A Country Getaway

 1911 Laura Ingalls Wilder 

"There is a movement in the United States today, wide-spread and very far reaching in its consequences. People are seeking after a freer, healthier, happier life. They are tired of the noise and dirt, bad air and crowds of the cities and are turning longing eyes toward the green slopes, wooded hills, pure running water and health giving breezes of the country." 

We took a little trip to the country... Vermont. 

Just two hours away. 

Just one night at an inn. 

Just what we needed. 

First stop: Vermont Country Store

Love this place so much! It's a step back in time. Here is a link to my instagram - click on Vermont in the saved stories at the top to see a few clips from inside) 

We ate lunch right next door at Mildred's Grill. So so good! 

Preserved just as it was... a step back in time. 

With all the right music playing too.

After, we drove to this amazing Vermont State Park - and oh my goodness, it took our breath away. We took in the views by the lake and walked a bit on the trails. The woods smelled like hemlock, a breath of fresh air (the saying) must have been invented here. 

Time to check into the Fullerton Inn in Chester, Vermont

I have a love for Hallmark Christmas movies that take place in cozy towns. This inn was in this movie. 

Don't you love a peek into little inns? I always take a few pictures because the girls always love to look back at where we've stayed over the years. 

Very clean, spacious, lovely little sitting part. 

Loved this little table in the bathroom. 

... and the view... 

This was the girls room - since Inns aren't like hotels we decided to get the girls their own sweet room (this one had light blue walls and the prettiest white bead spreads. 

Time for dinner - served on the porch - overlooking the town green. 

We were about to say, "no thankyou" like we always do for dessert... until... she told us the pies were made in the pie shop just a few doors away... I just had to see these pies. And they did not disappoint. 

After dinner we explored the grounds a bit before cozying in our rooms. 

The inn served a lovely continental breakfast... and I wish I had a picture of it. Beautiful muffins, fruit, and oatmeal. Hot tea... so glad for the tea! And we ate on the porch again. 

And just like the day before, we shopped for the rest of the morning - this time in all of the quaint Chester shops. 

We loved this bookstore. 

Creaky floors, I loved this little bookstore that had the 'shop around the corner' feel. 

I left with this new Christmas book - author from Vermont. 

Loved the charming candy shoppe

... and so many other little stores. After all of this it was time to check out of the inn. 

On our way out of town we stopped at an antique store (I'll have to take a few pictures of the things I brought home with me) and lunch here and the "Country Girl Diner" 

And with a bit of relaxation in us, we headed home. Time to get ready for Anna's graduation party! 

From the most Charming Towns to visit in New England:

If you're looking for an authentic Vermont rural experience, look no further than blissfully uncrowded Chester. It's located on the slopes of the Green Mountains, with the Williams River passing through. In Chester, you'll find charming inns, stone houses, quaint churches, swimming holes, covered bridges, and farm to table restaurants

Chester is best known for its Stone Village and Chester Village Historic Districts. The Stone Village derives its name from the plethora of granite houses in the area. Chester Village gives off a classic Federal and Colonial aesthetic.

Chester is also home to cute boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, and some fabulous restaurants. There are some beautiful artisanal crafts at DaVallia Art and Accents and handcrafted jewelry at Sage Jewelry and Gifts. In the summer, Chester hosts concerts on the town green. And the Weston Playhouse puts on terrific theater.

Where to stay in Chester: Inn Victoria, Fullerton Inn, Stone Hearth Inn

Where to eat in Chester: Free Range Restaurant, Heritage Deli & Bakery, Pizza Stone VT, Alice's Restaurant

Chester in the fall...

Our Anniversary Weekend ~ It Only Gets Better

In catholic church theology marriage is defined as a sacrament instituted by Christ, signifying the union between Christ and the church.  It is a lifelong exclusive partnership between a baptized man and woman, established by mutual consent and ordered toward the good of the spouses, the procreation and education of children and the sanctification of the couple. It is a covenant, a sacred bond and public state of life within the church. 

It is no wonder that July 28, our anniversary feels like one of the most holy days of the year for Scott and I. 

