I'm sorry I haven't been updating as often as I would have liked but we've had cousins staying - or rather I had cousins staying because Tom was back in London. What with the awful weather and all, I seemed to do nothing but wash clothes, chuck children in the bath and feed them. By the time my sister arrived on Thursday I was knackered and still feeling unsettled being back. What a weird week. Anyway, on to part two of our fabulous trip:
After a whistle-stop tour of Target and Old Navy in Holyoak Mall we arrived in Northampton where I was meeting Lee. We were so hot and bothered by the time we got there that we made straight for Herrell's and their superb ice-creams. Tom took the children for a look around the town while I went in search of a lady with a long plait and crazy socks. She in turn was looking for me with a pink top and mauve culottes and somehow we found each other .
Lee took me to Valley Fabrics, which is such a lovely shop. There was a great choice of fabric and I was only tempted to buy a little (huge mistake in retrospect) as I thought I would be going to Purl Soho the week after. The ladies in Valley were lovely and very friendly. Everyone was intrigued to hear about how we were making our way across New England, staying with people met through my blog.
then we went to Webs, where I'm afraid I walked around like a child in a sweet shop. I was so overwhelmed with all the choice that I couldn't choose anything. What a great shop though - if you live in the vicinity of either of these shops you're very lucky. There was a huge range of wool, needles, spinning supplies and books. I really could have spent ALL day in there.
Now here's a bit of 'random act of kindness' for you. As we were chatting outside Webbs, Lee showed me her Sat Nav or GPS and how to use it and then out of the blue asked if I wanted to borrow it. We were complete strangers as we had only started leaving comments on each others blogs a few weeks ago. How incredibly kind and trusting is that? Tom and I couldn't believe it. Thank you so much Lee and thanks to your husband too - it was really useful and we're so touched by your kindness.
So GPS jabbering away to us, we headed off to Shelburne Falls to find Tonya who we were staying with that night. First it took us off the beaten track onto a private road that said CLOSED and deeper and deeper into an increasingly spooky forest. Then when we were told we'd got to our destination it looked remarkably like the middle of nowhere (although we were only a few hundred yards away actuallly). So we pulled up outside another house and I went for help, opening the screen door and calling out in my best British accent:
"Hello, I wonder if you could help me please, we're lost"
"I'm sorry but I haven't got any clothes on" said a reedy voice from inside.
"Oh! It's just that we're lost and we're trying to find number ... on this road".
"You can come in but I haven't got any clothes on," added the ancient voice, which became half a wizened face peering at me from around a corner.
She looked worryingly like Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.
"Oh hello" I said. "I'm so sorry to trouble you but we're lost and we need to find ......."
"I haven't lived here long" she said "I used to be a Professor at Amherst. Youshould ask Marion so-and-so down the road - she knows everyone".
"OK. Thank you so much and I'm so sorry to have troubled you," I gabbled.
"It's alright. I'm sorry I haven't got any clothes on. I got hot and took off my outer garments....." - at which point I ran.
It was so surreal and so funny .........
I did, however, finally meet Tonya and her beautiful daughter Zoe (we got there in the end). Tonya and I discovered that we had a lot in common being raised my immigrant parents in England although she's miles younger than me. That night we all sat in her garden and chatted and the next day Tonya took us to the best place for brunch in New England - the children are still talking about Elmers in Ashfield:
Pancakes, waffles, home fries, eggs, sausages and lovely hot chocolate. This is where we discovered the "American Portion". Diet, what diet? I didn't even get to swim it off in Ashfield lake, unlike Tom and the children, but I did have a lovely chat on the beach with Tonya. How civilised, having a lake in your town to swim in. Ashfield is the most beautiful little town. Elmers is worth a stop too not only for the food but for the gifts and things they sell in the back but I think you have to be a resident to swim in the lake I'm afraid. Don't miss the ironmongers or hardware store either. It's great as is the pizza place next door.
Next stop a quick dip in the glacial potholes at Shelburne Falls to cool down again:
and then it was off to Vermont to spend the evening with Sarah and Nelson before they dashed off to PEI the next morning. It was so lovely to arrive and slump in their gorgeous home - it was still very hot at this point, perhaps about 30C, and we certainly weren't used to it:
Sarah and Nelson's house is truly stunning. They built and designed it themselves following the guidelines in a book called something like the Not So Big House or some such. I think the idea is that every room in the house should be used every day, a kind of antidote to the McMansion. It was lovely. I particularly liked the three sided bookcase where the fireplace is the fourth side. It's all open plan downstairs with an enclosed verandah (porch as I learned to call it) where we sat and ate as dusk fell. We all discovered that we had masses in common as we are both Waldorf families and I was eager to hear about Sarah's job as an Historian. Tom grilled poor Nelson about the house and he got very excited by the cellar - particularly the plumbing down there. The children all played Skip-Bo which was new to us and I discovered that Helen, aged 11 makes lovely earrings. I rather greedily snapped up about six pairs - some for Amber and some for me and we've been wearing them off and on since. Thanks so much Helen - I really think you ought to sell some at the school fair this year.
