Playing Catch Up

I've been a bad, bad blogger lately. I didn't realize there was a Murphy's Law for blogs - the more busy you are and the more blog material you have, the less time you have to write.

Scene from the road (2 weeks ago on work-related trip).



And to imagine Punxsutawney Phil predicts only 6 more weeks of winter - if only we should be so lucky. We've had frost in July, for goodness sake.

Scenes from LYS in Chicago (3 weeks ago). I went south of the border on another scouting expedition for a future guild event.

This is Knitting Workshop. I found easy parking (no mean feat in Chicago). The staff was helpful. I enjoyed the controlled chaos - those who want a perfectly organized shop will not find it here, but those who thrive on hunting for treasure will feel at home.







Next stop was Knitter's Niche which has a very friendly owner and interesting stock - especially the Great Adirondack yarns.







Last, but not least, was Knit 1. Unfortunately, by this point on the tour, yarn fumes had totally overcome the proper working of any brain chemisty so there are no photos. It's a very small shop but packed with goodies. If you stop by, be sure to check out their sale bins located below the shelves of yarn.

Scenes from Minnesota (last weekend). On Saturday, after escorting the nieces to violin practice and then basketball practice, I briefly escaped the controlled chaos - leaving DH to entertain them - to visit a LYS called Borealis Yarns.






All I can say is, "Wow". This shop is the perfect storm of LYS. The amenities, besides fabulous yarns, include a bright and airy atmosphere (a difficult thing to accomplish in the middle of January), a table at the front of the shop filled with local knitters, fantastic staff, and a coffee shop next door. Don't be fooled if you stop by - keep going to toward the back of the shop because there is a whole 'nother LARGE room filled mainly with shetland yarn, sock yarns, and sale yarns.

Of course a few goodies slipped into my bag before leaving. What? Like Chez Stash Haus can't do with a bit more insulation?