Two-Shop Yarn Hop, Lunch and IKEA

I'm writing from Minneapolis tonight while my sister is cooking up dinner.  Saturday and Sunday were the YMCA Regional Swim Meet at St Thomas University in St. Paul, but I chose to stay up here an extra day while Jeff and Eric ended up spending the night in Albert Lea.  That is another story.

When I planned to stay an extra day with Steph (sister) and visit some yarn shops and IKEA I thought I would be by myself, but it turned out that Steph had the day off today.  I had never been to IKEA and she has not been to a yarn shop since I showed her R. Rabbit's shortly after I opened.  We made our plans, Googled yarn shops and selected a couple that were somewhat enroute to IKEA and close to Birchwood Cafe for lunch.

Steph outside Bella Lana - www.beautifulyarn.com

Inside Bella Lana - love the ceiling and restful atmosphere

Enzo, the Italian Greyhound shopdog - sweet boy

Steph and the stuffed animals

Next onto Birchwood Cafe.  Their "good real food" is really good food.
www.birchwoodcafe.com

What we ate.  This is Steph's plate with her Maple Squash soup and  her Citrus Tamari Tofu sandwich.

Rabbit crossing?

Outside Steven Be Yarns - Big and bright and colorful - inside and out  R. Rabbit's feels really cozy compared with this.
www.stevenbe.com

Charles Schultz meets Swedish Icons.
I finally made it to IKEA.  What to say about this place?  I could get seriously lost in there.  Steph says she would like to live in the showroom.  I fell in love with a couple kitchens, there are bookcases everywhere and comfy couches and chairs.  Then there are the gadgets and dishes!

At the IKEA Marketplace - yum!

Steph made me buy "Gossig Kanin" or cozy bunny.  He is showing off the lingonberries.

Spinning yummies from Steven Be: Annespun carded blend of silk/alpaca/mohair/glitz/merino.