I swear I lived in New England in another life, even though I have spent my whole life in the Northwest. I find New England enchanting, photogenic, and somehow like home. I love the old meeting houses, fall colors, rock walls, covered bridges, old barns, lighthouses, and sugar shacks.

During one of my trips to Vermont in December, I was fortunate enough to experience a genuine snowstorm. The state had even put up road signs warning drivers about the incoming storm. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, I woke up early one morning and made the 70-plus mile journey to Peacham to capture the iconic scene of the Peacham Congregational Church and its neighboring red barn in their winter glory. To get the perfect angle, one can either park at the local fire station and hike up the open field or drive around Macks Mountain Road to get permission to access the field through one of the nearby houses.

On a previous visit, I had met a resident of Macks Mountain Road who owned a large piece of land to the southwest of the road. He mentioned that there was an old sugar shack on his property and welcomed visitors to walk on his land and take photos. In fact, he encouraged it. After capturing several images of the church and barn, I made my way over to the sugar shack.

Although I took many fine images that day, the photo of the old sugar shack is one of my favorites. It has a wonderfully soft quality, with light snow still falling and the clouds beginning to break up, allowing the sun's rays to glow through.