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On June 16, my summer vacation officially began.

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At the time, August felt forever away.

I had plans. I had places I wanted to go. I had things I wanted to do. And in my last blog post on July 10, I even made myself an end-of-summer bucket list.

Now it’s August 19, and somehow more than two months have passed.

Work starts again on August 25, the kids head back to school on August 31, and I’m sitting here wondering the same thing I wonder every year:

Where did summer go?

My Free Time Became Very Precious

This summer looked a little different than I imagined because graduate school has consumed a lot of my time.

Most days, if I wasn’t working on an assignment, reading, researching or writing something for school, I was thinking about the next thing I needed to do for school.

Going back to school as an adult sounded like a great idea.

And it is.

But WOW.

It’s a lot.

That’s also why the free time I did have this summer became precious.

I rested.

I relaxed.

I slept in.

I stayed up as late as I wanted.

Some days, I didn’t feel guilty about doing absolutely nothing.

After working all school year and then spending so much of my summer concentrating on graduate school, I think I needed that.

Remember That Summer Bucket List?

Back in July, this was my end-of-summer bucket list:

  • ❌ Spend a day at a Delaware beach.
  • ❌ Watch the Chesapeake City fireworks.
  • ✅ Explore Washington, D.C. with family.
  • ❌ Visit the Cecil County Fair.
  • ✅ Find a few more amazing gluten-free restaurants.
  • 🟡 Take a spontaneous road trip to a Maryland small town.

At first glance, I didn’t do very well checking things off my list.

But the more I started thinking about what we actually did this summer, the more I realized I was looking at it all wrong.

No, I didn’t take a spontaneous road trip to a Maryland small town.

But the kids and I DID explore a new-to-us place in Maryland, and my brother and I took a completely spontaneous nighttime road trip to Philadelphia.

I’m calling that close enough.

Because Apparently a Cheesesteak Is a Reason for a Road Trip

My brother flew in from California to visit, and one night he wanted an authentic Philly cheesesteak.

So we drove to Philadelphia.

At night.

For a cheesesteak.

Specifically, Pat’s.

I couldn’t eat there because it isn’t a good option for my gluten and chicken allergies, so basically I drove to Philadelphia and watched my brother eat a cheesesteak.

If that isn’t sibling love, I don’t know what is.

It wasn’t the spontaneous Maryland road trip I had put on my bucket list, but honestly, this was better. It wasn’t planned. We just decided to go.

Those are sometimes the best memories.

We Made It to D.C., Too

A couple of weeks ago, the boys and I spent the night in Washington, D.C. with family visiting from Nevada.

This one actually WAS on my list.

After living on the West Coast for so many years, I still think it’s pretty amazing that Washington, D.C. is close enough that we can pack up, drive there and spend the night exploring with family.

Living here has opened up an entirely different part of the country for us to explore, and I’m still getting used to having so many places within driving distance.

We Explored a Little Closer to Home, Too

The kids and I also visited Turkey Point Lighthouse in North East, Maryland.

It was nothing extravagant. We took the walk out to the lighthouse, enjoyed being outside and spent some time together.

But sometimes the simple outings end up sticking with you.

There was something about the waterfront that reminded me of Lake Tahoe.

Of course, the two places aren’t the same, but something about looking out over the water gave me that familiar feeling for a moment.

Lake Tahoe was home for a very long time, and it’s a place I still miss deeply.

Moving across the country has been an adventure, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss the life and places I left behind. Sometimes it’s the smallest thing – a view, the water, a walk – that brings those feelings rushing back.

Maybe that’s part of what Small Town Living in Maryland is really about for me.

I’m discovering my new home while still carrying pieces of my old home with me.

And Turkey Point was one of those places where the two unexpectedly came together.

And Then There Was the Food…

If there was ONE bucket-list item I absolutely accomplished this summer, it was finding more gluten-free restaurants.

I said I wanted to find a few.

Apparently, I took that challenge very seriously.

We tried:

  • Wolf’s Superior Sandwiches in Aston, Pennsylvania
  • Outback Steakhouse in Middletown, Delaware
  • The Grill at The Wharf in Washington, D.C.
  • Maman in Washington, D.C.
  • Tatte Bakery & Café in Washington, D.C.
  • Potstickers Asian Grill & Sushi in Newark, Delaware
  • Casa Kahlo Mexican in Newark, Delaware
  • Limestone BBQ and Bourbon in Wilmington, Delaware
  • AMALFI Pizza-Restaurant in Newark, Delaware
  • Not Your Average Joe’s in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

Ten restaurants.

