Tuesday, October 06, 2009

AHHHHH SAVANNAH

Wanted to tell ya'll about the whirlwind trip to Savannah I had over the weekend. I had an opportunity to go to Savannah on business on Friday. Decided to take Jody with me so I could drive back a new car for my mom. They had what she wanted at my company's sister store up there. Jody needed a chiropractic adjustment so we got up early and went to Waycross to see our friend Dr Ronnie - after the adjustment - we headed northeast for Savannah traveling secondary roads thru little Georgia towns - I had done mapquest to get us there sucessfully. I knew we were going thru a little town called Jesup - oddly enough there was a top notch cafe in the little downtown area and we stopped there and enjoyed a delicious lunch at Stories. I took a photo but it just looked like a parking lot shot - bad angle.

Finally got to Savannah around 2pm and I dropped Jody off at the Marriott and went to work. Jody had never been to Savannah so I wanted him to see the historic district - I decided he would enjoy dinner at the Olde Pink House which is a historic home on one of the squares downtown. I wish I could have taken a photo but my IPhone camera would not get enough light on the subject. Anyway we ate in what was the ballroom of this grand house and had an excellent meal. I am a southern girl born and bred and I have been eating collard greens all my life but honestly - these were the BEST collard greens I have ever had in my life I do believe. I ordered pork tenderloin and it was served with these outstanding collards and a delicious sweet potato with a burbon molasses glaze. Jody had a house specialty - grouper stuffed with crab meat. We rode by Lady and Sons and waved to Paula Deen and her sons - no way to get into that place for a meal without going thru a lot of trouble. I have been there once and while it is good southern cooking - I just can't stand the hassle of trying to get on her book for dinner. So the Pink House was perfect for us - more elegant than Lady & Sons and we love historic homes complete with ghosts.
Saturday morning I got up earlier than I wanted to and headed off to a class at a new yarn shop called Unwind. I had been itching to go there ever since I found out they opened last month. Here is a photo of what I have done so far on the fingerless mitt class using Kollage 1/2 N 1/2 - a fingering weight yarn which is 1/2 wool and 1/2 milk - yep - milk - Not sure I would choose this yarn again but I do like to try new things.

I wish I had taken some photos of the new shop - it was stunning - - beautifully stocked with marvelous brands most of which I was familiar with. Here is my purchase - some beautiful Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Aran in a dark plum color - I am planning to do a simple jacket out of the new DB fall/winter magazine - I also bought a wonderful new DB book The Big Easy that uses mostly the Donegal Tweed Aran and Chunky weight yarns. I have some chunky weight from last season that needs to be "repurposed" (my new favorite word for recycling stagnant projects) to something more do-able than what I purchased it for. So I barely escaped Unwind alive - I could have dropped a thousand bucks so easily in that place.

So I had to rush back to the Marriott to pick up Jody and check out. I wanted him to see the historic district in the day light so we headed back down town to visit Firefly Cafe. Here are a couple of views taken from the sidewalk seats we snagged at Firefly.
I should have gotten up and taken a photo of the square just down this street but I was too busy eating to be bothered. LOL - It was a lovely day for lunch on the historic streets of Savannah, nice breeze and not too hot. I think Jody enjoyed seeing it but he is not as into historic things as I am so he was pretty much ready to leave the crowded historic area after lunch.I had a hidden agenda for choosing Firefly - I knew it was right around the corner from another favorite yarn shop in Savannah - Wild Fibre - I LOVE this shop - I have been a customer for a number of years now. It is rather ecclectic and at times it's hard to find anything to buy (if you believe that you don't know me very well LOL) however this time Jennifer was well stocked with all the newest fall magazines and some lovely new yarn from Rowan that I just had to have. Pure Wool DK is used in the new fall/winter Rowan mag for a darling moss stitch jacket which is trimmed in kid silk haze - now you friends who don't know knitting won't be too excited about this but Rowan is not all that easy to come by in the deep south. There are more and more shops in Ga carrying Rowan but it's slim pickings in Florida. I have already cast on this jacket and here is my progress in just a few hours. My color is more aqua than what is pictured in the magazine. The KSH is a dreamy accompaniment and I think blends well with the aqua wool.

