Hardwick House
Let's jump back to 2008. I had just installed the 1080p projector in the media room, I was hungry for HD content. I set the DVR to record a HD news program hosted by Dan Rather. I usually wake up earlier than the other people in the house, so I often spent the weekend mornings watching my HD news. It was at that time I saw a story about the 21st Century Food System of Hardwick, VT. Other than Newhart (TV sitcom) I really had no other impressions of VT. While I watched the many shades of green in 100 inches of HD content, I was amazed with the beauty, and enchanted by these people and what they sought to achieve. By the time Kat was up for breakfast, I'd already searched home listings for the area.
Now let's skip to 2013. We had just returned from a BIG summer trip to Hollywood, Hawaii, San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Kat was happy with all that we accomplished and suggested we do a BIG trip each summer. We compiled a list of exotic locations, Greece, Italy, Germany, and France. I've been to Paris, I'll admit it was not my favorite. I had so many encounters with rude people and the prices of things I'm accustomed to ... (an afternoon beer at a sidewalk café) were so expensive, they were no longer relaxing. That is how I came up with a compromise, Quebec! We can get some French culture while staying in North America. The currency exchange was friendly, just like Canadian people.
This takes us to summer trip 2014. I was checking on the cost of a flight to Quebec. I got creative and checked the map to see if it would be cheaper to fly to a US destination and drive over the border into Quebec. Imagine my surprise when I saw Vermont as a good option. We decided we need to see if all those shades of green were as pretty in real life, as in 1080p. We flew to Vermont to get to Quebec.
Winter 2015 almost sent us chasing a really good oyster we'd had at Perla's, the Conway Royale. I was exploring activities in and around PEI (Prince Edward Island). I mentioned a lobster trap and eat excursion and Kat declined... said she couldn't do that. I started to mention all the crawfish we'd boiled and eaten, or other fish she'd caught and consumed... but I know that once she's made her mind, it's best left alone. We abandoned the idea of PEI for summer trip. We all agreed that there was more VT and Quebec to be enjoyed, it was OK to return.
Summer 2015 we went BACK to VT and Quebec. This time I rented a house in VT to use as a home base for a few days. It worked well, but Kat just wasn't comfortable. And THAT is when we started talking about just buying our own place in VT.
Winter (Jan) 2016 we got serious. I made a chart of features and amenities we'd like from a VT home. I was surprised to find Hardwick VT met some of those qualities we sought. We had never been. It was then that I realized Hardwick was the same town/village that I'd seen in HD years back... I went up, looked at property and found our home.
The home we bought, was dead last on the list of candidates. Kat had urged me to check it out. It showed better in person. I called it "the doll house" due to the all the floral patterns and pastel colors.
You want to see? It's YELLOW...
and pink...
I have a chair habit. I search craigslist, estate sales, and auctions. I needed to thin the collection. We figured I had enough chairs for a second home. Mom and I drove 31 hours, only stopping for fuel, to haul the chairs to Hardwick, and a few new light fixtures.
The boys share a room here in Austin. The fourth bedroom here serves us as a home theater and guest room. The Hardwick home is large enough that they each get their own room. #2 son was so excited about having his own room. When he arrived at night, he only wanted to see his room. Mom and I had assembled his bed so it was ready for him. He smiled so big, then said "GOOD NIGHT!" and shut the door.