Over the years we have had different kinds of 'days' for our anniversary. There were many, many when our anniversary was just with our girls doing something special and not the two of us alone. Those memories are so precious to us because our anniversary is simply the celebration of the day we started a family. Although we wouldn't become parents for over 8 years of being married, our wedding day was the official day we started a family. 

Recently, Scott and I find ourselves in a transition of life. Our girls are now older and that allows us to have the chance to celebrate a bit differently. 

This year we went away for one night to the cutest little town in Vermont. It was beautiful, peaceful, and delightful. But truly we could have been anywhere. We felt just so blessed, so in love, so close. I will certainly hold this past weekend with me all school year long. I am so grateful to God for our union, for our love, and for our sacrament. 

Here's a peek at our weekend: 

Saturday

We left home at 9 am and headed straight up. It's just about 1 hour and 50 minutes from our home, in southern Vermont. We were so happy listening to our anniversary playlist filled with song after song that makes us feel so happy! 

We text and talk about this moment all school year long, "can't wait to turn on our songs and hang out with you on the way to Vermont!" 💕

Navigation told us it was just 1:57 but we were there in way less than 2 hours. Perfect! 

Made it! Grafton Village, Vermont  Here is an article about this special place. 

Our first stop was the adorable Grafton Village Market (built in 1891) for lunch. I had a creemee (VT term for maple syrup to make things yummy) latte and Scott a blueberry lemonade. We split an amazing sandwich and sat up at the counter overlooking main street. Charming, wonderful, perfection! 

(texted our girls to ask them what waterbottle/laptop stickers they wanted) 

Then we just walked around that little village. We went into the library because they just make me happy. Here's a little peek. 

I especially loved the children's section - lovely collection of classics and lovely picture books. 

It was cozy and charming and made me want to move to that town for some reason. 

Walking around we saw a sign for an Open House so of course we went inside and toured. Could have bought it on the spot... but of course we can't buy a second home. It sure was fun to look! Then we headed to a little shop where Scott bought me the coziest sweatshirt for fall and winter to remember our special time. 

Next we sat outside the Grafton Inn (built in 1801) and just relaxed. 

There is so much to do in this tiny town and someday we will spend 2 nights so we can really hike and explore but we were little 'dressed up' for Mass in a different town and dinner later at the inn. So then we headed about 12 minutes to the town of Chester VT. This another special place to us.

We stayed in Chester for our very first one year anniversary back in 1997

then again with our girls 

then last year. 

Today we walked in some shops and then went to Mass. 

Then back to our Inn for dinner. Here's a little peek at our adorable room: 

Dinner was at Phelps Barn and was amazing! 

Late evening talking to our girls and hanging out in the rockers outside the inn. 

Sunday

Woke up to cozy rain and a country breakfast at the Inn in their garden room. Bright, happy, cozy, and yummy! 

After we checked out the girls begged us to not come home right away. So we went to the town of Manchester, VT to have lunch and shop. 

And we came home to the biggest happy daughter smiles, a "Welcome Home" sign on the door, and fresh baked cookies (and a fully cleaned up kitchen). 

H O M E  was a great feeling too and that night all of us back together was oh so happy. We all watched a movie. Rare for our family to sit like that for a whole movie and boy did it feel good! Scott and I had found all of the places from this movie (Funny Farm). The home is in Grafton (where we stayed). The town scenes are from Townshend, VT. We saw the green and all of it on the way home so it was fun to go home and watch the movie again. 

The girls did awesome! And had so much fun! 

Monday

On Monday it was our actual anniversary so Scott took another vacation day to spend the day at home together. After the girls were off at work, (that's a weird feeling I'm still getting used to), we decided to walk about 5.5 miles to our town center and back home. There is a paved trail off all the roads that we've never walked on. It was more lovely than we thought. 

We went to Hartford Baking Co in the center - split a scone and had a yummy iced drink before walking all the way home. 

It was the very best anniversary ever. I could pinch myself for the joy we share, the life and years we've walked through, the ups, downs, the hard, the hardest... all of it we've done together. I love this boy more than I could say. How it's possible to love him more this year after all of them but I do!