So maybe I didn’t make it to the Delaware beach, the Chesapeake City fireworks or the Cecil County Fair.

But between Turkey Point, Washington, D.C., a spontaneous cheesesteak run to Philadelphia and ten different restaurants, I’m starting to think I didn’t do so badly after all.

So maybe I didn’t make it to the beach, the fireworks or the fair, but I definitely understood the assignment when it came to food.

I’ve shared a lot of these places on social media, but that’s also made me realize how much I’ve neglected my blog.

I’m constantly making Reels, taking pictures, sharing gluten-free finds and posting about restaurants on Instagram and Facebook.

Meanwhile, my last blog post was July 10.

Oops.

And Today Hit Me a Little Differently

Today, my oldest son had his senior pictures taken.

Senior pictures.

I don’t know how that’s even possible.

It feels like I blinked and somehow went from taking him to Pre-K to watching him get ready to start 12th grade.

When your kids are little, everyone tells you how fast it goes.

You hear it over and over.

“Enjoy it. It goes by so fast.”

At the time, it doesn’t feel fast.

You’re packing lunches, helping with homework, driving everyone everywhere, dealing with school projects and trying to make it through the week.

And then suddenly you’re sitting there on senior picture day wondering how you got here.

Pre-K to 12th grade.

Just like that.

And Now Summer Is Ending

My summer vacation started June 16.

It’s August 19.

For more than two months, I’ve had the luxury of sleeping in, staying up as late as I wanted and having days where I didn’t have to be anywhere first thing in the morning.

That ends very soon.

I go back to work August 25.

The kids go back to school August 31.

And then we’re back to alarms, schedules, lunches, homework, work and everything else that comes with the school year.

Except this year I’m adding graduate school into that mix.

I’m not entirely sure how I’m going to balance all of it yet.

But I’ll figure it out.

Maybe I Didn’t Need to Check Every Box

Looking back at my bucket list, I could focus on the four things I didn’t do.

But I don’t really feel disappointed about them.

I rested.

I spent time with my kids.

I spent time with family I don’t get to see very often.

I took a completely spontaneous nighttime trip to Philadelphia with my brother for a cheesesteak I couldn’t even eat.

I explored D.C.

I tried a ridiculous number of restaurants.

I slept in.

I stayed up late.

And I gave myself permission to enjoy having nowhere to be some mornings.

Maybe that was exactly what I needed this summer.

The Delaware beach will still be there.

Maryland’s small towns aren’t going anywhere.

There will be another Cecil County Fair.

And hopefully there will be another summer of Chesapeake City fireworks.

But I’m never going to get this summer back.

The summer before my oldest son’s senior year.

And when I look at it that way, I think I spent it pretty well.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more days of sleeping in before that alarm clock becomes part of my life again.

Halfway Through Summer… and Life Had Other Plans

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When summer break began on June 15, I had all these grand ideas of what I was going to accomplish.

I pictured spending my days exploring small towns around Maryland, relaxing at the beach, discovering new gluten-free restaurants, and writing plenty of new blog posts. I even imagined tackling a few projects around the house while enjoying a slower pace before the school year started again.

Instead… life had other plans.

Most of my summer has been filled with doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and making sure my kids got to all of theirs as well. Between scheduling, driving, waiting rooms, and follow-up visits, the weeks have flown by much faster than I expected.

On top of that, I’ve been staying busy with my Master’s program classes. As many of you know, I’m currently working toward my Master of Education in Elementary and Special Education. The coursework has definitely kept me on my toes! While I absolutely love learning and know this degree will help me become a better educator, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous about balancing graduate school once I’m back working full-time as a paraprofessional come August.

Some days, I find myself wondering how I’m going to fit everything in.

Then there are the days where I simply have no energy.

Have you ever looked at your calendar and realized you finally have a free day, but instead of wanting to go out and do something fun, all you want to do is stay home and recharge? That’s pretty much where I’ve been this summer. I keep telling myself I want to explore more of Maryland and Delaware, spend a day at the beach, and discover hidden gems to share with all of you but lately, my body has been telling me to slow down.

Maybe that’s exactly what I needed.

Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make every moment productive that we forget rest is productive too.

The good news is summer isn’t over just yet.

Tomorrow, I’m hoping to head over to Chesapeake City for the delayed Fourth of July fireworks. The original fireworks were canceled because of the rain, so I’m excited that we’ll still have a chance to enjoy the celebration. It’s one of those simple summer traditions that I’m looking forward to sharing with my kids.

