Sunday, June 20, 2010

Come Join Me: A weekend in Vermont

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The farmhouse was built in 1796. My friend and her husband mustered up considerable courage, bought it and the land, and moved to very rural Vermont two years ago, after many years of living in a three room condo in the upscale south end of Boston.
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It was a lifestyle change of giant magnitude for them.
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The nearest sizable town, which is to say it has a Main Street with a coffee shop and other storefronts, is 20 minutes away. My friends have been greatly welcomed by their neighbors, one of which supplied the pork ribs we grilled for dinner, provided from his now decreased pig (I couldn't bare to wonder if the pig had a name.)
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Throughout the course of the weekend, we had farm fresh eggs, farm fresh yogurt, cheese, ice cream, which we bought directly from Robie Farm. We had home baked bread and fresh strawberries and Vermont bacon.
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Eight acres
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a front yard garden
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no reason to wear shoes
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time for three Big Yellow friends to sit
in a coffee shop
most of the morning
and write and read aloud together
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time to admire the art of watercolors
(check out the website of Mark Neilsen),
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the colors of the local farmstands
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time to cook together and eat together
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to watch birds and play with cats,
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to color, hide, seek and giggle with two great kids,
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to enjoy the rhythm of friends
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and remember how deep and sweet love can be
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to let yourself be astonished
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by simple sights
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to walk the land
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relax
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do cartwheels
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follow the cut grass at dusk
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until you see the light again
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and in the end,
effortlessly say thank you
for the times that remind and replenish
everything good.
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(and when I arrived home
I was greeted by a friend
so dear.
She gets embarrassed sometimes
when I gush over her,
she who watched over my dog Stella
and my homestead;
she who I hope will
grant me the privilege of
being her friend for a goodly
lifetime)
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love
kj

28 comments:

  1. That's it.
    I'm packing for Vermont.
    Not that I could afford it, but good lord, it is beautiful!!!!
    What a lovely place to go recharge!

    XXOO!!
    Anne

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  2. Sigh....how lovely....how relaxing.....I almost feel I was there with you. This looks EXACTLY what you and JB needed! Gorgeous photos - gorgeous wordds..

    That "good friend" back at "Chateau KJ et JB" is the best! I know Stella adores her....

    Glad you are all home safely - refreshed, renewed, recharged.

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  3. Beautiful photos of a lovely trip. JB is stunning, tell her I said so :-).
    Except for that poor pig, the food sounds wonderful too.
    I so wish you all lived close by to visit along with Lo. You are all very lucky to be able to spend time with each other.
    Kisses to Stella.
    Love.
    xoxo

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  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  5. Hey, how did that happen :-)? Must be payback! xoxo

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  6. anne, i am on my way to your blog. do i see parakeets there? i imagine your indiana is beautiful too. as is my part of western massachusetts. but anne, this vermont is so rural and rustic and real and very green and rolling: i came back feeling so close to the land and to myself. xoxoxo

    robin, lo wooed stella. no question stella adores her. it was a treat to have a good friend here at # 9. it's all a circle of love, robin, we are... xoxxo

    annie, i will tell jb you said so!
    i felt the same way as you for the pig. i wish we all lived nearby too, annie. we are the sisterhood!
    xoxoxo

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  7. Well, your good friend made it to her door in twice the time it should have taken, but now I'm at least having a laugh at some of the 'happenings' along the way that briefly scared the pants off me!

    I'll comment on this post tomorrow before I edit Stella photos for animal wed.

    Kj, this post is beautiful though, I'll start there ;)

    Love to the 3 girls at #9.

    xoxo
    Lo♥

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  8. Oh, KJ, that looks and sounds like paradise!! You lucky, lucky woman to get to spend time on that gorgeous land in the company of loving friends. There's nothing better that that!! Thank you for your wonderful comment on my blog tonight, dear friend!! You are such an inspiration to me!! Much love, Silke

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  9. Oh my gosh. I want to go now. What beautiful photos kj!! you did a wonderful job and took the most interesting pictures. I'm so glad you had a great time. I am going back for another look.
    It truly is a beautiful post.

    xo and love,
    lori

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  10. Simply a beautifully perfect post!

    How I adore that house,,the beautiful land, the ribs.
    :-)
    I'm sure it was an amazing time for all. Even Lo.And Stella.

    I love JB's hair, and suspect it's naturally curly?

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  11. dear pp: thank you for everything plus. are you writing a travel journal? i heard it will be very unique, especially the round-a-bouts :) come back tomorrow: yay!

    silke, it was refreshing. i think all of us just relaxed and fell into moments. it is easy peasy for me to leave you a wonderful comment because what other kind of comment could anyone leave you? you inspire ME!

    lori, have you seen vermont? new england? i thought of you a few times this weekend, what your would photograph and how. you have pushed me to get better with my camera, lori, by example. ♥

    babs, JB's hair is naturally curly. most hairdressers love cutting it! for a house built in 1796, the house was pristine: clean walls, nice colors, a kitchen i so wish i had for myself. this was not a luxury $$$ house. i was suprised by real estate prices--lower than i expected. tsup babs!

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  12. Yes. Please.

