QST de N7GMT

For the first time since … well, actually, I think it’s the first time ever, we went to Swiss Days in Midway—as a couple. Without any kids!

It was a nice change.

We didn’t have to deal with strollers. We didn’t have to deal with diapers. We didn’t have to deal with runny noses, lost kids, or panicking shop-holders.

It was a very nice change.

The older kids were in school—it’s Friday, after all—and we dropped the two little ones off at my sister-in-law’s place. We snuck off just as soon as we could get underway, and headed down through Orem to head up to Midway. There was a bit of a slow-down due to construction in Provo Canyon, but that just gave us a little more time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The evergreens in the canyon were a lush green; the Quakies and other deciduous trees are just starting to turn colors. They weren’t yet the vibrant hues they will be in a few weeks, so it was just a nice contrast of greens.

Wandering the booths was fun as usual. There were many we recognized from years past, like the Joyful Strings guys, who make such beautiful music; and our neighbors who run American Woodcrafts and make fun signs for your home. (My favorite is “Thou shalt not whine!“) There were many we didn’t necessarily recognize as new or not-new—mostly because neither of us is terribly interested in homemade quilts, palatial copper-roofed birdhouses, or dried weed arrangements.

There were two booths that had really cool stuff, but that we didn’t get to buy anything from. One because they couldn’t take credit cards and we only had just enough cash to buy lunch. (Note to self: bring cash to Swiss Days!) The other because we forgot to go back to them before we had to catch the shuttle back to the parking lot so we could get back to meet the kids after school. (We may have to go back tomorrow to remedy this short-falling.)

We also bumped into a few friends and some family. My aunt and her (author) daughter were there buying stuff for her kids (my cousin’s, not my aunt’s… well they are my aunt’s grandkids, I guess, so… oh, nevermind). It was just very unnerving to me to talk to my cousin about her kids at university, her daughter serving an LDS mission in Spain, and that she has a grandchild! Aaagh! She can’t have a grandchild; she’s my cousin, fer cryin’ out loud! That makes me waaay older than I’m supposed to be … or at least am willing to be … or maybe am willing to admit. In any case, Aaagh!

Anyway, here are (for me) the high-lights of the Fest. First the two that “got away” and then the ones we actually got cool stuff from:

• Rustico, Orem, UT (866.426.4957; no website) — they had all kinds of leather-bound books; hand-made journals, a fisherman’s fly log, even a very cool three-ring binder. They also do custom books for things like family reunions, special occasions, businesses, etc. Gotta love hand-made books that come with built-in leather smell!
• Renee Beads (801.774.8798; http://www.reneebeads.com/) — lots and lots of gorgeous hand-made glass beads, made into necklaces, bracelets, earrings and the like. They had some way kewl Halloween earring sets and necklaces. I really regret not getting back there, but I did at least get her card, and am thus able to share her web address with you! (Hmm … I think I need to pause and go visit her site. … Her web-site doesn’t do her beads justice, at least not the ones I thought were cool.)
• Creative Clay Works, Logan, UT (http://www.beerspottery.com/) — a few years ago my wife bought one of his anti-“spudge” devices and a woven-basket bowl, and we found him again today and picked up a few more treasures, including a French butter dish.
• Zee Candles, Puyallup, WA — OK, to be honest, I didn’t really notice their carved candles at first, and might have just wandered on by (except it was the last booth we visited, so really, where would I have wandered off to), but my Sweetie instantly got The Look™ in her eye — you know, the one a kid gets when they have just discovered the very most coolest toy [sic] in all the known Universe … and it’s on sale … for exactly the amount they have in their pocket! That look. It turns out she has wanted a carved candle just like the ones they were selling since she was a wee child. And they were making them in the booth, so you could see how it was done and watch them do it. Heck, they were taking custom orders and would have your candle ready in about an hour. Very pretty. And I get major points for buying two for my Sweetie!
• La Luna Designs, Henderson NV (701.798.5201) — these folks sell Corian cutting boards. I think they had other things they were selling too, but all I saw was Corian. I love Corian. Makes a great gift for that newly-married sister-in-law that’s watching your two littlest while you run off to Swiss Days with your Sweetie! Enjoy, SIL of mine! (Oh, an according to the lady selling the stuff, who has sold at shows “all over”, the folks in Utah and Texas are the nicest. At “L.A.” she rolled her eyes; I think she doesn’t care for Californians and their attitudes. Or something.)

We came, we saw, we ate, we bought. A pretty darn good day.

Oh, and I bought something for Mom, so if she happens to read this entry….

Tags: family, food, home-made, midway, music, quality time, sweetie, swiss days, travel, wish you were there

This entry was posted on Fri, 31.Aug.2007 at 23.09 -0600 and is filed under personal, quality time. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.