At the end of the month, family will be flying into Washington, D.C., and we’ll be spending a few days together exploring our nation’s capital. I’m really looking forward to playing tourist, making memories, and hopefully sharing some fun places to visit—along with any gluten-free finds we discover along the way.

I’m also hoping we can make it to the Cecil County Fair this year. Last summer, we had just moved to Maryland, and our days were spent unpacking boxes, settling into our new home, and learning our way around a brand-new state. This year feels different. We’re starting to feel like locals, and I’m excited to experience more of the traditions that make Cecil County such a special place to live.

And yes… I’m still determined to squeeze in at least one beach day before the school year begins. Living this close to the Delaware & Maryland beaches is still something I’m getting used to, and it feels like a summer tradition I can’t let slip away.

So while this summer may not have looked the way I imagined, I’m reminding myself that life doesn’t always have to be packed with adventures to be meaningful. Sometimes growth happens quietly in online-classrooms, in waiting rooms, in family conversations, and in the moments when we simply take time to breathe.

Thank you for sticking around, even during my quieter season of blogging. I appreciate every one of you who continues to read, follow along, and support Small Town Living in Maryland.

Here’s to making the most of the second half of summer. I can’t wait to share more adventures with you soon!

My End-of-Summer Bucket List

  • Spend a day at a Delaware beach.
  • Watch the Chesapeake City fireworks.
  • Explore Washington, D.C. with family.
  • Visit the Cecil County Fair.
  • Find a few more amazing gluten-free restaurants.
  • Take a spontaneous road trip to a Maryland small town.

What about you? Has your summer gone as planned, or has life taken you in a different direction? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to in the comments!

Happy 4th of July!

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Today marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, a milestone often called America’s semiquincentennial. It’s a day to reflect on freedom, history, and the ongoing story of this country, while also enjoying time with family, friends, and community.

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One year ago yesterday….

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One year ago yesterday, the kids and I arrived in Maryland with a lot of hope, a little uncertainty, and a whole new chapter ahead of us.

It’s hard to believe an entire year has already flown by. They say time flies when you’re having fun and apparently when you’re busy building a new life, too!

I originally posted this video six months ago, and somehow we’ve already reached the one-year mark. Along the way, we’ve made memories, found new favorite places, and grown in ways I never imagined.

My heart is full of gratitude for this journey and all the blessings this past year has brought. Here’s to one year in Maryland and many more adventures still to come. 💜

– M

Starting My Summer Garden in Maryland (Inside My Garage with a Greenhouse)

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After nine months of living in Elkton, I’m starting to settle in. One of the things I was most excited about this year was starting a garden.

For my birthday, my dad and brother gave me a small portable greenhouse. I set it up in the garage with a heater and grow lights so I could get a head start on my seedlings while the weather is still unpredictable outside.

Right now, my little greenhouse is full of tiny sprouts and seed trays. It’s still early in the season, but something is exciting about watching the first green shoots appear and knowing they’ll eventually make their way into the garden this summer.

A Budget-Friendly Seed Starting Hack

When I started prepping seeds for my summer garden here in Elkton, I quickly realized how expensive all the seed-starting supplies can get, especially since I left all of my gardening supplies and original greenhouse back in Lake Tahoe. And starting over, all my supplies costs have been adding up, so those plastic seedling trays with humidity domes add up fast!

Instead of buying the traditional trays, I found a much cheaper solution hack. I bought disposable aluminum baking sheet pans with lids from Walmart instead. They work surprisingly well as mini greenhouses and cost only a fraction of what the plastic seed trays do.

Inside the pans, I’m using a soil blocker tool that creates four 2-inch soil cubes at a time. It’s actually a really cool little tool. Instead of plastic cells, the seedlings grow directly in the compact soil cubes, which makes transplanting much easier later.

The aluminum pans hold the cubes perfectly, and the clear lids help keep moisture in while the seedlings are getting started. It’s a simple setup, but it’s working great so far in my small garage greenhouse.

My Small Garage Greenhouse Setup

The little greenhouse itself is set up right in the garage with a heater and grow lights to keep everything warm and give the seedlings the light they need.

Even though it’s a small setup, it’s working surprisingly well. The grow lights keep the seedlings from getting leggy, and the heater helps maintain a steady temperature during the colder nights.

It’s not fancy, but sometimes the simplest setups work just fine.

Looking Ahead to Summer

If all goes well, these tiny seedlings will eventually be transplanted out into the garden once the warmer weather finally settles in here in Maryland.

