My Coronet

Things are going well in Portland, but I'm so busy! It's straight to overtime with my new job, but I'm really enjoying it. The good news is, we found an amazing new apartment with an extra room so you can all come and stay! Well, maybe not all of you. I'll have my own sewing space for the first time. You can imagine how excited I am.

Since I haven't had any time to craft, or photograph (or breathe), I thought I'd share with you a couple of my favorite London places. Now, I'm not one to recommend anything to anyone. If you asked me where to eat in Portland I'd tell you IHOP, and when the Howard Johnson closed in Times Square I was devastated for weeks. I don't like fancy food. In a local resturaunt I look for LOCALS, preferably ones that yell at you when you sit in "their seat". And old time features. And character. Food is generally inconsequential for me. As long as they're doing the basics as well as I could do them at home, it's a winner for me.

In London, my favorite place is The Coronet on Holloway Road. It was an old time theater that's now been take over by the Wetherspoons chain of pub. Don't let that put you off folks, it's amazing.

The bacony is still fully in tact, the old projector is in the middle of the room, and the locals are nice and cranky. And where else can you get a full Sunday roast for 6.00 GBP? I made my friends take me there for my birthday a few years ago and one ordered a "mixed meat plate" (you know who you are). Uh, don't do that. But everything else is good.

It took me a full 18 months (and an impending international move) to convince Mr. Jones to join me for a Sunday at The Coronet, and it was only a 10 minute walk from our apartment. My love for the place was fully intact, and we spent the whole time watching a woman with the biggest front teeth I've ever seen chew food that kept falling out of the front of her mouth. With any luck, my friends, you will find me spending tons of hours in The Coronet later in life. It is truly one of god's best waiting rooms.

The Coronet
338-346 Holloway Road
London N7 6NJ
Closest Tube: Holloway Road

The Run Around

In the end, we didn't keep the car. It just wasn't up to scratch. Which leads me to the following conclusions:
a) We still need to find a car (and an apartment, and a doctor, a dentist, and TIME).
b) I should probably stick to knitting.

I made these for my mom (though she still hadn't received them on Mother's Day (what's up with the mail service these days? I've had so many problems). They're similar to one's I made previously, with a stich pattern from "Knitting Sensational Socks". I fell in love with this colorway from the Crazy Zuberball. It reminded me of tulips in Springtime. Now, to get back to my list...

Portland Calling

Our relocation is complete. Well, besides finding a place to live, and a car, and all the rest of life's tasks that get put on a list for lunch hour phone calls. We've moved back to Portland, Oregon, and so far the reunion (do I call it a homecoming?) has been really sweet.

We've started our jobs, hugged old friends, and strategized on how we want to do things differently this time. It feels nice to be in such a crafty place again, and I hope to start some projects soon after the boxes get unpacked!

The Final Countdown

We're almost ready to go. I visited the yarn shop where I worked once more to say good-bye. There's been some final packing. David even stopped by to try to convince us not to go.

But it didn't work. Soon we'll be flying halfway around the world!