• NOTE:  I wrote this last evening but am posting it this morning before I leave for the Cedar Key graduation ceremony.  I'll blog on that tomorrow

Yeah, an October get-away is something I've been thinking about recently.  Originally from New England, I won't lie, after 19 years here in the Sunshine State I do miss the autumn foliage.  So I thought it would be a good idea to head north--not quite all the way to New England though--and see it.

Our neighbors next door are here on the island about 8 months out of the year and the rest of the time is spent at their home in Floyd, Virginia.  I'd never heard of the place, to be honest.  So I got on the Internet and checked it out.  Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, it caught my fancy.  And then.....I began to somehow find blogs of people in that area.  Colleen is from Floyd and from her blog I made my way to David's and Doug's.  Great writing about a location that seems to have the same "feel" as my island. 

I began to think this might be the perfect place to visit in October.  So more research on the Internet, and I found a lovely cottage to rent.....and it's even pet friendly for Holly and Duncan.  You can check it out at this link.  It's actually located in Willis and a 1/2 hour drive to Floyd, the Blue Ridge Parkway, antique shops, restaurants, etc.  I've already booked it for 5 days and we'll leave Sunday, October 8.  We'll do an easy drive of about 6 hours, book at a hotel off I-95 that we're staying at on the way back from Boston and arrive at the cottage on Monday, October 9.  I've driven along the Blue Ridge Parkway once many years ago, but never took the time to stop and spend any time there.  So I'm really looking forward to exploring this area.  I've read so much about the Cafe del Sol Coffee Shop, I can almost taste the coffee there.  And they have Internet access for my wireless laptop.....I can see getting at least a couple blogs done and checking emails in the 5 days I'm up there.

If anyone is reading this and you have any suggestions, tips, etc. please feel free to leave me a comment.  And does anybody know of any yarn shops in that vicinity?  I love visiting new knitting shops and coming home loaded down with new yarn.

I'm also taking my camera and from what I've seen on blogs and the Internet, I think I'll return home with some pretty spectacular photos.  The views from the cottage look awesome and I can see myself just sitting on that porch, vegging out with some knitting and absorbing that gorgeous nature that I'm sure will touch all my senses.

Enjoy your Saturday and I'll see you tomorrow with details of attending my first Cedar Key graduation ceremony..............