Welcome to the Shores of Crystal Lake
I am not writing this while on vacation. I’m writing it from our new home in northern Vermont.
I have very much enjoyed bringing you stories from others who have left a Plain community and found their way to college and beyond. I will continue to do so as they come in, plus I will be posting the story I shared in June at the symposium.
Today, however, I pause these stories to tell you about the wild and crazy move David and I have made.
For nine months, David and I searched all over Lancaster County in Pennsylvania for a house we wanted to call home, and that we could afford. Our real estate agent showed us literally dozens of homes, and we made offers on five different ones. But alas, each time someone outbid us, often with a cash offer. The last bid we made was on a condo, and we offered $20K more than the asking price with the same result.
There were downsides to living in Lancaster County (heavy traffic, even on the country roads, and the tight housing market). However, I was loving the connections I was making in the area. I was part of a group of advocates for the abused in the Plain communities, and I was feeling a part of something. I am still in touch with these contacts, but I feel more removed from it now.
As we were searching for a home in Lancaster, David kept pining for Vermont. We were occasionally checking the housing market in the state where we met, but not seriously. Then one night, I was scrolling through Vermont properties and stopped short. There was a house all on one level (one of our criteria), and it had a lake view (David’s dream).
Our new home
I was startled by the feelings that came over me. I somehow felt this was going to be our next home, but I also felt a sinking feeling in my stomach because it meant that living in Lancaster County was not going to work out for us. I knew David would want to see it, so I sat next to him on the sofa and said, “I think you will want to interrupt your movie for this.” He did, and yes, he wanted to make an offer on the house.
Even though this was late March, there was a big snowstorm about to hit northern Vermont that weekend, so we couldn’t go and see it. We called David’s brother who lives in Vermont and asked him to meet our real estate agent at the house. Dan and his wife Cherry went to see it for us, and they loved it. So we made an offer, and lo and behold, we got it! David was ecstatic. I was both elated and feeling like “OOPS, we just bought a house in Vermont!
View from our deck
The following weekend when we were planning on driving up to see the house, Vermont got hit by another whopping snowstorm. When we finally did see it, we realized the house needed a lot of TLC. I was not sure about living so far north — twenty minutes from the Canadian border, two hours from our friends in the Burlington area, 45 minutes away from the nearest Lowes, Home Depot, Food Coop, or Staples. . But it also has a gorgeous view of Crystal Lake, is all on one level, has beautiful hardwood floors throughout, and we knew David is a good carpenter and I’m a good painter.
Painting the kitchen
We miss the friends we had in Pennsylvania, and we miss the Amish/Mennonite produce, eggs, dairy, and bulk foods that were available to us in Lancaster. But we have moved around enough that we know we cannot have everything.
We moved some of our belongings in May, and stayed three weeks to work on the house. Then we returned to Lancaster for several weeks before moving the rest of our belongings in late June. We have been working on house projects ever since. It is rare for us to take days off from the next project, though we do when we have company.
I have never been so sick of paint projects in my life. It feels never-ending, though I am way past the halfway mark. I will be glad when I can feel like I can now live in my house without thinking about the next project. We had four days in a row of rain, which gave me a break, but David did not get one. He has been building stairs from the kitchen to the garage.
Kitchen more recently
Each day that the weather permits, we go around the corner to the state park to swim in the lake. That is a real pleasure. David discovered that we could buy a lifetime state park pass for $2 each. We use the passes to get in as often as we like.
Our view of Crystal Lake is ever-changing. These past days, I watched raindrops drawing little circles on the surface of the water. We saw whitecaps for several days in a row, and we watched thunderclouds rolling in from the northwest on Sunday. But there are diamonds-dancing-on-the-water mornings when the sunshine hits the waves just right. There are misty mountain mornings. There are evenings of soft pink and blue sunsets. And then there are days when we see the mountains on the opposite shore through the mist and the rain.
A morning with sun sparkles on the water
We hear loons calling from the lake, sometimes during the day, sometimes at night. What hauntingly beautiful calls they have! In May and June we had a veery serenading us every evening as the sun started to set. Their call sounds a lot like a wood thrush. We hear crows in the big tree across the road pestering other birds until I go out and call their caws back to them and clap my hands and they scatter out of the tree, sometimes six at a time.
