Tucked away in the mountains - blanket finished!

[Written on vacation with no internet or cell phone service! Yay!]

Oh, my! I am on vacation now, staying at my lovely friend’s house in the woods in West Virginia.  She rather generously offered her place as a vacation spot for me and the hubs.  We see each other but a couple of times a year since I moved to New York, which is a sad state of affairs.  Whenever I spend time with her, like those great friendships that aren’t nourished enough, I get an immense sense of sadness once she leaves.  I miss her and our daily friendship so much.  But I am terribly lucky to have such wonderful, inspiring friends! 

After last semester, and having finished grad school and started working full-time, I decided I needed a break to mark my transition from grad school to working life.  First off, I finished school.  I am done.  I have a master’s degree in library and information science.  I am a librarian.   (I got to say this officially when I served jury duty.  It was recorded by the courtroom reporter under oath:  I am a librarian.)  Yay!

Second, living in the city – in the belly of the beast – can take its toll on you.  People are everywhere, and inevitably right up your ass, whether you like it or not.  I wanted to get away to a place far, far away from train access and hopefully without people, TV, internet or people.  My friend Michelle has a place in the woods in West Virginia and we’re the first honored guests to stay there sans the owners. 

 

And it’s wonderful and peaceful.  I sat and crocheted a blanket I started three years ago for Michelle when she was pregnant for her first.  It is the pictured project in my blog banner, and I never finished it.  Even the hubs was surprised to see it, it had been so long since it had last made an appearance.  It’s the Malibu wave pattern from the 200 Ripple Stitch pattern book that I love, made with random color changes between a bright blue/aqua, darker green blue and orange.

I spent much of the time crocheting in the quiet.  We got snowed in, went to some hot springs, went antiquing, and visited our old favorite farm stand in Maryland, Catoctin Mountain Orchard, and spent a day and night in Amish country.

Things spotted on our trip:

1. Belted kingfisher (first ever!)
2. Possible pileated woodpecker (heard him)
3. Red-bellied woodpecker
4. Red-tailed hawk
5. Bunny tracks
6. Deer tracks
7. Miniature horses (!)

More to come on our antiquing finds! Hint: my quest for a vintage Pyrex kitchen continues!