Well, this obviously isn't Dick in a hospital bed post-op heart surgery. Once again, surgery postponed by poison ivy. On the way home from the surgeon's office, Dick said, "Let's get away for a few days!" I left for bridge and by the time I got home arrangements were made for a couple of days in Traverse City. We packed a bag (and I packed travel knitting) and we were off early Wednesday morning.
We love the Traverse City area and decided to spend Thursday at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park. On the way to the place chosen by either CNN or USA as the most beautiful place in the USA, I said to Dick, "Did you notice I didn't suggest going to Yarn Quest?" He said he had noticed but didn't want to mention it and give me ideas. (Silly boy, as if he could stay a step ahead of me on anything having to do with knitting or fiber or shopping!) Well, the reason I chose not to go to Yarn Quest was I wanted to visit a new shop right in the area of Sleeping Bear. So after a morning of exploring the Beautiful Bear, we headed for the charming Glen Arbor. I put The Yarn Shop into our GPS and we were off. We turned right, turned left, turned left and reached our destination, only to find. . . NO YARN SHOP. I went into an adjacent shop and asked about The Yarn Shop. A young man (obviously not a knitter because of lack of knowledge on the subject) said it had closed and he thought the woman was selling yarn out of her house. He couldn't give directions.
Well, I was bummed! Giving up a trip to Yarn Quest only to be squashed at finding a new shop! After lunch I decided to try the phone number on the Googled shop. Well, wouldn't you know somebody answered. She said she was wearing a turquoise top and would wait for us a couple of blocks down and show us to her shop. That was when I met the amazing Mary Turak of The Yarn Shop in Glenn Arbor. We found the corner and there she was turquoise top, dog on leash, waving.
We pulled up in front of what looked like a tiny shop, only to find a fiber wonderland.
We love the Traverse City area and decided to spend Thursday at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park. On the way to the place chosen by either CNN or USA as the most beautiful place in the USA, I said to Dick, "Did you notice I didn't suggest going to Yarn Quest?" He said he had noticed but didn't want to mention it and give me ideas. (Silly boy, as if he could stay a step ahead of me on anything having to do with knitting or fiber or shopping!) Well, the reason I chose not to go to Yarn Quest was I wanted to visit a new shop right in the area of Sleeping Bear. So after a morning of exploring the Beautiful Bear, we headed for the charming Glen Arbor. I put The Yarn Shop into our GPS and we were off. We turned right, turned left, turned left and reached our destination, only to find. . . NO YARN SHOP. I went into an adjacent shop and asked about The Yarn Shop. A young man (obviously not a knitter because of lack of knowledge on the subject) said it had closed and he thought the woman was selling yarn out of her house. He couldn't give directions.
Well, I was bummed! Giving up a trip to Yarn Quest only to be squashed at finding a new shop! After lunch I decided to try the phone number on the Googled shop. Well, wouldn't you know somebody answered. She said she was wearing a turquoise top and would wait for us a couple of blocks down and show us to her shop. That was when I met the amazing Mary Turak of The Yarn Shop in Glenn Arbor. We found the corner and there she was turquoise top, dog on leash, waving.
We pulled up in front of what looked like a tiny shop, only to find a fiber wonderland.
There it was: a homey shop, with fabulous yarn and knitted samples everywhere. Mary told me the story of The Yarn Shop. I love shops with stories. Mary is in her 80's and The Yarn Shop was started by her parents in the 50's who were teachers as a summer business in this beautiful area. She inherited the business and for years she would teach in the east and come to Glen Arbor in the summer to run The Yarn Shop. Isn't that a sweet story.
I love this and wouldn't doubt if some day I will call Mary and ask her to ship this kit or pattern to me. I really think if I had the pattern, I could find something in the Stash Studio to use.
Here is another shawl which I loved. I also love how Mary uses beautiful shawl pins to showcase the knits.
Ok! Are you ready for this? That whole display is filled with MadelineTosh. It was like Mary had filled the store just for me. Just to the right of the picture is a room filled with yarn, samples and patterns for babies and children. I didn't spend much time there.
Let me introduce you to the adorable Rosie. Rosie was waiting for us at the corner with Mary. That is obviously Rosie's couch but I really don't think that is Rosie's iPad. While I was in the shop, Mary's grandson brought her lunch, her daughter dropped in and gave her a kiss and a fishing group pulled up in front with a mess (as my grandfather would say) of beautiful fish. I felt like I had been invited into Mary's home and I think I had. From bits of conversation, I think Mary lives upstairs. How great is that! If you run out of yarn in the middle of the night, you just run down stairs.
This is Mary eating the yummy lunch her grandson brought. Mary said the next time I come (and there will be a next time!), to bring my knitting so we can sit and talk and knit. What an invitation! I can't wait.
Isn't this just the sweetest yarn shop you've ever seen. I can just see myself sitting in one of those rocking chairs and Mary in the other spending the afternoon. I didn't intend to buy any yarn but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I ended up with 4 skeins of Madelinetosh which I love. When I come back, I'll have to make sure that is what I am knitting. Glen Arbor really isn't on the way to anywhere but it is its own destination. I can see Linda and me planning a Yarn Tour in northern Michigan and spending the afternoon with Mary at The Yarn Shop. I would encourage you to make the trip. I know you will be as enchanted as I was.
Dick's poison ivy looks better so we're keeping our fingers crossed that surgery is really Wednesday. Traverse City was just what the doctor ordered. We are home relaxed and ready to prepare once again for 5 days of hospital stay. The next time I post, I will have a husband with a repaired tricuspid valve.
Dick's poison ivy looks better so we're keeping our fingers crossed that surgery is really Wednesday. Traverse City was just what the doctor ordered. We are home relaxed and ready to prepare once again for 5 days of hospital stay. The next time I post, I will have a husband with a repaired tricuspid valve.
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