This was such a great weekend. Saturday, I rode the train up to Chicago, leaving Champaign at the ungodly hour of 6am and arriving in Chicago at 9am. After I arrived in Chicago, I dropped my bag off at the hotel where my parents would be checking in later that day. I then headed to Borders for a 2nd breakfast and looked at the newest issue of Spin Off. Then I boarded the Red Line and took it down to the Harrison stop. I was in search of Loopy Yarns (719 S. State) that I had read about on Knitters Review.
As I was reading the post on KR, I realized that the owner is a friend of mine that I used to hang out with at Stitches.
When I arrived, Vicki recognized me and it was a great reunion. She has a beautiful store with tons of tempting yarns that I could have spent all of my money on. And a huge selection of Lorna’s Laces, which Miss M introduced me to when we were in Chicago about three weeks ago to see the Yarn Harlot. I couldn’t resist, I had to get a few things.
Size 4 Addi Turbo 24″ needles,
The Flower Basket Shawl pattern and two hanks of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in Pioneer (16). (click image for better view)
After visiting Loopy Yarns, I rode the L up to meet my sister M for lunch and to visit Nina, another recently new yarn store. M wants to make a scarf for her friend and couldn’t resist the Kidsilk Haze. She’s a fairly new knitter but insisted on getting the KSH. I started her on a very simple eyelet scarf yesterday before I left. As I knew she would, she picked up everything really quickly and said she may have to pay us a visit if she runs into problems. I feel bad saying that I hope she runs into problems just so she’ll come visit. :)
While M and I were at lunch, I commented how I loved the color on her nails, she had just had a manicure on Friday. After lunch, we stopped at a nail salon and she paid for me to get a manicure with the same cool color “Wicked.” I haven’t had a manicure since before my wedding over a year ago. It was so wonderful to get a manicure - it’s the ultimate affordable form of pampering.
About 5pm on Saturday, Mom & Dad finally arrived at their hotel, so M & I rode the train downtown to their hotel. Saturday night was the first game of the World Series between the White Sox and the Houston Astros. Mom, M, Dad and I all hung out in their room, ordered room service for dinner and watched the game. It was the perfect way to spend a cold rainy Saturday evening. The Sox won game 1 of the World Series 5-3. I used to be a huge Sox fan, keeping score at the games that I went to. Dad and I used to go to a game at least once a year before I met Bryan. In fact, I had just gone on my second date with Bryan when Dad and I went to our last game together. With the wedding and moving, it just hasn’t possible to go to a game with Dad since then. M has become a bit of a Sox fan recently and even Mom, who isn’t a baseball fan at all, got into the game.
Sunday, Mom and I were complete slugs and it felt wonderful. We sat in bed, Mom read and I knitted. It was a nice way to spend a Sunday morning because it was cold and rainy outside. We even ordered room service for breakfast. Oh, how we love it when Dad’s in town for a conference. :) Then a few hours later, M came downtown and we all went out to lunch.
I caught the train back to Champaign about 4pm. I got home just in time to watch game 2 of the World Series. Bryan sat down with me a few innings into the game and was cheering right along with me when Paul Konerko hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning. He even celebrated when they won in the bottom of the 9th with a home run from Scott Podsednik. If Dad and I can get M, Mom or Bryan to be Sox fans, we’ll have accomplished something. I got a lot of knitting done this weekend most of it while on the train and while watching the ballgames. I’ve made quite a bit of progress on the Hobo sweater and I am working on the body already. Now for the long haul.
Btw, what do you think of the new banner across the top? Can you all see it? I thought it was time for a somewhat classy looking banner. I’ve put it off for way too long.