Change is so good.

via Black Olive Photographic

It's funny how blog posts reflect life. Currently, mine are scattered and unsettled, with no regularity whatsoever.

John and I have continued our tour of the Southeast, along with the good time. We couldn't be happier. Great things are happening.

1. I am so pleased to say that I will be joining the Outreach and Enrollment Team at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities as Program Coordinator, beginning later this month. My last job was a learning experience, and as one would hope, it paved the way to a much better position. This kind of progress doesn't often happen in just four months, so I feel very lucky.

2. John and I have decided to BUY a condo in Greenville, and we are thrilled. These grown up things are so fun. And because we never even had time to unpack in Vermont, the thought of settling into a place of our very own makes us giddy.

3. Getting back to the Upstate has let me revive contact with some fantastic people. I've been talking to Converse ladies about networking and community advice in the area. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to be in contact with my (both pink and red) sisters.

4. Friends! I've already seen my ex-professors turned very close friends, and this weekend I'm going to paint the town red, quite literally, with my college best friends: Mary Carolyn and Grace. I still haven't gotten to coordinate with my childhood friends Brittaney and Tara, but it will happen soon!

5. Family. Both of our families have been so wonderful, and it's so nice that us moving closer to them makes them so excited. We've been overwhelmed by the support and love from the Maxwells and the Concklins! Whether it's watching Herbie while I house hunt or taking us out on the town in Charleston, it's been just lovely.

6. John loves the charm of the South, along with its warmth (not the weather - but there's that, too). He's such a gentleman. It's adorable.

I hope all is well in your lives, too, and have a relaxing weekend.

xo,

Lauren

Sugar Rush

Lately I've been low on creativity and high on my previously unexplored desire to become a Ben & Jerry's connoisseur. Upon the discovery of this potato chip-laced dairy delight, I waited for a day that was stressful enough to warrant such an affront on my otherwise healthy diet. This Wednesday provided just the excuse I needed. The result was salty and sweet but not life-changing. And a particular work-related chain of events on Thursday left me with no choice but to go back for Clusterfluff, a combination of marshmallow and peanut butter that had stored itself in the back of my sugar-crazed mind. Clusterfluff is impossible to ignore. I suspect many plagued by nut allergies will be found scratching their eyes out in peanut-induced agony after finding this in a late-night moment of weakness. Ice cream lovers, beware.

Living and learning.

mia

This summer is about learning to stay positive. 

It's also about being thankful for my amazing fiance. 

 Our mutual support has reached new heights: John's been putting in 90 hour weeks just to help my understaffed office, doing all of the heavy lifting at YB (literally), and taking care of me. The summer would have actually been impossible without him. 

Two weeks to go!

                      Lauren

Highlights

Vermont is full of natural wonders. And when they aren't trying to shower with me or crawl up my shorts, they're pretty great.

Spiky flowers from last night's trip to Massachusetts.

Makes my day, every single time.

Sneaking away for an hour despite having no nights off. We really miss our dates.

Idyllic New England barns that house Square Dances.

Pretty white flowers.

xoxo,

      Lauren

Happy

Here's what's making me happy this month:

Green Mountain Orchards

1. It's Blueberry season in Vermont. It's incredible. Every day for breakfast, I have the biggest, sweetest Blueberries I've ever tasted.

2. My fiance. He is amazing. He covers for me in my office at times when he knows I need a break, taking away from his own time to study music. He makes me want to marry him more every day.

3. Lisa Kang and Jason Kim. Helping me squeeze social activity into my summer schedule. Although I  moved from Baltimore, I'm still making friends there and want it to be home.

4. Herbie. He has always been a hugger, but these days he's even more inclined to cuddle when I get home from work. 

5. This 5 inch orange sherbet colored butterfly.

                                  xoxo,

                                             Lauren

Oh My

Oh my.

100 hour festival work weeks have taken me away from my blog. They've also taken me away from my Sundays with John, my evenings with Herbie, and my West Wing addiction. Sigh.

We celebrated July 4 by hanging with Herbie and Lisa and eating lots of Twizzlers. Tonight is looking pretty open, too, so I hope we'll be feeling recharged sooner rather than later.



                                                                                Cheers!

                                                                                      Lauren

We're alive!

Yeehaw Press

Hi friends.

I miss my blog, and I miss you.

While John looks for a job, he's been helping out in my under-staffed office. It's super fun to have him around, and otherwise, we wouldn't see each other. This way we get to have every meal together, sit together in the office hunting down scores from Europe, and take turns sneaking home to let Herbie out. Throw in some baby bird saving and basketball playing with the festival management, and we've got a pretty good day.

xoxo,

Lauren

John's Birthday-day!

Finally I can stop telling lies! John's birthday is Monday, so I obviously planned his party for Sunday. This plan has been in the works for weeks, and I was practically bursting at the seams with excitement. I became obsessed with the thought of surprising John, who prides himself on being able to figure out every secret I ever have. The need to lie and lie some more arose, and I spun a tale about driving to a trail two hours away for a picnic.

Victory! He didn't know we were going horseback riding until we literally pulled into the stable. John went riding once as a 5-year-old, and has told me countless times since I've known him how much he wants to ride again. He also mentions, not infrequently!, that he wishes he could make money being a cowboy.

I took him to Ridgeview Stables. This place is so tranquil. It was started for a child with special needs, and they do lots of therapeutic riding.

