trip to the Tartan Museum

[piperdbh]

Yesterday (10/23) I took the day off from work and the Mrs. and I embarked upon a day trip to the Scottish Tartan Museum in Franklin, NC. It's about 2 1/2 hours from here, if you take the interstate. But who wants to do that? We instead opted for about half the trip to be on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which, in my opinion, is just about the best idea to ever come out of Washington, DC. We discovered, however that the Parkway (that's what we call it around here) was closed just north of Mt. Pisgah, so we had to turn around and backtrack about half an hour's drive, which was not a bad experience. It rained most of the day, which obscured the view of the leaves, but the rare clear patches were well worth the rain. We stopped in Highlands for a sandwich, which was made for us by a very ornery young lady who skimped on the onions. That's no way to make a sandwich, skimping on the onions. Eventually we arrived at the Museum, only to learn that Professor Newsome had stepped out for a few minutes. We found several things to occupy our attention in the gift shop, and then strolled up the street to the kitchen shop, where we bought a few things we didn't really need, then came back to the Museum. By then Prof. Newsome had returned, and we got down to brass tacks. Actually, we got down to wool pleats. You see, I've commissioned him to make me a Carolina box-pleat, which he will commence as soon as he can. I understand a few other peiople need him to do things for them, too. He's a very busy Catamount. We discussed the way I'd like it to be pleated, and my wife spied the rack of clothing which people have donated to the Museum. She saw a skirt hanging there which she decided to try on, and liked it well enough to buy the thing on the spot. And so, without further ado, here 'tis:

That's her in the middle.
As you can see, Prof. Newsome is wearing his Carolina (advertising), my wife is wearing the fashion tartan, and I'm the yahoo on the end in my Lockhart, which Prof. Newsome made for me a few years ago. It was the ninth one he had made, and now he's up to somewhere in the neighborhood of 51,284, give or take a few thousand.
As you can see from the empty tie racks to his right, the Museum sold a lot of ties at the Stone Mountain games last weeklend. As you can see from the Ferguson-Britt collection on my left, there's a few of them left.
I also removed another item from the museum, which I'll post a pic of later on. For now, let's just say it's mostly red. And heavy.
After leaving the Museum, we headed for home and stopped at the new P. F. Chang's Chinese restaurant in Asheville. It's a very good place to go.
In all it was a very good day, and it has planted the idea in my head to take more days off from work.

If you've read all of this, I thank you, my mother thanks you, my brother thanks you, ...

[McMurdo]

Good photo and nice report (and yes I did read it all), Catherine and I should be in Franklin next Wednesday or Thursday. I do know at least one more visit to the museum will be in order, as well as a kilt night most likely in Asheville next weekend, we'd love to see you guys again if it's at all possible.

[SFCRick]

very nice pic

[Standard]

Sorry to hear that part of the Parkway was closed, it truely is a beautiful road, especially at this time of year. However, it does appear that the rest of your day made up for this minor inconvenience.

[SteveB]

Yes, I read it all. Congrats on the Mrs. finding something worthwhile. It makes the kilt purchase so much more palatable to her.
I hope to petition the North Carolina Assembly to rename Franklin to Jonesville, as everyone who visits the Tartan Museum is in Jonesville for a looooooonnnnng while.
Very well worth the wait. BTW

Slainte

[Ancienne Alliance]

Very nice photo !


Best,

Robert

[JolyStNicholas]

Grand picture indeed, ya all look well!

[tyger]

Well, we crossed paths!

I had just left the Museum; having had Matt re-measure me for my Stirling District box pleat, tartan custom woven in 16 oz by DC Dalgliesh, wool died in the original Wilson's colors.

I visit the Museum and Gift Shop just as often as I possibly can, if only to grab an extra can of haggis (shelf life more than 5 years).

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Yeah, Mark, I think there was about an hour between when you left and when David arrived. That's when I took the opportunity to go run to the bank (and to the hardware store to by a $.49 O-ring for my dishwasher, which the parts department at Kenmore wanted to charge me $18.00 plus shipping for!).

David, it was nice getting a chance to chat with you and your wife and spend some time talking about kilts. It was nice seeing you at the Games, too, but it gets so crowded and busy there at times, it's better being able to come in the museum and talk at leisure (not that it doesn't sometimes get pretty busy there, too).

I hope you are enjoying your new mystery purchase. :-) And I hope your wife is enjoying her new acquisition, as well. She looks fantastic in it, but you don't need to be told that. Isn't it great when you can find something at a great price off the rack, that fits like it was tailor made?

Enjoy!

[piperdbh]

I hope to petition the North Carolina Assembly to rename Franklin to Jonesville, as everyone who visits the Tartan Museum is in Jonesville for a looooooonnnnng while.

We already have a Jonesville in the Old North State. You'll have to rename Franklin to "Jonesingville".