ShopGirl eyes County bargains

While tens of thousands of people headed to The County last weekend to see Phish, I went north on Sunday to visit family. And, big shock, I ended up shopping.

The sign advertising blankets and flashlights at Marden’s didn’t have me bouncing ’round the room, but the cookware inside did. Fortunately, the Phans didn’t clear the place out of Calphalon sauciers and roasting pans (starting at $40, unless there was a smaller pan I didn’t see) – not much use for those at a muddy campsite. Nor did they snatch up one of two Krups cappuccino-coffee makers, perfect for the aspiring barista.

I ended up buying 20 galvanized steel patio lanterns – one can never have too many, especially for $1.25 apiece – and a carbide-tipped table saw blade for $3.99 (don’t ask). I contemplated buying a sleek, walnut-finish desk with brushed-steel hardware for $89, but I resisted temptation.

Speaking of temptation, I didn’t even look at the clothes. I didn’t have time, as Marden’s was about to close.

On Monday, ShopGuy and I headed to Myrtle Tree on the Fort Road in Presque Isle, a perennial favorite, pardon the pun. The garden center-nursery-display garden has an amazing selection of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs and herbs that flourish in The County’s at-times unforgiving climate (no hate mail, please).

But the real draw at Myrtle Tree is the atmosphere. A sweet little garden cottage serves as a shop, where you can pick up seeds, hooks for your garden tools, garden art, planters and the like. Outside, beautiful container gardens show up in the most expected places, and obelisks, unusual pots and birdbaths dot the landscape. I almost bought one of the cast-concrete birdbaths, adorned with sea glass, but it was about as tall as ShopCat, and I figured he’d just stand next to it, drooling and licking his whiskers.

Since we got a late start on the season, we couldn’t find all the herbs we wanted, but we picked up a few varieties. I snuck a clematis onto our cart when ShopGuy wasn’t looking, and he picked up a healthy-looking spirea bush. Total bill? $67.63.

On Tuesday, I was in southern Aroostook County for an assignment. The chefs where I was staying were planning to do a little vegetable shopping and asked if I wanted to come along. Shopping? Of course I wanted to come along, so off we went to visit Wholesome Acres Farm, run by the Amish community in Smyrna. While we waited, the proprietor picked leaf lettuce and spinach – it doesn’t get any fresher than that. My companions picked up jars of pickled beets and pickled peppers.

Next, we headed down the road to Pioneer Place U.S.A., aka “the Amish shop,” where the chefs picked up fresh baked goods and more vegetables. It was high noon and the place was packed. We had to park on the road, and inside, we had to patiently navigate the narrow rows of tools, hardware, drawer pulls and knobs, bulk foods, coloring books and toys. I left empty-handed, in part because I didn’t need anything and in part because all I had was a credit card. Given the lack of electricity, I figured this wasn’t the type of place that takes plastic.

But one of my companions, a guest at the retreat where I was staying, gave me an oatmeal-raisin cookie. It was a sweet way to end my County shopping excursion, and I hope to return soon. Next time, I’ll bring cash.

ShopNotes

. In response to a reader’s request for a thin ladies wallet, Jane Cummings of Sherman Station wrote in with a solution: the “walter,” a small, flexible wallet developed by a student in one of Cummings’ adult ed quilting classes. “One day, one of the ladies brings in a pattern for a little wallet and we all make one,” Cummings writes. “She told the story of her son, when he was about 4 years old wanted a wallet but he called it a ‘walter.’ Soon we were all making ‘walters’ as gifts for daughters, friends, relatives, you name it.”

If you’re interested in a “walter,” drop ShopGirl a line. I’ll hook you up.

. Is it fashion? Is it theater? It’s both at the Grand Auditorium’s first fund-raising fashion show and luncheon, which will take place at noon on Aug. 22 at the Holiday Inn in Ellsworth. The event will feature fashions from Beal’s Jewelry, Cadillac Mountain Sports, Rosen’s Department Store, Terra Cotta, The Grasshopper Shop, The Kimball Shop, and Willey’s. Tickets cost $20 and are available by calling 667-9500.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you. Send questions, comments or suggestions by mail to: Kristen Andresen, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329; by e-mail to kandresen@bangordailynews.net or by fax to 941-9476.