I love this and have long felt the tension between the “country mouse” and “city mouse” sides of my psyche. I’ve lived in both and loved both and, like you, could see myself living happily in all kinds of settings. Now I think of myself as an “edge of the village” mouse. I want easy walking distance to a few necessary amenities (general store, post office, pub, library) and a yard big enough for chickens, a garden, and two or three goats. It’s not easy to find villages that allow for that kind of life these days but if I had to describe the perfect balance for me that would be it!
Oh my gosh, yes, "edge of the village" would be IDEAL. I've said the same thing--I want something with space, but close enough so we can walk into town! Thinking about it, I think the problem is that most villages/towns in the US now have kind of drab suburban sprawl and strip malls etc. all built up outside their centers, so you have to get really far outside to feel countryish, and then you're too far to walk. I do know a few villages here in CA that would be perfect and have literally no sprawl (I'm thinking Pescadero, Point Reyes Station, and Mendocino), and I'm sure you have some, too. But they're rare!
The sprawl is a real! It actually makes me feel pretty happy to live in a place considered a "retail desert", where it's basically one small town running right into the next. There's still a lot that could be done to make it more "edge of the village living" friendly, but it's not nearly as bad as the large suburban shopping center I took my daughter to today. Miles and miles and miles of every chain known to man, and so congested it took ten minutes just to get from one side of the road to the other...ugh. No, thank YOU.
So many wonderful photos, Emma! I very easily see you in both your SF city element and country element :) And I LOVED Rushmore when it came out, might have to re-watch soon..
We were just talking about the city/country topic! Exploring Portland and the surrounding area was interesting but I didn’t feel vacation-relaxed until we got to Viola.
Also- I forgot you and Alex went to Europe in 2001!! And Exciting you took Cate to Chez Panisse! I went once with my mom and sister- so delicious.
Yes--we were on the Isle of Skye on 9/11! Will never forget checking into our room and the owner guy telling us our city's towers had just been destroyed.
THIS WAS ALL SO DELIGHTFUL TO READ!! Thank you so much for the shout out. Love seeing all that Susan Branch goodness in your book stack! Have SO MUCH FUN in Scotland!! What a great description that it's always fall. I talked my daughter out of applying to the University of Edinburgh for college and I deeply regret it. She's happy where she is, but yeah.....I let my own anxiety color the decision. Really happy to make your online acquaintance!
What fun it would have been to visit your daughter jn Edinburgh, but East Coast (where I think you’ve said she is?) is also cool! We are in Edinburgh now and it’s very dreamy. The Scottish countryside has also been just amazingly evocative and romantic and beautiful. I’m pondering how to write my next post about it. There’s so much to say!
I loved every tidbit in this post. And I'm going to make that salad this weekend - I love wheatberries! So chewy!
I’ll have to seek them out! I subbed farro, which I think is similar.
I love this and have long felt the tension between the “country mouse” and “city mouse” sides of my psyche. I’ve lived in both and loved both and, like you, could see myself living happily in all kinds of settings. Now I think of myself as an “edge of the village” mouse. I want easy walking distance to a few necessary amenities (general store, post office, pub, library) and a yard big enough for chickens, a garden, and two or three goats. It’s not easy to find villages that allow for that kind of life these days but if I had to describe the perfect balance for me that would be it!
p.s. those animal photos are incredible!
And I hope you saw your own book in my library holds stack, Meagan! Can’t wait to read it!
Oh my gosh, yes, "edge of the village" would be IDEAL. I've said the same thing--I want something with space, but close enough so we can walk into town! Thinking about it, I think the problem is that most villages/towns in the US now have kind of drab suburban sprawl and strip malls etc. all built up outside their centers, so you have to get really far outside to feel countryish, and then you're too far to walk. I do know a few villages here in CA that would be perfect and have literally no sprawl (I'm thinking Pescadero, Point Reyes Station, and Mendocino), and I'm sure you have some, too. But they're rare!
The sprawl is a real! It actually makes me feel pretty happy to live in a place considered a "retail desert", where it's basically one small town running right into the next. There's still a lot that could be done to make it more "edge of the village living" friendly, but it's not nearly as bad as the large suburban shopping center I took my daughter to today. Miles and miles and miles of every chain known to man, and so congested it took ten minutes just to get from one side of the road to the other...ugh. No, thank YOU.
So many wonderful photos, Emma! I very easily see you in both your SF city element and country element :) And I LOVED Rushmore when it came out, might have to re-watch soon..
Thanks, Ariel!
Love the post, all the recipes and the photos! Thanks for all of the great ideas and inspiration!
Thank you, Amie! You're such a good cook, I get so many ideas from you!
Thanks for a great post Emma
Thanks, Anne!
We were just talking about the city/country topic! Exploring Portland and the surrounding area was interesting but I didn’t feel vacation-relaxed until we got to Viola.
Also- I forgot you and Alex went to Europe in 2001!! And Exciting you took Cate to Chez Panisse! I went once with my mom and sister- so delicious.
Have a great trip!
Yes--we were on the Isle of Skye on 9/11! Will never forget checking into our room and the owner guy telling us our city's towers had just been destroyed.
Lovely and resonant. Have a wonderful time in Scotland.
Thank you so much, Elliot!
THIS WAS ALL SO DELIGHTFUL TO READ!! Thank you so much for the shout out. Love seeing all that Susan Branch goodness in your book stack! Have SO MUCH FUN in Scotland!! What a great description that it's always fall. I talked my daughter out of applying to the University of Edinburgh for college and I deeply regret it. She's happy where she is, but yeah.....I let my own anxiety color the decision. Really happy to make your online acquaintance!
What fun it would have been to visit your daughter jn Edinburgh, but East Coast (where I think you’ve said she is?) is also cool! We are in Edinburgh now and it’s very dreamy. The Scottish countryside has also been just amazingly evocative and romantic and beautiful. I’m pondering how to write my next post about it. There’s so much to say!