We love being able to drive around our area without traffic jams. Our first overnight in Barton, we headed up to Newport to get something for dinner. As we got on I-89, David said, “Nice that they put this highway here for us.” We laughed because there wasn’t another car in sight.
I realize this is summer, and that winters in Vermont last as long as spring, summer, and autumn combined. I am concerned about how I will do in the wintertime. I wasn’t very good at doing Vermont winters when we lived in the state years ago, and I’m older now, and we live farther north then we ever have. I’m told sun lamps are helpful, and I sure hope so. I also plan on taking breaks by spending weeks traveling to warmer places in January and possibly again in March and/or April.
So this is the story of how David and I landed in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, and what has been occupying my time and energy.
Another view of Crystal Lake from our deck
I am thinking about how I want to spend my time and energy once our house projects are completed. I want to find editing jobs that I can do remotely. I’d also like to help facilitate the writing of stories from those who felt they had to leave a culture so they could grow into their potential. I don’t yet know if this will be putting together an anthology of these kinds of stories, or helping each person find their own voice and help them shape their stories.
Also, I would like to find a way to sell more of my own books. Until recently, I have felt reticent to promote myself, and lately I’ve been asking myself where that is coming from. Likely it has to do with my Amish upbringing. There was a lot of caution about women who were “forward.” Now I realize there is a positive aspect to forward women. If Kamala Harris can put herself forward to become president of the United States, I think I can put myself forward as a published author. It is time for me to schedule book talks, be more pro-active about selling my books online, and talk more about my books in general.
I realized that some of you may not know about my books. Right now there is a problem with me receiving royalties from Amazon, even though you can technically buy my latest book from their site. So if you are thinking about buying it, I would ask you to buy it from my website. Here is a link to it: Liberating Lomie: Memoir of an Amish Childhood. And here is a link to my book page where you can still buy my first two books (while supplies last) from me directly, even though they are out of print. I have a shelf full of books with envelopes all ready to go, and the post office right down the road where I mail them from. My signing pen is ready to write an inscription to you personally, or to someone you love. I look forward to fulfilling your orders.
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To order a signed copy of my book(s), click on an image below. You will be taken to the books page of my author website to purchase.
Thanks for the update, Saloma! I’m glad you and Dave are getting settled in. I hope you can complete those projects soon so you can relax and enjoy life. Blessings!
You’re welcome, Bruce. Always good to hear from you! Blessings to you as well.
Saloma, I send my best to you and David on your new adventure. Take care and be well.
Tom, I’ve not heard from you in a coon’s age. How are you doing? Those good wishes go right back to you.
Saloma, this move is all news for me and I’m so happy it worked out for you! Wayne n I were in the Lancaster area recently and I suggested we look you up. It’s good we didn’t spend the time trying to find you! The lake looks beautiful and you will surely find a way to manage the winters if the “spot” is right. And of course, on those long winter nights (or any other time).you can call me and we can talk dutch😁. Blessing to you and David !
LaVina, it is great to hear from you! It would have been great to see you in Lancaster!
The lake is beautiful, and as we complete more of our projects, it feels more like home to us. I was just remarking about that as we came home from our brisk swim yesterday.
Sounds like a plan for some gray winter days to life my spirits!
Blessings to you and Wayne!
Congratulations on your move to Vermont! It is a lovely place to live. Two of my nieces moved up there when they got married (one is way up north). A friend of mine grew up in the Northeast Kingdom and visits her family often. The summers are wonderful, and the fall foliage is beautiful. Winter-not so much. I don’t like the cold and the dark, but I figure spring is always around the corner. One never knows what life will bring!
Denise, great to hear from you. Wow, is that ever a true statement “One never knows what life will bring!” If someone had told me a year ago that this is where we would end up, I would not have believed them. Or else I would have run the other way (smile). You’re right, the fall foliage is absolutely stunning in this part of Vermont.
Thank you again for dropping by!
Oh Saloma, I love thinking of you and David in your new Vermont home in that beautiful place with a view of Crystal Lake with its loons. Your home will mean even more to you both as you and David wield hammers and paint brushes and add other special touches of your own.
No doubt that the contacts that you have made when you two were in Lancaster will continue to extend your ministry.
And, yes, I applaud your efforts to extend the audience for your books–which I still have and treasure.
