latest on the blog
introducing the cabin letters: a monthly snail mail club from our 1901 5th generation cabin on the shores of lake champlain
October 2, 2026
For generations, the shores of Lake Champlain have been a place where stories are carried.
Through families and seasons. Across the water and along old roads. Through photographs tucked into albums, recipes written in familiar handwriting, conversations around weathered tables, and within the walls of cabins that quietly hold the lives lived inside them.
If you have been part of the Caravan Sonnet community for any length of time, you know that I believe deeply in the importance of those stories. And today, I finally get to share a new chapter of ours.
The Cabin Letters is a monthly snail mail club created from our 1901 fifth-generation family cabin on the shores of Lake Champlain—a tangible invitation to slow down, make space for rest, and notice what matters in a world that is always asking us to move faster.
You can join HERE!
And in so many ways, it feels like something that has been quietly becoming for years.
The Story Behind The Cabin Letters
I didn't simply discover this little corner of Lake Champlain.
I inherited a place already filled with history.
For five generations, my family has returned to this shore. Long before I was born, there were already summers here. Stories here. Traditions here. People who loved this place and cared for it and, eventually, entrusted it to the generations who came after them.
Now I have the extraordinary privilege of living within that legacy. And with that privilege comes something else: the responsibility—and the joy—of carrying its stories forward.
Spending every summer of my life here has taught me that a meaningful life isn't created all at once.
It is built slowly. In the stories we preserve. The places we care for. The beauty we notice. The traditions we carry forward. The people we make room for.
And the small, ordinary choices we make about the kind of life we want to build and what we hope to leave for those who come after us.
The Cabin Letters grew from that idea: that the places we love hold stories worth noticing, preserving, and passing along.
But also from another idea that has become increasingly important to me:
That ordinary life deserves to be dignified. That beauty doesn't have to be extravagant to matter. That rest is not something we have to earn.
And that perhaps one of the most meaningful things we can do in a world constantly asking us to hurry is simply learn to notice again.
What If Your Mailbox Held an Invitation to Live a Little More Beautifully?
That question became part of the heart behind The Cabin Letters.
What if, among the bills, advertisements, notifications, and endless digital noise of modern life, something beautiful arrived simply because someone had taken the time to make it and send it?
Something you could hold.
Something you could read slowly.
Something you could place in a frame, tuck into a book, pin above your desk, collect, or return to months from now.
Something that reminded you to slow down, make space for rest, and notice the beauty in the life you are already living.
And so, we thought we'd write.
What Arrives in The Cabin Letters?
Each month, a new Cabin Letter will leave our fifth-generation cabin on Lake Champlain and make its way to your mailbox. Every month will center around a new theme connected to rest, beauty, place, belonging, legacy, history, home, and the ordinary moments that make up a meaningful life.
Inside each monthly collection, you'll receive:
- A handwritten letter from the cabin, thoughtfully written for the edition you choose
- An original 5×7 fine-art photograph from the Caravan Sonnet photography collection
- An original 5×7 hand-illustrated field map + the story behind it
- A 3×5 “1% More Restful” card, offering one simple and realistic invitation to make a little more room for rest in everyday life, with Scripture on the reverse
- And, from time to time, a thoughtful little extra from the cabin
Everything is created by real hands and hearts. The photography is original. The field maps are hand illustrated. The words are written here.
No AI-generated artwork. No stock collections. No mass-produced monthly assortment.
Just something thoughtfully created to be read, displayed, collected, and treasured.
Four Letters for Four Different Seasons of Life
One of the pieces of The Cabin Letters that means the most to me is that I didn't want every person opening an envelope to receive exactly the same words. Because while beauty can be shared, different seasons of life sometimes need different words. So each month's theme is written in four different letter editions.
→The Becoming Edition is our signature edition, created for anyone wanting to live with greater intention, notice ordinary beauty, make room for rest, and continue becoming who they were created to be.
→The Belonging Edition is written especially for those walking through a season of singleness, with reflections on friendship, home, purpose, community, and the truth that belonging is not something reserved for a future chapter of life.
