Today we are packing the car for next Saturday’s departure.

A week early.

The canned peaches and jams are safely tucked away in the car, as are Banjo Man’s boxes of books and papers. Fabric, tablecloth (just one, in case I need it for Thanksgiving), cd’s, cowboy boots, etc.

This is the new us. With Cabin Fest two weeks early this year we now have time to pack up our stuff, clean the house, put everything away for next year. Without exhausting ourselved to do it in two days and then get in the car.

I have yet to sort through clothes. What to wear on the road, what to pack in the never-comes-out-of-the-car-until-we-are-home suitcase. That will happen later this afternoon, after I have eaten an egg salad sandwich and fortified myself for the chore. It looms large, due to never knowing what the weather will be like from Idaho to Rhode Island and hating to pack Too Much Stuff.

Yes, layers. But presentable layers for visiting family and friends OR strictly ugly-comfy layers, fit for 400+ miles per day without showing coffee stains?

I took a break from cleaning out the pantry to photograph my new favorite thing.

It dispenses olive oil. And it’s little top folds down to close. It is light and squirty and as much as I am working to eliminate plastic from my life, this is worth compromising for.

I bought it at the local Hallmark Store in Sandpoint for $6.99. Amazon carries it in all of its colors–red, blue, black, yellow, white–for $9.99. The company is Butterie, if you’re interested. Maybe all of you reading this blog post own lovely glass oil dispensers and are questioning my sanity, but…I do love this. I am bringing a white one home, though it is not in the car yet.

But sometime this afternoon it will be.

Because we will be packed up and almost ready to go by nightfall.

One week early.