Love,
Nancy
Nancy, it is always so good to hear from you. I love how you bring out the best in others. That is a true gift. I wish you the best in all your endeavors.
Best wishes as you embark on this new life journey! And, from one “forward woman” to another, see that go-to-it quality for what it is: a strength that weaker people fear and secretly envy.
Celia, thank you for that. I feel the truth of your statement, though I would not have been able to put it so succinctly. Thank for being a fellow forward woman, and for embracing it.
Thank you for your story! I and my husband also moved away from friends and family (2 of my sisters, 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren) 3 hours south to the California Desert. My husband had just completed cancer treatments and we needed a break. Same thing, I happened upon the place in the desert with mountain views and showed it to him. He wanted to buy it without even driving out there. It was Thanksgiving eve, worst day to travel in L.A., and we made the drive and put in an offer.
I love the tranquility of our new place, but do miss L.A. which is only a zoom (pun intended) away. Enjoy your new adventure!
Ruthie, it is great to see you here. Your story sounds parallel indeed. So glad you enjoy the tranquility of your new place. Same to you… enjoy your new adventure!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful view! And prayers for strength and energy and courage to complete each task.
Courage isn’t the word I want. I want to use the PA Dutch word moot/mute (not sure of the spelling). Gute moot! Perhaps “Be encouraged” is the best English translation.
I did so well the first year after my move and then I was exhausted. And now, another year later, I’m finally finding the strength to get back into the work of finishing things. I’m so thankful you have David to help you, because I ended up needing to do carpentry things by myself that I never knew I was capable of performing. But at least those moments are opportunities to surprise ourselves!
Hello, Aleta, it’s great to hear from you! This kind of work is definitely exhausting. I am so grateful for David and his expertise. I’ve been around him long enough that I would probably surprise myself in what I could do, as you did, but I’m so glad I don’t have to. I am already exhausted from all the painting. Tonight as I sit in my living room and look around, everything is painted, right down to the registers and baseboards. It’s a good feeling. We still have one bedroom and both bathrooms to go, but it feels doable compared to all that we’ve done so far. When we are finally done, perhaps it will really feel like home.
Take care, Aleta.
You are surely in a beautiful part of the world! In our first venture into northern New England, thirty-six years ago, my mother and I stayed in a bed and breakfast in Barton, and I’ve returned to the Northeast Kingdom many times since then. Most recently, in November 2022, I volunteered for several weeks at Green Mountain Monastery in Greensboro. Although I ultimately found a home in northern Maine, the Northeast Kingdom will always hold a special place in my heart. To me, winter in northern New England is exquisitely lovely, a season to be savored as much as any other. Snowshoeing is a great way to get out and enjoy winter’s beauty. You will be able to walk across the surface of Crystal Lake when it freezes. The yearly opportunity to “walk on water” is a special delight to me. And, of course, the cozy joys of home are most meaningful when it’s cold outside. May you and David find many blessings in your new home — Wendy
Wendy, it is great to hear from you! I wish I could muster up a love for winter, but it doesn’t seem to be in me. It’s as much the lack of light with the gray days and the short winter days, as it is the cold, the snow, and the length of winters here. So I’m loving the opportunity for a daily swim in the lake for as long as we can, and hope I find a way to feed my spirit during the darker days. We’re already feeling a fall chill in the air, and it’s not yet September.
But you are right about the beauty here. We enjoy the it every day, whether we are looking at our patch of the lake (or from the beach) or driving around the area.
We’re heading into your favorite season. May you enjoy it. I will do my best to enjoy it too.
Saloma,
It is good to hear that you found a house you like in a beautiful place. Winter will give you a chance to find new ways to be creative. Then spring will come. I always enjoy reading your postings.
Cynthia in Middlefield, Ohio
Cynthia, it is great hearing from someone in the community of my childhood! Thank you for your comments. These are good reminders that seasons come and seasons go. Today I have a bright outlook on this gorgeous day by Crystal Lake.
Thank you for your interest in my postings. I was about to post, and now I feel motivated. Thank you!
Is this a modular home? Looks like one?
I’m a journalist write about real estate. If you’d ever like to chat about your home buying experience, email me kensiblonde@gmail.com. I can tell you more and point you to my stories.
Crazy to hear it’s so difficult to find a place in Lancaster. I was recently looking at rentals there and was put off too tho I love the area.