48 Hours on Handy Mountain

Eat when you’re hungry, nap when you’re tired, hike when you’re restless, and knit. My idea of a perfect getaway.

With DD#2, her friend M, Cocoa, and more paraphernalia than you’d think we’d need for a week’s stay, we piled in the car Sunday afternoon and headed to my brother’s cabin near Stuart, VA. Half way there, traveling two lanes of winding road, Cocoa got carsick. We pulled over, DD walked Cocoa, and I cleaned. Yay for paper towels.

The temperature dropped 10 degrees by the time we reached the cabin and a cool breeze was blowing. We unloaded and realized that as much as we had, we didn’t have everything. As designated cook, I started the Hamburger Helper (I did not plan the menus) and realized we didn’t have milk. Or dressing for the salad. Or ham and cheese for sandwiches the next day. The girls headed back down the mountain to the new Wal-Mart, and I pulled out my knitting and a bag of Cheetos and cast on a baby sweater. (I’ve found that you can knit and eat Cheetos at the same time if the yarn is almost Cheeto colored.)

A couple of inches and an amazing sunset later, groceries arrived and dinner was eaten. Apparently I was also designated dishwasher. A movie, more knitting, and time to turn in. The girls headed up to the loft bedroom, and I went in my room. M screamed, and DD yelled. Cocoa had pulled a dead mouse on a sticky trap out from under a bed and M stepped on it. As designated dead mouse disposer (where was I when all this designating occured?), I quickly got rid of the unwanted varmint, and we settled down for the night. Or so I thought.

1:45 am. “Mooooooooom! I just threw up three times!”  So much for sleep. Fortunately it was a 10 hour virus, and DD felt okay by noon other than a little dehydration. I spent the morning cleaning and doing laundry, but the rest of the day was much better.

Cocoa and I took a long walk on an old logging trail that ran along a creek.

Then I spent the afternoon in a rocker on the front porch knitting

and enjoying the view.

Now, that’s what I went up there for. Dinner was a frozen pizza, and as luck would have it, the oven wouldn’t come on. There was a tiny toaster oven, so I cut the pizza into small pieces and popped in two at a time. Every 15 minutes, someone got to eat. The rest of the trip was uneventful which was fine with me.

We got home Tuesday night, and I’m still trying to catch up on laundry.

(Baby sweater- my pattern I'm making up as I go. Mittens- here. Booties- mine. Pink dish cloth- EZ pi shawl.)

Comments

[Carrie K]

Clearly you weren't at the meeting and so you were volunteered for the jobs! It sounds fun (most of it) (okay, the knitting on the porch, walking w/Cocoa and the beautiful scenery.)

Laundry is never done.

Are you still reading The Kite Runner? How do you like it?

[Christine]

Getting ready to do the same thing, hopefully WITHOUT the throwing up and dead mouse part though!;) Can't wait to sit on the dock with the dog, knit and watch my kids fish... :)

[heather]

eh, mice. I feel your pain...

Looks like it was picturesque! I'm so ready for a vacay myself.

:) hope you enjoyed every minute...after the other stuff ;)

[Nanc]

Okay, not so much on the sicknesses (both dog and girl) or some of the other bits, but other than those that vacation sounds wonderful! 10 degrees? Man, is that like in Canadian temps or what? Sadly, our camping season is over until late fall/winter. But I'm happy for you (and jealous, but I'll get over that).

[wool winder]

I like the way you went with the flow and improvised with the toaster oven. An adventure that won't soon be forgotten. This trip will surely become one of those "remember when" stories.

[Carrie K]

A HA! You're the one I can blame for my current Cheeto obsession.

All I can say is, I hope you're happy. And pass the Cheetos. ;)

[Li_B]

Throw in a little shopping, plus a trip to a yarn shop and that would make it perfect for me.

Love your bright colours,
Li