Back from Charm, Ohio

Had a great time in Charm this weekend working at Miller' Dry Goods on Friday and Saturday. I left Akron at 5:30 am on Friday and arrived in Charm at 7 am. It was a little foggy in Holmes County, but I arrived safely watching out for buggies and bicycles on the back roads. There were people in the shop before 8 am - are offical opening time and I finally left at 7:15 p.m. It was a long day, but it was so good to see all the women who work at the shop full time, part time, and at the special sales like me twice a year. We had lots of customers, the weather was beautiful, and everyone was enjoying themselves. This picture is where all the quilting fabric is located. There is another room with flannels, minky, charm packs, jelly rolls, patterns, and batting. Then in the bargan basement is all of the above discounted plus dress fabric for the Amish women and home dec fabrics. The building next door is more patterns, embroidery supplies, quilts, stencils, home made goods, and books. The log cabin behind the shop is rented out for quilt retreats. It is quite a complex!

I took a shower and headed for bed at 9 p.m. I was beat. After a good night's sleep I was up at 6:30 and by 7:20 Mary (the Amish lady that lets me stay at her house - she lives next door to the quilt shop) and I were headed back to the store. Customers piled in at 8 am and the shop was busy. For lunch the Owner sends all of the helpers to the lunch stand across the street and down the road about 50 yards. The lunch stand is all by donation and the money goes to someone in the community who has big hospital bills. The group of ladies I was working with at the first cutting table got to go to lunch first since we went last on Friday. There were only a couple of people in line at the lunch stand so we got our food right away. They set up benches under the trees so we found a shady spot and enjoyed our lunch and the rest for about 20 minutes. We walked down the hill to head back to the shop and oh my goodness - the line for lunch had grown! In this picture the lunch stand is on the left (The angled roof under that beautiful red orange tree) and you can see people standing in line. We could not even see the end of line!

Then there was the traffic! The cars were lined up as far as the eye could see! I think it was everyone's last big road trip before winter set in.
Facing east

To the west

I left Charm about 5 p.m. and stopped in Sugarcreek at the bulk food store on my way back to Akron. I got back to Akron at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Tomorrow I will post the fabric I bought. I will leave you with this morning sunrise.