I just finished reading Farm From Home by Amanda Brooks. It really resonated with me because Jeff and I have just moved up to our house in the Napa Valley for a couple months! We have used our “country home” as a weekend house for many years, but this year we decided to move up to Napa and see what it is like.
Amanda Brooks, on the other hand, moved with her family from Manhattan to a farm in Oxfordshire, England for a “yearlong creative sabbatical.” Well six years later, they are still happily ensconced of their farm! It is the story of her transition from fashion director at Barney’s to a farmer. She did continue to write, but she and her husband became farmers on the family farm.
The book includes a month by month highlight of the weather, the activities and the recipes she prepared. Charming!
So we have been here for one week, and so far so good. As I mentioned before, our house is on Mount Veeder and is 7 miles up the hill. Therefore, planning is a bit more important, as forgetting something at the market takes about forty-five minutes round trip into town.
In the first week, this is what I have noticed:
I am sleeping more soundly and longer.
I am picking my vegetables and fruit when they are the right ripeness and size (no more foot long zucchinis).
I have more time to read.
I have more time to exercise.
I am hanging out more.
I am catching up on projects.
I am preparing more delicious home-cooked meals.
I don’t think there are more hours in the day in the Napa Valley, but it sure feels like it! Let’s see how week two goes.