I'm sure you won't believe me but I have been stitching. I have the BBD freebie Souvenir de France almost finished. I am going to be giving that to a good friends daughter who had a fabulous honeymoon in France earlier this summer. I'll show the completed project before it gets shipped off. I also put in a lot of time on Where the Hart Lives by Scarlet Letter - I will show a WIP photo of that when I finish the motif I am currently working on - hopefully next post. So - I am living up to my mantra these last few posts - I AM living and loving the wool life !

13 comments:

beeinstitches said...

Oh my! That Plum DB looks DEE-licious. Now YOU might be Miss BI!!! May have to have some of that myself! Glad you had fun in Savannah. Your mitt looks fabulous and it's always nice to find a new, great shop. Sounds like that one needs to be added to THE list. Have fun re-purposing!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Looks like a fabulous trip! Love the yarn and your projects! The restaurant looks great too. Is the Firefly the cafe that was in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?

Isn't the fiber life fabulous?!

Margaret said...

Oh, it sounds like you had a wonderful time! Yummy food, wonderful wooly stash, some projects started in pretty colors -- how perfect! :D You shouldn't mention new Rowan yarns around me. I don't need any, nope nope nope.... I've been dreaming of starting a new bulky sweater from that yarn I got at the WEBS sale but haven't done that yet. Too busy stitching! lol! Can't wait to see more wooliness and your xs as well.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

What a fun trip!!! Love the color of the yarn for your jacket and I also love the color of the "milk" yarn (I'm not a knitter in case you were at all confused on that matter).

Looking forward to seeing your stitcheries!

TeresaB said...

I love Savannah. The only thing I would have added to your agenda was an evening at The Savannah Theater. Now I want to take a trip. Lovely yarn purchases, can't wait to see them in person. And yes, we need to hang and stitch soon.

Loraine said...

I would love to have gone with you! Sounds like a lovely time.
The yarn is beautiful. I think your sweater will be so pretty.

woolwoman said...

Yes Jackie - if you click on the website info for Firefly cafe - they give the history of the building and do mention that it was used in the movie. I think they also mention something about Clint Eastwood taking a bath in a tub that still exists in the building/area. Also of interest - the Mercer Williams house is now on tour - Williams sister and family is living in the home and has opened it for tours by reservations only - Teresa - any time you want to make a trip to savannah - I'm with you GF - I would love to tour that home and Jody just isn't into that.

Deb said...

Sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful time. I just drool over all your yarn purchases! The color you're using for your jacket is wonderful. You are definitely living the wool life. Can't wait to see what you've been stitching too.

Siobhán said...

Oh wow, looks like a fun trip! I'd love to go to Savannah some time. Ah, to dream. BTW, my husband is from Donegal. I know, it has nothing to do with anything, but the wool and all that...

Susan said...

Oh I am sooo jealous! I would love to go to Savannah. And I'd love to do a yarn crawl through those stores. Glad you had such a great time!

Jan said...

Oh gosh, Mel, what a lovely post! I enjoyed the read tremendously. So glad you had such a great roadtrip with Jody, is that a pic of him? If so, very handsome fellow!!

Lovely knitting yarn, and I love your starts! Maybe someday I will learn how to knit!! That milk yarn does sound most interesting!!! Love the color, reminds me of wild berries.

Ellen said...

Ah--Savannah! Tom had an aunt and uncle who lived there. What a beautiful southern town!

How great for you (and Jody) that you could combine business and pleasure....and at last I got to see a photo of Jody.

Rugs and Pugs said...

Mel ~
Oh how I would LOVE to visit Savannah! Someday ;-)
You must be an amazing knitter. The only thing I can knit is the basic, one stitch scarf...lol. Just not enough hours in the day to pick up another needle!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren