So we failed a bit already on our “NSM*.“

See, what happened was my partner surprised me with a mini getaway to Vermont.

To back track, my osteoarthritis [and fibromyalgia] had been flaring up.

I had to switch my work weekend because I wasn’t sure if I was going to feel better, the same or worse. Luckily, my pain and fatigue got a smidge better but I was glad to be on the safe side and rest as much as possible.

He knew that I had off and that I wasn’t going to be moving around much so he planned a little getaway to Vermont for me.

I’ve been wanting to go since summer of 2020 as Covid caused my yearly Vermont trip to obviously not happen.He ended up taking me to THIS beautiful farm, Four Springs Farm, in Royalton that had a few cabins you could rent. The kicker?

There was no power or heating source in the cabin but he had set us up with a portable generator and told me to bring plenty of warm layers.

The farm did have an outhouse nearby, as well as two showers and “regular” toilets closer to the registration building.Thankfully the weekend was gorgeous and the lowest it got was about 50 degrees at night. We ventured around a few towns, enjoyed local food and went for a few short walks.I really enjoyed the farm stay. Waking up early to the roosters, walking around the farm, sitting outside with the mountain view and listening to the tracker at work brought me joy.We also went to Burlington to explore since it had been almost three years since my last visit. On my list was to get some local Vermont coffee, eat some Lake Champlain Chocolates and get fresh American Flatbread.While exploring Burlington, we stumbled upon a bookstore called Crow Bookshop. I found this precious gem of a book titled Gift From The Sea. 

The first few pages grabbed me;

“I mean to lead a simple life, to choose a simple shell I can carry easily – like a hermit crab. But I do not, I find that my frame of life does not foster simplicity… the life I have chosen as a wife and mother entrains a whole caravan of complications.”

In that moment, I knew I had to get this book.

While I am not a “wife,” my partner does live in my house and we do a lot together to take care of it and he also helps me with the kids.“Married-ish” then.

I will dedicate a whole post for the book, but I was so glad to have found it.It was nice to getaway with my partner. He found it funny that my favorite part of the whole stay was the farm. It was simple and perfect.. I enjoy the simple pleasures.

If you can’t find joy in the simple things, how can you enjoy more?

That’s the goal here, striving for a more simple life as best as I can, one day at a time.

-Sabs 🌿

*I ended up spending just almost $60 between the book, one meal, two UVM stickers (my undergrade), a pencial for my oldest and a magnet for my mom.