Thursday, December 04, 2008

Home Away From Home, Part I - The Trip

I was lucky enough to be invited again to visit my BFF Kelly and her family for their Thanksgiving celebrations last week. I agreed on the condition that we did NOT get up at 3:30am this year to shop on Black Friday, to which Kelly agreed - I think it took both of us a week to get over the whole thing -


So I left last Wednesday, having printed off my boarding pass the night before, and got to the Toronto Airport with one carry-on and my purse - all smug and prepared, that was me.


Until I went through security, where I found that my cherished Swiss Army knife, which I thought was in another purse, was in fact with me. I asked if I could put it in my bag and check it, but was told that because I had chosen the 'No Check' option when I bought my ticket (back in September, when gas prices were scary-high, and luggage was being charged for), I could not. I asked if they could mail it to me and got a small, smug smile.


So it's gone. Sigh.


The flight was uneventful, except for the young gal sitting next to me who asked for a piece of my granola bar. She didn't get one.


My first day state-side was spent poking around Minneapolis and St. Paul, and finding some fabulous yarn shops, some of which I forgot to take pictures of. We went to the Yarnery, which is very nice and well-stocked, and bought nothing (I know!). Next stop was Borealis Yarns, which is one of my two favourites from this visit. The shop is big and bright, TONS of stock, the girls working there are utterly friendly and helpful, AND there is a sandwich shop/cafe next door. The only improvement I could see would be a wine/sandwich shop/cafe next door. We both did our best to help them out in these financially unstable times, and when my box from Wisconsin gets here, I'll show you how I helped. Yes, that's right, I mailed myself a box. Of stuff that I bought. So?


We found another beautiful shop, Depth of Field, and entered through their back door, which was nicely marked PB260064.
The shop is lovely, old floors and exposed brick, and two levels of all kinds of yarn PB260062, including a decent supply of blaze orange yarn PB260063, always important in hunting country.

Kelly introduced me to a few members of her knitting group, which, incidentally, she started, and I got to show Jill and Kelly how to use Jill's swift Jill and me learning how to swift and Kelly's ball winder PB270067. In the first shot, I am wearing the Cozy V-Neck Pullover in Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits, which I finished especially for the trip. It was, in fact, still damp from blocking when I got there so I had it wrapped in plastic in my suitcase.

Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving, and after a great meal at Kelly's in-laws, why, we shopped, of course. Some stores were open, and they were selling things at their Black Friday prices. Much more civilized than 3:30am, in spite of the fact that we were served by a cashier from the backwoods of Deliverance-territory, and as a result missed out on lattes by 10 minutes. But we survived, mostly because we are so mature and wise. A bout of serious cussing in the car helped, too...

Next up... The Road Trip...

3 comments:

Carol said...

Darn about the army knife. I have started completely emptying my purse at home and putting what I need back in for exactly that reason. Stuff I don't want to lose. But the yarn store part of your trip sounds fab! Way cool.

Anonymous said...

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, BFF? LOVE it...What's that 'thing' on my shoulder? Am I sporting a pin? Its funny to see our trip in writing...can't wait for part two...at least you can now clarify...the contact was defective, thus almost causing us to turn around...but no...we carried on to the great northern territory of hunters and craft sales...

Anonymous said...

So glad you posted to your blog, now I know how some of your time was spent. Gave me something interesting to do at 2:00 am
Can't sleep........can't wait to see it al !!!!!