*Cue Cliff Richard*
We won’t be taking a red double-decker to France, we’ll be driving a beige 15 passenger van that has been affectionately dubbed “The Squirrel” to Kentucky. And we won’t be completely off work – Brian will have to keep up with things at his business for the first week while his partner and family take a much needed and well-deserved holiday themselves. And we’re not going for pleasure alone, we’re going to look at farmland and to see if relocating to the Bluegrass State would be a good idea.
We’re building in lots of fun things to see and do in between checking out towns and properties. Our first few days will be spent in the Louisville area where we’re planning to see the Speed Art Museum , the Louisville Zoo, and Churchill Downs . Then we head over to Lexington, which looks the most promising property-wise so far. We’ll take breaks to see the Mary Todd Lincoln House, the Kentucky Horse Park, Pleasant Hill Shaker Village, the UK Arboretum, and maybe we’ll get a trip in to Berea to check out the artisans there. But the place I’m most looking forward to visiting is Gethsemani Abbey in Bardstown. You probably already knew that Gethsamani was once the home of Thomas Merton (Fr. Louis), but did you know that Br. Joseph (Ira) Dutton was also there for a time before leaving to help Father Damien in Moloka’i?
So this week has been spent cleaning and maintaining the van, having it inspected and tuned up. We’ve picked up emergency supplies, a DVD player for the car, books to share aloud, and family films to watch together (or listen to). I’ve been sewing almost non-stop for two days to make outfits for as many of the children as possible before we leave. I say “almost non-stop” because my trusty Kenmore machine decided to ruin its reputation right in the middle of day one. The reverse-stitch button just *quit*. I had to send my oldest two out to fetch the Pfaff from storage, and it’s been working like a champ – quite uncharacteristic.
So we’re eating meals made up of leftovers, on our laps, in the living room (I’ve commandeered the kitchen table), which should be good preparation for eating on the road. At some point we’ll have to scrub down the fridge, mix the feed for the pet sitter, drop the doggy off at the vet for his fix-it surgery and boarding – and get a few loads of laundry done. Maybe sometime after midnight? 
I’d forgotten how much work relaxing is!
