Southern Rain

Today's theme is rain.

It was pouring when we left our hotel this morning, and continued off and (mostly) on all day, finally letting up about 20 minutes before we reached tonight's hotel in Knoxville.

Our first stop was Biltmore Estate. Even in the gloom it's an amazing building. (That tiny speck, with the orange umbrella, is me.)

No picture taking was allowed inside, so all I have are lunch pics at the Stable Cafe - built inside the former stables (you guessed that, right?) Bison burgers and warm pimento cheese dip. Yummmmmmmm.

The house was all dressed up for Christmas, so I'm glad we had a chance to see it (although I almost balked at the $149 entry fee for the 2 of us. Just a tad outrageous.)

Christmas trees were in every room, most decorated just as the Vanderbilt family would have done in the early 1900’s.

Driving off the estate took over 30 minutes.

The acreage may have downsized over the years (from 125,000 acres to "only" 8000 acres today)

but it's still an amazingly large, beautiful property.

Next, we headed north and west,

driving over the mountains that divide N. Carolina and Tennessee.

Amazing scenery!

We stopped at one overlook just to admire the fall colors.

Even in the gray gloom (and light rain) it was gorgeous. I miss this so much - no fall colors in warm, sunny California.

Our final stop was the one I've been looking forward to the most - a trip waaaay down memory lane.

Up until the time we moved to Georgia when I was about 10, my family spent every big holiday at Great-Granny's house in Elizabethton, TN.

She cooked enormous meals for the entire extended family, on a coal-powered cast-iron stove, then refused to sit down and eat, instead going around the table putting just a little more on everyone's plate.

I remember drinking Fresca and eating moon pies in her side yard,

and to this day blue hydrangeas make me think of her.

It's been over 50 years since I've been to Elizabethton, but I still remembered exactly how to get to her house - turn right at The Monument

then right again on Fourth St. Great-granny's house is on the left,

the Doe River is straight-ahead,

and my favorite covered bridge is just a bit up river, on the right.

Such powerful memories.

N. Carolina

This was the first Halloween

we haven't spent with the baby grands

since Leia was born seven years ago.

Instead, we winged it across the country - in the most uncomfortable seats* I've ever had the misfortune to use #dontflyfrontier -

arriving in Atlanta just before 9 pm. Three hours and 200 miles later, we were in Asheville, ready for today's adventure at SAFF.

Hubby was a really good sport and hung out with me during two passes through the vender halls,

the sheep judging,

alpaca viewing,

and leaf admiring.

He even professed to find it all interesting (he may have been fibbing, but I'm giving him bonus points anyway.)

Once I'd found all my treasures (see below), we headed for the local antique malls.

Hubby found several wood-working planes to add to his collection,

along with two brass side panels from an old cash register.

He swears he has a plan for these, so it should be interesting.

Tomorrow we head for the Biltmore Estate before turning north into the Appalachian Mountains. Fall color, here we come!

Today's treasure trove -

Miss Babs' yarn, in fall colors;

an alpaca fly-fishing kit

(for a friend. This was so original, I couldn't resist getting it.)

More yarn - yak on the left; angora on the right.

Hand-woven basket for my hooks,

SAFF sweatshirt and vest, and more socks! I love souvenir socks - practical, fun and great memories.

*Frontier Airlines has installed new seats - narrow, unpadded, super uncomfortable, NO RECLINE seats - and skinny, unpadded armrests. I'm fairly short at 5'6" and my knees were touching the seat in front of me. Can you imagine how bad it would be for anyone taller?? Virgin America needs to start flying to Denver ASAP so I can say "never again!!" to Frontier.

Farewell To Alex

Look what followed us home today.

Isn't she pretty?

Alex, our 2011 Chevy Equinox, was developing some issues, so we decided to trade up to this bigger cousin, the 2016 Chevy Traverse.

Three rows of seats - including 2 reclining, adjustable chairs in the second row - a DVD entertainment system for the little girls, and pretty red paint.

Now we'll have room for everyone to ride in comfort when Addy and her parents come out to visit. Can't wait to take the baby grands for a spin in this tomorrow!

Untimely Sweater

I finished this little pretty on the hottest day of the year  
- an all-time-record-breaking 108. 
 
But did that stop me from forcing sweet-talking Leia into modeling it for me? 
No, it did not! Poor kid. But she got frozen yogurt out of the deal, so she was happy.
 
I made a few changes to the original pattern (shocking, right?) but overall it was well-written, easy to follow and fun to make. My only complaint is the lack of schematics.
 

The shawl collar may be my favorite part of the design; so clever and comfortable.

 
And bonus! The button I bought on vacation in Port Townsend works perfectly.  
 
Now I just need the temperature to drop by about 40 degrees so I can wear this.
 
Where's that El Nino everyone's been talking about???  

Note: Pattern is Tall Cables by Laura Gebhardt.