First let me say that we can only take fun trips like this because Stevie works so hard and supports all our educational/pure fun endeavors. We are thankful 🙂
We drove 4 1/2 hours to Clarksville to drop Caiti off to her activities. The pageant police (literally) informed us that we could not so much as see her for the next 3 days.
So we promptly drove back to Nashville to begin our fieldtripping festivities and communicated with Caiti by phone only. {I think hanging out at pageant headquarters would have done me in anyways.}
One of the highlights of our trip was an impromptu knitting lesson at a fabric shop called Textile Fabrics on 8th Avenue (thank you Debra and Jenny for the recommendation).
You guys who live in big cities probably always have access to great fabric and knitting shops but here in our little town, we’ve got Hobby Lobby. So a large fabric shop that stocks Amy Butler and Anna Marie Horner fabrics and Rowan yarn is like Christmas morning for us. They had so many employees that we were able to get a great tutorial on knitting ‘in the round’ and then Amanda got the girls both started on hats.
From then on, they were little knitting fools—in the car, in the hotel room, waiting for pageant to start etc.
Another treat was getting to visit my friend Grayson from medical school. We met her and her sweet little family at my favorite Nashville restaurant (The Bound’ry).
It was so fun to reminisce and catch up. I coached the girls to practice their best table manners. We called it etiquette class. They got an “A”.
Grayson and I became a little depressed when we realized that we first met each other 16 years ago. How does time get away from us so fast? It seems like just yesterday. I told her she looked just the same. She said I did too. That’s what you call true friends 🙂
Which brings me to why I love blog world so much. You guys gave me great suggestions and ideas for my trip. Jenny and Rachel both gave me the ‘heads up’ on the Chihuly exhibit at Cheekwood. We went on Friday night and it was quite an adventure. A lot of walking through crowds but so worth it. Thank you girls!
Sarah, another awesome reader, suggested Silke’s Old World Bakery in Clarksville so we took her advice and had lunch and coffee there. We loved it so much we went twice during our visit. It’s a European bakery with authentic German-speaking employees and todiefor bread and desserts. Thanks so much Sarah! I wonder if the people of Clarksville know how lucky they are to have this place?!
Roadtripping Part 2, Pageantry coming soon. It’s hard to find words, except that Caiti makes me proud with her new found anti-pageantry sentiments.
And now I must shake off the exhaustion and get ready for another week of school. We’re studying leaves in science, Esther in bible class and nouns in grammar.
We’re starting The Plymouth Colony in history and will begin memorizing the Mayflower compact. We’re reading Indian in the Cupboard and The Silver Chair in literature and are looking for a good literature choice to go with our Plymouth study. Any suggestions?
And don’t forget that this is Reformation Week at Issues Etc.!
What fun! Can you now teach me to knit?
Looks like a wonderful trip…so many neat places!
Edie, You are such a good mommy and teacher. It looks like you had a great time and a wonderful adventure. What special times are these with your girls. Cherish every moment,hold on tight to every hug and kiss these are the times you and the girls will always look back on. Love you!
for the plymouth study, what about a dear america series book or once upon america (another series)? my eight year old loves once upon america, although it is a tiny bit above his reading level. he’s not interested in the dear america books because they are diary entries mostly by girls. both of those series should have something related to plymouth, i think.
i think i remember that you emphasize classic, quality literature so i’m not sure those series fit in? one of my favorite books at your girls’ age was the witch of blackbird pond. it’s more about puritan/quaker ideologies, sort of an age appropriate alternative to the crucible. maybe outside of what you are covering?
i am racking my former english teacher brain and i might be back with more!
Oh what fun! Can’t wait to read part 2. … can I travel with you???
Knitting, Chihuly, AND handmade bread? It doesn’t get better than that!
I love the book, “Molly Banaky”…it’s set in Colonial America but not Plymouth. It’s a picture book, (not chapters) but the illustrations are beautiful and the true story, inspiring.
What a great trip. I would love a yarn store like that. We would need to travel to Boston to find one that great. We have little shops but not with great selections.
One of my favorite books for the study of the pilgrims is William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation. It is great. There is also a book on William Bradford’s life that I used to read to my students in first grade. I can’t remember the title right now. I will try to look it up.
Ruth
The book can be purchased at CBD. Here is the link:
http://www.christianbook.com/william-bradford-pilgrim-boy/bradford-smith/9781893103344/pd/232002
I hope you can find the time to read this. Although it is fictionalized, it is a wonderful read.
Ruth
I thank ur hairs on fare!
Looks like a terrific weekend trip! We have just finished the Plymouth colony chapter in SOTW, and we are reading Blood On The River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Carbone. It’s written from the perspective of a young boy named Samuel, who is John Smith’s assistant.
We are looking for an apple orchard to pick apples. Do you know of any in TN that would be a day trip from B’ham?
We also are intrigued by a book called Colonial People by Sarah Howarth. Each chapter tells about a different person’s life in colonial times (Governor, Newcomer, Puritan, Planter, Servant, Godwife, Native American, Apprentice, Slave, Fur Trader, Constable, Smuggler, and Patriot). They also have one in the series called Colonial Places. I think I’ll look for it at the library next.
WOW! Looks like y’all had a blast! I bet the knitting tutorials were fun to learn! We just finished up our Esther study this summer with the youth girls, oh we had fun. We had a Esther party to celebrate the study, we got to dress up like a queen and had a Mediterrian meal, then watched the Esther movie and vegged out. It was really fun to hang out with my youht girls at church and get to know them better. Hope you guys have a great week!!!
~Molly P
I can’t believe your kids can knit and I can’t! 🙁 I’ve watched a tutorial on YouTube about a million times, but can’t get it. I think I need live, in person lessons. Glad you enjoyed yourself and got a chance to catch-up with old friends.
-FringeGirl
What a cool weekend! You are quite a lady! I love reading how you weave your homeschooling lifestyle right into the fabric of everyday life…very inspiring!!
Have a wonderful Reformation Week! Can’t wait to hear the pageant details 😉 !
Just a quick question…any tips on teaching knitting? I’d love for my eight year old to learn, but the coordination still seems above her. Should I just take her into a knitting shop?
it looks so fun, edie. i love that the girls knit like that! i’ve tried, but lex looses interest. love the photos! welcome home!
I haven’t knitted for a few years (& after surgery on both hands last winter, I won’t be doing that), but I thought it so interesting that you “only have a Hobby Lobby”. My daughter & I can’t understand why we can’t get one in Raleigh!!! There’s one about an hour away in Burlington, NC & another one a half hour past there in Greensboro, but none in Raleigh… 🙁
What a fun trip you had! I love trying new things especially in new places. And your girls are so cute!
i reeeeeally would love to do this.
i would love for my girls to learn to knit.
i think they would love it!
and if i could learn without having to commit to something…..like just casually say “sure…show me”
then i might love it too.
if i had to go to a class i would chicken out.
so what you did was perfect.
take me next time.
HA.
To our troops, our firefighters, and police officers – you are the true associated with heroism.
I especially want to thank President of the
Senate Don Gaetz and Speaker of the home Will Weatherford.