Omaha

Back from Omaha. Well, got back to home on Sunday evening. What an amazing trip. Not only did I get to spend alone time with my daughter, but also got to enjoy adventuring around Omaha. When we arrived on Friday, we unloaded her stuff and sat down with the map to get the "lay of the land". Then she needed to get to work. I then grabbed my camera and billfold and headed out to explore. Missy works at the Upstream in the Old Market area of Omaha. This is an area that is being revitalized and is in the big business district and blocks away from Creighton. The area is full of old buildings that are being reclaimed for dining, shops, antiques or loft apartments. Right away I found a book store. Jackson's Old, Rare and Antique books. If you are a bookshop lover and don't mind wandering around a shop stacked floor to ceiling with books, this is the shop for you. I found and purchased a book on handtinting photos and an Ansel Adams on his notes for his developing techniques. Shot a few photos and hit a couple antique shops. Found a 1946 Kodak Brownie Reflex Synchro and bought it. These are top down view cameras, quite simple in their operation and excited to get some film and shoot. Ok, enough excitement for the day, time to scootch back to the apartment and knit a bit.
Saturday morning. Got up and headed over to 108th to Rockbrook camera to get some film. Sadness, I found out that the film for this camera is no longer made. I am bummed out, but not deterred. This is the 21st century, I bet I can find some on the internet, but that will have to wait until I return home. We then head out to a little dive on Leavenworth street. This little place was featured on Diners, Driveins and Dives (a show on the food network). The place is called Dixie Quicks Magnolia Cafe and is a little hole in the wall cafe, no real signage with an art gallery attached. The folks are super nice and friendly and the food is amazing. IThe owner said you may want to call ahead for reservations because the show has created quite a buzz and they have been awesomely busy. Back to the apartment so Missy could get her work clothes, I loaded my film camera with b&w film and put on my orange filter, made sure the digital had battery and an empty card and headed back downtown. On Saturday's, the Old Market area hosts the Farmers Market and the area was packed with people. We found a parking spot and headed into the mass of people. Missy wanted to find something to use as a garbage can, so we headed into one of the junk shops and did find an old oil can in pretty good shape and full of lots of character. She heads for work and I start wandering and shooting pictures. What amazing architecture and flavor. I ran through and roll and 1/2 of film just downtown. Bought some tomatoes from the nicest young couple from Iowa. Took a picture of her hand holding one of her tomatoes and visited. I checked my watch, it was after noon and I needed to get to the rock shop on 84th before they closed at two.
Whew, got back to the truck, loaded my stuff and headed for the freeway and make it to the rock shop with plenty of time. Now this is the only rock shop in Omaha and is a great little place. Called Custom Gems and is on 84th just off the I80. They have rough stones, polished stones, wire, finished jewelry, polishing and grinding product, books and the nicest bunch of folks. Picked up the things Dan wanted me to get. Got directions from Tim to get over to String of Pearls without having to deal with the construction on 84th and headed to the yarn shop.
String of Pearls is a cute little yarn shop in the backside of an upscale strip mall. Becky greets everyone who walks in the door, regardless of what she is doing. The shop is so kewl and has a nice variety of fibers in a nice variety of prices and almost completely color coordinated. I wander around, petting fiber and half watching the olympic ping pong game on the tv. There is a gal knitting socks on the sofa. I had decided to look for fiber to make a felted market bag and found shetland wool in mustard, eggplant and rust. Becky winds the skeins into balls for me and I bragged about Athena's and the knitters at home and invited her to come up and knit with us a spell. Leave the yarn shop, tempted to just sit on that nice comfy sofa, watch the olympics and knit a bit. But, alas, I head to the grocery store to pick up salad fixings and head back to the apartment where I unload all my goodies and pop in a movie, eat and then sit and knit on Tony's socks and finished the one sock!! Then started the market bag, the yarn is lucious and before I know it Missy is back from work. We visited for a awhile and then head out to the deck area a take some really neat night shots and head to bed.
Sunday, Missy rides to work and I just enjoy some quiet time, knitting and watching movies, packing and straightening up. Ate a little breakfast and filled up the gas tank. Missy gets back and we head for home! Dang I miss my hubby and can hardly wait to get home, see him, tell of my adventures and cook some food.