Getaway...

Due to the absence of certain small ones I decided the Mr. and I needed to celebrate...
each other.

and what does a young couple do, when they live in the country; to celebrate that is?  

They escape to the big city!

This is me, driving out of the village, biting my lip in pure excitement to see lady New York again...

The drive in is surprisingly easy.  Every last bit of traffic is headed the opposite direction than us country folk, skipping town to enjoy a more relaxing, less city weekend!

Now, I have been chattering about this weekend for a solid few months, ever since my city mom graciously offered her flat while she joined the others bum rushing the countryside.

She knew the importance I had placed on this very short window of opportunity, and well, she spoiled us!  Upon our arrival we were greeted with the most beautiful tray of thoughtfulness.

My most favorite crackers in the entire world, you think I am kidding but no, they are divine.  Paired with delicious cheese and spread, wine, and the most fantastic...

chocolate.  

Cheers!

The buck doesn't stop there, oh no.  In celebration of Mr. Witt and my ten years together my darling matriarch gave a gift to us that is so rare, so unheard of, so blissfully exciting, that we jumped out of our seats upon receiving! 

...a night on the town!!!!

One can only assume what happened next... I passed out from all the excitement and dreamed of city streets, decadent cuisine, and theatre performance...

First thing first.  Downtown.  Record shopping.  We scored a Shins and, of course, a Bright Eyes Album

We wanted Pink Floyd The Wall, but records are now lamely expensive and so we passed on the fifty dollar expenditure, this time.

thumbing thru these now antiquated musical discs was ... perfect for our afternoon.

The walking in downtown is tiresome and builds an appetite quickly.  I find it almost impossible to choose a place.  Each outside dining experience seems better than the last.  To settle for one leaves me wondering what might be around the next corner.  We were lead to pizza, quaint and organic of course...

 well, the two lovely glasses of white was thirst quenching.  however, it did try to lull me to sleep.  

Next time, wait 'til the 5 'o clock hour...

Despite the afternoon downtime we were quickly lifted by the awesomeness of Broadway!

This show was so fun.  I have seen a few shows in my day but haven't been back to broadway in many moons.  The talent was amazing, the jokes were hilarious, and the music... rocked!

It was a wonderful day and night.  I feel so fortunate to have such access to a truly vibrant city.

A very dear friend lives there as well, that is a story for tomorrow... to be continued. 

Leaving on a jet plane...

It has been a solid ten years, like a rock solid 10, that Mr. Witt and I have devoted to creating and rearing our two little tykes.  

A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into this all consuming extravaganza ...  

**a lot of love and dedication too.

I think I can count on one hand how many times Noah and Gabrielle have spent night(s) away from their doting parents; that was greater than or equal to 1 mile away from our home.

I mean, look at them.  You think I would give these guys up so easily??

But they are older now.  The adventure of life awaits them.  And they have left, with grams and papa, for twenty-five whole days...

This leaves me with two emotions:

Ecstatic 

and...

terrified, alone, totally freaked out, sad, anxious, and... a little lost.

**cue the laughter as I realize having time for yourself is not all it is cracked up to be!

Day 1:  Barely notice the absence due to seeing them in the AM before sending them on that Jet Plane. Then coming home to a neglected house that need a good scrubbing.  Cue the tunes and an iced coffee, i have work to do!

Day 2: Feeling excited for that time alone I have been searching for since year 2002.  Plus, b/c Mr. Matt is studying for a big exam,  I went to Brianne's, cuddled a Bea, did some sewing, and got in some girl time. 

Day 3: Holy hell, what have I done?

Just kidding, kinda.

I am really looking forward to this time of seperation for one reason and one reason only...

Time with this guy!

This guy and me, well we haven't lived together, without smaller ones, in a very long time.

Best part so far...

The giggling on the first evening at the dead silence.

I am super excited for the kids to be in the state they were born, with their Grams and their Papa.  I hope for them...

time in the swimming pool with watermelon breaks

sun tanned skin

 a warm exit from a cold store

late mornings in a dark air conditioned house, watching cartoons

a monsoon storm

a breeze carrying the sweet smell of  creosote

and a trip to Shogun, the most delicious Japanese food

I am super excited for the Mr. and Me to be in the state that we love, together.  

I hope for us...

a spontaneous night out for a glass of wine and dinner on a week night

a walk by the lake holding hands and getting ice cream

a bike ride down harbor road in the evening hours

to see one live band, at least just one

to hike in the beautiful green mountains

to take a trip, just a mini one

to be in love.

updates to follow...

A Concert

I prefer singer/songwriters.  In general.  

