Well, that was different!!!!!
We had a lovely visit with our kids. They came to Loveland and we rented an AirBnB that had room for us all to be together for 3 nights. It was an interesting experience – staying in someone else’s home! We spent a lot of time visiting, walking in Old Town Fort Collins and Estes Park and had a great drive through the Rocky Mountain National Park. There was a little snow on the ground through the park and it was COLD! The views were gorgeous and we were able to see a few elk and deer. We were really hoping for some big horn sheep but they continue to allude us. The kids went back to their lives and we’re moving on also.
Rosie and Alice had a great time playing with Navi, JC and Kara’s German Shepherd / Husky mix.
The BIG news is we are heading back across the country to northern Virginia! (Ed. Note – Holy hell!!! How many times are we gonna go back and forth and back and forth?!?!?!?!???) The hubs has picked up a gig there and we’ll spend the next 6 months or so near Herndon. We will certainly miss Colorado but I’m looking forward to exploring new yarn shops, new sites and visiting with my friend in Maryland!
Here we go again!!!!
We’ve spent our first night on the road in Junction City (it’s a great drive from CO and where my favorite middle son lives so it’s a natural place to stop). Of course I wanted to hit a yarn shop or two – that’s what this whole adventure is about for me. (Ed. Note – Yes it is!!!) I checked the map for our route and found two – one in Gove City and the other in Hays. The shop in Gove City took us off the interstate about 10 miles one way. I was driving so took us down the road through country fields until we came to a crossroad with sabout 4 building which is Gove City. Unfortunately, even though the ‘net (Ed. Note – That’s the Internet, you know, the ‘Net, for those in Gove City!!!!) said the shop was open, it was not. Big Bummer, especially after driving 20 miles round trip out of the way (don’t think the hubs was too happy about this….) (Ed. Note – Reports are that he was not!!!)
OK, this was a little better!!!!!
When we got closer to Hays, I decided to call the Quilt Cottage to make sure they had yarn and were open. It was only a mile and a half off the interstate so this worked much better in my favor 😊. (Ed. Note – Frustration was minimal this time!!) They were open and had a great parking space for RVs – I’m thinking it’s a place many fabric and yarn lovers may visit when they are passing through. The shop was big and had beautiful quilts hanging all around the shop. To the right was a nice big section filled with yarn, samples and accessories. I was immediately greeted by two lovely women who checked on me and then let me shop in peace. They had a really good selection; Queensland, Ripple, Berroco, Rowan, Eurobaby, Double Knitting with Wool and others. Some I had not seen before and a lot that I had to touch! There was a sample shawl that caught my eye immediately called Silverleaf Shawl (ravelry pattern). I don’t usually wear shawls but this one had a leaf motif running down one side and I loved it! I went ahead and bought the pattern so they could print it out for me – even though I use the Knit Companion app for almost every pattern, sometimes I just need it on paper!
I don’t think it was saying, “Buy me, buy me!!!”
Another sample I saw was called the Mountain Cowl (free pattern from Knit Pure & Simple). Since I am already missing those big beautiful Rocky Mountains, I felt it calling to me. The sample was done in Juniper Moon Farm Moonshine Trios yarn and a delightful variegated skein of blues and blue-greens called Blues was right below it. Even though I told the hubs I wasn’t planning on purchasing anything, I did come out of there with that skein of yarn and some new Chibi needles. (Ed. Note – Exactly as expected!!!!) 
I can’t wait to get started on it, of course I need to finish my Hideaway Cowl first. (Ed. Note – June is right around the corner) I’ve decided cowls are definitely the thing to have in cold weather – they keep my neck warm and brighten up my usually solid color, neutral wardrobe.
Side note: As I was getting ready to go somewhere the other day, I dropped my little knitting tin holding my Chibi needle, a measuring tape and my two favorite, 2 inch long crochet hooks (don’t know why both of them were in that tin) and some stitch markers into the toilet that did not contain just clean water….after fishing it out, I discovered ALL the contents were wet and decided it was time to say goodbye to that tin, therefore I needed the new Chibis. Not a knitting disaster but I will definitely have to replace those little crochet hooks!
Still moving on!!!!!
Today we’re heading to St. Louis and will take tomorrow to rest and visit friends (and maybe hit a yarn shop??) Wish us happy travels!!