snack & swim.

We made these by the water (but much less pretty) because those are all already our favorite foods.  Swimming at sunset feels like magic - the light bounces off everything in just the right way.  I really, mainly love having my dear old friend so near.

breakfast.

I'm pretty sure that it's scientifically proven somewhere that if you eat a nice breakfast in the morning your day goes better.

**the first photo is outside of this little place called the coffee corner right down the street and it's the sweetest diner with the best food and real maple syrup and fresh squeezed orange juice.  I've already been there four times since moving here.

summer.

 

Summer in Vermont means my dear friend Melissa lives only an hour away from me and we have all the time in the world to do the things we love - stream swimming, ice-cream eating, and laughing at silly faces/ everything else.  And since it's Vermont there are magical-looking streams everywhere and ice-cream stands include things like maple syrup soft serve (!!).  It's only been a couple of weeks but my apartment and this little town is already starting to feel like home.

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camping.

I'm back in Providence now, but what I miss most about the trip is all the camping that happened.  Waking up with the sun and hearing all the birds chirping from a few feet away is so nice.  It seems to make the rest of the day so much sweeter.   And camping in the mountains means being able to wash your face in a stream in the morning.

pizza & campfire.

Our first stop on the trip was in rural Pennsylvania at Melissa's family's home.  Spending time with family and food and warmth is a comforting thing, especially on a long road trip.  We ordered a 30'' pizza, which was ridiculous.  Her dad and brother built a bonfire in the backyard and we all sat around and enjoyed the spring night air... and sang bad country songs.  The most important thing is how much crying laughter happened over silly stories - there's nothing better.

Plus, soon to come are really beautiful hilly nc bluegrass festival pictures, what?

a good start.

 Some really beautiful things have been happening these days.  I've been making new friends, learning new things (like how to card & spool wool!), seeing some live music, and mainly feeling a lot better than I have over this past month or so.

And today was the start of Melissa and I's trip to the south (yes, again) to see a friend's band play at a music festival in the nc mountains! She picked me up in Rhode Island and we started everything off really well with a stop at the beach and hot chocolates at the little art cafe nearby.  

rivers & bridges.

With two busy days of work and a muddled head I really needed to get out of the city.  Luckily, a week ago I promised my grandmother I would finally make a trip up to see her, even if it were only for a couple of nights.  To make it even better Melissa met me here too.  We had the best (sunniest) day with breakfast on the porch and a drive along the river. We stopped in thrift stores along the road and found silly dresses that we had to change into right away.  All the mountains and streams, the comfort of my grandmothers house, and the presence of my two really wonderful people and I feel so much better.  Makes me think I should move here or something.

my first (successful) films.

So, I've been trying to use a real film camera for a little while now, and I finally had a roll that didn't turn out grainy or completely black exposures! Instead I have lots of little moments from my trip to Vermont, solo bike adventures, and mainly really nice photos of Melissa captured in the loveliest way.

a journey.

So, my cell phone went running around in the snow and then got run over by a car :C The closest Verizon store was about 2 hours away, so Melissa and I turned it into a magical journey.  We stopped by her college (the coolest little place in Plainfield, Vermont), awed at all the majestic mountain scenes and rustic vermont farms, explored mini covered bridges, and the day ended with contra dancing in a multi - level barn house.  I've missed our adventures.

back in st. johnsbury, vt.

I've got the weekend off so here I am back in St. Johnsbury! It is one of my favorite things to drive into a place with mountains all around me, especially when they are covered with snow.  Plus, Melissa and I have had so much to catch up on and there's no better way to do that than shamrock shakes at 10 o'clock at night.  And there's still so much more weekend to go.