Day One in Our New Hometown

Today was the official start of this new chapter, and wow—what a swirl of emotions. I promised myself to stay honest, true, and as positive as possible, but let’s just say my heart did a little tug-of-war today.

I miss Maine. A lot. The quiet mornings in our little cabin, the sunrises that painted the sky, and those star-filled nights that felt like magic. That kind of beauty can’t be replaced. Here, the scenery is lovely too, but it’s busy—so busy. The traffic, the endless shopping centers, the “where do I even look first?” kind of busy. At one point, I felt homesick in a way I hadn’t before. But then I reminded myself: this isn’t about comparing. It’s about embracing something new.

And hey, silver lining—Costco is only 30 minutes away. That discovery alone felt like a small victory in the middle of all this adjusting.

Funny thing is, I always thought I was a palm tree and beach kind of person. Turns out, Maine turned me into a pine tree, fresh air, starry-night kind of soul. Who knew?

Now, about the campground we picked… let’s just say it wasn’t exactly what we pictured. The road in is long, dusty, and bumpy, and the sites themselves? Well, let’s just call them “character-building.” We’re already scouting out another spot today. Thankfully, the property we’re buying (closing on the 26th!) is in a beautiful rural area surrounded by farmland. It’s nearly nine acres of mostly pine trees, which means a lot of work ahead, but also a lot of potential. Once we close, we’ll finally get a clearer idea of what it will take to make it our own.

But here’s the bright spot of the day: we stumbled upon this little gem of a restaurant called Zardin. Oh my goodness—it was everything. Organic, fresh, and hands down the best healthy food we’ve ever had eating out. The space itself was beautiful, and for a moment, all the chaos melted away. It’s funny how one little place can make you feel like, “Okay, maybe everything really will be alright.”

Tomorrow is another big day—I’m releasing my very first Weekly Whittle Bird at Home newsletter! I’ve been pouring my heart into it, and this week I’m sharing a couple of my favorite recipes that help bridge the gap between summer and fall.

Here’s to finding the good, even when homesickness sneaks in. Because sometimes, the good is just around the corner—or waiting at a little restaurant with the best salad you’ve ever had.