This morning Joellie went to see the coolio schoolio of Furniture Craftsmanship. The campus is lovely, all red and cheery. Inside students are very seriously creating things. This makes Ellie nervous - can she really learn this stuff or will she be sent away with a refund check? Whatever the outcome, she is very excited!
Then we drove to Portland to drop off Joanna at the bus station. Wow - what a big step. We are committed to doing our separate activities for three months. With one visit over Christmas. Today we believe that this is going to be growthful and good.
On Ellie's drive back she stopped at the LLBean Village to buy flannel sheets for the long cold winter in Maine. One needs comfort when one is facing a chilly adventure.
Ellie was lucky to have dinner with the director of the school, a student of the 9 month program, and a teacher of that program, along with their spousal units. Great conversation about woodworking, philosophy, monastic life, gifts, baking, etc. She feels welcome into her new community and even more hungry to get started!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
WE MADE IT!!!!
Ok, 530 miles, 9 hours, two live deer, one seal, several starbucks, stretching our legs (FINALLY!). The drive through upstate New York to Massachusettes and on through New Hampshire - then our destination, Maine, was beautiful today. The Fall colors were just beginning to dim in New York and turned to deeper browns as we travelled further along the road. Such a beautiful time of year to be in this area. Sunrise over the Adirondack mountains came with a brilliant pink glow, clouds masquerading as mountains and, finally the sun reflecting off the Erie Canal. That was quickly replaced by thick, thick fog - which disappeared almost as fast as it had surrounded us. The day was rolling hills dotted with farmlands and striped cows.
We arrived in to Rockland just after 3:00 - tired and glad to find the house Ellie will now call home for three months. The town is very picturesque and sits on the edge of a harbor, protected by a nearly mile long breakwater and lighthouse build in 1881. Lots of lovely old houses.
When I had looked online to find the co-op before we came, the live webcam showed this nearly abandoned corner so I was worried it would be a totally puny town. We were so relieved to find a bustling town, complete with several art galleries, bookstores, lots of restaurants, tchotchke shops, and a great co-op, as well as a sports store, etc!!
Did we mention how gorgeous the school is?? Well we only drove by but it's several buildings, all red, lovely campus. We'll stop by again in the am to take photos and poke around.
So, this is the end of the driving Journey and the beginning of Ellie's adventure in woodworking - and three months in the cold winter of the northeast. Joanna heads to Boston tomorrow and back to Seattle on Monday.
So, I will do my best to keep up the blog: I will try to take photos of my little life as it unfolds here and let you know how it's going. Wish me luck and feel free to drop a line!
We arrived in to Rockland just after 3:00 - tired and glad to find the house Ellie will now call home for three months. The town is very picturesque and sits on the edge of a harbor, protected by a nearly mile long breakwater and lighthouse build in 1881. Lots of lovely old houses.
When I had looked online to find the co-op before we came, the live webcam showed this nearly abandoned corner so I was worried it would be a totally puny town. We were so relieved to find a bustling town, complete with several art galleries, bookstores, lots of restaurants, tchotchke shops, and a great co-op, as well as a sports store, etc!!
Did we mention how gorgeous the school is?? Well we only drove by but it's several buildings, all red, lovely campus. We'll stop by again in the am to take photos and poke around.
So, this is the end of the driving Journey and the beginning of Ellie's adventure in woodworking - and three months in the cold winter of the northeast. Joanna heads to Boston tomorrow and back to Seattle on Monday.
So, I will do my best to keep up the blog: I will try to take photos of my little life as it unfolds here and let you know how it's going. Wish me luck and feel free to drop a line!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Six states and 15 hours!
And 875 miles... Oy!! We made it to Syracuse. Yup, we decided to change our course a little, again. It's I-90 for us or nothing! Started in Madison, down through Illinois, then over to Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, finally into New York. Our "nest" - the car - is starting to resemble a little robin's nest after a big spring storm.
We started to listen to some of David Sedaris' humor and decided he was too gross for us today.
Catch 22 didn't grab us either. Mostly we busied ourselves with watching for the next toll booth and guessing how much it would cost.
Getting tired of road food. Crave fresh vegetables. Most of the fitness we gained this fall is gone - Ellie weighs 300 pounds, Joanna 275.
Tomorrow we should land in Rockland, Maine - but stay tuned. It should be a short day - only 8 hours...
We started to listen to some of David Sedaris' humor and decided he was too gross for us today.
Catch 22 didn't grab us either. Mostly we busied ourselves with watching for the next toll booth and guessing how much it would cost.
Getting tired of road food. Crave fresh vegetables. Most of the fitness we gained this fall is gone - Ellie weighs 300 pounds, Joanna 275.
Tomorrow we should land in Rockland, Maine - but stay tuned. It should be a short day - only 8 hours...
Thursday, October 28, 2010
A Nice and easy day
Today was a breather day - Minneapolis to Madison. 292 miles. Slept in, had coffee and scones - made by Judy - with the family and headed out of town around 11:00. We stopped to pick up red sauce and sausage at Cossetta's, the Horsnell favorite Italian restaurant. Which is also a pizza place and Italian grocery.
The weather today was uneventful - sunny and mild. Hardly any Wind.
The big excitement was following the three parts of the wind turbines down the freeway. Like we said, uneventful day.
Tomorrow, we're hoping for Elmira, NY!
The weather today was uneventful - sunny and mild. Hardly any Wind.
The big excitement was following the three parts of the wind turbines down the freeway. Like we said, uneventful day.