→The Bravely Edition is written for those navigating chronic illness, pain, a difficult diagnosis, or an ongoing health season—with words centered around meaning, beauty, faith, hope, and living fully in circumstances that can sometimes feel isolating.
→The Beautiful Edition is created especially for those in the later seasons of life, with reflections on memory, legacy, beauty, connection, and the purpose that continues through every season.
The rest of each month's collection is shared—the photograph, field map and story, and 1% More Restful card—so there is still something beautiful about knowing that all across the country, other people are opening the same monthly collection.
But the letter meets you where you are.
You Can Send The Cabin Letters as a Gift
From the beginning, I knew I wanted this to be something you could send to someone you love. Because there is something profoundly different about receiving something tangible in the mail month after month.
Not another text.
Not another notification.
Something chosen for you.
You can give The Cabin Letters as a 3-, 6-, or 12-month prepaid gift membership, choosing the letter edition that best meets your recipient in the season of life they are living.
I especially love the thought of these arriving for a daughter living far from home.
A friend walking through a difficult diagnosis.
Someone navigating singleness.
A mother or grandmother.
Someone in assisted living.
Someone grieving.
Someone celebrating a new chapter.
Or simply someone you love enough to want them to find something beautiful waiting in their mailbox.
Why “1% More Restful”?
I don't believe most of us need another person telling us to completely overhaul our lives.
Sometimes we simply need permission to make one small choice differently.
To sit outside for ten minutes.
To leave the phone in another room.
To notice the light coming through a window.
To make the cup of coffee or tea and actually sit down while we drink it.
To take the long way home.
To preserve a family story.
To call someone whose voice we miss.
To dignify the ordinary instead of rushing through it.
One percent isn't dramatic. That's the point.
Small choices accumulate. Small moments become days. Days become years. And eventually, those seemingly insignificant decisions become the texture of a life.
The 1% More Restful card tucked into every Cabin Letter is a small monthly invitation to practice that.
From Our Cabin to Your Mailbox
Caravan Sonnet began in 2013 as a place for sharing stories. Over the last thirteen years, those stories have carried us through travel and home, beauty and heartbreak, illness and healing, adventures across the world and quiet days beside this lake.
And somehow, more than thirteen years later, it feels incredibly fitting that this next chapter involves putting stories onto paper and sending them out into the world.
One envelope at a time.
The Cabin Letters are officially open.
You can join month-to-month, choose the edition that meets you in the season you're living, or send a 3-, 6-, or 12-month membership to someone you love.
I cannot quite describe what it means to imagine these letters leaving this little cabin and finding their way into homes and mailboxes beyond this shoreline.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for caring about these stories.
And thank you, especially, for believing with me that there is still extraordinary beauty to be found in ordinary things.
From our fifth-generation cabin on Lake Champlain to your mailbox—one letter, one story, one month at a time.
Welcome to The Cabin Letters.
October signups are open for November delivery! Join The Cabin Letters today by clicking HERE!
It’s easy to assume that making a trip more enjoyable means adding more things to your itinerary. Yet packing your days with activities can leave you with less time to enjoy the experience on your own terms.
Instead of trying to fit more into your trip, focus on spending your time on things you enjoy. After all, time away from everyday responsibilities is limited, whether you’re heading abroad for a week or taking a shorter break closer to home.
Here are three ways to make your next trip more enjoyable by getting more from the time you have.
1. Give yourself something to look forward to
The enjoyment of a trip doesn’t have to start when you arrive. Plan one experience that you’re genuinely excited about so you have a specific highlight to look forward to before you leave.
The German word vorfreude describes the pleasure we get when anticipating a positive experience. That anticipatory joy means looking forward to part of your trip can become enjoyable in its own right.
For example, you could reserve a table at a restaurant you’ve particularly wanted to visit. Instead of having only the trip itself on the horizon, you now have a specific experience to anticipate as your departure gets closer. A well-chosen highlight can give you something enjoyable to think about in the weeks before your trip.
2. Plan around how you like to travel
Once you start thinking about what you’ll do while you’re away, prioritise the experiences you personally enjoy rather than automatically following a list of ‘must-see’ attractions.
