Chatbug Karen

Last spring, my mom, my sister and I headed out for our own quilt shop hop. A shop hop is when you hop from one quilt shop to another. Sometimes, the shops plan these hops but this was one we girls planned as a way to check out a few quilt shops in the Cincinnati, Lexington areas.

We were in Burlington, Kentucky and spent some time at a teeny tiny quilt shop that made me feel very claustrophobic. I survived and even purchased a bit of fabric. Maybe that is the intent of the shop owner, make you feel so squeezed in that you feel as if you should buy something to make more room for the poor gal.

While in Burlington, we ate at a fabulous restaurant, Washington Square. We had read about another restaurant, Tousey House Tavern, but they had a waiting list and we were too hungry to wait. Washington Square offered awesome food and the atmosphere was fun. I vowed to bring my husband to this restaurant if ever given the chance.

On our way home from my sister’s house, where we celebrated Thanksgiving, we took a slight detour to Burlington, Kentucky. This wasn’t planned but we weren’t in a hurry so off we went. Do you think I could remember the name of the restaurant that had struck me as fabulous? My brain was like one of those refurbished computers that was missing a few parts! Anyway, we ended up at Tousey House Tavern! The restaurant I had wanted to try! All was good.

I suppose, everyone was home, eating leftovers because we had the place to ourselves. The food was delicious and not expensive. I loved learning a bit about the history of the place.

In 1817, Erastus Tousey purchased the land where the house sits now. The federalist style home was built in 1822. Mr. Tousey and his wife, Catharine, had six children. They built up an extensive estate that included properties in Kentucky, Kansas and Iowa.

The Tousey House has been many things over the years…home; taven and livery; hotel; boarding house; gift shop; consignment shop; and restaurant.

The history of the families who lived in this beautiful house was heartwarming. It is hard to believe that there was a 10 year period when the house sat empty. Thankfully, it was restored and brought back to its former glory.

If you ever have a chance, visit Burlington, Kentucky.

The thing I love most about traveling and visiting family is that I totally relax. I do offer to help cook or whatever else needs to be done to keep everyone fed. I straighten up my stuff so as not to add to the chaos of having so many people in one house. What I do not do is make decisions! I love relaxing and going with the flow. It helps that our family is usually on the same page when it comes to what we are hungry for and when we want to eat. We all like to travel down the road to check out the local shopping and visit with other relatives.

This past trip, we visited an Amish furniture store. My sister purchased a new bedroom suit from this store and I was curious as to what else they offered. I could have spent some serious money had I had any to spare!

We slept on one of those air mattresses that you blow up. It worked great. I had only slept on the old types of mattresses that never held air. I was so glad that this mattress was great to sleep on. It is hard enough sleeping in a strange house with noises I am not used to hearing.

Back to work tomorrow. I see that there are two messages on the answering machine. I am not listening to them until morning.

This thanksgiving holiday, we will be traveling to eastern Kentucky, where my sister lives. I hear that her children and their families will be there too! It is so much fun to get together and see how big the kids have grown. It makes for a houseful and we may need name plates to help us find places to sit when we eat dinner. LOL

Are you traveling somewhere for the holidays?

I have been working on making turkey table runners. They have been fun to make and are coming along rather nicely. I don’t know why I think I have to make duplicates of the projects I like, but I do! Sewing these is going to send me to a Back pain seminar! I must be tensing up as I sew the tiny spots because my back is telling me I have been mean to it. I will have to back away from the project for a few days since I have other things to do the next few days. Hopefully, I’ll be in good shape to sew again on Saturday. I want to finish these up.

Will this make me want to iron my husband’s shirts more often? I doubt it.
This new ironing board cover looks better than the old one and it doesn’t have sticky stuff all over it, yet.

Do you know how many days there are until Christmas? I have not counted them and choose to keep my head in the clouds so I do not get stressed out about Christmas shopping.

When I get good and ready, I will be heading to Kohl’s website to not only buy gifts but to buy my winter boots and a new coat. First however, I will check to see what is available in kohls coupons at dropdowndeals. Dropdowndeals has all the coupon codes I need to save on everything from kitchen tools to slippers. I never shop online without coupon codes!

I hear that there is a turn around in the hospitality industry. Lodging Jobs, culinary graduates and maintenance workers are finding it a bit easier to find work.

I know, for myself at least, the holidays are a time for shopping til I drop. That means I enjoy staying at a hotel and not driving the hour and half trip home. I plan on buying less this year but that doesn’t mean I have to give up a fun time.

Have you started your Christmas shopping?