SOCIAL MEDIA

January 11, 2018

Happy New Year and Winter Vacation

Happy 2018! We are just getting back into the swing of things after the holidays and a week in the mountains. For the second year in a row, we celebrated Christmas with our families here in NJ and then packed our cars to arrive in the Adirondacks for Christmas Eve.
We love winter and this year we've had A LOT of winter so far. Snowmobiling is an activity that our entire family enjoys and we have gotten to do a bunch of it. The Adirondacks are beautiful at this time of year.
It was truly like spending a week in a winter wonderland! Which was exactly the boost our family needed. As is true for everyone, life ebbs and flows and 2017 brought a lot of changes into our lives - many we could have lived without that added a tremendous amount of stress. And 2018 will bring even more. So it was nice to have a week together to re-charge. And think about what is next for us.
We took a day trip to Vermont where we visited Manchester and the surrounding area.
It has become a tradition for us to visit the Northshire Book Store each year. If you love an old book store, add this one to your bucket list! There are creaky old floors, handwritten book recommendations and an iron stairway that leads to the most magical children's book display that I have ever seen.
We like to visit the covered bridge in West Arlington too.
Then we headed back to New York to check out some communities that are just over the Vermont border. We are researching areas to live in after retirement and NY offers some better tax advantages than VT. I was amazed by how much charm this area offers as well.
We even found a covered bridge in Eagleville, NY. Such a beautiful area!
Back at the cabin, we alternated snowmobile rides with relaxing by the fire. It is a challenge to dress for below zero temperatures, but we have gotten pretty good at it and didn't let the frigid temperatures stop us.



17 comments :

  1. Oh Wow! How absolutely lovely! And I can’t get over how grown up your boys have gotten! If I could choose how to spend Christmas it would be just like that. Good for you. 2017 was a mixed bag and I am already not sure about 2018......but we get up each day and put one foot in front of the other and plow onward.
    Thanks for the post and keeping in touch with all those that have grown to love you and your family.
    Chris in Texas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS...that book store is right up my alley!

      Delete
  2. How fun and what a quaint area. Love the book store and all the sweet vintage buildings and oh those covered bridges!!! I love the picture of all of you together. What a great bunch of pretty and handsome peeps all together! I know 2017 threw you some real curves in life. Hoping as we enter 2018 things begin to turn around and you go in a better direction. Mental health breaks like your sweet vacation are good medicine for the stressful times. Hugs my friend.
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful area...perfect for de-stressing and recharging! Hope 2018 is a good year for you, Courtney!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, what a perfect family holiday. It looks beautiful, and I'm not even a fan of snow and/or cold. Truly, family time is best, lucky you! Happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  5. 2017 has been a challening year for me and I have enjoyed your blog as it gave me time to escape for a few moments, the boys have grown so much. I am glad you are back posting, I have missed my time reading your blog and so many bloggers have not got back into blogging for 2018. Glad you are back

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, Courtney, I always love your winter adventures. That part of the country would be where I would like to live, if I hadn't started out in California!! It is always such a sight to see the goldens in the snow. Love the plaid scarf. Our winter so far has been dark and dismal with a little bit of sunshine. Nothing pretty like where you are..Happy Weekend..Judy

    ReplyDelete
  7. How beautiful. I do love a good old bookstore and old red barns and covered bridges. Gorgeous.
    I really enjoy your blog. The kind of lifestyle I'd love to have. Thank you for sharing. Christine Goodwin, England (using my husband's account! Oops!)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love these posts Courtney! It's like you're living in a snow globe. I'm really exited you and your family were able to get away and have some time together. I can't wait see what good things are in store for you in 2018. Sending you big hugs for a happy year, CoCo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Last week was a bit crazy for us, so just now seeing your post. The pictures look like postcards, or scenes from Hallmark Christmas movies! I lived in NY as a child, but moved south at the ripe old age of 10. My husband's company's home office is in Vermont. A place I would love to visit. And that bookstore! I could spend days there, especially in the children's section. We may be getting a bit of a winter mix here in the South tomorrow. My daughter's golden, Henley, LOVES the snow.
    2017 was bittersweet for us as well, and 2018 is proving to be a bit of the same. Thankful to serve a God that is bigger than anything we will have to face. Will be keeping you all in prayer. Glad to see you posting again.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have read your blog it is very helpful for me. I want to say thanks to you. I have bookmark your site for future updates. CalaVacationHomes

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great blog, home and family. I landed here while searching the Montgomery sofa from Birch Lane. Are you still thrilled with it ? I'm on the verge of ordering it in the classic bleach white slipcovered version. Ive wanted a white slipcoverd sofa forever. I just hope I'm not too fussy over the crinkles and wrinkles. Im thinking understated elegance more than farmhouse for my apartment. Do you think this sofa fits the bill ?
    I also checked out the PB Carlisle sofa which isn't too pricey in the basic white fabric. I think it was $1,449. I'm thinking about the Montgomery arm chair as well. I also like the idea version, but felt it could easily move when I get up and down. I'm use to a very solid, firm, structured sofa with classic rolled arms that I bought at Filenes 17 yrs ago and still looks great, no sagging or shifting. 8ve had several Surefit coversmon it over the years . Ive never owned ANY SOFA this long.....im usually bored after 5 years. Thx !!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. شركة ركن الشروق في الاحساء تقدم لكم افضل الخدمات واكثرها طلبا لعملائنا الكرام فشركتنا الرائده في مجال خدمات المنازل بأنواعها المختلفه عليك التواصل معنا نصلك في اسرع وقت ونحن في انتظارك شركة مكافحة حشرات بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالاحساء
    افضل شركة تنظيف مجالس بالاحساء
    شركة كشف تسربات مياه بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف بخميس مشيط

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great article. I would like to take my family to visit some would be very happy. Your family is very happy.



    viva9988 holiday

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete