Pennsylvania

As I cross into the next state, I keep an eye out for roadside produce stands. My mind is still on that perfect Caprese salad — I’m on a mission to find some delicious, local tomatoes.

The place I finally spot looks like it used to be an old barn. The beams here have a funny overhang on the second floor — I can’t help but wonder what it was for. I should look that up!

Next stop: Laura’s house. Three of her kids and her husband are out of town while I’m there. It’s funny how I always seem to miss him when I visit. Laura’s someone I really admire — not just because she’s a mom of five, but because she also runs a marketing business and still greets everyone with a smile. I’m convinced that kind of peace only comes from knowing Jesus.

My room was beautifully prepared, complete with fresh flowers from her garden. That’s something I’m really loving about this area — everything grows here. Flowers, gardens, greenery… it all feels abundant.

Longwood Gardens

One afternoon, Laura told me we were heading to Longwood Gardens for a picnic with friends. I didn’t think much of it at first — she enjoys gardening, and I’m always up for time outdoors when the weather is nice. But the moment we walked in, my mind was blown.

Longwood Gardens stretches for acres, with huge atriums dedicated to different ecosystems: tropical plants, desert plants, and walls of flowers that look like little people dancing in the breeze. The water gardens were breathtaking — a display of lily pads floating on black-dyed water (fun fact: they dye it that way to hide the pipes and cables underneath). Each exhibit gets refreshed and updated throughout the year, and now I can’t help but dream about returning at Christmas to see it all lit up.

now this is my kind of garden! 🤪

The kitchen garden was overflowing with vegetables — some I’d never even heard of — and tucked off to the side were a few whimsical treehouses. I’m so glad we stayed until evening to watch the lights come on. It felt absolutely magical.

We ended the visit at the water show, which felt like something straight out of Europe.

Antique Shops

One of my goals for this road trip was to explore antique shops and see what treasures I could find. The first one we stopped at had great reviews, but as soon as I stepped inside, I was stunned — and I should’ve turned right back around. The mix of demonic imagery placed next to Christian icons was unsettling. Lesson learned. Lord protect me.

The next shop, though, was wonderful — room after room filled with antiques, both large and small. You can never have too many vases, right? So I picked up a lovely one at a great price.

I wish I’d taken a picture of a photo album we found there, too. It documented the life of a man born in the 1940s — his mom had carefully recorded every milestone, from his first bike to his school days. Now the whole album sits, forgotten, in the basement of an antique store. It was a poignant reminder that our lives are fleeting.

We’re lucky that capturing moments is so easy now, but maybe that’s the trap — we take too many pictures. The real challenge is being present. Which is ironic, considering this blog is full of photos — ha!

Farewell to Laura

Laura sent me off well. Every evening we ate dinner on her lovely screened-in porch, watching the sunset. I’m so grateful for her friendship and the peace that seems to radiate from her home.