An itinerary that reflects your interests means you can spend more of your limited leisure time doing things you actually enjoy. After all, visiting an attraction simply because a guidebook recommends it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll enjoy your day more.
If food is one of your main reasons for travelling, for instance, you might prefer spending your time exploring local food spots rather than working through a generic ‘best things to see in x city’ checklist.
Someone else might make completely different choices, and that’s the point: your itinerary should reflect what you value. So, judge the success of your trip by how much you enjoyed your time away, not by how many recommended attractions you managed to complete.
3. Turn waiting time into ‘me’ time
Of course, not every part of a trip goes according to your itinerary. Travel often involves periods of unavoidable waiting, but you can treat some of that time as personal downtime rather than simply something to get through.
Instead of treating necessary waiting as lost holiday time, use it to do something you enjoy. That way, you spend less of the journey watching the clock and more of it occupied by
something you've chosen to do.
During an airport wait, for example, you could listen to an audiobook or play slot games online for quick entertainment. The specific choice is less important than using that otherwise empty period for a little entertainment of your own.
Making unavoidable waiting more enjoyable means the journey can feel like part of your break rather than an obstacle standing between you and it.
Wrapping up…
How you use your time away matters more than simply having time away. Before your next trip, consider what you would genuinely enjoy doing with that time. Making that decision before you travel can help you spend more of your limited leisure time doing things you actually value.
What could you do differently on your next trip?
*contributed post*
Planning a wedding and honeymoon separately can mean organising two trips when you would rather focus on enjoying this time with your partner. A weddingmoon combines the two, allowing you to hold your ceremony somewhere you want to explore and stay there for your honeymoon rather than travelling somewhere new straight after the wedding.
The right destination can provide a memorable setting for the ceremony as well as activities and places to explore during your honeymoon. Whether you picture exchanging vows beside a lake, in a historic town square, on a quiet beach or beside a Highland loch, these five destinations offer settings for the wedding itself and plenty to enjoy during the days that follow.
Saying I Do in Savannah's Oak-Lined Squares, Georgia
Savannah is known for its 22 historic squares, where Spanish moss hangs from mature live oaks. Forsyth Park is a particularly recognisable setting, with its white fountain and broad walkways beneath the trees. A ceremony beneath the canopy offers a leafy setting in the centre of a lively coastal city, while brick townhouses, wrought iron balconies and cobbled streets give the surrounding historic district its character.
Couples considering Savannah, Georgia, wedding venues can choose from restored carriage houses, courtyard gardens and historic inns, many close to the city's historic squares. Staying for the honeymoon gives couples time to explore the district on foot, sample Lowcountry seafood at restaurants near the riverfront and see the squares illuminated in the evening. Ceremonies in public parks and squares may require permits, so check the current rules and guest limits before choosing a location.
Watching the Sunset Over Whitewashed Cliffs in Santorini, Greece
Santorini’s whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches sit along the rim of a volcanic caldera high above the Aegean Sea. In Oia, the setting sun brings warmer tones to the pale buildings and layered cliffs, although its best-known viewpoints can become crowded. A private terrace elsewhere along the caldera can provide a quieter setting for the ceremony, with the volcanic islands and passing boats visible below.
The days afterwards can move between long dinners overlooking the water, a catamaran journey across the caldera, and time on the island’s dark volcanic beaches. Akrotiri also preserves the remains of a Bronze Age settlement beneath layers of volcanic material, giving couples another reason to stay and explore the island’s history. The contrast between white architecture, dark rock, and open water gives the weddingmoon its visual character.
Wading Into Turquoise Shallows Off Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Grace Bay curves along the northern coast of Providenciales, with pale sand and shallow water shifting between clear blue and turquoise. An offshore barrier reef helps shelter much of the coastline, although conditions can still change with the weather. A ceremony on the sand keeps the setting simple, with the water close enough for a barefoot walk along the shore once the vows are finished.
Couples can find that browsing renowned Turks and Caicos villas is useful when looking for an oceanfront property with space for both the wedding ceremony and honeymoon. Private terraces, swimming pools and direct beach access make it easy to enjoy the coastline without leaving the property. Boat trips offer the chance to visit smaller cays and more secluded beaches, while waterfront restaurants provide options for dinner overlooking Grace Bay.
