fig. a: sunlight on Vermont 1
To celebrate AEB's 10th anniversary, we acquired and began to renovate a small homestead in Vermont.
Actually, this acquisition had little to do with the blog, and we're not quite sure how any of this happened. We didn't even know we were looking for a property.
We definitely knew we loved Vermont, however--the sheer number of posts about the Green Mountain State here in the pages of "...an endless banquet" certainly attest to this, as have our occasional Vermont themed parties.
And when we took our first walk-through, we had the sense that we'd found something special--and lasting.
The next thing we knew, we were deep into a series of demolitions, installations, and improvements, and we were frantically trying to score a cord of seasoned wood in the middle of autumn to help us get through the winter.
fig. b: mission accomplished
But we were also getting to know our local flock of wild turkeys, going for hikes and late-summer swims, and harvesting crabapples from our very own crabapple tree.
Our lives have changed entirely (which is one of the reasons the output here at AEB has slowed to a trickle), but they've also improved enormously.
fig. c: sunlight on Vermont 2
The benefits have included space, light, air, forest, mountains, lakes, wildlife, water, stars, fields, and peace, as well as an enlarged sense of community. With closer access to Vermont's local farmers' markets and co-ops, and direct access to farm-fresh eggs, dairy, produce, and meat, we actually feel as though we've been eating better than ever.
fig. d: AEB raisin rye
Eventually, when we get "...an endless banquet" back on track, you'll probably notice a very different sensibility at work--one that's still got a foot firmly planted in the City, but one which is increasingly oriented toward the Country.
fig. e: snow birds
Stay tuned...
aj