Molly's Blog

Only a few more days till the annual Leland Wine and Food Festival.  It is held in the Leland Harbor, with great views of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands.  The music this year will be performed by the Fabulous Horndogs so be ready for a really great time as they always put on a "fabulous" show.  Would you expect anything less?  You can sample wines from Leelanau Peninsula vintners and purchase many of your favorites at the Leland Mercantile  on Main Street, or the Village Cheese Shanty  down in Fishtown.  A really nice sampling of foods are available from several local restaurants and specialty booths. 

Today was such a beautiful day.  I could barely stay focused on my tasks in the store, so I finally decided to take a quick walk around the corner to Fishtown.  It's amazing how walking just a block away from Main Street can seem like you have walked into a different world.  The breakwall in the Leland Harbor looks as though it is just a snow covered mound.  Water is flowing heavily out of the dam and there is still some snow on the beach.  It looks like tomorrow will be warmer - it was still pretty chilly, despite the wonderful sunshine.  It won't be too long till we see Dave back the the Village Cheese Shanty making his famous pretzel bread sandwiches!

Things are beginning to look like winter in Leland.  Had our first snowfall the other day and even though it was not much, it was enough to begin thinking about winter.  I have had alot of nice comments about my outside store decoration and the windows.  As I am writing this we are getting much more snow today.  Even had to put on winter boots!

It's Fall Frenzy weekend in Leland.  Many of the fishtown stores are closing for the season, actually some of the downtown stores are also scaling back to late fall hours or closing for the season also.  Hence, the Fall Frenzy, lots of end of season closeouts.  Since we stay open daily till New Year's and a few days a week through the winter, we decided to highlight one of our jewelry artists and have a trunk show of her work this weekend.  It was a beautiful display and received very well by customers today.  In spite of the lousy weather that we started the day with, there were quite a few people milling around town.  Here is the beautiful jewelry display. 

As we get immersed in our daily routines, it can be easy to forget how beautiful our corner of northern Michigan is.  Visitors are always amazed at beauty of the Lake Michigan sunsets while I have to admit, I don't always get off the couch to look.  Tonight I did and it was worth the effort!

Hopefully, we won't be seeing any of that white stuff for a while.  I am actually amazed that my flower boxes in front of the store are doing so well.  I can't even think about putting in mums like everyone else!     

The weather has been so beautiful in Leland all summer and into the fall.  Colors seem to be slow to change, but it won't be long before there is a change in temperature along with other surprises.  Here is a reminder of things to come - from years past.

For those of you (like me) who love color, fabrics and yarns, Fiber Fest is coming up soon.  Oct 5th and 6th at the Old Art Building in Leland.    Artists with original fiber art will exhibit and sell their work in mediums of paper, wearable art (clothing), weaving, quilts, knits, fiber sculpture and basketry.  Admission is free and open to the public.  There will be a week of workshops beginning Oct 1 and a demonstration of natural dyes on the 6th.  For more info check out www.oldartbuilding.com 

   Big happenings in Leland this weekend.  The Leland Heritage Celebration on Saturday will feature the Fifth Annual Wooden Boats on the Wall featuring a vintage watercraft exhibit on the river and a photographic journal of wooden boats at the Leelanau Historical Museum.  Van's Garage will sponsor a classic car exhibition while across the street, the Old Art Building will feature artists who attended the MSU summer art program from 1939-1989.  Also, the Fishtown Fest - history, food and music in Leland's historic Fishtown.