    I love that corner of the world! Love love love it! And love your ode to it and a great relaxing weekend!

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  13. Vermont is a little slice of heaven and your photos show that. looks like the best type of weekend - you will treasure the images.

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  14. we will talk about your ideas miss brilliant....

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  15. Will you take me there if I come. I may have to say I love you? I so want to be in your picture with Melissa and her lovely family and you and JB and have you teach me how to write and sing and RELAX. I'm already good at bare feet. Im awesome at foot rubs. And I have to say, JB is looking absolutely gorgeous these days. Happy, relaxed and just lovely. Please can I come next time? (send moneez) Hahaha!

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  16. I had to start my day with your trip again. I wish I could have walked the land with you. You know an old New England farmhouse has been my lifelong dream.
    That studio, jeez, what I wouldn't do! But then I'm sure winters are long there in seclusion (which in itself could be another charm.)

    Me and Stella had our own photo shoot at number 9 ;)
    I miss her already!

    And I agree about JB looking relaxed and happy. I noticed it the minute I walked in the door. She's radiating, and I'm glad ;)

    Stay tuned for a post about Stella and Lo's vacation this Wednesday.

    hey, miss me????

    love you,
    Lo
    xoxo♥

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  17. Beautiful! A beautiful post about beautiful people in a beautiful place.
    Love and hugs,
    xoxoxo
    Angela

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  18. The very name Vermont has always made me tingle...my intent is to visit it within the next few years, and your post and photos have made me want to do that even sooner!

    What a lovely place for you and JB to recharge and renew. You must have enjoyed the smells and sights of the deep country, proven by your photos. I know the smell of mown hay is something I want to bottle!

    How lovely, too, for lolo and Stella to have had a good time while you were away. And I'm glad everyone is home and safe!

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  19. I am deeply touched by this post KJ!
    Words will not be enough.
    Oh what lovely pictures and heartwarming words.......
    Glad you had such a good time and our dear friend was waiting for you!
    How privileged you are all to have each other. And all this beauty around you!

    Sending you warm greetings from Bangkok!

    ♥♥♥
    >M<

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  20. linda, oh i have to come visit you and see what colors you have splashed on those walls and windows! you and i could decorate all day, i just know it!

    mim, it was a blast and none to soon! i imagine a certain european country is going to be a blast too. :) and yes, ms. artist, we just might hatch ourselves a golden egg or two, along with ms. anne of the meadows. xoxo

    hells, i swear to you, if i had the ability and the means, i would send you an airline ticket TODAY! i am already visualizing you on my couch, and hells, you can bet the ranch we will now include vermont., it is a straight two hour shot and i have friends there who will get you relaxing before you know it. btw, i accept your 'i love you' whether you say it or not! :)

    lo! lo! do i miss you? yeah! does stella miss you? yeah! sometime we'll go to vermont, just like that! easy peasy. jb is getting all these compliments. since they're all for her and not for me, i should probably stop scowling so much. hee ha hee.

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  21. angela, angela, tsup! ♥

    marion, if you are anywhere near vermont, i'll be wandering the streets looking for you. ♥
    i'm back to work today, writing a thousand reports, wishing i were outside. but still, no complaints from me! xoxoxo

    marianne, our dear friend indeed. she charmed the paws off stella! i have a feeling i am going to have an interesting wonderful summer that includes seeing faces i love!
    yipee!!

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  22. Loved all the pix of your trip. Beautiful. Looking forward to animal Wednesday to see Lo's photo shoot of sweet Stella. Also liked your post on your day at work. I've done respite with teen girls. I thought that was so nice of you to let Addie use your car for her roadtest. I can see you make a huge difference in these kids lives. Not sure if it's right to comment on more then this post LOL (Iam Renee's sister, but I won't say, I don't give a ....lol

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  23. What a green place! Of course, I love the heat and rocks of the Southwest, but green is good too. All that fresh produce is mouthwatering. Bet you had some memorable meals. How did the writing go?

    Love the pics of JB too. She has great hair!

    Hugs to Lolo for watching Stella. Anyone who loves Stella is tops in my opinion.

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  24. camille, i am always so happy to see your comments here. thank you so much. please look for my animal wednesday too. i think there may be a senior angel sighting. i miss renee with all my heart, i know you do too. camille, you can comment and swear to your heart's content here. you can even say renee's favorite swear word. ♥

    linda, the writing was, well, emotional. we cried while reading and while listening. sometimes that's the way it is. how are you, my friend? your suggestion about emily's book is percolating. you really got me thinking ♥

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  25. I am definitely getting out to the countryside soon! "to enjoy the rhythm of friends" this line made me smile. Lovely post.

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  26. what an utterly delightful, beautiful weekend. I feel such an abundance of yumminess and comfort. Thank you for bringing us along!! xox Karin
    ps, i like my verification word - mischic
    my definition is: mischief for chics to get into :)

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  27. Tsup*!* I thought I recognised Melissa's two little girls, did Milady get to join you?

    Looks and sounds like you had a wonderful catch up in beautiful spot*!*

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  28. Oh, pastoral doesn't even come close to how those photos made me feel. Envious but happy that you and JB were there, with friends, cats and oh, the veggie stand photos, awesome as well!

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