the woodsy wife – by adriana vanderzanden

We have been buuusy over here in New England the past few months! Jake and I have both been tackling big projects for work, we’ve had two sets of guests come to visit, and we’ve had some unexpected trials and tribulations – but we’re still having a great time. May might have flown by, but we have some great stories to hold on to.

Jake has been working on three big construction projects. Two for his regular job, and he’s remodeling a Goodhue Boat Company marina on the weekends. I’ve tagged along a little bit, and I’m writing this from the project site. He framed out offices, patched dry wall, and today he’s installing flooring. It’s fun to see the transformation over time, and to see him create something that he’s proud of.

Between marina events, ongoing marketing projects, and some new, exciting things coming to Goodhue Boat Company, I’ve had my hands full at work. We started a podcast for the company answering FAQ about our company and boating in general – you can find it on Apple Podcasts by searching “Underway.” I’ve been having a great time letting my creative energy flow into my work, and I’m proud of what we’re building as a marketing team.

My dad had a conference in Vermont at the end of April, so my parents flew into Portland and visited us on the bookend weekends as they were traveling in and out of Stowe. We had a great time visiting an old family property, exploring new places to eat, and showing them around at two Goodhue locations. We got them out on the water, played cards, and enjoyed being in a new part of the country together!

Last week, one of my best friends, Marie, texted me asking if I was busy over Memorial Day. She’s currently living in Raleigh, but her husband, Blake, works for Delta, so they thought they would take a quick trip up here for the weekend. I showed them around Freeport, we went up to Georgetown Island to eat seaside, we all went out on Sebago Lake, and we had lots of fun playing cards. I even learned how to play 500 for the first time! It’s not my favorite, but it was fun to play with people who love it.

We’ve had a few hiccups in the road along the way… both of our cars had to go into the shop, one unexpectedly and one expectedly, so I was thankful I can work from home. Our fridge died on us, so we lived out of our Yeti cooler for a few days while we figured that one out. Because of our busy schedules, we haven’t been able to get out on a lot of hikes or camping trips like we usually do this time of year, and I think that’s throwing us off a bit. Hopefully our weekend commitments will come to a close and we can go on some adventures soon.

Oh – and Jake’s been modeling for me and I pay him in boat trips haha.

All in all, we’re grateful for this chapter and we’re really enjoying New England. Everyone has welcomed us with open arms out here, and we really feel at home. Like I said, we’re excited to get out and explore a little more, but we’re thankful for the work that we’re doing.

Until next time,

Adriana