i have a problem. alaska, part 5
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 9:11PM I have a problem.
I love Alaska.
I can't stop thinking about it.
I want to go back tomorrow.
I know I would never tire of luxuriating in the delicious views.
But that's not even the best part of this tiny corner of the globe.
The best part is the people. Here are some of them, at our dyeing class in Cordova.
Yarn people are by definition some of the nicest people you'd ever have coffee with.
But the yarnies in Alaska? Horse of a different color.
Nice isn't even close.
Have you ever been to a concert and been thanked by the performer for being a great crowd?
Or been a teacher and just totally clicked with a group of students?
Groups have personalities. And this is a very small town in a remote location, so the group is more cohesive than you might find in big cities.
Gracious, is how I would describe them. Genial. Neighborly. Fun loving.
Kind.
Genuine.
I never felt like an outsider here, despite my schmancy, impractical attire.
I like to sleep with a fan on, for the white noise. The cabin I stayed at didn't have one, but five minutes later, someone else in town brought me one of theirs. I don't even know how she knew I needed a fan. But yet, a need was seen and a need was met. That's just a small example, but people here take care of each other.
People here do amazing things like this.
Sit down.
That is a cake, my friends. A big chocolate cake.
I can't even begin to imagine the work that went into that beauty. (Diane, you are a genius.)
More astonishing still is that she made that at home and then brought it a very long way on a very bumpy dirt road to a potluck here:
This calving glacier periodically sounds like a building is about to collapse as chunks break off and fall into the water.
Ice doesn't look like it can heave mighty groans and trigger small explosive devices. But it does.
I was told by more than one person that the distance across this river is one mile, and that the glacier is 11 stories tall.
How can that be true? How? They swear it is.
I'm not using forced perspective or other photography tricks. The river looks in person as it does in my pictures.
The adults chatted and stood near the fire while the children ran and squealed, just as it should be.
Bald eagles flew overhead, the sky still blue at 10:00 pm.
Then someone -- who shall remain nameless -- insisted that I have my picture taken with the amazing cake in front of the glacier that cannot possibly be a mile away.
(OK, fine. It was Dotty. Resistance was futile.)
While the cake was carefully moved into position, I handed off my camera so someone could take a picture.
My memory card held nine pictures of me making this face. I call it Amused and Mildly Embarrassed.
And twenty four shots of this. I call it My Eyes are Closed and You Can't See the Cake.
The Net Loft -- the store I taught at while I was in Cordova -- is a sanctuary.
I have never seen a shop like it. I would like to set up camp here.
I can move in, right, Dotty? The horsedog would be on her best behavior.
Or, let's be honest. I would just hang around until they gave me a job. I'm persistent like that.
The Net Loft has nearly everything I need to lead a happy life. Beautifully scented everything.
Lush displays.
Large quantities of my very own yarn. This is only a portion of it.
A wall of ribbons.
Sparkly jewelry.
Gorgeous beauty products.
And enough knitted inspiration to stop your heart.
This sweater is an entirely original design, knit from our yarn. Can you even believe it?
The Net Loft almost has as many knitting books as I do. Between the two of us, we're keeping the knitting book publishers afloat.
I love seeing yarn arranged by color. It makes sense to my brain.
This amazing needle case came home with me.
You know what I didn't get any pictures of? The wall of imported chocolate. Think artisan-crafted chocolate covered fudge caramels with Hawaiian Sea Salt. I thought my way through several bags full.
So, my problem is that I liked it here so much that I want to move into The Net Loft.
I liked the people so much that I want to be their best friend.
I liked the cake and chocolate so much that I want to gain 40 pounds.
What can I do about these problems?
Help?
Reader Comments (24)
So many wonderful things about this post. But first...that jacket you're wearing....completely gorgeous (I, uh, might have a "jacket buying problem", just maybe). And that cake! I would have had a hard time cutting into that beauty! sigh. I need to go to Alaska...and soon, I think!
Thank you Sharon for your gracious words. Consider Cordova your Alaskan home. We absolutely loved having you with us. All I can say after seeing the photos is that I wish I had had a chance to clean up the wall of your yarn after it had been ransacked from a weekend of fondling and caressing before being photographed. But consider it like being able to drop in on a good friend unannounced for tea and conversation, it is not the house, it is the person you are coming to see. And so, even though the yarn isn't always in a neat little color order row :), the truth is, as you have said, it is really about the people. Those dear faces that walk through the door, that bring our shop to life, and the most wonderful thing that fills it. We were so happy that you were amongst them... and yes, we love cake. We will think of any excuse to have one, and yummy chocolate too.... You are just going to have to come back, that is all there is to it. I think that that is the only solution to your problem. Bring the whole family next time, maybe even horsedog could help fend off the bears....
