The sun rises across the meadow from the cabin. My bed is surrounded on three sides by windows. Lying down, I can look up and to the left and see the top of the tallest tree in the meadow, a pine tree. It’s the last place that the sun touches in the evening, and the first place to light up in the morning. Some days the sun wakes me, some days the birds. Most days it’s my alarm. Often it gets snoozed for another hour or so, but sometimes I jolt out of bed, ready for a run to the lake if I’m feeling energized, or to read if the book I’ve got going is good enough. Five days a week I drive 20 minutes to the Village Roost, where I wash dishes, make coffees, run food, and hang out with my friends. I joke around too much sometimes, I think. But that’s the sort of place it is. Twice a week I head to volleyball after work, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My team is the conglomeration of misfit free agents that recently joined the league. We’ve come a long way since the early days, but didn’t make it too far in the playoffs. Tomorrow, Thursday, about 30 people from the league are doing a murder mystery (Bangkok!). Yesterday, Tuesday was my last day at the Roost. Tonight, Wednesday, is my last Karaoke night of the summer, and I’ll spend most of the day tweaking and practicing my set list. Karaoke is at dbags (Dover Bar and Grill), the best spot in the valley. Last Friday a friend of mine and his band made their debut there. My friend, Rocky, plays bass and had me up on stage to play a song so he could sing freely. After, I played pool with two friends and a rude old man. A few weeks ago was the Blueberry Block Party, the biggest event the town has in the summer. I didn’t win the pie-eating contest, but I certainly tried my best.

After reading, my main pastimes have been walking, running, gardening, and just looking. In the early summer I planted a dozen flowers. Coreopsis, delphinium, lilies, black-eyed Susan, milkweed, lavender, honeysuckle, edelweiss, cardinal, lithodora, catnip, veronica. And I’ve learned to identify tons of others in the garden. Goldenrod, bee balm, parasols, milkweed, mint, oregano, different ferns, chives, irises, other milkweed, comfrey, hostas. I pruned the rose bush and the plum trees. Many mornings I’ve spent just sitting on the deck, surveying the meadow, usually thinking that it’s pretty insane that I get to live here. It is an immense privilege to steward this small piece of earth. I’ve really felt like I grew to be a part of the community here, which has been a real treat. Learning peoples names and a little of their stories, becoming a friendly face to the regulars at the Roost, knowing that I’ll see at least a few friends at the bar. This sense of belonging, both social and natural, is truly filling. 

I’ve been training for the Vermont Long Trail, which I’ll embark upon this Saturday afternoon. My goal time is ambitious but doable if things go well enough. My training has been promising; I did two big day hikes (Pemi Loop: 30.6 miles, 9.6k vert gain, Desolation Loop: 35.8 miles, 6.5k vert), each feeling pretty manageable. We’ll see! Stay tuned

I’ve made some exciting plans for this fall. Though, as any regular readers know, I’m not one to divulge in spoiling a future blog post. I’ve mapped out plans through New Years, more or less. If you have any suggestions, hit my line! For a handful of years now, my life has consisted of distinct chapters, each coming with its own cast of characters, routines, and lifestyles. They’ve all been special and memorable, and I often learn more about a chapter in the months and years after it than I do while actually living it. I can tell you this: I love my life here. It agrees with me, Vermont living. Good sleep, simple food, great connections. Time in nature, plenty of solitude, lots to read, no wifi or service at home (walk to town: 2.5 hours), and harmony with natural rhythms. When I first lived here a few years ago, I wrote in the guest book, “This place lives through me and I through it”. Unlike most things I write, that rings true to me still