More About Roslyn Washington

 For any of you Northern Exposure Fans this is one building that you might recognize. It's still clear and bright but the restaurant was closed the whole time we were there. Ostensibly the building/restaurant is at least partially owned by a member of the rock group U2. No one seems to know what the father of this remarkable landmark will be.

 The Brick watering hole may also be familiar from the show. We walked past it and I could not bring myself to go in to eat there as it reminded me of the smell of a local place at home that I won't go into although it does, in fact, make the best burgers in town - and it may well be that The Brick also makes great food!

 The main street

 Roslyn has long been a mining community - fabulous bits of history of of mixed cultures blending together peacefully (for the most part) and working together.

 Cowboy time

 The most interesting place in Roslyn is the Historic Cemetaries. I found the following synopsis of them on Wikipedia - and the information is the same as from the book I bought about Roslyn:

"...The Roslyn Historical Cemetery, actually 25 separate but adjacent cemeteries, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Clustered on 15 acres (61,000 m²) of woods and hills above the main street, the land was donated by or purchased from the Northern Pacific Company by fraternal, ethnic and civic organizations for burial of their deceased members. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF); Knights of Pythias Lodge; Soloka Lodge; Wanapum Tribe 28, Improved Order of Redmen; Cacciatori D’Africa (literally Hunters of Africa – an Italian Lodge), Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge No. 56, SNF Lodge No. 79 (Croatian); Saint Barbara Lodge No. 39 (Greek Catholic); and Dr. David Starcevich Lodge No. 56 (Croatian) are among the organizations and ethnicities represented in this cemetery. At least 24 nationalities are represented within the nearly 5000 graves...."

Some of the markers were quite amazing - for many differing reasons. I wish I had been able to spend some hours there with a pad of tracing paper - rubbings of some of the stones would have been great to bring home!

 I loved this metal, aged cross....

 Interesting inscriptions...

 I think that this was meant as a temporary substitution plaque for the beautiful marker. The cemeteries are undergoing a great restoration effort - we all contributed something to their fund

 I just thought that the old world influence on this marker was lovely

 Beautiful gates surrounded some spots - This whole gate was a lovely work of art!

 This marker just about said it all to me.... a dove flying free beyond the gates

 Primitive but moving - and obviously old

 Simple and cared for

 Fancy, newer but lovely. There were, unfortunately 

many, many markers of infants and very young children in this acreage.

Epidemics were rampant I gather an many died in the Pandemic Flu season of 1918.

Most of the children's markers included lambs

 This garden was absolutely unbelievable. I couldn't believe that there was so much color left at this time of year. The woman who lives in this house is not only a master gardener extraordinaire but also a fan of Halloween I think!

 Even the sign post by her property was decorated!

 This building was one of my favorites in the town. It did not seem to contain anything but it enchanted me. Next store is a wonderful little art galled called, simply enough, Smith Art.  The wonderful woman who owns the gallery wanted to buy my shawl of many colors - my simple triangular shawl made from my Noro Kureyon scraps. Maybe I will make her one one day!

 This necklace was at the gallery and I have to say that I have never seen silver work as mind blowing as this. No, I was so thunder struck that I did not even get the artist's name. Apparently she works full time but creates these fantasies in her spare time. I wanted this necklace so badly I could scream --- along with a pair of her earrings. I think I am too short to be able to carry off the regal flair of this piece but it was just so awesome that I had to at least have a photo of it to drool over at home !

 If I can find her card I'll post the link later.

Next up - finally - will; be some of the new metal worked cards and "inches" for a swap. I have been working on...and a fabulous, simple shawl pattern from Berroco that looks way more difficult than it really is! I am running again against the clock. Surgery a week from today- and then time to get out from beyond the ether when I can get to work again !

Roslyn Washington Get-A-Way

This first two photos are of the studio area in the Crazy Quilt Shop, happily run by owner and "hostess with the mostest" Nancy Bronk. She is one of the most welcoming shop owners I've come across.

I had planned to present these photos in order but was not prepared for the new upgrade to Blogger - so they are scrambled now. This was the second time I uploaded the photos since I gather one now has to "add selected" all at once - requiring the need to upload in order and also to add them in order. Oh well. we'll get by and you will get the idea!

Good friend Janet ran across this lovely little spot earlier this past summer when she was on a trip with her DH. Thought she - ...'wouldn't this make a great place for a retreat...' Several of us took her up on the idea and we planned our little jaunt for the first week in October. There were to be 5 of us originally but one had unexpected surgery and another caught the flu as we were preparing to leave. The minimum in the cottage was four and thankfully one of our number agreed to allow her share to remain "in the kitty" making our trip possible really. There is a lovely little 85 year old cottage just steps from the shop that is rented for retreats. It was run as a Bed and Breakfast so it is perfectly set up with period  furnishings and comfy beds and baths - and a fully equipped, beautiful kitchen. Nancy provides retreaters with a key to her proverbial kingdom - leaving the studio area open for all hour creating. The three of us, being of an age, were content to leave by 5 or 5:30, have an early dinner and then sat and gabbed while watching a large flat panel TV (better than the TV I have at home!).

Roslyn is the place the "Northern Exposure" was filmed. The 'Cicely Alaska' of Washington State. There are still many vestiges of Northern Exposure in the town. The "radio station" still is there and in full view. I will be posting all of the Town history photos in my next post. Ahhhhh! a lovely get-a-way. Thanks Janet for making it all happen. We are all looking forward to making this a yearly thing! Yeah!

Another view of the huge, well stocked studio area!

A beautiful line of trees that at the lunch rest stop Janet knew about from her earlier trip.

Heading up the highway on the first leg of the trip. Look at those glorious clouds!

This is the fabulous sign at the door to the Crazy Quilt Shop.

Shop owner Nancy Bronk .. not the best of photos -- but she is a delight! 

This is the top where the huge studio is. My work area was behind the OPEN sign!

The view from my work area over the 'open' sign!

Linda and Janet in front of the wonderful retreat cottage.

Part of the main street ... isn't it beautiful and authentic!

Another view of the foggy route up to Roslyn.