Eloping Beside a Misty Loch and Ancient Castle in Scotland
On the shore of Loch Assynt, the ruins of 16th-century Ardvreck Castle stand against open water and the mountains of northwest Scotland. The loch changes constantly with the weather, shifting from clear reflections to low cloud and rain within the same afternoon. An outdoor ceremony here places the couple within that landscape, with the roofless stone tower providing a quiet reminder of the area’s long history.
After the wedding, couples can explore Assynt by car, stopping for coastal walks, distillery visits and evenings beside the fire at a local hotel or inn. Heather adds colour to the hills during its flowering season, making a beautiful backdrop for wedding photographs, although wind and rain are possible throughout the year. As many of Assynt’s most scenic locations are outdoors and exposed to the elements, couples should arrange an authorised celebrant, check access and permission requirements for their chosen ceremony spot, and have an indoor alternative nearby in case of poor weather.
Sailing Past Lakeside Gardens and Peaks on Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como is surrounded by steep mountain slopes, historic villas and towns built along the waterfront. Bellagio is particularly well suited to exploring on foot, with cobbled stairways connecting its narrow streets to the lake. Nearby, the gardens of Villa Melzi offer tree-lined paths, sculptures and views across the water, providing another setting for wedding photographs. A ceremony at a lakeside villa brings together the region’s historic architecture and mountain scenery, with gardens and terraces overlooking the lake.
For the honeymoon, ferries and private boats connect Bellagio with towns such as Varenna and Menaggio, making it possible to explore different parts of the lake without relying on the winding roads. Couples can visit historic villas and gardens, stop for lunch featuring local lake fish or spend an afternoon exploring the waterfront streets. Before booking a ceremony, check whether the chosen venue can host a legal wedding or whether a symbolic ceremony would be more suitable, as arrangements vary between private villas and civil venues.
Which weddingmoon backdrop is calling you?
The right destination should offer a setting you love for the ceremony and plenty to enjoy during your honeymoon. Savannah combines oak-shaded squares with historic streets and riverside restaurants, while Santorini and Grace Bay offer beach settings and views across the Aegean and Caribbean seas. Assynt provides dramatic Highland scenery and historic ruins, while Lake Como is known for its lakeside villas, gardens and towns connected by boat.
Think about how you would like to spend the days after your wedding, whether that means exploring historic streets, visiting local restaurants, spending time on the beach or taking boat trips between lakeside villages. Choosing a destination that suits both your ceremony and the kind of honeymoon you want will help make the whole trip feel like one shared experience.
Some European journeys move so quickly between capitals that much of the continent is seen through a train window. I prefer trips that leave room for a museum visit to continue into lunch, an afternoon tasting to run longer than planned, or a conversation with a local guide to change the rest of the day.
That kind of travel does not require a crowded itinerary. A few thoughtfully chosen bases and an open schedule leave room to follow local recommendations. Across the five destinations below, private villas, boutique hotels, and carefully chosen experiences keep art, heritage, and regional traditions at the centre of the journey.
Wandering Baroque Towns and Etna's Vineyards in Sicily, Italy
Eastern Sicily is the perfect place to explore at your own pace, beginning with the Late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto. In Noto and Modica, carved stone façades, wrought-iron balconies, and grand staircases can turn a casual walk into your very own architectural tour. Spend the morning exploring palace courtyards and historic churches, then take a slower pace in the afternoon with lunch at a local restaurant, a visit to a café or a slow walk through the town.
Farther north, Mount Etna’s volcanic slopes support vineyards planted with Nerello Mascalese, one of the principal grapes used in the region’s red wines. A privately arranged cellar visit provides time to see the lava-stone terraces and taste wines where they are made. When choosing a private base. Staying in a restored farmhouse surrounded by olive or citrus groves, such as those available through Wish Sicily villas, gives you a comfortable base for exploring the Baroque towns and Etna’s vineyards, with space to enjoy dinner outdoors at the end of the day.