Lovely blog post. I'd love to experience The Net Loft, also. It seems so comfy and cozy.
One day I'l get to Alaska. It is beautiful and different from what I know. I'd love to see and feel in person what I've learned about it.
Lovely sweater out of 3IG yarn.
Sharon, I absolutely love your blog...and not just because I was born and raised in Cordova...and not because you love Cordova (almost) as much as I do :) ... I agree with you and with Dotty (I love her too :) the people make Cordova...BUT...I will say The Net Loft is a close second to the people...the most amazing store EVER...I Miss Cordova so much !!! But your blog and all your GREAT pictures have made me feel like I was right there along side you! Diane's cake looks amazing and I know it was as tasty as it was beautiful. (I miss her too) Thanks for your blog and I look forward to the next one! Thanks for making this homesick Cordovan less homesick :)
If ever there was an ambassador for Alaska - Sharon is it!!! After all the beautiful photos of the countryside (small word for such amazing gorgeousness) to follow up with such a (yarn) store. Alaska better be prepared for an influx of knitters! I am so ready to explore.
Thank you so much for sharing such beauty and friendliness. Had I been on this trip, I might have been tempted to keep it all for myself.
How about a 3IG Alaskan tour, guided by Sharon and her local Alaskan yarnies??? Anybody? Sharon? That would be the very best way to see Alaska for us yarn/fiber-aholics.
Best shop ever! Yarn, chocolate, jewelry, candles and cosmetics - all I need is some coffee, and I too would want to move it! Carol, sign me up for that tour. :)
The cake and the sweater are both amazing. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Have to give credit where credit is due. The designer knitter of the lovely sweater is our local Terri Stavig. She scrambled to finish it for the Yarn Social show and tell when Sharon was here, and then let us display it at the shop. There are more details on it's construction in her blog, http://dilly-dallydays.blogspot.com/. She is one of our knitting instructors at the shop and teaches classes on design for mittens and sweaters.
Pssh... that isn't an issue at all - move! Okay, so I'm not always the most practical person for advice but I am always the one who will encourage you to follow your smile... and I can see why you would be grinning from ear to ear in Alaska.
Not entirely off topic but is there a pattern available for that "fall-over-myself-while-whiping-drool-off-my-laptop" sweater? It has to be the finest garment I've seen in years! The waist, the details, the femininity... oh my word, I must have the pattern! It is perfection in cardigan form!!
I want to go!!!
Sharon
I can help you!
Send me some cake and chocolate!
margieinmaryland
Awww man I want that shop near me! My local store is like Grace Brothers Department Store and about as unwelcoming as you can get. I think I'm going to have to move as well.
Liz, thank you! The coat is Boden. I'm in love with it. They also make a yellow and pink one.
Dotty, thank you again for your hospitality. Your attention to detail and kindness are remarkable. And thank you for the sweater info, too. I hope Terri will consider making that pattern available, I'm in love with it.
Carol, what an awesome idea. I would be ALL OVER a knitting tour of Alaska. All over it.
I love the wall of Three Irish Girls yarn. Wow (jaw drop). The rest of The Net Loft looks equally awesome. After seeing all your pictures of the wilderness and The Net Loft, I definitely want to go to Alaska.
Sharon, I think it's time to escape this RIDICULOUS heat advisory (which is even impacting you, I see!) and head up to Alaska. Drive on down, we'll run over to MSP, and find a flight. And wow, I'm going to have to bring my checkbook along.
I'm with you, Kate. I'm working in the studio today. We have no air conditioning, and it's practically a tropical rainforest in here.
Wow Sharon, it looks like you had an amazing and fun trip! And the logo looks great in buttercream!!
C
Oh my! My husband and I want to visit Alaska someday and this shop could be the reason why I get there! That place is so beautiful, I can see why you would want to set up camp. And what an awesome cake. :)
WOW! That is on my list of places to see when I go to Alaska! SO much of your yarn! And that color coded section was amazing. My eyes just danced on it...so beautiful! And that sweater, wow! Thanks for sharing the photos!
That is the shop of my dreams! Beautiful yarn, fragrance, salted chococalte caramels - all in a beautiful place with beautiful people. The cake is amazing! I too love your jacket Sharon. A knitting tour of Alaska? I am there. Thanks for this great post to brighten the hot day. Your pictures are amazing. dmarieknits
WOW!
I read your blog from time to time and I don't know how I missed your trip to AK!! I live in Anchorage, and if I knew that you were going to be in Cordova I would have flown in!! I must say that you'll find people like you described - Gracious, genial, neighborly, fun loving, kind and genuine ALL OVER our great state. We are a different breed here. I truly hope you enjoyed your stay and will visit again soon!
I will definitely check out The Net Loft when I am in Cordova.