In fact, I adore them.  

There are a special few who have the abilities to speak the truths that I long to know.  And one in particular whom I love to hear.

He came to Shelburne and he brought his band.

So I brought my family and this was our view...

Highlights were:

                                     Sitting closely to my Mr.

                                      

                                     Gabi singing loudly to the songs b/c she knows all the words

                                      

                                      Noahs wide eyes at an up close rock n' roll band

                           

                         Free ice cream from Ben and Jerry

                                      

                                     Walking to the concert, from my home, and getting a free poster for doing so!

                                      

                                    Having my relatively new camera be rejected pre entrance, giving it to a guy

                                       named Nick and picking it up, safe and sound, yesterday at higher ground.
Thanks Nick, for  being a swell guy!

                                ----------

Mr. Oberst and his written word have the unique ability to captivate.  I enjoy his activism.  I am happy to witness proper representation of a sane mind who has had enough of what he sees before him.  It is nothing short of brilliant...

I often joke with my darling husband that if given the chance I would run away with my beloved singer/songwriter...

 but this is simply not the real case.  I have my very own singer/songwriter that I love deeply right here in my very own life...

 So...

Songs played were all fantastic, some old and some new.  They opened with Matts wish song and closed with mine, both NEW songs, and a perfect balance. 

In fact, now that I pause... they closed round one with my favorite and the encore with my other favorite.  Yes, it was a wonderful night indeed.

The Ladder Song

No one knows where the ladder goes.
You're gonna lose what you love the most.
You're not alone in anything.
You're not unique in dying.
Feel estranged every now and then.
Fall asleep reading science fiction.
I wanna fly in your silver ship.
Let Jesus hang and Buddha sit.
It's on now.
The days are long now.
The ups and the sun downs, in a twisted mind.
If I got to go first.
I'll do it on my terms.
I'm tired of traitors, always changing sides.
They were friends of mine.
Don't hang around once the promise breaks.
You'll be there when the next one's made.
Kiss the feet of a charlatan.
Some imagine freedom.
All the rest is predictable.
You can say you're the first to know.
Bought a mantra to concentrate.
Car alarm or hissing snake.
I know now. How its going to turn now.
You gotta calm down, or Ill lose my place.
Gotta get to the center.
Gotta get to the concert.
Run off with a dancer.
Gonna celebrate.
Welcome the new age.
Covered in warrior paint
Lights from the jungle to the sky.
See now a star's born.
Looks just like a blood orange.
Don't it just make ya want to cry?
Precious friend of mine.
Well I know when its finally done.
This whole life is a hallucination.
You're not alone in anything.

You're not alone in trying to be.

 One for you, One for me

 
One for the righteous, one for the ruling class
One for the tyrant, one for the slaughtered lamb
One for the struggle, one for the lasting peace
One for you, and one for me

One for the Führer, one for his child bride
One for the wedding, one for the suicide
One for the bunker, one for the broadcast booth
One for me, now one for you

How did we get so far away from us?
How did we get so far away?

One for the people, one for the parliament
One for the weary, one for the malcontent
One for the master, one for the protégé
One for you, and one for me

One for the bread lines, one for the billionaires
One for the missing, one for the barely there
One for the certain, one for the real confused
One for me, okay, now one for you

Now that we've come so far away from us
Now that we've come too far to say
You and me, you and me that is an awful lie
You and me, you and me that is an awful lie
 

It's I and I
It's I and I
It's I and I
It's I and I

thank you and goodnight...

Special guests...

We did move a bit out of the way.  It was on purpose for reasons that align with our intuitions.  Its intention, however, was not to be so far from those we love.  

We have been fortunate, as of late, to host some very fun visitors despite the many miles in between!!

To see The Smith Family was a delight and I was honored to act as hostess on their brief, yet most amazing stay!

 

 Cameron and Gabrielle met in Little Gym, one of the many places that

mothers of toddlers 

go to exhaust their little ones and meet new friends...

That was over five whole years ago; and look at them now!

Still such good friends.  I was so pleased to see them enjoy each other, nothing but FUN FUN FUN!

What else was there to do but enjoy yet another successful picnic by the lake?  First a walking tour of the village...

Matt always knows how to add flare to moment, no?

We purchased some vino, **met a local farmer, ordered our dinner and voila...

**side note on that...

for some reason I find the local farmers here, in Vermont, to be of like a celebrity status.  They are far more beneficial to our culture then let's say...a ms. lohan.   And I am over the moon to be getting to know our local peop's, ya dig?

okay, picnic dinner... amazing...

