The Wandering Heart

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably wondering how a blog called The Wandering Heart came to be. The truth is, I didn’t set out that morning thinking I was gathering material for a blog. I thought I was heading to Western, MA for a spa treatment with one of my dearest friends. I’ve wanted to write for many years now. I’ve played with a few ideas, names, themes, and directions, but nothing ever felt quite right. Then this day happened.

My friend Brenna and I had plans to visit The Mossy Apothecary in Southampton, MA. Before we even left, she texted asking if we should take the back roads instead of the highway. My answer was immediate – “ABSOLUTELY.” The scenic route always wins. I packed cacao. She packed a cooler filled with watermelon and kombucha. We threw bathing suits in the car just in case and headed west in her little Subaru on Route 122, catching up on life while winding through small towns and rolling countryside.

At one point, we passed a magical pond with a waterfall and found the perfect place to pull over. If we had more time, we would have explored more, but we sat in the car with the windows open and shared cacao together. I offered gratitude for the day ahead, for my friendship with Brenna, and for my husband, who understands how deeply I need experiences like this. Brenna guided us through some Kundalini chants, and for a moment, it felt like the whole day paused to take a breath with us. Then we continued wandering.

Our first official stop was Cushman Market in Amherst. The second we walked through the door, we knew we had found our kind of place. There were local veggies, handmade goods, quirky treasures, and a café tucked into the back. Brenna had mentioned that nearby Hadley is famous for its asparagus, so naturally, we bought some. Earlier on our drive, we had noticed the most vibrant pink flowers decorating the town of Holden. Later, inside the market, we found a tea towel in that exact shade of pink and immediately knew it needed to come home with us as a souvenir of the day.

For lunch, I ordered the Flamingo Smoothie with pineapple, mango, banana, and coconut milk, with avocado toast with an egg on top. My friend, however, ordered what my heart actually wanted. The Jo Jo – A giant turkey sandwich on sourdough with roasted red pepper chipotle spread and cheddar cheese that practically melted in your mouth. Thankfully, she shared. It was perfect.

We lingered longer than necessary, wandering through the store, picking out astrology-inspired lip balms, admiring artwork by local artists, and soaking in the simple joy of discovering beautiful things together. And somehow, all of that happened before the main event.

The Mossy Apothecary deserves its own love letter. If you are drawn to moss-covered magic, dried herbs, candlelight, and spaces that feel like a witch’s cottage hidden deep in the woods, put it on your list and read more here.

When we finally emerged 4 hours later, we realized we weren’t ready to go home. So we kept wandering. We drove into downtown Amherst, found another café for tea, and attempted to visit Puffer’s Pond. It was crowded, so we decided to save it for another adventure.

The day could have ended there. But thankfully, Brenna followed her intuition one last time. On the drive home, she spotted a small fishing area and suggested we pull over. What followed was one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen in a long time. As we stood there watching the sky change colors, she spoke about wanting to age gracefully. About wanting to notice the beauty. About how much New England has to offer if we’re willing to slow down enough to see it.

Something inside me shifted. I realized I wanted that too. Not just on special occasions. Not just on planned adventures. As a way of living. The next day, the idea for this blog arrived almost fully formed. The Wandering Heart. A place for back roads, hidden gems, good sammies, meaningful conversations, unexpected beauty, and all the little moments that remind us we’re alive.

This day didn’t just give me a story. It gave me direction. And I have a feeling it’s only the beginning.