splityarn

here lies buried

Mum and I rolled into Boston late afternoon on Monday. I had a post planned with pictures of the front door, the beer I drank as soon as I walked in, the keys sitting on the table, something along those lines. Once my shoes came off however, I lost my mojo. We didn't unpack the car, but rather flopped on the couch, drank beer and ordered Chinese.

This morning, rejuvenated from a needed day off, Mum and I zipped up to the home of the famous witch trials in Salem, MA. What spookier day to spend there than October 31st.

Happy Halloween!

tomorrow is home

Our lunchtime stop today took us into Harrisonburg, Virginia. It just happens to be the home of the Virginia Quilt Museum. The beauty of planning a road trip with your mum is that you can schedule your stops wherever you want. We had a few knitting shops we were going to hit, but everything in the Shenendoah Valley seems to be closed on Sundays. The Quilt Museum is small, but very friendly with some beautiful old quilts. No photos allowed inside so you'll just have to trust me on that one.

Tonight after driving through Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, we've stopped in Frackville, Pennsylvania. It's as glamourous as it sounds and shockingly this is the second time I've stayed in this town. 424 miles (682 km) on the driving log. We're settled in for the evening to watch the baseball game and reknit half of what was knit last night. Guess Mum was too involved in watching the game.

Go Sox!

into Virginia

Fortified with homemade breakfast tacos in Nashville (our hosts are former Austinites,) we made a quick tour of downtown. We stopped outside the Ryman Auditorium (home to the Grand Ole Opry for a spell,) saw a few other sights and then headed back out onto the Interstate. We drove across Eastern Tennessee and into cruised into Virginia after lunch. The leaves are all turning through the rolling hills and the light was gorgeous. (And yep, I took that picture while I was driving 80 MPH, much to Mum's consternation. Gotta keep her on her toes.)

We finished up in Wytheville, Virginia logging 381 miles (614 km) before dinner. As we pulled into town to eat, we realized we'd picked the only parking spot out front of the fabric shop. There's a yarn store close by too, but it was already closed. We sniff them out instinctively I guess.

the music highway

The last time I drove through Tennessee (with The Husband in 2003,) we made a stop at Graceland in Memphis. We'd hoped to suss out the chapel as a potential spot to get married, but we hit town on a Tuesday in winter. As it happens, Graceland is closed every Tuesday in the winter. No go for us. This trip through Tennessee we planned ahead a little better. Graceland was open and everything I expected it to be. Super cheezy, full of everything Elvis and amazing 70's decor.

Mum and I giggled our way through the mansion tour. Not so much at the exhibits and the displays, but at the other tourists. Some of the women hadn't changed their hairstyles since Elvis died, some of the men hadn't changed their clothes since the same era. There was reverence, tears and a lot of hairspray.

Tonight we're with friends in Nashville, a respectable 459 miles under our belt. (738 km)

road trip begins

Normally when I go on a road trip, I like to get up early, get on the road before traffic and get the bulk of the day finished before lunch. Today we left Austin late, but with good reason. There was no way I could leave town without my last healthy dose of breakfast tacos, an Austin specialty. My fave is the chorizo and egg but the egg and bacon is a close second. (Although if you look on the menu, it's technically "Egg and Beacon.") I LOVE menu typos.

Day 1 is finished, Austin, Texas to Hope, Arkansas. 410 miles (660 km.) We stopped driving before dark and we're safely tucked in to watch the baseball game in Bill Clinton's birthplace. We'll get a good night's sleep and as of tomorrow morning I get to say that we'll be 'beyond Hope.' (I can't help it, it's the bad Dad joke teller in me.)

a giant list

...as a weak attempt to get back in the swing of things and catch up at the same time. This once a week posting thing is a touch on the lazy side.

- Page 7 of the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts issue. See my needlecases!? I'm stoked beyond words to have been included.

- The kitties are all in Boston and for the most part settled in. Indy and Teek are getting along fabulously. Bicoe is still somewhat out of sorts, but it's the first time she's ever moved, so it's to be expected.

- I was supposed to go to Rhinebeck with an amazing group of gals, but I was levelled by a sore throat and cold. I didn't want to be the new girl that got everyone sick, so I took a raincheque for next year. I've been jealously trolling flickr for photos since Friday night.

- I have started another Zimmermann sweater for The Husband.  Sleeves are finished, body has been started. Hopefully I'll get this done in time for Thanksgiving.

- Tuesday I fly back to Austin to meet up with Mum so we can drive the car up. Mum and I haven't travelled together since our trip to Russia in 2001, so I'm looking forward to it.

nesting

I'm wrapping up the last details on the house in Austin, but I managed to sneak away this morning for my last knitting meetup in town. We met at Stacy's new shop, The Knitting Nest for her grand opening. She has room to sit, knit and gossip surrounded by every single colour they make of Cascade 220. The best part though (for someone like me living in an empty house) is that she lets me poach coffee from the kitchen. Good coffee and knitting. Doesn't get much better. (And mimosas too, maybe that accounts for some of the extra love I'm feeling.)

I am bummed to be leaving just as another yarn shop opens in Austin, but it's nice to know I'll always be welcome at The Knitting Nest. Great job Stacy, it's gorgeous!

elbow grease

The Austin house is empty. The moving truck has come and gone; our stuff is already stacked in the hallways and rooms in our Boston house. Two of the three cats are settled after the long plane ride tucked under the seat. All that's left is me, Bicoe, the air mattress and all my tools. There's quite a few holes to patch, paint touch ups, a little grouting and trim work before we can put the house on the market. The last few days have been all about hair in ponytails and sweat equity. (The sweat part comes easy, it's 33 C (92 F) today.)

No turkey for me this weekend. I'm on a steady diet of Vitamin Water and whatever else is left in the fridge. Please have some stuffing for me and make sure you have a happy Thanksgiving!