Tracing Tile-Lined Streets and Port Wine Cellars in Porto, Portugal
Porto’s history appears across its tiled façades, from neighbourhood churches to the blue-and-white panels inside São Bento railway station. The city rises sharply from the Douro, so it is worth leaving enough time to follow its sloping streets without turning the walk into a race between landmarks. The climb occasionally opens onto views across the rooftops, river, and Dom Luís I Bridge.
Across the water in Vila Nova de Gaia, a privately arranged cellar visit can include barrel rooms, an explanation of different ageing methods, and a guided tasting of vintage and tawny ports. An afternoon at Serralves adds another perspective, with Álvaro Siza’s contemporary art museum sitting alongside the pink Art Deco villa and landscaped park. Together, the cellars, tiled interiors, and modern art give Porto enough cultural depth to shape several days without the need to hurry elsewhere.
Exploring Roman Palaces and Island Life Along Croatia's Coast
Split’s old town has developed within and around the remains of Diocletian’s Palace. Roman walls, columns, and underground chambers sit alongside later buildings containing homes, cafés, and small shops. An early walk through the peristyle reveals the architectural layers before the main daytime crowds arrive, while a privately guided visit can connect the surviving Roman structures with the medieval city that grew around them.
From Split, a private charter can continue towards Brač or Hvar, stopping in sheltered coves and small harbours along the way. A longer route may extend to Korčula, where vineyards and stone settlements add another dimension to the coastal journey. Staying in a private villa between excursions means you can make the most of the islands at your own pace, with villas to rent in Croatia offering private pools and terraces overlooking the Adriatic.
Discovering Moorish Palaces and Flamenco Heritage in Andalusia, Spain
In Granada, the Alhambra is worth setting aside a good part of the day to explore. Its Nasrid palaces feature carved stucco, geometric tilework, Arabic inscriptions and courtyards built around pools and fountains, while the wider complex offers views across Granada and the surrounding hills. A private guide can draw attention to details easily missed when moving through the complex alone, from the reflections in the Court of the Myrtles to the slender columns surrounding the Court of the Lions.
Seville continues the architectural story through the Real Alcázar, while the cathedral and lanes of Santa Cruz introduce Gothic, Christian, and Jewish history. Flamenco adds a living tradition to the journey: Granada is known for performances in the caves of Sacromonte, while Seville has small tablas and historic venues in neighbourhoods such as Triana. A good idea is to reserve one evening for an intimate flamenco performance, where the focus is on the singing, guitar and dance. Smaller venues can offer a more personal experience and give you the chance to see the performers up close.
Crossing Dragon Bridges and Café-Lined Riverbanks in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana’s compact centre unfolds along the Ljubljanica River, where the Art Nouveau Dragon Bridge stands apart from the later interventions of architect Jože Plečnik. His Triple Bridge, riverside colonnades, and covered market reshaped the city around spaces intended for everyday use. A guided visit to Plečnik House adds a more personal view of his work through the rooms, objects, and garden he designed for himself.
Mornings can begin at the Central Market before continuing beneath Plečnik’s arcades to a café beside the river. The city’s more ambitious restaurants draw on seasonal Slovenian ingredients, accompanied by wines from regions such as Vipava Valley and Goriška Brda. With the castle, market, galleries, and riverfront all within a relatively compact area, Ljubljana leaves enough time to return to a favourite table instead of filling the final days of the trip with constant sightseeing.
Which slower story will you choose?
The trips that stay with me are rarely defined by the number of landmarks covered. They are remembered through smaller moments: a wine opened inside an Etna cellar, afternoon light across Porto’s tiled façades, or music filling a small flamenco venue after dark. Culture becomes part of the day instead of another appointment squeezed into it.
I recommend starting with the details that interest you most. Sicily brings Baroque architecture and volcanic vineyards, Porto connects contemporary art with centuries of winemaking, and Croatia moves between Roman history and island life. Andalusia is shaped by palace courtyards and flamenco, while Ljubljana brings the journey to a quieter close beside the river. Whichever place draws you in, leave enough time for its culture to influence the day instead of fitting every experience into a fixed schedule.
