GIZMO'S GOSSIP 

Hi again everyone.  Gizmo here.

I may be a victim of my own success.  For many months my column has been so popular that it has attracted thousands of readers (now over 55,000 people and as yet an un-determined  number of dogs).  So many have come to the inn this summer that I have been unable to keep to my usual monthly schedule of columns,  which thus has delayed the entire newsletter.  For that you have my apologies and pledge that I will try to keep my monthly schedule beginning next month.

Mom & Dad brought home TWO more cats (photo above) from the Humane Society. One just wasn't enough. The black & white 5 year old is named...get this...Moses and the 5 month old grey and white is named Zeidel.  Now I have six cats swatting me in the face.  Our cats,  as usual,  keep us thinking.  Kuumba,  for example,  ALWAYS,  needs to be near people  -  too near.  Our son Mark left Friday to return to college in Pensacola,  pulling a trailer behind his jeep.  First stop in Pennsylvania to spend the weekend with his mother.  When he stopped he heard a sound and of course there was Kuumba stowing away in the trailer.  Thank goodness my sister Kate was also there so she took Kuumba back to Washington and then back when she came home last week.    We know that sooner or later Kuumba will stow away in a guest's car - and then what ?

On a down note. Vegas has not been seen in more than a month and we fear that he may have been caught by coy dogs. We all miss him deeply.

Love Gizmo

Sour Cream Maple Bread

Moist and delicious...

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup sour cream
1 large egg
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1.	. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8x4x2½ -inch loaf pan. In a small bowl, stir and toss together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside..

2.	In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter until smooth, then slowly add the maple syrup, mixing constantly. By hand, whisk in the sour cream and egg. Stir in the pecans (if using). Add flour mixture and stir just until blended (do not over mix).

3.	Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes, then turn the loaf out onto the rack to cool completely.

Foliage Driving Tour-Fall is a fantastic time to get in your car, truck, SUV or motorcycle and tour the scenic roads and by-ways. Fall foliage drives are more than an Autumn past-time they are a passion for many Vermonters.

From St. Albans…		~120 miles
>	Take Route 105 from St. Albans east through Stevens Mills to the intersection with Route 101.
>	Take Route 101 south one mile then turn right on to Route 242 and follow it to Montgomery Center.
>	In Montgomery Center Turn left and go south on Route 118 to Belvidere Corners then turn right on to Route 109 and take it to Jeffersonville.
>	Travel from Jeffersonville through Fairfax on Route 104; about 2 miles north of Fairfax turn left on to Route 104A and follow it to Interstate 89.
>	Take I-89 south to exit 17, exit at Chimney Corner, turn on to Route 2 and follow it west to South Alburg.
>	At South Alburg take a side trip on Route 129 to Isle La Motte, then return to Route 2 and travel north to Swanton and the intersection with Route 78 east and Route 7.
>	Take Route 7 south to return to St. Albans to complete this journey.