Before we moved to Vermont, my husband and I had our holiday schedule streamlined. When we had kids, we decided that we would not run around and try to see everyone on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We...
It was April 5th, around lunchtime. I was at a conference with a fellow teacher (and friend) when I decided that I was going to leave my job. Now, I don't mean that I had one of those, “I...
According to CNN’s middle class calculator, my family lands firmly in the middle class for Chittenden County, Vermont. I checked other sources as well, and sure enough, it appears we are a middle class Vermonter family. Well… pop out the...
In my adult life, I’ve always worked full time. If not more. Sometimes, I was also working part-time and volunteering, too. So much of my identity and sense of both value and worth were tied to my professional life....
My husband works for the federal government. When mention of a government shutdown due to the inability of Congress to agree on a budget starts circulating, we pay close attention. News related to this event becomes monumentally important. We...
Most everyone I know in my town is tired of winter’s ice, slush, and snow. On the few warm days we’ve had, my co-workers fling off their coats, saying they, “Can’t wait until summer!” Me? I’d keep the bitter...
Food insecurity, or the lack of resources, often financial, to acquire nutritious food for every meal on a consistent basis, impacts one in ten Vermonters. The federal government sponsors an entitlement program, known as food stamps or the supplemental...
I was born to older parents. In the 70s, it was unusual for couples over 35 to start building their families. I’ve always grown up knowing that my parents would probably need longer-term care sooner than those of my...
May 29 is College Savings Day! Celebrate with VHEIP, and get ready for a full summer of fun! {Disclaimer: We are working with VSAC and The Vermont Lake Monsters to bring you this information.} We have partnered with VHEIP and Vermont...
A few weeks ago, I was attacked. I got attacked by something that I’ve been attacked by before. By this time, I should know its patterns, and be able to smell it coming. But no, I was blindsided with...
It’s a fear we’ve all had. For us, it began once we placed our sweet babies in daycare. For others, maybe it struck in the checkout line while purchasing diapers, or at the pharmacy, picking up yet another antibiotic, or...
{Disclaimer: We are working with VHEIP and The Vermont Lake Monsters to bring you this information.} We have partnered with VHEIP and Vermont Lake Monsters CHAMP’s Kids Club for a summer-long effort to encourage more families to begin to save...
After a short writing hiatus, yours truly is back. Did you miss me while I was gone? Speaking of "being gone" my 7 year old son burst into tears a few weeks ago right before bed saying that he was...
Party planning is not what it used to be. Back in my own 1980s birthday party heyday we played games like Drop the Clothespin in the Jelly Jar and passed out home-popped popcorn in brown paper bags as favors....

In + Around Vermont

Moving to the Vermont Gayborhood of Our Dreams

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My wife and I, with our then 2-year-old, moved to Vermont in 2021 from rural Missouri.  While we had great friends and community in Missouri,...
A featured image for a blog post about hating fall.

Why I HATE Fall… Y’all