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The back roads of Vermont....

My mom and I took a trip to Vermont to visit my brother and family : )
I wanted to share some photos of a favorite farm stand I love to stop at along the way....

This shop is on RT 30 in Newfane Vermont with another in Manchester.
I wanted to pick out something to bring to my brother's home.

I love to look around....

and smell around... lol!

What to choose?? What to choose???

I decided on a beautiful bunch of wild flowers and fresh strawberries.

: )

I don't think I could go wrong with so many good choices!

I hope you are enjoying your local farm stands this summer along the way.....

Serendipity....one of my favorite words : ) A little story of a buttonwood tree...

Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it.
(From Wiki)

This word is one of my favorites.

I love serendipity, or should I say, I am comforted with serendipitous moments in my daily life as a confirmation that my life is so much bigger than me. If I were to define it, I would not use the word "accident" because I do not believe that serendipitous moments are by accident, but truly by design. For me, they are inexplicably, stepping stones or guide posts as I walk through this journey called life...they tell me I am going in the right direction.

Here is a serendipitous story I would love to share with you....

The Buttonwood tree

( A true story : )

I have been fortunate to move back to my childhood home with my teenage son during a bit of a rough patch in my life. Honestly, moving home was not my first choice, but little by little I am finding so many benefits to being here.

Encouraged by my doctor to get out and take a brisk walk every day, lead me to walking down old familiar roads that I walked and biked as a child. With these passing years, sidewalks have appeared on some of my favorite places to walk which have now become busy roads.

As I walked down a particular street, I remembered as a child, the road being lined with fragrant lilacs in the spring, and bringing bunches home to put in a vase on my bedroom window sill.

(to fill the room with fragrance when a breeze came through)

This sunny day, as I walked along reminiscing, I stopped and was amazed by a certain tree. It was huge, yet its branches looked graceful as they reached for the sky.

Its bark somewhat reminded me of a birch tree, but instead of peeling, it was more spotted with different shades of color. I imaged if I took a close up photograph of the bark, one may not know what they were looking at.

This one particular tree had a swing hanging from one of its tall, huge branches. A perfect spot to take your cares away, being held securely by the this tree's huge limb.

One afternoon, I asked my 82 year old mom to join me on this favorite walk of mine with its all inclusive sidewalks.

She was not sure if she was up to the length of the walk, but we just took it one street at a time.

When we reached that particular street, I said, "Mom, wait 'til you see this tree!" (I know that may sound strange, but I knew she would understand! : )

As we approached it, we studied the bark and its massive branches

and marveled at the thought of taking a turn on that swing! How freeing that would feel!

We then continued on our lovely walk, past the wild raspberry bushes, fields of wild flowers and albino horses grazing on the grass.

The following week, I took my mom to visit my oldest brother in Vermont.
We were sitting on their porch taking in the magnificent views of the mountains and enjoying the summer day.
My brother was pointing out the landscaping work he had had completed on his yard including the trees he had planted. He then pointed to two birch trees he had planted.
I then told him about the tree that I loved and the walk I took mom on and how I pointed it out to her.
He then started to ask very specific questions about this road we had seen this tree on.
He then asked, "Is it on the right hand side as you drive towards the farm?" I said, "Yes." He then told us a story of going by that tree with my father and grandfather, who came to visit, when he was a little boy.
(Mind you, my brother is 14 years older than me and it is almost as if we have completely different memories of our childhood, shared with different relatives, traditions and places.)
He said that he remembers my grandfather (who died when I was a toddler) being drawn to that tree and stopping to look at and telling my brother is was a "Buttonwood Tree".
I couldn't wait to get home to research the buttonwood tree and sure enough, he was talking about the same tree!!!

Tell me....what are the chances of all of this information lining up???

"Happy accident"....I think not.....
"Happy Guide Post along this journey called Life"....
I think so!
: )

Post Script:
As I stopped today to take pictures of the tree, I met the owner of the house and found out that his house just sold, and although he said he would like to, he could not take the tree with him.
He told me the tree was over a hundred years old.
I told him the story of my mom, our walk, my brother and story of my grandfather.
He told me I could swing on the swing any time I wanted!
: )
My plan is to go back with my mom....a fun photo op for sure!

Plymouth Farmer's Market

Yesterday I enjoyed a trip to Plymouth and a visit at one of my favorite farmer's markets.

http://plymouthfarmersmarket.org/

Plymouth Farmer's Market is now located on the grounds as you enter Plimoth Plantation.

