Chris, you're going to have to avert your eyes, because there's yarn AND cookies in this post.

Breakfast: applesauce pancakes, bacon, and fruit - mandarin oranges, strawberries, and bananas. 

After breakfast, we tried to squeeze in some geocaching and wandering downtown.  However, it started sprinkling and we cut our meanderings short to head back to the Inn. They did have a lovely park downtown we visited before the rain.

Not wanting to venture out again, I picked up pizza from Garbo's and we dined in our room. 

However, our afternoon was not entirely uneventful, because Lisa from One City Market brought her latest shipment of Spunky Eclectic right to the parlor.  That's right - yarn delivery.  You can't beat it.

From that, believe it or not, I whittled my pile down to this.

From left to right, two BFL in Rocky Mountain High, Skinny Socks in How Very Berry, Tough Socks in Blue Moon, and two BFL in Thunderstorm.  And then there are the shirts.

We chatted the afternoon away with Lisa.  That's how vacations should spent, in the company of good folks in good conversation.

Now, on our last evening in Springfield, we have yet to decide what our supper plans will be.  But the sun has finally peeked out. 

Day 6 cookies: butter pecan (I have no idea what the real names of the cookies are)

Breakfast: Spring herb egg strudel, sausage and fresh fruit - grapes, kiwi and watermelon.  A girl could get used to this.

Sadly, we didn't get as many pictures today, because it has rained, rained, and rained some more.  The day's activities included a stop at the Bass Pro Shop, where Ramblin hit the motherlode for clothes.  We also dined at Hemingway's Cafe in Bass Pro, enjoying their buffet.  Three out of the four of us completely missed the 30,000 gallon aquarium they are famous for.  We also mooshed some pennies for keepsakes and tried our hand at the laser shooting gallery.  Ramblin says with a little more practice, I'll be ready to go hunting with him.  Great, as long as I can bring my knitting with me in the tree stand.

Then we made our way to Simply Fibers, while the guys perused a book store and a comic and game shop.  Ragged and I had been very excited, because it was going to be Malabrigo Day.  I had researched Simply Fibers and discovered they sold Malabrigo.  We were both going to buy sweater quantities of it.  Unfortunately, it was not to be, only a few skeins of chunky yarn remained in the store.  :(  However, I did locate the perfect buttons for Jeremy's Jacket at half price, five skeins of Louet Gems to be overdyed, and the Austrian Stitch Cardigan pattern that I had been wanting, but not wanting to pay more in shipping than the pattern cost.  Even though I couldn't get my Malabrigo, I was very pleased with my finds.

Next, we visited the Springfield Visitor Information Center, hoping to snag a few souvenirs.  Nope, but we did get more information about possible activities to fill our final day.  Then we needed coffee, so we tried out Cassils Coffee Cafe.  Still raining, we decided to go back to the Inn and make our battle plans.  It was Ragged's turn to pick the restaurant, and she selected the Springfield Brewing Company.  I had a very good grilled salmon salad.  After dinner, we decided we needed more coffee, so it was back to Mudhouse, of which we are becoming very fond.

Do you notice the theme?  We are all about the food.  The sights we have seen are great, but finding restaurants to try has been fun.  Especially when it's not your turn to pick.  I'm up for the lunch call tomorrow.

Something else worth mentioning - being in the attic room, we've been entertained by NASCAR squirrel racing.  There's a couple of squirrels that have been having a grand ol' time doing laps on the roof. 

Cookies of the Day: Peanut Butter.  Big peanut butter.

Breakfast: Florentine ramekins, bacon, and sliced strawberries and bananas with yogurt.  Yum.

Today, we set out to do two of the primary things that brought us to Springfield - Laura Ingalls Wilder's house and Fantastic Caverns.

Check, and check.

The weather had been threatening, but other than a bit of rain during our tour of Laura's home and gravesite and the drive back, it wasn't a bad day at all.  We also experienced Lambert's Cafe, Home of the Throwed Rolls.  I had been to both the Springfield and Branson location, and thought my fellow travelers really needed to join in the fun.

Ragged and I also got to visit yet another yarn shop, One City Market.  We may be seeing Lisa in the very near future too, as she offered to bring by a Spunky Eclectic shipment she's expecting.  To the Inn.  Oh my.  She's got a wonderful selection of goodies.  Suddenly, it becomes very apparent to me that I do not need any more yarn shops near me.  If I had this kind of access all the time, it would be trouble.  But, neither vacation calories nor vacation yarn count, so it's all good.

This evening, after our big day, we picked up Panera Bread yummies and ate on the back deck at the Inn.  Nice. 

