A Day Out

Today was a GOOD day!  I got to go shopping, have brunch, and go to the yarn shop.  It was FABULOUS!  First up, we ate brunch at a little shop called Coca Cafe right outside of Pittsburgh.  I had the Pecan Chicken Salad.  OMG - it was SO nummy!!  It's grilled chicken breast, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, golden raisins, goat cheese, and maple balsamic vinaigrette served with sesame seed crackers.  It was such a treat to eat lunch, in a restaurant, with adult people.  Plus the food was pretty terrific!

 Here are my little finds from Natural Stitches in Pittsburgh today:

Shokay 

Pearl (20% Yak / 80% Bamboo) in Silver colorway

245 yds, 100g

Lace Wt (2 Ply)

Purchased: 2 Skeins

Ella Rae

Bamboo Silk (70% Bamboo Viscose / 30% Silk) in Chino colorway

99 yds, 50g

Worsted Wt (10 Ply)

Purchased: 3 Skeins

I didn't buy A LOT from the yarn store, but I did buy those little gems.  I also REALLY, REALLY wanted some MadelineTosh sock yarn, but I resisted and tried to show some measure of restraint.

Meanwhile.. my awesomely talented friend, Celeste, knit this gorgeous doily for me as a house-warming present!!  It's Peacock's Tail (PÅFUGLEHAL) knit out of DMC Cebelia Crochet Thread No. 30 in Coffee Cream colorway.  She purposely knit it in the same crochet thread and color I am knitting Frosted Ferns in so that my doilies will match!!  It's just stunning!  I'm not shocked it turned out so well - She's extremely talented.  But I am TICKLED to display it in my home.  I tried placing it on my coffee table (bottom pic), but I think my wooden bowl (Do you see my Frosted Ferns in the bowl?!) covers it up too much.  So I am going to place it around the house and find the best place to show it off!  Also, Celeste suggests I use some starch or sizing to stiffen it up a bit so the ends don't curl.  So once I figure out the best way to do it without hurting the lace, I will do that as well!

I cannot tell you how rejuvenating it was to just get out of the house for a couple of hours and do something "normal."  Oh, it was heaven!!

A Day Out