A trip to the mountains.

Last week me and my parents took our annual day trip to the mountains. It was a lovely day...we visited old favorite places and a few new places, too. The weather was beautiful and the leaves were starting to turn and the air smelled like apples (well, near the many places selling apples, that is :).

This is the view from Lover's Leap.

And this was the view from Rocky Knob, where we ate a sort-of picnic lunch.

We stopped at Mabry Mill and walked around. Every year, I take the same picture of the mill. I forgot to this year, though. It was a bit more crowded than usual, even though there weren't any special events or demonstrations happening.

My parents only agreed to pose for this picture when I gave in to a picture in front of one of the wagons. {We have pictures and home videos of me and my brother sitting on the wagons when we were little. I was whining in the video because I didn't like being up so high. Finally I said in an exasperated voice, "Get me off this thing!" Except I was a Southern four year old so it's more like "dis dang."}

While we were in Meadows of Dan we made a couple more stops. Of course, there was Nancy's Fudge. It's the most heavenly smelling store ever. :) There was a church group there so it was extremely crowded, but thankfully we know exactly what we want (just plain chocolate fudge for me, please).

Mom spotted a little bookstore that we had never seen before, and I'm so glad we went in because everything in the store was 50% off (and they already had great prices on new and used books). I got a book of letters from Father Christmas that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote to his children. And, more importantly, this 1945 edition of Pride and Prejudice, which just so happens to be my favorite book. :)

Other than the somewhat smudgy cover, it's in beautiful condition. And I got it for $1.

We also went to Greenberry House, a lovely yarn shop. Where I live, my yarn options are pretty much limited to Hobby Lobby, unless I order online. So it was amazing to visit a place that sells so much handspun and/or hand-dyed yarn. The owner showed us part of a fleece and answered a few questions I had about spinning and such. It was nice to meet someone who spins and dyes and does things like that that I want to learn.

It took me forever to narrow down what I wanted. :) But I finally decided on this gorgeous golden yellow yarn. I think it's probably my favorite yarn I've bought so far...of course I haven't actually used it yet, but I sure do love to look at it. :) I'm still trying to find the perfect pattern for it. I'm leaning towards the Honey Cowl (which I'm knitting now with other yarn), though it won't be 11 inches because I don't have quite that much yarn.

I also got this light green yarn, which will probably end up as a hat or a pair of fingerless gloves. (It's not washed out like the photos seem.)

Until next time,