56 Days at the Inn: Embracing the Unpredictable Beauty of Vermont

It's been exactly 56 days since my family and I embarked on an adventure of a lifetime, taking ownership of our very own inn in picturesque Ripton, Vermont. To say our journey has been an adventure would be an understatement. Here's a little glimpse into our whirlwind introduction to inn-keeping and life in Vermont.

Day 1: Just 4 hours after signing the papers to make the inn our own, we welcomed our first guests. They were the coolest guests too. A man riding in the Vermont Gran Fondo, a crazy challenging race, along with his wife and mother who cheered him along. The race went right by the inn while the rain started to fall...

The Great Flood: The following weekend, Vermont experienced a major flood. The landscapes that we had just begun to admire and acquaint ourselves with were completely transformed. Our heart goes out to a neighbor up the road whose house met with a devastating mudslide. We witnessed roads washing out, and like many in the community, our basement wasn’t spared from the floodwaters. Around midnight that evening a neighbor who backs up to the Middlebury River knocked on the door asking for a room for the night as the river started to come to their doorway, I settled them into our last available room and 15 minutes later a young father knocked on the door telling us the road ahead was closed and by the time they turned around the road less than a quarter mile up had washed out too. I was so sorry for them I told them we were totally booked, but we still had a sofa... he, his wife, 2 year old and 6 month old slept on the floor by the fireplace that night. That led us into our most active breakfast that hasn't seen the like since.

The resilience and spirit of Vermonters truly shone during this time, and the community continues to rally together in support of one another.

Unexpected Visits: In the midst of everything, my youngest decided to give us a scare. A simple act of slamming his toe in a car door led us to the lovely hospital in Middlebury. It wasn’t the kind of local tour we had in mind, but every cloud has a silver lining. The staff was wonderful, and it gave us another perspective into the warmth and care of our new community.

Repairs Upon Repairs: As you can imagine, an old inn comes with its share of quirks and much-needed repairs. We're quickly learning that in Vermont, patience is more than a virtue; it's a way of life. Whether it's waiting for a technician or sourcing the perfect part, "nothing happens fast in Vermont" has become our new mantra... and while sometimes we feel that frustration and Austin-accustomation of just wanting what we want when we want it... it has been a great change of pace for us and we appreciate that others have extended the same patience with us as well.

School Bells Are Ringing: The kids are gearing up to start school in a mere 11 days. The anticipation is palpable. New classes, new faces, and a whole lot of new experiences await them. They’re more than ready to meet new friends and delve into this new chapter.

Community Bonds: Amidst the chaos, I've been fortunate to meet what feels like half the town, and it's been heartwarming. (Note there are less than 800 people in this town so saying I've met half the town is not much of an exaggeration!) If you're ever in Vermont and want to get the true local experience, make a pit stop at the country store or the recycling center. These places, seemingly ordinary, are the heartbeat of the community, and the social hubs where stories, laughter, and advice are freely exchanged.

To sum it up, the past 56 days have been a mix of challenges, discoveries, and invaluable experiences. Through the ups and downs, the floods and repairs, one thing remains constant: our love for this beautiful state and its incredible people. Here's to many more days, stories, and adventures in Vermont!

Until next time, Elizabeth G