Don’t miss the TPT ONE DAY 20 Year Celebration Sale TODAY ONLY, Save up to 30% on all of my creative, colorful, and NO Prep educational resources! Stock up on all of the NO PREP classroom items you need now and those for the future- including the upcoming holiday season!!
Use the code 20YEARS at checkout. Click HERE to go directly to the shop!
AND... I want to give you a FREE GIFT!
Thank you so much again for all of your support of the shop! I know I say that all of the time, but you are a blessing! I am so glad you are here! And to say thank you, I want to share about a small thank you gift that you can receive!!! Community matters deeply to me, and your reviews truly help this small, independent shop continue to grow. So I am offering a small gift- if you leave a review in the Caravan Sonnet Shoppe, you can choose one FREE resource (up to $3 in value) as my thank-you.
How it works:
1. Leave a review on any resource in the shop
2. Email me at caravansonnet@gmail.com with your purchase and the link to your review
3. Tell me which resource you’d like
4. I’ll send it to you directly as an attachment
It’s my way of saying a very small thank you for supporting thoughtful, real-world teaching. Truly—it means more than I can say.
Thank you again for ALL of your support!! Happy Shopping!!
More people than ever are packing their bags and heading abroad independently, seeking
the freedom to explore the world on their own terms. If you are preparing for your first independent adventure, Italy provides an incredibly welcoming environment to build your confidence. You will find a reassuring balance of famous historical centres and quiet coastal villages, supported by an outstanding transport network and world-renowned food that brings everyone together.
Getting Around Is Easier Than Many Travellers Expect
When you travel alone, you often worry most about logistics. Fortunately, you can move effortlessly between major cultural hubs like Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples without ever needing a car.
The high-speed rail operators, Trenitalia and Italo, run frequent, comfortable services that connect these cities in just a few hours. Once you arrive, you will find that most historic city centres are highly walkable and well-served by regional buses. Book your train tickets online a few weeks in advance to secure a reserved seat and save money.
Because you can rely on this straightforward transport system, you completely avoid the usual travel stress and remain free to enjoy your holiday.
Finding the Right Pace for Your First Solo Trip
Travelling independently means you completely control your daily schedule.
You might thrive on the vibrant energy of a major city, or you could prefer spending a longer time absorbing the atmosphere of a quiet seaside town. You will discover a distinctly slower rhythm along the southern shoreline, where you can spend mornings wandering along historic cliffside paths and afternoons sipping espresso in the piazza.
If you want to explore this area without the pressure of arranging boats and local buses yourself, you can take the hassle out of your day by booking guided Amalfi Coast tours.
Easy to Meet Other Travellers
Heading out on your own does not mean you have to spend every moment by yourself. Italians are naturally sociable, and you will find plenty of organic opportunities to connect with fellow holidaymakers and locals alike.
When you sign up for a morning walking tour or an evening pasta-making class, you enter a relaxed environment to chat with like-minded people over shared activities. These small- group food experiences and excursions act as excellent icebreakers for nervous beginners who crave a bit of social interaction.
Destination for Every Type of Solo Traveller
Because the regions vary so drastically, you can easily design a holiday that perfectly matches your personal interests.
You can dedicate your days to Renaissance art during a cultural city break. If you prefer nature, you might escape to a quiet farm stay in the rolling hills of Tuscany or relax by the pristine waters of the northern lakes. Alternatively, you can seek out endless outdoor adventures along the dramatic southern coasts.
Focus your itinerary on two distinct regions to experience this incredible diversity without overstretching your travel time. This sheer variety guarantees you will never feel restricted by a fixed, uninspiring route.
You can find the reel from this beautiful morning at the cabin on Instagram by clicking HERE!
A gentle blessing from the shores of Lake Champlain …May your “ber” months of the year be filled with the answers and miracles your heart has been longing and weeping for.
"Wait with hope for the Lord...Trust in the Lord...Be Strong, and let your heart be courageous. Have Faith, do not despair. Trust in the Lord. Yes, wait with hope for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14 (combination of God's Word and Good News Translations)
Happy Sunday friends! I hope you have the most wonderful day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
