cares will drop away

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn."
John Muir (1838-1914)

The Smoky Mountains get their name from the natural fog present in early morning and especially after rainfall which appears to the viewer as plumes of smoke. I tried to get pictures of it for you, but you know how it is - pictures never do nature justice.

I haven't ever read any of John Muir's writings, but I can completely agree with this quote. I believe I have stored up some freshness and peace from this trip and hope to make it last for many months to come.

I mentioned visiting a couple of yarn shops. In the olden days whenever I went out of town, I always pulled open the nightstand drawer and pulled out the phone book in order to look for needlework shops. Then I had to flip to the front to try to find some sort of map in order to try to find the place. The internet makes things so much easier. I can search out shops before I go and even get directions and make a few notes.

The first shop I visited was Smoky Mountain Spinnery. I can't really tell you too much about this place as I was there such a short time. The shop is very nice but small and JP was with me feeling much like a bull in a china shop. I don't think there was anything breakable, but he was exhibiting that trapped look. Well it is awfully difficult to shop in those circumstances, isn't it? As he had forgotten to bring along a book and as there was nothing else of interest to him nearby, we left too soon after arriving.

Later in the trip we drove to The Knitting Nest a shop owned by sock book author Antje Gillingham. I loved that there was a little detour sign outside seemingly pointing all to the yarn. I was alone to wander this shop and could pick up and put down every single skein if I wanted because JP was happily reading in the fabulous public library nearby.

Do you know I didn't buy yarn at either store!

We returned and I resumed knitting on the blue shawl, taking time out to get a good picture of it for you.

All of this visiting has given me, once again, a better appreciation for my humble LYS. I see it often enough and tend to take it for granted, but I realize that it really does have a very nice selection of yarns.