Boston

A few weeks ago I went on a business trip to Boston and attended a fantastic conference on 'Building Learning Communities". I almost felt guilty being in the comfort of an air conditioned hotel room and conference facilities while Rob and Whimsy dog were cooking in 104 degree temperatures at home... One free evening I spent some time walking around the city - Boston Commons, Faneuil Hall and Beacon Hill. I wandered into Newbury Yarns and Windsor Buttons. Newbury Yarns is owned by Aldrich, who was helpful, engaging and simply delightful. The shop was pleasant and located in a very energetic part of the city. If I lived in the Boston area I would be spending a lot of time and a lot of money in that wonderful shop! I bought some handpainted yarn for a shawl and some sock yarn. Windsor Buttons has been in business for going on 75 years which is amazing in and of itself. They had a whole wall of button boxes behind the counter. I couldn't see the buttons very well and I wasn't sure if leaping over the counter for closer inspection was an option or not. I did find some cute star shaped buttons in maize, seafoam green and aqua blue colors that I am going to put on a baby boy sweater to be designed for an expectant co-worker. I have 3 colors of yarn and need to find two more to complete the design. I wonder if I can turn it into a Nihon Vogue project? Hmm. Probably not. The button store also carried a nice assortment of yarn and sewing notions. They had a huge selection of knitting books and patterns. At Windsor Buttons, I bought a skein of Hand Maiden sea silk yarn which is gorgeous, however, I realized after getting home that I got ripped off by paying $6.00 more than typical retail price. Oh well. Reminds me of a very popular local yarn store that I no longer frequent because of the more than lavish uplift in their prices. I only make that mistake at each store once! :) I took the very crowded subway to Harvard University and walked around Harvard Yard, the campus, bookstore and nearby retail establishments. Harvard Square enticed me with a cupcake shop called Sweet. A case full of unusual combinations that looked nothing less than scrumptious. The cupcake was a special treat and the young woman helping me was sweet too.