Matt and Evan

Britt and Meryl

And the children enjoying the water in the evening sun...

Though their visit was close to being a short twenty-four hours they were successful in doing quite a few of our favorite things!  

Walk through the village, check.  

Eat and play and the lake, check.

Following day...a visit to Shelburne Farms AND the Shelburne Museum!  

Having this family visit our new home town was delightful and I do look forward to it again next year and the years after that! 

Before parting ways I spotted my favorite chair in the history of chairs.  It was just sitting there, in the grass, under a tree... I love this chair and I will be visiting it frequently... It makes for some pretty rad pictures!

See you at Christmas Smith Family.

xoxo

Dinner at the lake...

I mean seriously, the beauty...

It is intoxicating.

This is our new destination of choice during dinner time hours.

Last Friday we had the pleasure of some very special guests.   

And the sky, well...

it was on its very best behavior.  So we did the only thing we could do... 

 We ordered the oh so scrumptious Green Mountain pizza from our local pie shop.  This place is the best and its owners Will and Christie are darling.  I love supporting their local shop.  They work hard and it shows!

Grams and Papa are here again, this time in a more summery kind of way.  The picnic on the beach was a perfect match for the weather as well as the mood.

They had only graced our doorway for a whole five minutes before they jumped into chores and other ridiculous nonsense, for the sake of us... it is commendable.  So aside from the lovely sunset meal we decided to relax at the Burlington Farmer's Market; an exciting place to be indeed.

We joined the Rookies Root Beer club last week at the Shelburne market.  We got great glasses and will receive $1 + $.50 refills all summer long! Sweeeet!

Papa is now an official member too and the boys chose the maple vanilla soda this time.

 The girls went old skool... my favorite really.

Next, the Mr. was so kind to let me gather a small bouquet.  I was happy visiting each floral vender, and then revisiting each, for a perfect match.  An afternoon made in heaven....

What a delightful way to enjoy the market.

The raging East Coast heat wave sent us home a touch earlier than I had planned, but that's okay.  We were full of delicious Root Beer and needed to get these beauties into some water!  

Mark and Jan took off on a summer adventure.  Maine is their destination, their plan; to see what happens!  You will never guess what they are coming back to do!!!

Grams and Papa + Witt Juniors + Arizona = Thirty Days!!!

Shelburne Farms...

My goodness this place is breath taking... 

I can hardly believe that we managed to move a mile down the road from one of the loveliest farms this fine state has to offer... jeez!

The junior Witts have been attending camp here this summer, how lucky are they??  This week is themed 'A Week at Hogwarts'... 

 WHAT?  So jealous of them, more on that to come....

Due to there unique understanding of the farm and its day to day shenanigans, they were excited to show us around.  I was so glad that Kylee and Kris were here for the very thorough tour too!

 

We rode in on what I call the lazy truck. 

I call(ed) it that because I am usually running when it drives by and I am **haboobed by the dust it kicks up!  I made fun of it on the way over and we all agreed to walk to the farm barn... but then, when we got there and saw it, well it looked like a lot of fun!  So I no longer call it names, I just hold my breath as it passes by and smile.

**Haboob is a new term that we have all recently learned thanks to bizarre dust storms in AZ.

 Gabrielle could not wait to introduce us to the ever so sweet baby goats Honey and Crisp.  They are extra special to little Gabi Goose because they were born on June 21st; her birthday and the 

summer solstice.

One of them was particularly fond of Noahs fingers.

These chores are up daily for children and adults to come and enjoy!  We  have a yearly membership and can participate anytime.  Though I do not recommend feeding these...

They stink!

Next up on the tour de witt; a hike to whimsy meadow.  Can you imagine such a place?  Noah says it is straight out of Alice in Wonderland....

Um, which way??

Oh, Phew!  Thanks guys!

Sadly, and gladly, I was so taken with whimsy meadow and all of its wonders I failed to take one picture.  After many twists and turns we found our way in, and then out, and then to this quaint little bench...

overlooking this beautiful vista...

Did I mention I love this place?  Well I do.  So very much.

 We made our way back to the Farm Barn.



Noah and Gabi were insisting on a climb to the top of the clock tower.



They assured us that they had already been up there, like oh my gosh, you haven't??



But it was a tad warm and the older people were feeling like a cold beverage!




So we settled for a peak at the school they attend...

Noah ended our tour with a speech.  He made sure that to tell us that he knows we have a lot of choices out there but wanted to thank us for choosing Witt... now where have I heard that one before???

thanks darlings!!

and for the record... this is what the farm looks like early in the morning, before any of the people are up...

see these lovelies... heavenly.