Had A Lovely Journey

but didn't get far enough. I visited all you gals yesterday who've been kind and visited my out-dated blog that I want to give a face lift, but you overlooked all that and were kind enough to leave lovely comments. Now I want to venture further out and see some of the blogs I haven't checked out in ages. I find that reading what you're all up to is fascinating reading and soooo relaxing, especially in light of the fact that I'm a Fox News junkie and hear such disturbing news all day long. I can't seem to get along in the house without noise, and other than watching Days of Our Lives and One Life To Live and eating bon bons all day in my pink negligee (NOT), and my favorite QVC shows----yes I admit to yet another dangerous vice---just glad I'm too old for someone to lure me into the drug world and selling my body for a fix. Let me tell ya.... it takes a lot of quarters to get enough for a good high these days. DH tells everyone I make my money at the truck stops, but it's hard work. I respect all Lot Lizards. That's a hard way to make a living. I like my life at home beating him to the mailbox to get the squishy packages of stash and QVC stuff---jewelry junkie here too, but I also love the household and creature comfort goodies from QVC at my front door that are too big to stuff in my mailbox on the street.

I got a phone call yesterday while I was on my blog journey from my neighbor/best friend, who is also a stitcher (what more could I ask for?) who told me she'd heard from a gal at Walmart who used to work in one of the best LNS' in the state of IL till the new owner ran it completely out of business---bled it to death financially. This gal was agush with news of a new shop a couple of hours from here in Lebanon IL, about 25 hours from St. Louis. She said it was the best shop she's ever visited and totally worth the drive. It was a beautiful fall day here and worth the drive just to get away from here. The leaves are beautiful in color and the air is crisp, and when we pulled into Lebanon, we took a step back in time. I wish I'd had my camera and totally forgot about my cell phone taking pix, but no matter.... we're going back for sure. They have kept out modern stores like Walmart and are far enough off the beaten path to St. Louis that commercialism hasn't ruined the quaint, historically-kept little stores with the original brick streets, interior woodwork and flooring, etc. Mom & Me is the name of the LNS, and it was how our friend described it and much more. It's full of light and roomy, taking up two stores, organized into sections that make it very shoppable, and I've never seen such beautiful wall racks of completely stocked fibers of every kind you could possibly want. And the fabrics..... Oh My!!! My grandmother, whose looks skipped a generation and caught up with me, spent the latter part of her life with her mouth hanging open. I found myself looking up at all the models and wiping the drool off on the shoulder of my sweatshirt while shoving my jaw up to meet my upper mandible---hard---as a reminder to keep it shut. Richard gave me plenty of money, but I restrained myself because I was holding back a bit for a dash through the other stores, lunch at the place the Mom of the store suggested and the ice cream parlor that had homemade ice cream. I bought Sylvia's breakfast as we left town, and I bought her lunch and ice cream because she was driving. We take turns like that. Next time, the food will be her treat, and I'll do the driving. Lunch was charming and delicious, but neither of us were sure about the ice cream parlor chairs we sat on. We both hung over on both sides, and I prayed mine would stand up under my weight. I also said a silent prayer that the ice cream parlor would have something besides those chairs to sit on. Prayers were answered---a bar with the old-fashioned mirrored, woodworked wall behind the counter, tables with wide-load chair seats and also roomy booths. I ordered two dips of ice cream---one of monster cookie dough and one of Irish coffee, both in a waffle cone. I'm not exaggerating---the dips were 5" in diameter. They played 40's music, and everything was authentically 1940-ish. It was wonderful. I'll take a pic of my smaller stash haul, but Sylvia spent $150 without batting an eyelash. I asked the Mom of the store if they would ever have a website, and she said that no, she wanted to keep it brick & mortar only and not get into the modern aspect of shopping. The Me of the store was taking the day off, but that is her daughter, and she's a busy mom. We got on their newsletter list, and they have an 800# where they do telephone mail orders, but I can go to the store here in town for everyday stuff. We'll be driving there just to see what's new. It's an easy drive anyway. We had a great day, and it did me so much good to get away, and Sylvia and I laugh all the way to and from everywhere we go. Mom said she'd remember us.... called us Mom & Me virgins, and said she would remember our names cuz we're so much fun. She has a huge St. Louis trade, so that impressed me that she was so friendly with us. Oh, and I was also impressed with the fact that she cuts your fabric and writes the name of the project and color and type of fabric on the paper she pins on, then serges the edges for you on the spot.

When I got home, I felt like I had had a breath of fresh air and am looking forward to going back.