I’m back in Virginia; sad but true.  It is always hard for me to rip myself away from my friends in New York.  These people are amazing – the true salt of the earth.  So while I love to visit, it is always painful to leave them and go back to the ‘real world’.  But I also missed my fur babies, as well as my family and friends here, south of the Mason-Dixon line. 

The Hudson River, from Athens

 

Thursday was all about catching up and relaxing with Tina and Steve.  Their new house is fantastic!  I love the layout of the house and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous of their fireplace.  They are still unpacking and settling in, but it was wonderful for them to give us a place to sleep while we were visiting. 

Goofing around with Tina

 

On Friday we ventured out to Hudson and Chatham, two places that I frequented when I lived there.  There is a tea shop in Hudson that I’ve been dying to try.  Verdigris Tea is a full service tea shop, as well as a cafe.  I brought home a few samples ( a black tea with coconut being my favorite so far!)  

Verdigris Tea

 

The Hubby

 

After tea, we drove down to the train station in Hudson to check out the new coffee place that is across the street, Strongtree Coffee.  It has been so hard for John to get decent coffee in town since the Daily Grind went out of business.  He found a great espresso blend and even got a free cup of coffee for buying a pound to take home!  Afterwards we drove to Chatham to visit on of my favorite yarn stores, The Warm Ewe.  

That evening we headed into Catskill for sushi at Oscar’s, and to meet up with more knitting friends, Tim and Harriet.  Tim has the same birthday as I do, just different years.  How cool is that?  I was so pleased that Tim liked the hat I knit for him! 

Tim wearing his new hat.

They gave me a sweet gift; two skeins of Melody sock yarn in a blue/teal shade.  I can’t wait to use it!  Sushi was great (as it always is at Oscar’s.)  After dinner we headed back to Tina’s, and while everyone stayed up to chat/knit, I headed to bed.  I was exhausted, but happy.

Okay … in a couple days I’ll have part two of the New York adventures, which include pictures of yarn, friends, and The Uncool Con of 2010!