And then I catch myself and think what am I even doing? Because there was a time – not long ago at all, actually – when I longed at my core to be where we are today.

And when I say that, I mean it quite literally. I dreamt of raising a family in the exact neighborhood where we live now.

It was early 2020. I was pregnant with our first child, and we were living in a row home that we had lovingly fixed up in a neighborhood close to downtown DC. It was our very first house, and we were so proud of it. We adored it.

Then the pandemic hit. And suddenly, the tenderness I felt toward that row home started to shift. Seemingly out of nowhere, I wanted (needed, actually) green space.

So, in the middle of July, in nearly 100-degree heat and eight months pregnant, we packed up and moved into a rental house with a big backyard in the neighborhood where we live today.

We just wanted to be here.

A year later, we bought this home, which was (and still is) a dream. With the vision and help of our incredibly talented interior designer, Whitney McGregor, we transformed it into a home that felt entirely our own. It became our sanctuary as we raised our daughter, and eventually, welcomed our son. We have poured so much love into this house. In return, it has faithfully loved us back and carried us through so much as a family.

Two years ago, I probably would have told you we would never leave.

So why then have I become so obsessed lately with the idea of moving to the country?

To be fair, the dream itself isn’t entirely new. My husband and I have talked about it for years, but always in the context of some big, far-off dream. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a tiny cottage outside Middleburg one day? Somewhere we could escape on weekends with the kids and our dog. A little place with some land (and hopefully, a garden!).

Until recently, though, we hadn’t seriously talked about it in the context of an actual, real-life, we-live-here-now relocation.

And yet, just as I longed for more green space back in 2020, I find myself longing for it again now.

I am so grateful for the yard we have today. And we have truly maximized just about every inch of it. We’ve grown tomatoes and lettuce and cucumbers and carrots. We’ve planted hydrangeas and lavender and roses, and most recently, we even added a small cutting garden.

But lately, I find myself longing for a different kind of green space.

The kind I grew up around in Southeastern Ohio, a slice of Appalachia where the natural landscape is so full of beauty and wonder that, looking back, I’m not sure I fully appreciated until after I left.

I’m talking bright green rolling hills, sprawling fields that glimmer on a sunny day, and farmland that seems to stretch forever. Creeks winding through neighborhoods – and if you’re lucky, right through your own backyard.

I long for that kind of country.

Not because I don’t treasure this magical, beautiful home. I absolutely do. But because, just like in 2020, something in me seems to be craving a different relationship with nature. And this time, I dream of walking out our front door and seeing nothing but trees and open space.

A couple of weekends ago, we even drove out to Virginia’s Hunt Country and toured a house – an old 1857 mill turned into a home – that I haven’t stopped thinking about since. Acres of land. And, you guessed it, a LITERAL CREEK running through the yard. (I mean, are you kidding me!)

As much as I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that house, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about something else either.

It’s something I heard or read somewhere – I can’t remember where (and I even tried to track down the exact quote) – but the idea was essentially this:

Remember, there was a time when all you wanted was what you have today.

And I can’t stop thinking about it because it’s true.

We rush and rush through life. We’re always so eager to get to the “next” thing. There is always another dream to chase.

Not that dreaming is bad. Of course it isn’t.

But I never want the dream of what could be to keep me from seeing the beauty of what already is.

Over the past couple of days, I’ve felt a subtle shift. I still dream about the country, and I still hope that’s in our future one day.

I just don’t feel quite as restless or as eager to rush toward it.

Because there is so much about right here that I love.

This home. This tiny garden. The tree in our front yard that our daughter has climbed since she basically learned to walk. The crayon “art” that has multiplied on our family room walls over the years. The sweet rooms where our children are growing up.

And possibly most importantly, I want to pause and remember how badly I once dreamt of being right here – and how much I still love being here.

So, for now, I’m taking a break from Zillow. But that doesn’t mean I can’t dream, right?

Scroll on to see what I’m dreaming about lately – inspiration, saved finds, and a few things from the “someday” file.

A peek at my “someday” country file. I have mounds (and mounds!) of inspiration saved, so maybe this should become a series?! Next time, I’ll share the paint colors and fabrics that keep catching my eye, too.

A few things before you go:

• ICYMI. Everything I wore in the Cotswolds here.

• In the works. A tomato-themed end-of-summer dinner party. And yes, I’ll be fully embracing the theme in this and this.

• Worth a look. The most incredible vegetable chandeliers created by Flur London. (Immediately filed this away for aforementioned tomato-themed party).

• Can’t stop thinking about. Skall Studio’s ‘La Piscine’ collection. A total feast for any country-loving soul. A few favorites below and the rest here.

Until next time – and wishing you a lovely Sunday!

I’ve been trying re…

Read more

For some reason, this information stopped me in my tracks (and not just because green has always been my favorite color!). The more I thought about it, the more it felt so…obvious?

Read more

I shared this a while back, but 2025 – particularly t…

Read more

There is also such a natural beauty to the winter months. Something ma…

Read more

That question was already on my mind, and then the tragic events in Minneapolis unfolded this week. When something so horrific and unjust happens, I always find it hard to keep showing up online. Everything suddenly feels superficial and unimportant ag…

Read more

Sure, they’re a little more specific than that – but if I’m honest, it’s a rinse-and-repeat situation.

Read more

I’ve been itching to get back to Substack. But the more time that passed since my last post in the light, bright days of summertime, the harder it felt to re-enter. And now here I am scrambling to get this post out on Christmas Eve. 2025 has been…a year.

Read more

And, what I especially love about many of these label…

Read more

One thing I hope to share here on Substack is my love of learning and discovering new things. I’m a naturally curious person, and when something catches my interest, I tend to dive in headfirst. (My sisters love to tease me about this!)

A lot of my interests stick and turn into hobbies (like my love for topiaries and plants), but some have definitely fiz…

Read more

This Substack has been a long time coming. I created it back in 2023 as a space to share the little things bringing joy and inspiration to my everyday — the spaces, places, and pieces I kept returning to again and again.

As time passed, I …

Read more

Subscribe now

Read more