Hidden Treasures

Hidden treasures. That very phrase conjures images of youthful adventures in dusty attics filled with the anticipation of discovering some long forgotten trinket under the warm summer sun. Sunday, under the blue sky of a pleasantly mild day, my wife and I trekked to one of our favorite places to meander, Chagrin Falls.

 There is something about this little town, nestled among the rolling hills and tall forests - it feels, in the words of one new acquaintance, like being in New England. So like two children having an adventure in grandma's attic, we set off in search of those little treasures that are tucked away for days just like this. We window shopped, slowly strolling along the boutique storefronts and playfully planned how our photography studio would someday look. We passed families out enjoying the sunshine, mothers and children stopping to feed ducks and geese that lazily floated in the river and passed the hipsters as they made their way to the local Starbucks for their morning lattes.

 Eventually our wanderings led us to a worn brick building that enticed us to visit with a carefully sculpted garden filled with fragrant herbs. The door was weathered and showed signs of age but anything else would have looked out of place on a building like this. The first floor of the store was filled with a menagerie of things, teas and candles - all kinds of sensory delicacies. An old staircase lined with simple, rustic artworks drew us up-stairs where a pleasant "hello" welcomed us. It was here in this loft that we met, Cathy Hougan, the owner of The Artful Yarn. Her shop was tidy and she had a warm smile that could only come from someone who was content pursuing their dreams. The shelves were lined with yarns dyed every color imaginable. As we took it all in, Cathy softly explained her business' environmentally friendly approach to their product selection. "Many of our yarns are handcrafted, domestically sourced from small businesses and are minimally-processed, organic materials she explained".  After a pleasant exchange, we made our goodbyes and headed home, leaving more treasures to be discovered for another day.