucket list--but I really want to see a bear and/or a moose while I'm up here... I'm pretty sure I would drop dead on the spot. <-- No luck in 2013, but I'm dedicated to making this happen in 2014!!
2014 Tucket List Additions
Visit Franconia Notch State Park and the Flume Gorge completed 09/13; was a wonderful daytrip together with Will, site of the previously-existing "Old Man of the Mountain"
Welcome our first baby, our very own Tiny Tuckie! (expected 05/14)
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When I look back at all we've experienced in just 16 months living here in the Upper Valley, I'm overwhelmed with so many happy memories in such a vibrant, beautiful place.. We've really come to love this corner of the earth and all it has to offer!!