Peaceful Recreation in Rural Vermont

Photograph taken by one of Mrs. White's children, in Vermont.

There is not a lot of traffic here in rural Vermont. I don't see a lot of crowds. But we do get tourists who come here for the peaceful recreation and the quiet sense of restoration from their visits.

The other day one of my grown children went canoeing on one of our local lakes. Photographs were taken with a view directly from the canoe!  I have been given permission to share a couple of these with you. 

Photograph taken by one of Mrs. White's children. View from the canoe, in Vermont.

What a peaceful, lovely time this must have been!  There are hiking trails here, places to paddle-boat, canoe, swim, camp, and enjoy a boat ride.  Yet, there is no city traffic in this mountain region. This is what makes it a retreat!

On summer days, I will be outside, walking on the grounds of our humble Estate.  We will see bicyclists going by, in groups of twos or threes. These are people who ride over from the Canadian border and enjoy our Vermont scenery.  Once in a while, we will see a small group of people walking by our property, carrying a kayak, as they head over to enjoy the river.  People find lovely places to fish, to walk, and to run as they enjoy the beautiful scenery. But the sight of them is rare, in this quiet region, much like the occasional vision of a deer, walking in the serenity of nature.

Many times I will be outside with some of the grandchildren and we will see some interesting sight go by. The other day it was a line of classic, vintage cars, driving along, as if in their own parade. Sometimes a long line of motorcycles will go by to the delight of the children. We see farm vehicles go by on a regular basis, but to see bicyclists, vintage cars, and people holding kayaks, bring us a sense of wonder and happiness. We love to see people enjoying a wonderful time of recreation.

Personally, I don't get out much. But the happiness I find in nature, from our own home, is enough for me. I watch the flowers and gardens as they grow and flourish throughout the summer months. I enjoy the beauty of green grass which carpets the Estate grounds.  I hear a rushing sound of the river, which borders our property. I hear birds singing sweetly all around the property. Sometimes, just the quiet sound of rain brings me a sense of peace and joy.

I am happy for those who can get out and do things. I enjoy hearing about their adventures. But for me, the restfulness of home and the ordinary tasks of homemaking are what provide me with a gentle recreation that blesses my soul.

 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Making the Most of Humble Means - Poor and Pretty Living.

Contentment - A Covered Bridge and Graceful Living in Rural Vermont. 

A Peaceful Routine - The Four Little Tasks of Home.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

  For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages.