June 20, 2017: IL to VT to NC to KY to NC

Dateline: Summerfield, NC  June 20, 2017:

We are going to have a bit of a Catch-Up Blog today.  We left off last month in Chicago, on our trip to IL & VT.  We pick up in this blog on our trip across IN, OH, PA, NY and VT to Stowe, and on home again. Although we were traveling from one work event to another, we had 8 days to get there, so we treated it like a vacation.  As mentioned last time, we stuck to US and State highways as much as possible, and when we had the time.  We have often talked about how much of America you miss on the Interstate Highways, and this was an opportunity to see a little bit more of our land.  We headed across US Route 30 through Indiana and Ohio, then up the Lake Erie coastline, across US Route 20 and down to the Finger lakes, then over into VT and up VT 100.

Along the way, we hit as many of the National and State Parks as possible, as well as museums and other interesting places. The list of places we were able to go to on the trip to Vermont and home includes:

Yerkes Observatory, the Johnny Appleseed Grave Site, the location of the Shawshank Redemption filming in Ohio, the Ohio State Arboretum, the NFL Hall of Fame, the McKinnley Library and Memorial, Presque-Isle State Park for hiking and the lighthouse, the Teddy Roosevelt Inaugural National Park, Niagara Falls, Watkins Glen International Raceway, Watkins Glen State Park, the Corning Glass Museum, the Rockwell Museum, the Glen Curtis Aviation Museum, the National Women's Rights NHP, Fort Stanwix NHP, Saratoga National Battlefield, the Saratoga Race Track, downtown Saratoga Springs, Scenic VT route 100 (& our own personal cheese shop tour), Stowe area, the Von Trapp Lodge, the Von Trapp Tea Room, the Cabot Cheese Annex (& tasting store), Lake Chaplain Chocolates, Ben & Jerry's Factory & Tour, the Keurig/Green Mountain Coffee Visitor Center and Magnolia Baskets.

It was really fun and I enjoyed watching Joni relax after the first day or so on the road.  We particularly enjoyed the Finger Lakes region, and spent a few days there.  The Watkins Glenn State Park is a gem, and we recommend everyone who can, to visit there.  One thing that was a bit disheartening was the impact of the budget cuts to the National Park Service.  We missed at least three sites because of this, since they were closed for one-several days each week.  These included the First Ladies NHP, Washington's HQ in NY & the Springfield Armory in MA.  Although the Women's Rights NHP was closed for several days, we were able to loop back and get it on a Friday. Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable trip.  We were even able to stop in to see Denise Bendelewski's new Magnolia Baskets shop on the way home.

Stowe:  The Stowe Basket Festival was a really nice event. This was Joni's first time there and we certainly hope to go back if they will have us.  Merry does a fantastic job of coordinating the event.  Many weavers stay at the Round Hearth Ski Dorm, which serves as the headquarters of the event.  Classes were up the mountain at the Mid-level Ski Lodge.  We met many new students who had not been in Joni's classes before, and Joni had a wonderful time talking baskets with the new crowd.  And the location is magnificent.  It is hard to imagine a better geographic location for a basket event.  We took advantage of the hiking trails, and I plan to take my fly rod with us if we return!  One evening after class, we drove up through Smugglers Notch, which was a smuggler's route from Canada during the French and Indian Wars.  After driving through it in a camper, we know why but is called a "notch"!

We returned home through Magnolia, DE to see Denise B's new showroom and for Joni and Denise to jabber.....er, uh....TALK about baskets, and to get some crabmeat.  Then it was homeward bound.

On our return, we held a HNCB Nantucket Workshop at our house.  We had a total of 10 weavers in Summerfield and again, it looked like everyone had a good time.  A note on these events:  In order for Joni to also have an enjoyable time, we have decided to limit the HNCB Nantucket Workshops at our studio to a maximum of 10 people.  Also, in the past, many of you know that we have had room for several weavers to stay at our home.  We are making a small change in that regard.  Since one of the rooms is our grandchildren's bunk bed room, we will stop having people stay in that room (because the kids go in there, weaver's have their personal stuff in there, medications could be left out, etc). 

After the worksop in Summerfield, we headed off to the Bluegrass Area Basket convention at Jabez, KY.  As usual, it was lots of fun....and hot.  But this year, they threw in an added wrinkle at the end of each hot day, by adding a gully-washer thunderstorm!  Just kidding, it was a blast.  Many great projects and lots of smiles all around.  

We now have about three weeks at home before heading to GA and TN.  We have had a wonderful couple of months, but are looking to slow down and catch up on some things at home for a while......

Joni has finished the next basket in the Monkey Trap series: The Raccoon Trap based on a 5" diameter mold, and I will post a picture after it gets its Tung Oil Finish.  We have plans to do the Chipmunk Trap next. on a 3" mold.

That's it for now.  Keep enjoying these beautiful days!

David