Friday, November 10, 2017

Out to Lunch and Shopping on Friday

Zucchini Flower

The one zucchini plant that survived the summer is flowering again!  Poor, confused zucchini plant!

Spent a relaxed morning, just enjoying a cup of coffee and chatting with daughter.

Later, daughter took me out to lunch.  We debated where to go, but eventually decided to go to our favorite diner!  We used to go to this one diner all the time when my daughter was small and my mother was alive.  It was a child/family friendly place and the food was good, too.  Over the years, it has become the place where we go for my birthday.

After lunch, we came home to put away the leftovers from lunch and then, we went shopping. 

First, we went to the craft supplies store (Michael's) to buy some yarn.  I wanted to buy 100% wool yarn to knit myself a couple of sweaters.  The yarn I liked was regularly priced $5.99 per skein (3.5 oz/100 g; it was priced $6.99 at another store), but today, it was on sale for $4.59 and daughter was able to download a coupon for an additional 20% off the total purchase, including sale items.  I bought 9 skeins of yarn, 4 skeins of a color called plum heather and 5 skeins of a dark grey color.  I am not sure if the 4 skeins of the plum color would be sufficient, but that was all they had of that color.  Now, I am thinking I should have bought a skein of black, too, to mix with the plum, if what I bought wasn't enough.  But I think the 4 skeins of yarn will be enough.  At least, I hope so!

Worsted Wool Yarn

In the past, I used to buy lots of yarn when it went on sale, even when I didn't have a project in mind.  I had a huge bin of yarn, as a result.  Several years ago, I put myself on a yarn diet - I told myself I wouldn't buy anymore yarn until I used up all the yarn in my stash, unless I really needed the yarn for a specific project.  I didn't buy any yarn for over 2 years.  I have used up most of my yarn and what is left is not 100% wool.  Today's yarn purchase was the first yarn purchase in a long time.  I shall go back on my yarn diet, unless I find I need another skein of yarn to finish my plum sweater.

I also bought two solid colored t-shirts (on sale for $2.50 each) to embroider to give as gifts, this holiday season.  I have the embroidery floss in my stash, so nothing more will need to be bought to finish these gifts.

When we first went into the store, the checkout line extended all the way to the back of the store and I almost walked out, without buying anything, because the line was so long and I didn't want to wait in such a long line!  However, by the time we looked around (daughter looked at a display of planners while I looked for the yarn) and made our selections, the line was quite short and it moved quickly.

Now I get to look forward to knitting myself a couple of sweaters!  I will start with the plum colored yarn - something simple that will be quick to knit. 

Then, we went to WalMart (in the same mall).  Daughter found some tank tops ($1.69 each), a sweater ($7), and a pair of boots ($19.99); I bought a bag of cat food for Dancer (specially formulated to prevent hair balls) and a pack of toilet paper.  I looked at the boots, too, but didn't buy any; the pair I have is starting to crack at the top, but I can wear them for a little longer.  These are not boots worn for inclement weather, but, rather, for style.

By then, I was getting tired.  We made one additional stop to pick up a free smoothie (I had a gift card); I stayed in the car while daughter went inside the store to get the smoothie.  

Came home and made tea for us.  After that, we had the leftovers from lunch for dinner.  Then, daughter took a nap on the sofa for a couple of hours (guess I wasn't the only one who got tired from shopping!). 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter is home for the weekend
- Being treated to lunch by daughter
- Yarn on sale
- Fun afternoon, shopping with daughter
- A sunny, warm day

How was your Friday?  What have you planned for the weekend?  Do you knit or crochet?  If so, do you have a yarn stash? 


12 comments:

  1. Happy birthday Bless
    I'm happy to wish you again a happy birthday, you who were born like me on November 11th.Have à Nice week-end with your daugther

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    1. Thank you, Vegevi and a very happy birthday to you, too! Joyeux anniversaire! :)

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  2. I used to knit some and have a yarn stash. However, it's not too big as I reduced it by half when we moved. I haven't knitted in a few years, but I've been thinking lately about starting again. Winter is always my knitting season.

    Have another good day today with your daughter.

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    1. Winter is a good time of year to knit. I made small items, like scarves or hats, with leftover yarn, or, make blankets/throws. Right now, I am making granny squares with smaller amounts of leftover yarn; when I have made enough of them, I will crochet them up into another blanket.

      Thank you. Today is my birthday (62!), so we have planned to go out for Japanese food, for an early dinner. :)

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  3. The yarn is so pretty.. Look forward to seeing your new sweaters.
    Proud you got to have a fun shopping and dining day with daughter.

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    1. Thank you, Judy. I have already started knitting the first sweater; hopefully, I'll have it done before too long. Hope you are having a good weekend. :)

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  4. I think some of us need to join a Yarn Addicts anonymous! I don't need any yarn until I've finished the sweater I am working on (only the back started), but I find I am drawn like a magnet to yarn displays and have to force myself to move on! There is something about yarn of all kinds that just calls out to us, isn't there?

    The sun was out today, no wind, and the temperature only around zero celsius so not bad at all.

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    1. Bushlady, you are right! We need to form a Yarn Addicts Anonymous! Recently, the price of yarn has been a sufficient deterrent but, once they go on sale, then, it is yard to resist!

      Sounds like it was a pleasant day, if one can call zero celsius, pleasant! It was sunny, here, too, and an afternoon high of 73F; more to my liking than 0C. :)

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  5. Happy Birthday!
    I have a yarn stash too and I rarely knit. In fact I really don;t like knitting at all but I do have yarn!

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    1. Thank you, Anne. :)

      Well, I suppose the yarn comes in handy when you have to tie a gift or decorate something. :)

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  6. One of the really interesting things about reading blogs that are written abroad is the terminology used. Yarn is a word that I know, it appears in our dictionaries but we call the things you pictured 'balls of wool' regardless of the fact that they may not contain any wool. Skeins are long strands not yet made into balls. I haven't heard the term embroidery floss, we refer to it as embroidery silk (even though it probably doesn't contain any silk)!

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    1. Yes, the different terminology is interesting, isn't it? Yarn is the general term used here; wool is more specific.

      As for skeins and balls, I tend to use the terms interchangeably. But, according to the Red Heart yarn website, they define the terms as:

      "Skeins are longer and more narrow, and are designed to be pulled from the center."

      "Balls are rounder and shorter, and are not wound to have a center pull end."

      If I go by that definition, then, what I bought are definitely balls of wool. Except, I almost always pull my yarn from the center! Whether they are designed to be pulled from the center or not!

      I refer to the embroidery floss as embroidery thread, as well, but not silk. :)

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