And this completed my tenth stay at a Landmark Trust USA property, starting 10-12 November 2020, also at the Amos Brown House in Whitingham, Vermont. Gary joined me then, and he and Ilana joined me just now. I also enjoyed this property 11-14 November 2021. Gary has joined me on eight of my Landmark stays, Ilana now six. It always feels we are “back home.”

29 November 2025 — “As A Reminder to Self” – Gary and I enjoyed another great stay “at rest with Amos” 14-17 November 2025 – three nights again – our fourth stay at this wonderful place. Here is Gary when we returned from dinner in West Dover, Vermont, on Sunday night the 16th.

It is difficult to describe the old tree lined dirt road as you come up to the property – it has to be experienced.

at the crest of the incline, fields open surrounding the Amos Brown House – reportedly the oldest house in Whitingham, Vermont, and built 1802 (but I have also found in a Town report – 1790 Amos Brown built first brick home in South Whitingham). A remote area, I need to learn why here. Some history I have found from an AP news release in 2003 states, “…the original Amos Brown had kept sheep at the property. The many wooden outbuildings were added in 1870, and at some point the owner turned to dairy farming. After about 150 years, the farm became a monastic community, and then was rented out for many years before being abandoned and turned over to the Whitingham Historical Society. The historical society gave it to the Landmark Trust to restore.” Finding the dates elsewhere, The historical society acquired the property in 1996, transferring it to Landmark Trust in 2000. And I found – Amos A. Brown, September 1774–26 May 1863, is buried in Cutting Cemetery, Whitingham, which you pass close to the property.

somewhat inviting.

I photographed the inside on my first visit I was so impressed with how things were restored to this structure that had been in disrepair. But, for the best look at the inside, visit this page on the Landmark Trust USA website.

The kids arrived late with pizza since kind of late to start cooking. Then Gary and I finished the last episodes of Hulu’s ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING with Martin Short and Steve Martin and Selena Gomez- too much fun. And, why not, long overdue again for FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF. Great evening.

Without even thinking, but knowing what to expect, I automatically awoke at 6:10 AM to experience:

I like as a minimum three nights away which you gives you two full days to “do nothing” or work on projects. This is what I packed to work on, and what I accomplished:

1 – Four books to read
2 – Five back Shunpiking adventures to write Posts and share with you
3 – Eight complicated eBay listings to write and post
4 – Write my monthly Did You Know That… (DYKT) history article
5 – December CLARION to work with
6 – Two computers, one DVD player, one projector, one screen, boxed set of all Hogan’s Heroes shows, and five additional movies

and;
1 – read 20 pages of one book
2 – did not get to old Shunpiking Posts
3 – WOW – finished and listed two eBay items
4 – changed DYKT direction twice, have first sentence almost done, 500 words to go
5 – CLARION – passed some work to printer, struggled with one difficult submission
6 – Much screen time – well, projected to screen – just a thing Gary and I do when together – we both need the “mindless time”

Our second full day we decided to have lunch at the Foxtown Diner in Shelburne Falls as we also did in 2020. Ilana is an avid bicyclist, and headed off to join us there. Since it was after 1PM we had the place to ourselves, and soon the owner, Tom, was chatting away – we all had fun together. He knew Dan, whose book shop was across the street. I bought most of the contents the shop in the late 90s. Itchy Dan kept moving, and again I bought Dan out in Cold Spring, NY, and again in NYC when he gave that up as well to move west. I finally asked Tom about what the town thought about Bill Cosby (Camille still lives there), and we got the “lowdown.”

I had found a new route back to Whitingham coming into the property instead from the southwest. We discovered “downtown Heath” and loved it – population 709. Now on the calendar REMIND ME – is the Heath Agricultural Fair next August – cannot wait. When we returned, Ilana captured Gary and I enjoying the porch and air.

an hour later (4:48 PM) the sun was setting…

and as reflected in the storm window with the fantastic red painted brick

second full day coming to a close – dinner – yes, two more movies, and finally turning in. And, yes on departure day I again rolled over in time, noticed a glow on the wall, and getting to the window at 6:11 AM captured another red sunrise.

I have seen the most intense red sunrises and sunsets at Landmark Trust properties, and particularly here with Amos. But why? I had to learn. My search for understanding will continue, but one concise reason I found is, “…Within the visible range of light, red light waves are scattered the least by atmospheric gas molecules. So at sunrise and sunset, when the sunlight travels a long path through the atmosphere to reach our eyes, the blue light has been mostly removed, leaving mostly red and yellow light remaining.”

I am thinking that, unlike the topography surrounding “44,” at Amos Brown House, Dutton Farm House, and at Naulakha, these properties are at a high elevation with a long slope towards the east. As the rays of sunlight begin to appear the waves are reaching up allowing a greater filtering effect of the other colors. Makes sense to me. I am probably wrong. Can you help?

But to help, here is a sunrise at Amos from November 2021.

Happy Thanksgiving – luv, RAY