I grew up in the perfect small town
My memories of summers in St. Johnsbury, Vermont are of exploring the woods in our backyard, riding bikes a million miles up and down our dead end street and playing kick the can, long after dark, until our mom called us in.
I can still hear her voice … “Blake, Matt, Brian, Julie …”
There’s also something that I don’t remember.
Flowers!
Gorgeous flowers!
All shades and all types painting the most idyllic landscape even more perfect!
As I walk around my neighborhood, I have one question …
… ‘How is it possible to make Vermont even more beautiful than it already is?’
When we’d show a sunrise on WCAX-TV, I’d say, “Heaven on Earth,” and that’s exactly how I feel about this state.
25 Years, a TV News Career, One Marriage, One Kid Later …
… I never imagined that I’d find the perfect home back in my hometown.
I feel so lucky that I trusted my inner voice and the voice of God that was so powerfully showing me the way. He might as well have bought the gas to get me here!
Julie Kelley/Creator Truly Jude
That’s how great the pull of the divine felt. Trusting it felt like going over a cliff and not being able to see what would happen next.
What Happened Next …
We went from driving 20 minutes in traffic to get anywhere …
…to walking to school, the playground, a favorite sandwich shop, even our friend’s house.
We went from worrying about our little guy’s anxiety in crowded classrooms, with big expectations, for little people ….
… to a class of ten with a teacher who was born to lead pre-k and kindergartners to their full potential, with grace, understanding and patience.
We went from facing great stress from owning a home too big for us …
…to having just what we need without feeling overwhelmed with upkeep.
We went from many tense days when our family felt divided and struggled for balance …
… to a family with simple traditions (Sundays at an empty playground in the country, bike ride “pick ups” at school, early mornings at the lake).
A Walk Through My Neighborhood
Simple places fill my soul and I can feel the difference – my mind stops racing, my shoulders drop and my heart opens. What kind of place fills your soul?
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Is it in the middle of an art gallery or listening to live music under the stars? I’d love to hear what fills your soul! Please share in the comments below.
Truly,
Julie
Your. Soulful. Space.
SOULFUL SIDENOTE: St. Johnsbury is a gift to the art world. It is small in size and numbers, but has an artist’s heart.
St. J – as it is affectionately called by locals – is a dog lover’s mecca with an artist’s chapel built just to honor our four legged family members. Stephen Huneck’s art was an Ode to Sally and all dogs like her – loving, loyal and happiest free to roam and explore. Visit Dog Mountain to experience this one of a kind love story to our pets.
Stop in at the Northeast Kingdom’s Artisans Guild shop on Portland Street and feast your eyes on works of art from some of the area’s most talented and creative artists. Our little corner of Vermont is filled with artists who work out of barns and sheds and then share their masterpieces (and stories) in this gallery.
Just up the street and around the corner, Catamount Arts is at the heart of creating events and experiences that make St. Johnsbury vibrant with live performances, art house movies and a First Night New Year’s Eve Party that is one of a kind for a small town! This summer they’ve expanded with Hey St. J! #GetDownTown – a free, family-friendly performing arts series that will
bring monthly shows and activities to three accessible downtown St. Johnsbury venues in June, July, and August.
Speaking of masterpieces, St. Johnsbury has one that can not be seen anywhere else in the world. Albert Bierstadt’s The Domes of the Yosemite is the centerpiece of the art gallery at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. To find such fine art in the middle of a small town in Vermont is a gift from the past and an experience often, only found, in the biggest cities around the world.
As you walk down Main Street, you’ll discover the art of taxidermy on display at the Fairbanks Museum. Polar Bears, Anacondas, a Moose and almost any other animals from around the world that you might be interested in seeing up close. My 6-year-old finds something new every time we visit!
By the time you’ve taken this tour, it’s impossible to miss one of the most artistic parts of this small town – the architecture. Each building is a piece of art! Every time I walk down Main Street I marvel at what my eyes take in.
When you get to the end of Main Street, you’ll find one of the best independent high schools in the world. St. Johnsbury Academy is one of my favorite places on Earth! The arts is also one of the centerpieces of this exceptional school. Students can take dance, pottery, drawing, sculpture and design.
St. Johnsbury was born from the creation of the Fairbanks Scale and the weight of that history now rests as a foundation for a vibrant arts community that’s growing each day.