I don’t even know how to start this blog. I suppose I’ll start with babbling about how lucky and privileged I am to be able to travel. I am so grateful to have the chance to visit different countries and have two weeks (17 days!!) off of work – ahhhh! So lovely.
I attended my friend’s wedding on the island of Islay on the west coast of Scotland. We took a ferry over and it was beautiful to see the mountaintops of the islands.
When we got to Islay, the wind and the rain greeted us with such force, I was sure I belonged on the island forever. It was wonderfully powerful. As the weather often does in Scotland, it quickly changed each day, allowing for heaps more sunshine than I was expecting. I saw Highland Cattle and lots of sheep.
Here are the neighbors.
I wasn’t expecting to have much time to explore the island, but we were able to drive around to see the distilleries, the tiny villages, ancient Celtic crosses,
and perhaps we even visited a special place for us crafters.
Well, they didn’t sell yarn, but this woollen mill makes tartans and tweeds. In fact, they made tartans and tweeds for Braveheart, Chaplin, and Forest Gump! How cool is that?! I bought LG a tartan tie to match the kilt we have have sitting in the linen cupboard. They match perfectly!
After that magical time on Islay, I drove (well, I sat in the car while Sophia did the actual driving) back to London. When I had signed up for this trip, I had no idea it was going to be approximately 15 hours long, but despite our delirious mental state, Sophia and I arrived in Notting Hill safe and semi-sound. At 2:15am. I set the alarm for, brace yourselves, 5:15am. So that would be 3 hours of sleep. Right. The things I do for my mom. Anyway, the reason for an early rising was to meet my mom at Heathrow, which I did, and to bring her to the wonderful fantasy land that is Central London. We had a great time together. We gazed at the beautiful architeture,
walked through the magical parks,
walked along the Thames River,
and finally took a trip on the London Eye!
We drank buckets of ale, cider, and tea. We ate and ate and rode the tube all over the place. And we walked so much that I wore out parts of my semi-new Earth Shoes! I took photos of some of my favorite parts of London with my film camera so those will have to wait. Rest assure that I did get to go to Hampstead Heath and loved every second of it.
I did knit on the plane, finishing one of the Blue Welt socks. I knit it approximately 2.5 inches too long in the foot so I have to fix that. But I wasn’t really in the knitting mood in London nor was I on the plane ride back. I must be sick! Ack! Hopefully the knitting mojo will come back as I get my life back in order. I think I might put the sock needles down and knit me a scarf out of that beautiful brown llama yarn. Mmmmm….chocolaty!
After all of this time away, I’m having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. Work? What? You want me to do that NOW? [sigh] So I’m off to read more knitting blogs and, er, be productive during the day. Knitterly things will return to this blog soon enough. Thank you for your sweet comments on the Hanami stole! I was happy with the end project myself.
Oh yeah….IT’S AUTUMN IN VERMONT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR! WHOO HOO!
Wow, that is some seriously gorgeous scenery. It looks like you had a fabulous trip!
Just a quick update: I’ve been in contact with the hostesses and they said that there was a mistake in my tea “invitation”. *major gulp* Never fear, though. If your tea party in a box is now gracing someone’s desk in the “dead mail” department, I’ll put you together a new one. It might just be a tad later than the deadline.
Hugs,
Your Tea Pal
There are few places I’d rather be than home in Vermont (especially in October), but your pictures do remind me that if I call myself an Anglophile, I really need to get across the pond at some point. Beautiful!
Dear Secret Tea Pal,
I am not worried at all about my tea box and I am in no rush whatsoever to get it (not that I’m not excited for it, but I subscribe to the “good things come to those who wait” theory. I’ve been known to wait for years for kind words, happy days, and visits with lovely people. All worth the wait!). Perhaps the person who received the box will say “Holy shit! This is a lovely parcel and I should return it immediately to the sender!”
Note to package receiver: Karma is a bitch. Be good and send it back and lovely, wonderful, happy things will come your way!
Dear Jessie,
I know! Leaving Vermont in mid-September was slightly heart-breaking – it’s the most perfect time of year here! My co-workers made sure to let me know that I was gone during two of the most beautiful weeks of the year….thanks guys!
I would highly recommend a trip across the pond, but I would wait until the US dollar is stronger or the UK pound is weaker. I sure did blow a lot of money!