Author Archives: Diana

About Diana

Canadian-Vermonter, Texas transplant. Cowboy boot wearing, maple syrup connoisseur, music lovin', wine and micro-brew drinkin', two-steppin' traveler who loves finding all the hidden gems the world has to offer. Come join me on the ride!

The Aftermath of Irene

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Hurricaine Irene hit New England pretty hard this past weekend. I’m sure we’ve all seen the pictures and video’s online and on the news. Central and Southern Vermont seem to have been especially hard, taking out roads, bridges (even the iconic covered bridges), homes, businesses and towns. Thousands are out of power. It’s heart wrenching having to see such a beautiful place under complete destruction.The next three pictures are from Wilmington, VT.
For more from this album.

The next day:

For an aerial view: WCAX News
This has been pretty popular on the Weather Channel. The bridge now lies 1/4 mile downstream, upside down – still in tact. (By the way, Marvie from the Weather Channel, who lives next to this bridge, my boyfriend saw you and he now wants to drive down there and give you a giant hug for your loss of the bridge.)
I remember in 1997, Montgomery, Vermont was hit pretty hard by a flash flood. The entire town was under water. Buildings and roads were destroyed and it took the town some time to rebuild. Driving thru the town after the water had receeded, I’m sure I didn’t understand completely the tole it takes on a town but the images are still in my mind today. Now I say I will try not to live next to a river without being on a hill.
Now, Vermont has been hit again, only worse and more widespread. Even though it may not have been my hometown that was hit the hardest, Vermont as a whole is a community and this has effected everyone. Some have lost their lives, some have lost their homes and/or businesses. Some towns are even completely cut off due to road closures. The Burlington Intervale has been completely flooded and crops have been destoyed. The Alchemist, a local brewery in Waterbury, has been destroyed. Homes have been seen floating down rivers.  but along with others in the state, and as true Vermonters, they are not dwelling on the bad. If one thing is for certain, Vermonters are some of the strongest people – they are already ready to pick up and come back from this better than ever.
Winooski Falls
The heart of the matter is, it’s going to take some time to clean up the mess in New England. Some say it’s still not even over as the water needs to come off the mountains and head towards the coast where they anticipant more flooding along the way. FEMA trucks have already arrived in Vermont and are ready to begin the process. If you would like to help out, please reach out to the Red Cross, Vermont Food Bank, assist in local emergency shelters. If you live close enough – reach out to a neighbor or the elderly who need help picking up.
More ways to help and volunteers needed.
Photos taken from the Burlington Free Press and Facebook photos.

American Flatbread

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One of the best places to eat in Burlington, Vermont is at the American Flatbread restaurant located on St. Paul Street. Always a favorite and at the top of my list whenever I go home to visit.

American Flatbread started back in the 1980’s while playing around with the idea of flatbread pizza in an outdoor, homemade brick and clay dome ovens which has slowly grown and evolved over the years. Today, American Flatbread operates in numerous locations and even offering frozen selections (in stores and online).


American Flatbread is unique in its own. It really brings out the Vermont flavor and style. Immediately entering the restaurant, you are surrounded by a laid back, natural atmosphere. The surroundings once inside, makes you feel as if you are in a rustic, cozy, authentic place. Once seated, you will notice that you have a full view to the “kitchen”. You can watch your pizza being made and cooked, right at your seat.


Not only does American Flatbread have the kitchen at your view, but they also have a brewery – Zero Gravity. Not only can you ask for a fresh brew at the bar but you can also have a peak into their brewery.

Don’t drink but want something that’s just as authentic? Try some of their homemade root beer! Rookie’s Root beer, on draft and locally made. A little sweeter than your typical Barq’s Root beer, but it was still pretty tasty and hit the spot.

Back to the pizza. All flatbreads are made with completely organic ingredients. This is an area which American Flatbread prides itself. The pizza is absolutely delicious! You know the taste of the ingredients when you pick them fresh out of the garden? They taste better than anything that you could ever buy in a store or even have in a restaurant. You get the same type of feeling / taste when you eat at American Flatbread.

This is Bill! Hi Bill! I use to work with Bill in Vermont (who now resides in Dirty Jersey of all places). We got to meet up in Burlington for dinner along with one of his friends and had a great time!

This is my pizza (Vermonters do not call pizza a pie, just FYI). My choice was the Pepperoni and Peppers (all natural nitrate free pepperoni with organic green peppers) (minus the organic red onions) as an individual size. You can see I got a 10-inch pizza which I even had left overs.

Bill and his friend split a large pizza (they also had left overs, these pizzas are quite large). He opted for 1/2 the Medicine Wheel (organic tomato sauce with three cheeses and herbs) and 1/2 Punctuated Equilibrium (Kamalata Olives, oven roasted red peppers, handmade VT goat cheese, fresh rosemary, red onions, cheeses and herbs).
Now if you are still not craving this pizza after the description and pictures, there’s a serious problem and you should probably see a professional. Take my word for it, it is delicious.
Prices you ask? An individual flatbread (10-inch) can cost anywhere between $6-$10 depending on the toppings. The larger sized pizza can cost between $10 and $18, depending on the toppings. One flatbread is generally enough to serve two. Obviously, these prices are a little more than Papa John’s or Domino’s keep in mind what you are paying for – all organic, handmade and they cook it right in front of you (really they just like to tease you because once you walk in the remote area of the front door and smell the aroma, you have to have some). To me, it’s definitely worth the price, I just wish they had an American Flatbread in Texas!
American Flatbread is definitely, by far one of my favorites. I love how they use organic ingredients, you feel like you are being catered for and leave feeling plenty full. I’ve never been disappointed and can’t wait to go back!

Website: http://americanflatbread.com/
Be sure to check out the website for their multiple locations and hours.
They also cook at different events (including the Warren 4th of July festival each year) and hold different events at their restaurants. Be sure to look it up on their website!

Enjoy and let me know how you like it!

Friends Who Are Family

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The main purpose of my trip home was to attend a good friend’s wedding on the 20th. With a great wedding, comes a wicked party and to us Berkshire kids, it means a reunion. There is a bunch of us that have all known each other since we were 5 (or younger), and I think it’s safe to say we’re all family to one another. When we get together, it’s like nothing has changed, we just pick up where we’ve left off, no matter how long it’s been. We had great parents, a great upbringing and now we all have a pretty good head on our shoulders.

We did a lot of remiscining. Someone said that we were spoiled growing up, even though we didn’t know it at the time. We weren’t spoiled with being able to have every toy you wanted, or the newest pair of shoes or most expensive clothes. We grew up with a great surrounding, we all played sports, small town, small classes, good friends. We had what we needed. The majority of us went to college, joined the military and have set up a good foundation for ourselves. We were taught that you have to work hard to get what you want. Comparatively, when we look at the other classes that we went to school with, we were the cream of the crop. Teachers loved us.

I guess you get to know each other pretty well when there’s only about 26 graduates in your high school class (even though knowing everyone’s business isn’t always a good thing), in the end it’s something that not everyone can say they’ve experienced but I feel pretty darn blessed to be part of it.