Tomorrow, we're hoping for Elmira, NY!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
1000 miles and then some...
We made it to Minneapolis. Just over 1000 miles and 16 hours!
So, it was a very, very long day. Just an hour outside of Billings we came to a complete standstill on the freeway in a blizzard. We were going over a small pass, and all the trucks who had not chained up before attempting the hill - couldn't quite make it... It was a slow start to the day. We had snow off and on until midway through South Dakota. After that, the driving was clear. Coming north in Minnesota the wind from the west was strong and kept Ellie holding the wheel with both hands.
Ellie drove the lion's share again today - but Joanna upped the ante and drove 3 hours. At that it was hard to keep Ellie happy in the passenger seat when she wasn't asleep. She likes to drive. Joanna likes to be the passenger.
Will post pics in the morning. Tomorrow we have a shorter day - visiting brother John in Madison.
So, it was a very, very long day. Just an hour outside of Billings we came to a complete standstill on the freeway in a blizzard. We were going over a small pass, and all the trucks who had not chained up before attempting the hill - couldn't quite make it... It was a slow start to the day. We had snow off and on until midway through South Dakota. After that, the driving was clear. Coming north in Minnesota the wind from the west was strong and kept Ellie holding the wheel with both hands.
Ellie drove the lion's share again today - but Joanna upped the ante and drove 3 hours. At that it was hard to keep Ellie happy in the passenger seat when she wasn't asleep. She likes to drive. Joanna likes to be the passenger.
Will post pics in the morning. Tomorrow we have a shorter day - visiting brother John in Madison.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
840 Miles!
or so...
Started out a little nervous of course. Found snow at Snoqualmie pass. And in Idaho, and Montana. And also some hours in the lovely, sometimes glaring, sunlight.
We are listening to The Great Gatsby on CD. It's a great story and keeps our minds off how many hours and miles we are captors of this great adventure. Another great pastime has been sampling the food given to us by our friends, and salami, and cheese, and crackers. We found a natural food coop in Bozeman - some real food (Ellie loved her sweet potato quesadilla!) that gave us fortification for the last two hours.
Ellie was the amazing driver today - behind the wheel for 11.5 of the 13 hours! You see from the photo that she happily slept for the brief respite Joanna gave her.
Sooo happy to be in (a) bed now.
Tomorrow we're up at 5:00 - and on to the twin cities.
Started out a little nervous of course. Found snow at Snoqualmie pass. And in Idaho, and Montana. And also some hours in the lovely, sometimes glaring, sunlight.
We are listening to The Great Gatsby on CD. It's a great story and keeps our minds off how many hours and miles we are captors of this great adventure. Another great pastime has been sampling the food given to us by our friends, and salami, and cheese, and crackers. We found a natural food coop in Bozeman - some real food (Ellie loved her sweet potato quesadilla!) that gave us fortification for the last two hours.
Ellie was the amazing driver today - behind the wheel for 11.5 of the 13 hours! You see from the photo that she happily slept for the brief respite Joanna gave her.
Sooo happy to be in (a) bed now.
Tomorrow we're up at 5:00 - and on to the twin cities.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Billings and Beyond
So, the goal tomorrow is at least to Billings - and when we get there we'll decide if its North Dakota or South Dakota.
o.k. tomorrow is the big day
Ellie has the car all packed! Well, all except for a few boxes and our suitcases. Now Joanna is fluttering around the house pulling the last pieces together. And, yes, Ellie is also fluttering around.
We had a delicious and huge dinner at the neighbors' house. What a lovely send off. When we came home from dinner there was not one, but two care packages left on the front porch! Sarah Smith baked a zucchini bread and Amanda and Toni brought cookies. Its starting to feel really big now. O.k. I'll admit, I've been thinking about it but not really absorbing... oy!
We are thinking about trying to cross Lake Michigan on a ferry, so Ellie went online tonight to check out the options. Its almost $300. A little on the pricey side. So, at this point we're planning the next best thing and going around the bottom of the lake and heading up to Montreal - then down from there.
We had a delicious and huge dinner at the neighbors' house. What a lovely send off. When we came home from dinner there was not one, but two care packages left on the front porch! Sarah Smith baked a zucchini bread and Amanda and Toni brought cookies. Its starting to feel really big now. O.k. I'll admit, I've been thinking about it but not really absorbing... oy!
We are thinking about trying to cross Lake Michigan on a ferry, so Ellie went online tonight to check out the options. Its almost $300. A little on the pricey side. So, at this point we're planning the next best thing and going around the bottom of the lake and heading up to Montreal - then down from there.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The count Down Begins
Ellie arrived home today from her third place finish at the Head of the Charles - tired but happy. The energy in the house is now beginning to buzz with the preparations for the trip. She finished packing her clothes and now moves on to... all the other stuff.
Joanna shopped last night for road food. Contents of the shopping bag: 4 types of mixed nuts, 3 sweet and one savory, apples, 3 dips - cheese, tofu, and artichoke, chips, popcorn, carrots, celery, juice, water, and of course, some cookies.
The dog was hiding under the table - so we gave her a rawhide. She is happily chewing now.
Tomorrow - Ellie packs the car.
Joanna shopped last night for road food. Contents of the shopping bag: 4 types of mixed nuts, 3 sweet and one savory, apples, 3 dips - cheese, tofu, and artichoke, chips, popcorn, carrots, celery, juice, water, and of course, some cookies.
The dog was hiding under the table - so we gave her a rawhide. She is happily chewing now.
Tomorrow - Ellie packs the car.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
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