Fall Retreats & A Trip to Italy
Last night I collapsed into my own bed at midnight after living out of a suitcase for the past 5 weeks.
There really is nothing like the absolute bliss of collapsing onto your own pillow, especially after 24 hours to make it there.
Anyway, the past month or so has been a truly wild ride and I am excited to share it with those of you who enjoy travel inspiration, have cheered me on over the years, or are just curious as to where I’ve been since early September.
In one of my happy places, exploring the Cotswolds via England’s extensive network of public footpaths.
On September 3rd, I left my home in Northern California for England, to lead my 6th Women’s Walking Retreat through the Cotswolds, along with my co-host, author and speaker Greta Eskridge. We hosted a fantastic group of women, enjoye invigorating fall weather, and experienced quite a few surprise encounters with the locals — of both the human and animal variety.
Top: Steve, a local shepherd, explains the history of his breed, the Cotswold Lion. / Top Left: One of our guests, Megan delighted us with her passion for birding. I learned so much and am now using the Merlin app everywhere I go! / Top Right: Passing through fields filled with cows and their calves. There was even a lone bull, but he didn’t pay us any mind. / Bottom Right: Some of us went riding with Cotswolds Riding Company in Stanton on our free day. One of our guests, Leo, found herself back in the saddle after several decades. / Bottom Left: I never thought a selfie with a sheep would be a retreat highlight, but clearly this made me ridiculously happy.
While exploring the English countryside on village-to-village walks with our group, booking for next September’s retreat was simultaneously taking place behind-the-scenes. Much to my delight and amazement, all twelve spots filled up in record time. There was enough interest that I opened the doors for a second September 2027 retreat and it booked up in a flash as well!
The rapid increase in booking can be partly attributed to an Instagram reel that gained significant interest almost overnight. At first I assumed that the numbers couldn’t be real, but when the bookings began to pour in, my disbelief evaporated and was replaced with overwhelming gratitude.
Throughout my 20 years as a business owner - first as a wedding & portrait photographer and then as a retreat host and travel entrepreneur - I will attest to the fact that, periodically, I considered bailing and leaving the business behind. However, my husband Will understood that being an entrepreneur was something I had been intrinsically designed to do, and consistently spurred me on in my pursuits. Instead of hanging up my entrepreneurial hat, I continued to offer God my loaves and fishes for the better part of two decades, committing my harebrained ideas to the Lord, and juggling life as a work-from-home mom while homeschooling three kids.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine God’s provision coming through in a way that multiplied my humble offerings to the extent it did during those two weeks in England.
In addition to those September retreats, I am also planning a private Cotswolds retreat for a group next fall and one for a group in 2028! Last week I decided to open up a third fall retreat for 2027 and it’s already half full! If you’d like to join our October 11-17, 2027 retreat, check out the details HERE. You can also schedule a call to chat with me about any questions you might have HERE.
Top: Our views on a morning walk the day after arriving in the Cotswolds. / Top Left: My co-leader Greta Eskridge & me in front of the ancient yew trees that flank the door of St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold where we begin our retreats. / Top Right: Passing through a field of sheep as we walk from village to village. / Bottom Right: Our group of women were truly fantastic and I wish I had more time to spend with each one of them. I was so inspired by them all and the dynamics of our group were such a delight. / Bottom Left: One of the rooms at Old Stocks Inn, where we stay for 2 nights in Stow-on-the-Wold.
On top of everything else that happened last month, Will and our three kids flew over to England following this year’s retreat, and the five of us journeyed onwards to Italy together. We had been planning this trip for a while, and it felt extra celebratory considering the bookings that came in while I had been away from home.
A huge thanks to my Mother-in-law Nancy, who helped Will hold down the fort while I was away, friends who pitched in with rides and various assistance with our kids, plus neighbours and friends who helped with our home and our chickens while we were away. It takes a village and we are incredibly grateful for ours!
Over the past three weeks, our family has explored Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Venice, and Tuscany. After years of pursuing this dream, it felt surreal to finally see it come to fruition. I can’t wait to share more about that experience here in my Field Notes over the coming weeks. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:
Itineraries for all 4 areas/cities, plus links to our Air BnBs.
What our family of 5 packed - the things that worked, and the things that didn’t.
Our favourite experiences, foods to try, and places to see, with links to restaurants and service providers.
A look at the inspiration we brought home from gifts to food to souvenirs.
A few favourites from our time on the Amalfi Coast. Top: The Infinity Terrace at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello. / Middle Left: Will and I before dinner at Cuonc Cuonc, a local farm-to-table restaurant overlooking the town of Minori. / Middle Right: One of the pasta dishes our family enjoyed at Cuonc Cuonc. / Bottom: Our kids overlooking Minori (where we stayed) and the Amalfi Coast as we hiked the Path of Lemons to Maiori.
If all of that wasn’t enough, my dear friend and sometime Cotswolds co-leader Greta and I are launching something BIG! We can’t wait to share it with you. Details coming soon. Subscribe HERE to be the first to know!