The evening ended far too soon and we naughtily tried to persuade Sarah and Nelson to not rush off in the morning so that we could spend more time together. I know they were tempted but they had reservations and a long drive so they got off at 9, but not before giving us a delicious breakfast of pancakes and bacon. Then that was it we waved them off and went back inside their house which felt decidedly odd I can tell you. Another act of faith and trust though to let us stay on in their house for which we were so grateful. It was just nice to stop, relax, get some washing done and to slow down a bit.
So that day we visited Woodstock which is such a pretty town and then onto Killington. We were hoping to take in a Sugar House on the way back but had left it too late so we went and ate out instead. On Saturday we went to the excellent Norwich Farmer's Market:
What a great market with such wonderful produce for sale. There were fruits and vegetables, maple syrup, pottery, wool and delicious pastries by these two people:
Again well worth a visit if you're ever up there. Then the rest of the day we visited Queechee Gorge, ate at the Farmer's Diner:
and then we went back down to New Hampshire to Long Ridge Farm where I was to meet Nancy Zellor as I wanted to buy some Earthues plant dyes from her. Sadly, another hurried visit but we managed a quick chat and I bought some dyes before we went for another swim at Westmoreland. I'm hoping to get some colours like these in the future with the dyes:
Then Sunday morning came all to soon and we were suddenly in a dilemna as to what to do as our friend in Boston couldn't put us up that night. We had three days before going down to Long Island and we decided that we didn't want to spend them in a hotel in a city. I voted to go back to western Massachusetts as we'd come through it too quickly but where to stay and which bit to go to .......... then the phone rang and I tell you someone heard my prayers. Part three next time ...............
I'm so enjoying reading about your adventures, I totally agree about the wonderful way in which blogging has brought us all together and created bonds of trust and friendship. America looks so interesting, I love the look of the farmer's diner - we are going to have to go over some day.
Posted by: PG | August 19, 2007 at 10:26 AM
sounds like a great trip, good to know that your blog friends came up trumps too :)
Posted by: magnusmog | August 19, 2007 at 11:46 AM
It seems like you have had a wonderful trip. Can't wait to read the next installment!
Posted by: mathea | August 19, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Simmy- So funny. I love all those places in Vermont and we will be going there again in 2 weeks. What a whirlwind! Can't wait to hear about part 3...
Posted by: melody | August 19, 2007 at 02:08 PM
Wow, sounds like a fun trip! I grew up in New England, but you found places I hadn't heard of!
Posted by: Amanda | August 19, 2007 at 03:29 PM
The Farmers' Diner that you went to is the same one that Barbara Kingsolver features in "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral." All the food comes from local farms.
I think the woman in the picture at the farmer's market is an English woman whose child attends the local Waldorf school. Did you talk with her?
Guess I'll take the kids up to the sugarhouse and get a little package together for you :-)
Posted by: Sarah | August 19, 2007 at 04:07 PM
I think I know where that phone ringing took you. What a wonderful trip you had!
Posted by: Mama Urchin | August 19, 2007 at 08:02 PM
no! i can't wait for the next installment! simmy, this is fanastic, i am hanging on your every word. what a wonderful time you have had x
Posted by: louise | August 19, 2007 at 08:04 PM
I love reading about your impressions and adventures in America, Simmy, almost as much as I love reading about them in your own country :) I'm so glad you had a good time and can't wait for the next installment.
Posted by: Britt | August 20, 2007 at 02:00 AM
Anxiously awaiting to read where you go next. It is so great to read about all the nice hospitality you received. It can bring tears to ones eyes just reading about how nice everyone was. It is fun to see the pictures and get a free tour guide of the places you got to see. I just got tolook at my mother-laws pictures of her latest trip to England. Oh my! How lucky we are to have so many beautiful places to visit and experience!
Posted by: Rada | August 20, 2007 at 03:00 AM
Oh Simmy, you are making me so homesick with your entries about your lovely holiday in America. I have always said that Vermont is my favourite place on earth and I would move there in a New York minute if only I could! This truly sounds like it was the trip of a lifetime and I am waiting with baited breath to pounce on the next part of your wonderful journey! I think blog friends are the best friends. But then again, I may be biased! :-)
Posted by: Marie | August 20, 2007 at 06:56 AM
I'm feeling a bit homesick too with your these wonderful highlights of your trip to America, Simmy! Thanks for sharing your stories, finds and photos! Can't wait for part 3!! Happy week! ((HUGS)) :o)
Posted by: Tracy | August 20, 2007 at 01:17 PM
So great to read part two, and you've left us in suspense for part 3, can't wait!!
Posted by: jo | August 20, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Looking forward to reading the continuation of your american adventures.
Marie x
Posted by: Wild Rose | August 20, 2007 at 08:37 PM
Oh that all sounds so wonderful - and bits of it so familiar! We used to live in upstate New York and snowboarded at Killington many, many times ...
Can't wait for part 3!
Posted by: dottycookie | August 20, 2007 at 11:17 PM
I have just discovered your wonderful blog (linked through another blog in NZ) and wish I had discovered it sooner - you could have come visited me in New Hampshire on your big adventure over this way! I will be retuning here often. Thanks for all the eye candy!
Posted by: Joanna | October 14, 2007 at 06:12 PM