There’s a curve in a residential road just north of Harrisonburg, Virginia, where a retaining wall was built on the side of a hill next to a church that I attended in college. Something prompted my late teenage self to walk over to the wall one day, and the vast view of the Shenandoah Valley against the rolling Allegheny Mountains took my breath away. I came back to this spot over and over. I’d sit on the wall, legs swinging, journal on my lap, and let myself be washed with a deep sense of awe. For years, even after my church moved locations, even after I married and graduated college and moved to another state, this perch above the valley remained one of my happy places.
Three years ago, I met my college friend, Kelly, at a dreamy little Airbnb in Warrenton, VA. We took walks, watched Little Women, ate charcuterie, and marveled at the cows in the pasture across the road.
The cows fascinated us. We commented on their movements throughout the day, asking questions we didn’t know the answers to. What made them go to that field? Why did that cow not go with the group? Why are so many of them facing in the same direction?
Three years is much too long a time to not see a best friend, and Kelly and I recently decided to put another girls' weekend on the calendar. I looked at Airbnb options in our college town—Harrisonburg—and saw a familiar view in one of the photographs. I know that view! My heart leaped. I clicked on the listing and smiled in satisfaction as I looked at the location. It’s just across the road from my spot.
Reader, we booked it. Pictures don’t do the view justice.
It was another perfect weekend together.
More walks, more charcuterie, another movie (King Richard this time), and, you guessed it, cows.
Reading
I moved my “books I’ve read” list over to Substack—find it here. After Annie by Anna Quindlen is my top pick so far, but many of my 2024 reads were solidly enjoyable if not great. (I did not enjoy “Listen for the Lie,” but thriller is one of my least fav genres.)
This gut-wrenching piece by my friend Sonya is a lesson in storytelling. Please read it.
If you need something lighthearted afterward, I recommend the Desk Tours series on Olivia Muenter’s Substack. Would it be totally vain if I copied her interview questions and answered them for myself? I just love Q and A’s like this!
Listening
I love everything Coffee+Crumbs puts out, but their latest two episodes (Kids + Technology with Jean Twenge and The Parenting Hope We All Need Right Now with Sissy Goff) were especially fantastic. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes while listening to Sissy Goff talk about what girls need from their moms, and completely lost it when she said, “Every mom listening is a grown-up little girl.” Straight-up sobbing on the highway.
Did you know you can view podcast transcripts on Apple Podcasts? It makes it so easy to pull quotes! I’m keeping some of Sissy’s advice on my Notes App for life.
Speaking of Notes…Bad on Paper did an episode on “What’s In Our Notes App,” which sparked a fun conversation in one of the Creative Cohorts I co-facilitated with my writing partner, Laura. One person found a note on her phone titled “Touched shoe after I ran.” 😆
I love my Notes App and keep it fairly organized. I use folders to separate general notes, work notes, Chloe-related notes, and writing-related notes. I have a handful of specific notes in my general folder that I consistently update (birthdays, groceries, books I’ve read, my garden), and these are all labeled with emojis next to their titles because it makes me happy.
Celebrating
Laura and I recently wrapped up our fourth Artist’s Way cohort and first Walking in This World cohort. We’ve set dates for our fall cohorts—come join us!
“It has been meaningful to think about treating myself well, letting myself dream, and looking for fun. I want to continue on this path.” —TAW participant
“I’m feeling more connected to myself/goals and definitely feel like I am reclaiming my art more and more by the day.” —WITW participant
We also have a new fun venture: Creative Direction! These calls are incredibly fulfilling for me, likely because “developer” and “individualization” are two of my top Strengths. I receive great satisfaction from helping people identify their strengths and pitfalls, brainstorming ways they can reach their creative goals, and providing resources to help them move forward.
Tell me: What’s your favorite book so far this year? What are you celebrating these days? Have you ever taken the CliftonStrengths assessment? If so, I’d love to know your top strengths!
I love Sissy Goff-I will certainly take a listen to the podcast. And also - I could watch a field of cows for hours🐮
Your trip sounds so dreamy! I'm glad you got to do that!