(That too, is a wonderful place to visit!)

http://www.plimoth.org/

I love to see people take their passions and turn them into a business.

I love how you can get to know the people who make the bread, ice tea, and cookies that you love so much and who grow the vegetables and fruits for your salads and dinners and desserts.

It makes everything so much more personal.

(One of my favorite place, Blue Blinds Bakery : )

And....with my love of rocks, I loved this booth!! : )

I love the wave of new food trucks!! This one was so whimsical and homey!

Next time I would love to try one of their creative beverages!

http://www.flourgirlsbakingco.com/

I scrounged around the bottom of my pocketbook and found $2.00 for a delicious molasses cookie!

(I was trying to hold the camera in one hand, the cookie in the other....hence a bit blurry!!

As I was driving out of the parking lot, I saw two women talking, one with her woven basket with loafs of french bread piled along side each other. I imagined she was going home to her ocean breezy cottage with company arriving soon.

Such a fun way to spend an afternoon!

Chatting with friends, supporting your local business all while listening to local musicians serenade you as you shop!

: )

Favorite bookshop! : )

Today is "Save the Bookstore Day" and I wanted to show support to one of my favorite bookshops on the Cape!

Although, Titcomb's Bookshop doesn't look in any way shape or form that is in need of "saving" I wanted to take the time out to make a purchase to show how much I appreciate the fact that I can count on this bookshop being there for me, any day, rain or shine!

From the minute I turn off Rt 6A into the driveway, which crunches under my tires, I start to feel a sense of calm.

I feel a bit of a mini vacation coming on!

Today there was a guest author. I have met so many of my favorite authors at Titcomb over the years and what makes it extra special is how cozy the atmosphere is and how close (in proximity) I've been to those whose books I've cherished over the years.

There were delicious treats as I walked in!

I always feels so at home here! : )

One of the many things that I love about this bookshop, besides the fact that it is called a "bookshop" instead of a "bookstore" : ) is that they have a bell on their front door.

One of my favorite movies of all time is, "You've Got Mail" and in it, Kathleen Kelly has a bookshop called, "The Shop Around the Corner" and her bookshop has a bell on it's door! : )

Love this!

There are so many nooks and crannies and lots of books and toys and cards and gifts for young and old!

This is where the authors sign their autographed copies for customers!

Downstairs has lots to look at including used books, which are so much fun to browse through!

There is a wonderful top floor as well, but that is where today's author was speaking and I did not want to disturb anything going on up there! : )

If you are ever in the area....stop by Titcomb's Bookshop on 6A in Sandwich, MA.

You won't be disappointed!
http://www.titcombsbookshop.com/

Oh...and besides a few greeting cards (they have a wonderful selection) this is what I purchased!

I'll let you know how it is! : )

Field Trip : )

I am signed up to take a class at the Worcester Art Museum this summer! I will post about it soon!

I took a trip to the Museum to sign up for my class and became a member.

I placed the sticker on the back of my Toyota.

Looks like I need to wash my car! : )

This is right outside of the Museum!

Beautiful! : )

I should have taken a picture of the description of this piece of art!

It was several (looked like televisions) all displaying visual movies.

Interesting!

I was drawn to this because I love figurines...always collected them as a child.

This is the description that went with it.

I thought this was an interesting portrait.

It is fun to imagine their story! : )

(Sorry, this is a bit blurry!)

And to top it off...one of my favorite things....a library! Right inside the museum! : )

Volunteering....

While looking for employment, it has been suggested to me to start volunteering!

I started a few weeks back at my local Senior Center.

I didn't think to take a "before" picture, but I had fun re-doing their bulletin board!

I have one more that I will work on next week!

(Maybe I will remember to take a "before" picture with that one!)

Everyone is so nice and I am having lots of fun...

and I love any chance to be creative!

Rest in peace my dear sweet Plymouth Rocky.....

I am so sad to write that I had to put my dear sweet furry friend to sleep yesterday.

He has been with me through thick and thin and I miss him terribly.

I never realized how much I could love a pet and how much unconditional love I received.

I am so grateful that he was part of my little family and I pray that he is happy running on green grassy fields chasing birds and chimp mucks and resting comfortably in the sunshine.

I love you Rocky...xxoo