Road Trip

I decided at 9:00 Saturday morning that I would drive to the Vermont Quilt Festival.

Did I mention it's a three hour drive each way?  So after filling the car with gas and getting cash from the ATM, I set off about 10:45 AM.  Yeah, I know.

The show was great, but more about that later. I found Nirvana.

fabric display at the Portsmouth Fabric Company booth

Needless to say, I indulged, thinking about the Diamonds quilt I had on my design wall at home.

During the long drive up Route 89 to Essex Junction Vermont, I made some decisions about that quilt. I realized the quilt had to be approachable and "user friendly" and needed to be in some other color than autumn gold. I decided it should have a lot of blue and some greens. So I bought some giant prints in colors I thought would be suitable.

After a few hours I left the Festival, and started the drive home. While there I had had a late lunch, but I knew I was too tired to drive the full distance without stopping for something to eat. White River Junction Vermont is about an hour from my house, and I decided to stop there for dinner. But where?

"Hey Siri," I asked my phone, "Show me restaurants in White River Junction."

"I found a restaurant called Tuckerbox," she announced. "It has four star reviews and is reasonably priced. Would you like me to give them a call or would you like directions?"

I shook my head and growled. I wanted restaurants PLURAL, not a web-based recommendation. I am not a big fan of Siri. She tends to be a little bit dense. "Never mind."  But as I drove closer to the Vermont/New Hampshire border, I remembered dinner at two exceptional restaurants on Long Island NY when I attended a wedding there back in 2011. Both had been web-based recommendations. I'd give Tuckerbox a look-see. I figured I could always walk out if I didn't like what I saw, so as I got closer, I told Siri to give me directions to Tuckerbox.

As I approached the restaurant, I realized I had absolutely no idea what I was walking into. I figured it was a gastro-pub featuring big burgers and local beers.  Oh boy, was I wrong. Imagine my surprise when the tagline on the door said, "Turkish and Mediterranean Dining."

I sat at the bar (faster service) and tried to make sense of the enormous selection of mouth-watering options on the menu in front of me. Finally, I asked the bartender for her recommendation. "Well, the lamb shish-kebabs are outstanding," she said, "and the chef recommends you get them medium-rare."

I set the menu down, "Done and done!" I said, "I love lamb and I like it medium rare." A few minutes later and I was "tucking" right into a delectable meal, and I knew I'd be back. (Hey, it's only an hour from home.) Oh my goodness, it was GOOD!  When she put the plate in front of me, I didn't think I was hungry enough to eat it all, but I did. AND I had a piece of Baklava, which they make with Vermont maple syrup instead of honey.

Yeah. I was happy, and drove home invigorated. I threw my fabric in the washing machine and went out and did my groceries. When I got back home, I headed into the studio and got to work.

I started at the top and worked my way down.

By the time I went to bed, at midnight, I had this, and I am much happier. It may change, but I am more satisfied with this new direction.

The Pink Barn

Somewhere in western Vermont, on Route 7, lives this pink barn.  My Mom and I drove by (we had been pointing out barns to each other for the whole trip) and I drove past, and then pulled over, did a U turn and went back. A pink barn surely needed to have its picture taken.

Obviously it's been neglected, with all the ivy (or is it kudzu) climbing up the walls, and I don't know what it was, or what color it might have been before it faded, but it is just the prettiest barn I had ever seen, and I am definitely going to reproduce this barn in fabric.