Right now, they may only be little green sprouts, but with a bit of patience, they’ll hopefully turn into a full summer garden.

For now, I’ll just keep checking on them each day and watching them grow. Living here in Elkton has been a bit of an adjustment after spending so many years out west in the Sierra Mountains. The climate is VERY different, the growing season is longer, and I’m still learning what grows best here in Maryland.

Starting seeds this year feels a little like starting over in more ways than one. I’m rebuilding my gardening supplies, figuring out the local seasons, and slowly learning how gardening works in this part of the country.

For now, my small garage greenhouse is a good place to begin. Watching these tiny seedlings grow is a reminder that new beginnings often start small.

Support the Journey – If this post resonated with you or made you feel a little less alone on your own path, you’re always welcome to support my writing with a cup of coffee. Your kindness helps me keep sharing real stories and new chapters, one step at a time go to: coff.ee/smalltownmichele

Review: The Salt House – New Hope, PA

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Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆

I went to New Hope, PA, for my cousin’s birthday, and we decided to dine at the Salt House, a charming, historic restaurant nestled in the heart of the town. Built in 1751, this stone landmark exudes old-world character with its cozy, intimate interior that feels like stepping back in time.

The Salt House offers seasonal dishes crafted from local ingredients, described on their website as “creative and elevated pub fare served in a 1751 stone building that feels straight out of a fairytale.” My cousin and I are both Celiac, so we asked plenty of questions and appreciated how patient and accommodating the staff were. We both ordered the Maine Salmon with Mango, Bell Pepper, and Haricot Verts green beans, but requested it without the Mango/Bell Pepper chutney since it contained bell peppers, which I have a major sensitivity to.

I have to say, kudos to the chef since I’ve never had restaurant salmon cooked so perfectly before. Crispy edges, tender center, and incredible flavor. The portion was generous, and I left completely satisfied.

I gave The Salt House 4 out of 5 stars because the gluten-free menu options were limited, but what they do offer for those with dietary restrictions delivers big, bold flavors that make it worth the visit. It was a lunch to remember, and if I ever find myself back in New Hope, the Salt House will absolutely be on my list again.

📍 Location:
Salt House
7 East Ferry Street, New Hope, PA 18938
📞 (267) 740-7908
📧 info@thesalthouse.com

Gluten Free Yellow Layer Cake with Brownie middle and Buttercream Frosting

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My mom’s birthday was coming up and as always I make her, her birthday cake. This year I went the easy route and used boxed cake mix and a boxed brownie mix.

The brownie layers perfectly complimented the yellow cake. The cake truly turned out pretty and very tasty!

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I am sharing this semi-homemade version of the recipe here. That is one box of gluten free yellow cake and one box of gluten free brownie mix. You can even use canned frosting if you didn’t even want to make that. Regardless, you can most definitely make this from scratch! AND – You can always use my favorite From-Scratch Gluten Free Brownie Recipe.

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pie

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On National Pi day I decided to make a Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pie for the family. Well the pie came out delicious and the kids demanded the leftover pie be their dessert in their school lunches!! So yeah, I think I did well! Deliciously well!

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pie

INGREDIENTS

2 unbaked gluten free 9-inch pie shells*
3 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose gluten free flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Directions:

  1. PREHEAT oven to 325° F.
  2. BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon 1/2 of mixture into first pie shell and then remainder of mixture into the second pie shell.
  3. BAKE both pies for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

* If using frozen pie shell, thaw completely.

 

Adapted from NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Pie

 

Life certainly has been busy, as always!

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I know my life has always been busy. And certainly Scouting is a big part of that craziness! AND January through March is insane because of Girl Scout Cookie Season! And then we are doing everything else in between the cookie madness!

As of February, birthday season is officially over until November! My two son’s birthdays are 5 days apart followed by mine a week later! Yeah, this is the time of year that I am sick of cake…

Aden turned 8 and Arik turned 6…. and well lets just say I am now in my mid-40s! Ack, how did that one happen!?

But before all the birthdays happened Alex had a Girl Scout event at the Discovery Museum. To clarify, Alex and I attended a Girl Scouts overnight event at the Discovery Museum.

It was a very fun event and so glad as a Co-leader I was able to be there for the Girls and have some fun time with my number one girl! Oh did I mention that I built a fort for Addy (Alex’s BFF), Alex and I to sleep in, LOL!

While Alex and her friends had a blast — I was so tired. I woke up with a stiff neck and headache from sleeping on the floor and I ended up being so tired when I got home that I ate lunch and took a 3-hour nap!!!