John and I rode the stubborn, spunky Prince and a grandfatherly (grumpy?) horse named Rocket. 

We had such a good time! It was so relaxing - and so fun to spend time getting to know such incredible animals. 

We did some grooming, some steering, some soccer (!), and some trotting. 

Pre and post Mimosas were in order, along with a Bitter Orange Crostada, John's birthday cake. I think John loved it, so I was happy.

The picnic wasn't a total lie. Last night I roasted a chicken,

which we did take on a picnic,

at this gorgous swimming hole hide-a-way,

a shallow brook with lots of interesting flat rock formations.

Happy birthday to John!

What a perfect day.

The Strolling of the Heifers

Brattleboro boasts an annual festival inspired by the Running of the Bulls, meant to slow down the decline of New England farming and spread the word on the need for local and sustainable food. Many family farms show up with their best stock to parade around. We saw cows, horses, pigs, and donkeys bedecked with flowers, hats, and crowns. People cheer, people dance, and people eat lots of cheese from Vermont.

I thought it would be fun to see a few baby cows led down the street and be on our way, but this is a serious festival! John and I had the best time. The Brattleboro Retreat grounds are converted into a Dairy Celebration with local artisans, local food, local Circus Arts, and most importantly, Maple Cotton Candy. This delectable spin on the familiar treat was nothing short of life-changing - and entirely worth the serious 2 p.m. sugar crash.

I laughed at a Miniature Donkey with serious mope.

I stared at homemade Whoopie Pies.

I saw a cheeky New England Longear Rescue Booth. "Save your ass."

I got up close and personal with cows.

I watched cows prance.

And I spent a day with my fiance, welcomed before the onset of summer festival life.

I hope your Saturdays were lovely, too.

Life

We just finished a week-long artist residency program at Yellow Barn, which was a great success. And besides, when is it not a treat to hear the complete Beethoven quartets?

My original suspicions are confirmed. The people here are so nice. But their overwhelming graciousness is matched by their intelligence, which means there's never a dull moment. For the most part, these people have fascinating backgrounds, but live in Vermont because they just really love it. 

Over the weekend I met some Sheep, learned a little bit about gardening, and got offered fresh eggs from the backyard as a party favor. 

1975 New Yorker

Memorial Day Scenes

Today felt truly American. 

After I finished at work, we took a walk, found an outdoor BBQ pit next door to our house (see below), drank cold beer, and hung out with our new friend Lisa.

Home Sweet Home

Work is busy, but I'm so happy my little family is together again. I'm having a great time introducing John to new friends and thinking about our new home, pictured here!

At the sight of those recycled barn beams, local iron work, and open space, we dumped the little (way too little) yellow house for this sweet, closer to work, and less expensive pad. We have our own little yard, and we're going to plant stuff.

YAY.

Lauren

Sunday Again

1. John will be here in two days. I absolutely cannot wait to share Vermont with him.

2. This Chipmunk said yes to a photo shoot.


3. Yellow Barn begins in three weeks, and a lot has to happen before then.

4. I miss Herbie uncontrollably.

5. I took a Sunday morning walk today, and it was a delight: great views, birds with fancier houses than most people I know, and working on John's
birthday gift (secret!).

6. I opted out of yoga, but it leaves me wanting to do it even more tomorrow. I haven't found a studio here that I'm in love with yet, but there are several that will do the trick.

7. There are fields and fields of Dandelions around - wishes waiting to be made.




8. Plan your fall hiking or winter ski trip to Vermont. We can go apple picking and horseback riding. And if skiing is what you're after, you can teach me?


                                  Love,

                                           Lauren

Temporary Home

It's gardening time in Vermont; people here love to plant things! I can understand why, though - everything is light green and lush, renewed after winter.

These are in the yard of my temporary host (and great new friend), Gennifer.

Guaranteed

This advertisement rings true. Vermont makes you feel good. Really good. I don't know what it is, but I swear my feverish aches disappeared last week as I returned from Vegas and drove back into Putney.

Sunday Morning Drive

Let's just say that a drive through the Vermont countryside while listening to Mumford and Sons is good for the soul, and better than any church service.

Of Fewer Words

Hi friends.

The past two weeks have been so busy that I've become more inclined to quick picture posts than anything; however, this trend is not for lack of things to tell you. I'm practically bursting at the seams with love for Vermont and excitement for our new life.

We had a great time in Vegas with some of our closest friends - John's college BFFs. I could devote another blog entirely to the ridiculous spectacle of that city, but suffice it to say that I won 115 smackers, saw a gorgeous Chanel collection, and found a 10 foot tall slot machine.

I had a Yellow Barn meeting yesterday at Rice Mountain Estate. We are hosting an event there in June, and it is breathtaking. The views are unbelievable, and the home is New England whimsy like I've never seen. I could hardly stop gawking long enough to talk business.

That's pretty much how I feel every day. Vermont is gorgeous, and I've decided that that must be why the people are so wonderful. They aren't tired like Clevelanders or jaded like Baltimorians. They are fresh-faced and cheery, and it makes a big difference. They are eager to be helpful, whether it be job-searching for a fiance they haven't met or looking for a Herbie-friendly apartment. There's something in the air.

John's really excited, too, and has some fantastic job leads already...

                          Start planning a visit!

                                                 xo
                                              Lauren

all photos taken at Rice Mountain Estate

Another Day at Work