Woodstock has a town square that looks like it is something out of the movies. The buildings surrounding the square are old, brick buildings. The shops inside them range from antiques to books to modern home decor. We even have a movie theater that plays new movies for only $5. The matinees are $4. The even hand out punch cards. Buy 7 movies and the 8th one is free.
I have always lived within walking distance of the Woodstock Square. Growing up, my sisters and I would often walk to the Square in the summer and spend whatever money we had at the local candy store. By the time we made it home, we had stomach aches and sugar highs.
When Leland and I bought our house, we looked for something within walking distance of the Square. Now I live even closer than I did while I was growing up. During the summer, Leland and I spend our Saturday mornings taking Bacchus for a walk to the farmers market that is on the Square. We'll stop at Starbucks and then buy fresh vegetables and yummy meats and cheeses. On Sundays we may walk back to the Square and have breakfast at our favorite restaurant in town, La Petite Creperie.
The Woodstock Square holds so many of my childhood and adult memories. I remember walking in the Christmas parade around the Square when I was a Girl Scout. The Homecoming parades always did a loop around the Square. I remember chasing fireflies with my sisters during the weekly orchestra concerts in the summer. Leland and I had our first kiss on the Square. It is where we got engaged and where we got married.
It is a rare day when I walk down a local street and do not run into someone I know. And even the people I don't know aren't strangers. When I fell and broke my pelvis, two women I had never met before were there to help me out. And then a third one came along to look for Leland. When Bacchus ran away last spring, a very nice woman did her best to take care of him until we made it to her house to pick him up.
As I was writing this, a census worker came to my house and it was actually someone I used to babysit for. Aren't small towns the best? (insert sarcasm)
Anyway, I love Woodstock. My parents and older sister are a five minute drive away. My younger sister is a five minute walk. It is my home and I love it here.
Most of the time.
31 comments:
That is so nice! My town is ultra small but yours sounds much nicer. I'm a 22 year old transplant and still feel like an outsider some days.
The town square sounds so pleasant and romantic!
What a charming place to grow up! Ya wanna hear something funny? I swore you were from NY! I guess I took the Yankee thing a little too literally. I'm from Jersey and I just did a post on my home state. Great minds!
xoxo,
Kim
Oh my God... you live in Stars Hollow.
That AMAZING.
Your town looks beautiful!
I've pretty much lived in the same area my whole life and I can't say that I feel that strongly about it.
That was such a nice post about Woodstock. I don't really have a desire to move back there but reading that made me think about it! I remember girl scout parades and getting candy at the candy shop-I thought the candy cigarettes were so cool :) That's so fun you got married in the square. Your family is awesome and you're lucky you are so close to them! Nice post-Kelly
It looks like a great little town! I would love to live somewhere like that!
I am much more of a city person, but your town is so pretty and quaint and clean looking!
Aw. This is really a sweet post and it made me a little tear-y. In a really great way.
I have lived in a small town, the same one, for almost all of my life. I moved out for 8 months after I graduated high school. Then, realized the error of my ways and moved back. :o)
I LOVE that you and Leland shared so many momentous occasions there. How utterly sweet.
Thanks for this glimpse into your life. I enjoyed reading it very much!
I've heard of Woodstock and I've been curious about it, it sounds cute! Ok, sorry, charming :-)
What an adorable little town. I live in a small town, too but I'm not so much in love with it. :( Of course, I didn't grow up here and don't have all those fond memories...
That is so cute! I wish my town was that pretty! Maybe in the fall i'll take pictures to show. You know that way atleast the trees are pretty :-)
Small town life is both good and bad. I am with you there!
Also- I hope you're feeling better!
It sounds so endearing! Perhaps I should visit...
That does look like a nice place to live. I don't think I would leave. I made a mistake like that and now I am stuck in the freakin wild wild west (Tucson) I want to go back to my little town by the ocean. (On Long Island)
Was this a cliffhanger??
I have lived in the same town my whole life, too. There are pros and cons to it, definitely.
Looks like a great place to have grown up! Very charming! There are definitely pros and cons to growing up in the same place vs. growing up in many different places. I was apart of a military family, and we moved every 2-3 years as I was growing up. I loved experiencing so many new places, but I never had a strong connection to any one place (and always had to leave friends).
Woodstock is definitely a cute little town. When Dad and I were Bacchus-sitting, we went for a walk around the square and I was definitely charmed. Every time I see it, though, I still think of "Groundhog Day!"
I think it's awesome that you still live in your hometown. You are not missing anything out someplace else. Sounds like you have it all right there. And even if you ventured out, betcha you'd just eventually get homesick and want to go back (-:
What a cute town! I'm from a small town too and I still work here(but live 45 miles away). Everyone knows me or when they hear my maiden name they at least know one of my family members. My brother says it's so small "you fart and everyone knows". Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it! I moved away for a while and grew to appreciate it more. I hated it when I was in High School, though. I couldn't wait to get out and live in a big city. Turns out that's not always so great either.
I was wondering if a census taker would show up at your door after reading your earlier post - so they really do I see..Heck, I'm ready to move to your town :-)
It looks like the perfect small town. Sometimes I wish we lived in one and then I run to Target and realize how much I love Target!
I moved all over, my kids however, grew up in a small place much like this, and now they are coming back to it and believe me, that pleases me.
That sounds like the perfect little weekend tradition! I like the idea of small towns but I don't think I could take living in one!
i used to drive through woodstock all the time! before we moved to madison, we used to live in south elgin. i used to take rt. 47 to get back to milwaukee (to see my parents) instead of 90... pretty much every other weekend haha. it is a cute little gem... ever so often i'd make a pit stop for lunch or coffee.
i love small towns..i love my small town as much as you love you..although i have to admit..think yours is much prettier.
Beautiful post.
Groundhogs Day.. ooohhh.. the movie... it was filmed there?
Just think, you could have babysat Bill Murray.
I moved around so much as a kid that I've never really felt "at home" anywhere for long. I feel differently about Peaceful Town though, when we moved back here, I felt like it was home more than anywhere else I've ever lived.
Home is wherever your heart is.
As much as I mock my small town I really have a soft spot for the bumpkin life. There is no good trade-off for the charm.
I'm so jealous! I've always lived in a big city, and my favorite experiences have always been going to visit small towns.
That is so nice. I grew up in a suburb of Toledo. I liked it most of the time, but when something bad happened everyone knew about it. I would love to live in a small town like yours some day, but I have a feeling it will be city living until I die.
I love it! I never grew up in a small town and sometimes feel so jealous of people who did. I love the charm of a small town. And how it seems like people are so much more friendly. Brad grew up in a small town though, so at least when we visit I get a little bit of the experience! :) I absolutely LOVE your town square! Gorgeous!
I've passed through Woodstock a number of times and I just think it's adorable! What a picture perfect engagement/wedding spot, too =)
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