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Life took over.

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So life can throw you a bowl of cherries and it can throw you lemons and sometimes you can get both!

Since the kids started school in August my life has been super crazy! And then a week after school started the family and I decided to go to Wild Island Water Park. We had never been before so it was a lot of fun to experience something new and exciting.

 

Back in September I even went as far as becoming a substitute teacher as well as a substitute teachers aide for my kid’s school district. It is part-time, but it keeps my pocket book a tad bit happier since I became a stay-at-home mom three years ago.

Unfortunately in the middle of all my craziness in September, my mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly. She was only 61 and extremely active so it was a shock to say the least. But life is a gift and you never know when you’ll be called back no matter how old you are.

The day after my mother-in-law passed away my husband, kids and I attended the Hot Air Balloon Races the next morning. We got up at 3am and drove to Reno to be at the Races opening at 4:30am. We were totally crazy, but had this planned for a long while and wanted to give the kids a bit of normalcy especially since their grandmother passed away the day before. While watching the Hot Air Balloons I saw a white owl fly over us… it made me think that my mother-in-law was with us in that brief moment.

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School Activities, PTO, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Volunteering and now work has been consuming my life to where I have been neglecting my blog, terribly and I so apologize.

October was fun for the kids since they LOVE Halloween. They decided it was a Star Wars dress up year, again! And awesomely so… I didn’t have to make a costume this year to my surprise!!

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Also, my husband decided to help carve pumpkins this year. This is Josh’s first EVER pumpkin that he has carved for Halloween. It only took him 41 years! My husband grew up  Jehovah’s Witness and never participated in Holidays like Halloween or Christmas until he met me almost 19 years ago. Surprisingly in 10 years of having children this was the first time my husband has ever  carved a pumpkin and I have to say it was pretty dang impressive!

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November was busy with Girl Scout and Cub Scout stuff of course, but my daughter had to start going through allergy testing and that was awful to watch her go through that.

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She ended up being VERY allergic to Horses. My poor mother-in-law is probably rolling over in her grave over that one since her life revolved around her 3 horses. Anyhow, Alex came up sensitive to cats as well (oh yay, we have 2) and is allergic to trees, grass, sagebrush and a bunch of different fishes. My poor girl now has to take allergy medicine to get her through the day.

A week later my daughter,Alex, turned double digits, the big 10! I threw her a birthday party on the Friday before her birthday since it was Veteran’s Day and there wasn’t school that day. I can’t believe my baby us 10!!

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My parents decided that because turning 10 is a HUGE milestone, that they were taking the family and I to Disneyland on Alex’s birthday!! It was crazy fun! My husband had to rent a scooter to get around the parks because he needs back surgery again and his back was killing him the whole time there. But the scooter was a God send and he was able to enjoy himself while in the Happiest Place on Earth, regardless.

We took my daughter to Goofy’s Kitchen for her birthday dinner and I was able to order her a Gluten Free Birthday Cake to keep the celebration going.

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We had a ton of fun at Disneyland, but this will probably be our last trip there for a couple of years, unfortunately.

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And then of course you have Thanksgiving at the end of our extremely already busy November. Over the last year I had saved over 2 loaves of gluten free bread heals and stuck them in the freezer! When it came time, I cubed them up and toasted them in the oven with some olive oil so I could make my  late Grandma Josie’s turkey stuffing gluten free that Turkey Day. And yes the stuffing came out very tasty!

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A couple of days after Thanksgiving we were graced with our first snow of the season.

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But of course in a couple of days the snow melted and we haven’t seen any snow since, sadly.

Then December finally sneaked up on us and we are still riding the crazy train, LOL. My parents came up so we can celebrate my Father’s birthday come Monday. But needless to say tonight I walked our town’s Parade of Lights with my Daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. I trekked 1.9 miles and was glad I had on a good pair of tennis shoes. My older son also participated in the parade with his Cub Scouts tonight as well. This was my 3rd year participating in the Parade of Lights – I love it and hope I can participate for many years to come. I had to make my daughter a tutu and dress her up as a Reindeer for the parade. I hope I got it right!

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Aden’s Cub Scouts built a Pine Wood Derby Car as their float and he road with them for the Parade.

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My December will be consumed by Caroling, 3 Birthdays, Subbing, Winter School Concerts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Christmas, Winter School Break, my 19th anniversary of when I first started dating my husband and New Years Eve.

Yeah… 186 days til summer break and counting, LOL!!