Cookie of the Day: cinnamony chocolate chip

And a very Happy Birthday to my momma! 

Whoops, I meant to post this update last night, but I was simply too tired.  Yesterday was a day of coffee, yarn shopping (not the boys), and Cinco de Mayo celebrating.

Springfield has many, many great coffee shops, and our goal is to hit as many as we can.  We sampled the wares of The Coffee Ethic from their booth at Artsfest, yesterday morning enjoyed vanilla cappuccinos from Oaxacafe (wa-Ha-ca-Fay), and that evening strolled to the Mudhouse for a Mudskipper and a double-shot cappuccino.

What would Cinco de Mayo be without a trip to a Mexican restaurant?  We found Maria's Mexican Restaurant on the Interwebs and it looked like the town's best place.  After a bit of a wait (seems Mexican restaurants are popular on Cinco de Mayo, who knew?  Ha!), we had a very enjoyable meal.  I had a chicken enchilada, and a fried taco, on recommendation from our waitress.  Fried tacos are very, very good.  Ramblin had carne asada, and offered me a taste.  The beef had such outstanding flavor, I didn't even mind the heat.

Ah yes, the yarn shopping.  Our first yarn stop was She's Crafty, a little shop not too far from where we are staying.  It was a very neat shop, very friendly proprietors, and yarns I had not seen in person before.  My only purchases were size 5 Addi Turbos and some yarn for an x-mas present.

I forgot to post one of the most important things - the cookies of the day.  Each afternoon when we get back, there are four perfect, wonderful cookies waiting for us.  Sunday's cookies were peanut butter filled chocolate cookies.  Yesterday we were greeted with these.

Yep, we want to live here. 

We are on vacation!!!!

Friday evening, Cynical and Ragged headed our way in preparation to depart for St. Louis.

Saturday, we went up in the Arch.

Ramblin had never been to the top.  Cross that milestone off the list.  Two things we learned on this excursion - they will let you take knitting needles into the memorial, but don't you dare try to touch Thomas Jefferson.  Then, we were starved and ate at a great little place in Laclede's Landing, Hannegan's Restaurant and Pub.  Wonderful, wonderful food.  Then, completely stuffed, we headed out of town and stopped in at the Route 66 State Park.  The visitor center was closed by the time we got there, but we did walk around a bit.

We spent the evening at Meramac Caverns at their motel.  Beautiful setting, and we were the only ones there at first, though later I think we had another intrepid soul join us. 

This morning, we drove to Rolla to see a recreation of Stonehenge,

and ate waaaaay too much breakfast at the Huddle House.  Rolling ourselves out the door, we were on our way to the ultimate destination - Springfield, MO.  This was the weekend for their Artsfest, which was cool, because it was on the street right in front of our bed and breakfast.  It was also tricky, because you had to know the secret entrance to the parking area, with all the streets blocked off.  Eventually, we found our way, checked in, saw our room, and fell in love.  Diane and Shanni, you may have to come get me.

We then went down to walk along Walnut Street, filled with artisan wares and live music.  It was great.

And now we're back in our room, soaking up the Internets and resting.  Later on we may wander down the street for an appetizing restaurant.

We've needed this for a looooong time.   

Because what else are you going to do in Mt. Erie on a Saturday night?

That is Purple Truck chock full o' Halloween goodies scored at the local auction.  Note that the extended cab is full of them as well.

The boxes barely visible are 150 Shocking Autopsy games.  Go ahead, ask.  I know you want to.

Knitterbunny lamented the lack of all things Halloween on the blog last year.  Consider this my jump on the season.  It will be here before we know it. 

One day soon, I need to get into full vacation-planning mode.  As in, Jenny from the Blog is visiting tomorrow night, we have dentist appointments Thursday, and Ragged and Cynical will be at our house Friday evening.  Uh-huh, might want to start thinking about that.

In the meantime, I have picked up yet another UFO for completion.

This will make at least the third UFO to be brought back to life.  Go me.  This is a pattern I've made up, and if I ever get spare time, I could write it up.  We'll see if that spare time ever develops.

I should be able to show you three pictures of socks, but I can't because:

1) Elfine is done, but it's too dark now.

2) Super Secret Socks are done, but Jenny from the Blog won't get them until tomorrow.

3) I started the Pumpkin Vine Socks, but in the excitement of winning the Halloween stuff, I forgot my knitting bag at the auction.  Before you all gasp, my mom works there and it's safely at her house, but I can't get them until Thursday, and I definitely can't take any pictures.

Any recommendations on things one must take on vacation would be greatly appreciated.  I haven't been on a week-long vacation in eleven years.  I'm a bit out of practice.