Bill Commerford

White River Valley in the heart of Vermont

This look west is across the White River Valley from Bethel,Vermont's North Road.
The most distant peak you can see is 'Lympus [yes, th'apostrophe's in it's name],
closer, half hidden in valley mists are the gentle eastern slopes of both vulture mountains.
On the other, western, cliffside of little vulture, up along Lilliesville Road is our "shack".
There the "shack" is high above and across a still gravel road from the Lilliesville Brook.
A half mile stroll down towards Walt's where Lilliesville Brook flows into the White River.
The river bends below the cliff into deep enough, an eight minute swim,long pool.

This "look"'s from where big Al and I first dammed rivulets from our uphill springs.
Hillside run-offs and a continuing flow from our spring feed several little pools.
I called these Timmy's ponds . I spend days creating a half-dozen along the trickle.
I marvel at the changes every spring-melt brings to them.

Above the "shack" there's a flat open spot where we found wild strawberries growing.
Here Kitty [1936-2000]is collecting our morning breakfast's bowl full in my watercolor.
A cropped version of this painting appeared in Yankee magazine. Old friend, art editor
J.Porter coupled it with "Berry Time", a last page coda about giving friendships.

Drive up past Cobble House and on a steep rise just after the left down to the house
you can see in the valley there's a bump out. this is my 'look' at the White River

flowing up to me, now tumbling south to north, bubbling, weaving a wave into the Glades.