Town Day!

My nice mom came up yesterday to help me finish some remaining tasks, get packed and get off the farm. I went down to Charlotte, N.C., to collect her from the airport and, taking advantage of being in the big city, decided to go to a yarn store to indulge my new found love of knitting. I found Charlotte Yarn. Warm and welcoming, the walls were stacked high with the most beautiful yarns, just begging to be fondled. Fantastic hats, sweaters, shawls and scarves, knit by the staff, topped the displays. I was looking for price tags but unfortunately, none of the items were for sale.

A group of women were gathered in a cozy sitting area, knitting and chatting. My mom and I wandered around admiring the myriad colors and textures of yarn. The two workers asked if we needed anything and then left us alone. Once I had circumnavigated the room and narrowed down my selections I looked over and one of them quickly came to my assistance. I asked her advice and soon had my choices made. They gave me a free hat pattern, a hat being my next endeavor, and using an interesting apparatus, wound my yarn into balls. What a timesaver!

Walking into my very first yarn store, my previous yarn purchase having been made at Walmart, left me looking forward to finding a similar place in the Knoxville area where I can become one of those women in the knitting circle.

When I knew I was going to Charlotte, I asked my Twitter followers for lunch recommendations and @RhiBowman replied with Amelie’s French Bakery . What a find! Funky, eclectic décor, delicious soups, sandwiches and baked goods, we knew we’d come to the right place as soon as we walked in the door. We had a good lunch of spinach and asiago tartine, Portobello and onion tartine and a truly inspiring asparagus soup, the owner’s grandmother’s recipe. Thanks @RhiBowman, for the great suggestion. Twitter's an amazing thing, isn't it?

Longing sideways glances at my new yarn notwithstanding, I'm resisting the urge to knit. The packing begins!