How to Say Adieu

After being cooped up at home all week, I was itching to break out of the house. Except for some packages I had to drop at the post office, I pretty much slept and rested. When the opportunity to meet up with Carine and Nancy on Saturday morning for breakfast and shop raiding, I jumped at the chance.

I had read Carine‘s blog before while wandering around the net. We met “in real life” at one of the first RI Stitches Meetup gatherings. She was working on her Forest Path Stole and it is in a pretty light blue Misti Alpaca Laceweight. I say “is” because she had to put it aside for some other higher priority projects.

Only recently did Nancy and I meet, but boy was it fun! She was one of the folks up front at the Borders Bookstore in Burlington, MA for Stephanie’s gitch throwing speech and book signing. We chatted while standing in line and I even convinced her to make the trip to Madison. Unfortunately when she called, she was told there was no more room. The shock on my face must have been evident when I said that folks actually appeared without reservations. Hopefully the next time Stephanie comes to New England, she will visit little Rhody. There are some great restaurants that cater to vegetarians with awesome Indian and Japanese cuisine. I definitely will have her drink some coffee milk while she is here too!

Breakfast was at the Modern Diner. All I can say is “WOW!” Because there was a crowd and Carine and I did not want to lose a table, we went ahead and got sat. Also, because we are incredibly slow eaters (well okay, I am), we also ordered. Because the Maple French Toast is 3 slices of Texas toast slathered in marscapone sauce and berries, we split that and each got sides of hash (for me) and sausage (for Carine). Just when our beverages and food came, Nancy was there and squeezed in. She then ordered a combo of eggs and hash, and very quickly her food came out too. It was all perfect timing!

After getting our fill of breakfast, we headed over to EJ Yarns, located on Benefit Street in Pawtucket, RI. After five tedious years, LYSO Debbie has decided to hang up her needles, and she is closing her doors permanently this upcoming Friday, August 31st. I am really bummed that this little store could not “make it” in the business. Debbie is fantastically upbeat, and always helpful. Her entire store is being emptied at 50% off, including her shelving and displays. However, if 10 or more items are purchased, the discount jumps to 60%. Already there were Jen and Debbie with shopping baskets of yarn. Jen found a good amount of Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece to make a blanket. Debbie discovered a good amount of Berroco’s Pleasure and Baruffa’s merinos, and stocked up accordingly. The rest of us wandered around and were able to find some yummy yarns and patterns. All in all we definitely had fun, and we will be seeing each other this Thursday at the RI Stitches Meetup in the Providence Borders at 7PM. We will be saying “Adieu” to summer and “Bonjour” to the cooler autumn weather. If anyone can make that night, come on by. The more the merrier!

While we said our “see you on Thursday” adieux, Carine mentioned that she was really in the mood to buy some sock yarn. My response was, “Sock yarn? You really want to go to Fresh Purls.” After telling her it was in Providence, we decided to go. In a way, she had to; I was driving. 😉

Fresh Purls is a new arrival to the different LYS in Rhode Island. Karen and Helen have made sure that an ample variety of sock yarn is available along with staples of Misti Alpaca, Catalina, and Tilli Tomas. The shop is always warm and inviting, and has 2 areas to knit/crochet and chat. Here is where Carine found her fix for sock yarn. I tempted her by dangling Claudia’s Handpaint, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Schaefer Anne, SWTC Tofutsies, and loads of others I cannot remember. We left with our purchases, and I dropped off a happily satisfied sock knitter at home.

En route home, I stopped by Seven Arrows Farm to pick up some tea for my Ravelry Tea Swap pal. Valerie lives in Paris, France, and loves black tea. I decided to give her a Seven Arrows Farm sampler of four types: Plum Tea (my favorite!), Pure Mango Tea, Highland Morning Tea (for breakfast), and Jamaican Rum Tea (not just for happy hour!). To make the package more “American” flavored, I included some Mrs. Fields cookies (white and milk chocolate chip), a box of Stash decaf English Breakfast (just in case), 2 skeins of Farmhouse Yarn’s Autumn Spun in navy, a notebook, a rose-scented bath soak, and a Serendipity bunny shawl pin.

Now here are the questions I was supposed to have up by last week. (Sorry Shelby!) Adieu for now! =:8

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
darning/sewing/tapestry needle, hands down with measuring tape as a close second
2. If you’re heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?
Oh yes. In fact I spend hours trying to figure out what to take — usually a shawl or socks.
3. Where have you traveled to that you’d consider your favorite spot?
Giles County, VA is one. I wish I could roam around Denmark too.
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?
Loop-d-Loop by Teva Durham. And yes, I bought it after I met Miss Marni’s Bias Fair Isle.
5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?
Not really. My computers are owned by the job, so only once in a while. Though I have listened to Guido and Cast On.