I hope you enjoy your present
Darling husband and I decided we needed some time away. We've been so buried with work, my new job, family, the post- and pre-holiday activities and just general BUSY-ness that we were in danger of forgetting who the other person was. So with the benefit of cheap airfare, we wandered over to Ohio for 4 days, from Saturday to Tuesday.
Ohio Amish-country is a wonderful place to spend some time. In Millersburg we found a wonderful bistro with the most amazing wraps and sandwiches. The specialty of the house was "Seasoned Jo Jo's". Which turned out to be fabulous seasoned potato wedges. Very excellent.
Of course we visited Hieni's Cheese Factory and Chalet. All the cheese they sell they make right on site. The smoked yogurt cheese was to die for. We ate like pigs for four days. Yes, Ana, I will send you some moon cheese. Yes, it's green.
While Heini's was fun and we stocked up on cheese and condiments, it was also a very saddening visit. Someone stole my shawl. Pretty much right off my back. Well, my arm. I had my shawl and my coat draped over my arm. When I went to put my coat back on to leave, my shawl wasn't there. Heini's isn't that big. You enter the front, turn to the right and you're at the factory. Up one aisle, down one, up another one and you've seen the entire cheese store. Very orderly. Easy enough to check the entire store for my shawl. Nothing.
We had gift shopped so that's leave the factory, walk through the gift shop (two aisles), then the candy shop (one aisle) and then the linen shop (two aisles). Nothing.
This is not a small, thin scarf. This is actually a bias-knit shawl made from La Boheme. In a beautiful watercolor colorway with lavenders, pale blues and peaches. But because it's very open and lacy, it can easily be crushed and tucked into a large pocket or purse. One reason I love that shawl is that it can do double duty as a scarf or it can be stowed away when it's too warm.
We asked everyone who worked there is anyone had turned in my shawl. No one had. I hope whoever kept it knows enough to hand wash it, since it's mohair and rayon and it will felt like a bear if you're not careful. Please take care of my shawl, whoever you are. It was knit with love and deserves better than to be balled up in a corner.
Sunday we took it easy, not really running around much because the Amish world shuts down on Sunday. What a nice was to be forced to do as little as possible. Other than knitting, we walked around, had a wonderful brunch at Bryan's Place and a great dinner at a small local place. We had a mango chipotle pot roast. Amazingly good. With orzo and hot rolls. *sigh*.
Monday we took an evening trip to Oglebay Park in West Virginia. The lights were spectacular. I could have stayed all night. The displays are so well done and professional. The setting must be breath-taking during the day. It's all either up hill or down and the entire property is wooded. When you view the displays, you're up on the side of a mountain looking down a ski slope with many displays along the slope or at the bottom. This has got to be the perfect viewing angle. Everything is HUGE and just lights up the entire area. It took us almost an hour and a half to drive through the entire park.
Our flight back Tuesday wasn't until 9:00 p.m. and, unlike BWI, you can check in 10 minutes before your flight. Columbus airport isn't busy that time of night. So we went shopping. Found some adorable pottery hedgehogs and a few gifts for the folks back home. Nothing big since we traveled with only one small suitcase and didn't want to add to that. Flight home had 39 passengers. On a 737 300 series. 25 rows of 6 across. Needless to say, I got my favorite wing seat with all the leg room in the world.
Flying at night at Christmas time reminds you that, despite everything that goes on, there is hope. The peace of flying over snow-capped mountains and seeing the colored lights from 10,000 feet brings a certain healing to the soul. I am at peace with the person who kept my shawl and I have forgiven them.
Ohio Amish-country is a wonderful place to spend some time. In Millersburg we found a wonderful bistro with the most amazing wraps and sandwiches. The specialty of the house was "Seasoned Jo Jo's". Which turned out to be fabulous seasoned potato wedges. Very excellent.
Of course we visited Hieni's Cheese Factory and Chalet. All the cheese they sell they make right on site. The smoked yogurt cheese was to die for. We ate like pigs for four days. Yes, Ana, I will send you some moon cheese. Yes, it's green.
While Heini's was fun and we stocked up on cheese and condiments, it was also a very saddening visit. Someone stole my shawl. Pretty much right off my back. Well, my arm. I had my shawl and my coat draped over my arm. When I went to put my coat back on to leave, my shawl wasn't there. Heini's isn't that big. You enter the front, turn to the right and you're at the factory. Up one aisle, down one, up another one and you've seen the entire cheese store. Very orderly. Easy enough to check the entire store for my shawl. Nothing.
We had gift shopped so that's leave the factory, walk through the gift shop (two aisles), then the candy shop (one aisle) and then the linen shop (two aisles). Nothing.
This is not a small, thin scarf. This is actually a bias-knit shawl made from La Boheme. In a beautiful watercolor colorway with lavenders, pale blues and peaches. But because it's very open and lacy, it can easily be crushed and tucked into a large pocket or purse. One reason I love that shawl is that it can do double duty as a scarf or it can be stowed away when it's too warm.
We asked everyone who worked there is anyone had turned in my shawl. No one had. I hope whoever kept it knows enough to hand wash it, since it's mohair and rayon and it will felt like a bear if you're not careful. Please take care of my shawl, whoever you are. It was knit with love and deserves better than to be balled up in a corner.
Sunday we took it easy, not really running around much because the Amish world shuts down on Sunday. What a nice was to be forced to do as little as possible. Other than knitting, we walked around, had a wonderful brunch at Bryan's Place and a great dinner at a small local place. We had a mango chipotle pot roast. Amazingly good. With orzo and hot rolls. *sigh*.
Monday we took an evening trip to Oglebay Park in West Virginia. The lights were spectacular. I could have stayed all night. The displays are so well done and professional. The setting must be breath-taking during the day. It's all either up hill or down and the entire property is wooded. When you view the displays, you're up on the side of a mountain looking down a ski slope with many displays along the slope or at the bottom. This has got to be the perfect viewing angle. Everything is HUGE and just lights up the entire area. It took us almost an hour and a half to drive through the entire park.
Our flight back Tuesday wasn't until 9:00 p.m. and, unlike BWI, you can check in 10 minutes before your flight. Columbus airport isn't busy that time of night. So we went shopping. Found some adorable pottery hedgehogs and a few gifts for the folks back home. Nothing big since we traveled with only one small suitcase and didn't want to add to that. Flight home had 39 passengers. On a 737 300 series. 25 rows of 6 across. Needless to say, I got my favorite wing seat with all the leg room in the world.
Flying at night at Christmas time reminds you that, despite everything that goes on, there is hope. The peace of flying over snow-capped mountains and seeing the colored lights from 10,000 feet brings a certain healing to the soul. I am at peace with the person who kept my shawl and I have forgiven them.