Findley Market, Cincinnati, Ohio

Chris took this photo of Findley Market on our recent trip to Cincy.

We recently made a quick jaunt to Cincy to visit family. We checked out Findley Market in Over the Rhine on our last day. Love it! If we were to ever move to Cincy, I'd want to live close enough to the market to make weekly visits.

You can buy all kinds of fresh meats, including sausages, ribs, fish and chicken, and other goodies. I loved all the different kinds of bakeries. If we weren't leaving later that day I would have bought a loaf of bread and chocolate-covered baklava (something Chris really wanted) for dinner.

We did buy grub for lunch at one of the many delis. Chris' aunt and I split a veggie moussaka, beans with leeks and dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and the guys ate the biggest gyros I'd ever seen. I tasted a piece of Chris' lamb. Delicious!

Besides the food and delis, I also saw jewelry and plants for sale.

If you're ever in the area, make an effort to check out the market!

Davis Flea Market, Level Cross, N.C.

I recently learned about a new flea market in Level Cross, N.C.

A security guard at the Jackson Library told me about it after I stopped to ask her what she was crocheting. While watching the door to the library, she was whipping up a variety of hats in multi-colors. She said a lot of the college kids loved her pattern and she sold many to them.

Other hats she sells on Saturdays at the Davis Flea Market in Level Cross (9755 U.S. 220 Bus. N., Randleman, N.C.).

The woman said the market started up about a year and a half ago and has been growing ever since.

If you're ever in that area during the weekend, you should stop by and check it out. According to the website, the hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.

(As an aside, I lived in the Level Cross community for four years. I owned property there for six.)

Where to shop: Main Street, Abindon, Va.

We went to Abingon, Va., last Saturday to walk the Virginia Creeper Trail. While we were there, we also checked out Main Street and some local businesses.

First off, we ate a quick lunch at the famous Martha Washington Hotel and Spa's Market Deli (there's two links: hotel and the deli). This hotel is gorgeously decorated and would be a very pleasant place to stay. I'd love to check out a cabaret and get a massage at the spa.

Chris had a reuben with chips and I had 1/2 a turkey sandwich with Italian Wedding soup and chips. Very delicious.

After the walk, we stopped by A Likely Yarn, a local yarn shop on Pecan Street just below the Creeper's trail head.

The business is one of the largest, locally-owned stores I'd been in. A knitting class was taking place in a small room to the left as we walked in and several ladies were browsing books and yarn in the large shop area to the right.

There was a large collection of books, a lot separated by category, such as socks, crochet or knitting. There was also a rack that had "Handknit Heros," a comic book of needle welding crime fighters.

I was very impressed with the large selection of crochet and knitting books at A Likely Yarn.

The yarn selection was pretty nice too. Prices were comparable to other shops I'd been in and there was a wide variety of brands.

I think I just about picked up every skein of yarn along this wall.

I signed up for the shop's e-newsletters and the lady tending the shop told me about an upcoming retreat in February.

Next we walked around Main Street and stopped in several antique shops, including Abingdon Mercantile and Frames. We were on the hunt for Rookwood Pottery (Chris' parents collect it) and a dress form (I want one so much!).

We also stopped at The Arts Depot to check out some artists' studios. I really liked some fabric hats and paintings, such as those by Jackie Dolpp and Joyce Samuel. The artists' collaborative is a one block off Main Street on Depot Square.

Before heading home, we grabbed coffee at Zazzy'z Coffee House.



While in Abingdon, you should also check out  Barter Theater, A House on Main, The Tavern, and other antique, clothing and gift shops along Main Street.

Where to shop: Making Ends Meet

While in Shelbyville, Ky., I took the opportunity to visit Making Ends Meet, a store that carries home decor fabrics, trims, gift items and more. I'm not really into making home decor items, but I love walking around any fabric store and checking out the fabric colors and textures and notions.

And the employees didn't seem to care. They welcomed me warmly and allowed me to wander around and feel fabric to my heart's content!

Making Ends Meet is located in an adorable house on Washington Street, Shelbyville, Ky.

If I were to make a whole bunch of pillows and draperies or was in need of fabulous trims, this is the place I'd want to go. And, dude, they have an online store!

I found the store using the visitor center's shopping directory posted in the center's yard. Shops are listed by category and a map shows you what street and building to find them. Very helpful!

Here are some photos I shot inside Making Ends Meet:

I love the colors!

This would make excellent curtains, for windows or the shower.

I love the embroidery on these draperies.

The store has trims galore. I bet you'd never have trouble finding a trim to match your project here.

Across the street was a store called Needle Nest, a cross-stitching and needle point store that also offers framing. I didn't go inside, but I wanted to let you know about it.

So, if you find yourself in the Shelbyville area, stop by and check out the shops!

Shelbyville, Ky.

On our way to Evansville, Ind., to spend time with Chris' family, we stopped in Shelbyville, Ky.

I don't know very much about Shelbyville except that it's near Kentucky's capital, Frankfort, and is home to one of our employer's central offices.

We spent a couple of hours walking around and checking out the historic downtown. We always check out a city's downtown to gauge how well local businesses are doing and to admire the architecture.

There were a few locally-owned business, including a coffee shop, gift shop, fabric and needlepoint stores, clothing store and, I think, a furniture store.

Here is some of what we saw:

Shelbyville looks very busy for a Thursday afternoon, a couple days before Christmas.

This 1902 building is in great shape. Shelbyville appears to take very good care of its buildings. In fact, there were a couple buildings surrounded by scaffolding, so I assume those were getting a face lift too.

I'm trying to capture the whole feel of this building -- from the stained glass windows to the columns and entryway. I don't think this picture does this building justice.

I really liked this cute building. It sticks out among the brick buildings, but it has character and I'd love to live/work here.

Another shot of the house/office.

The building to the right is the visitor center and museum. The shopping directory is located in the front yard.

I'd love to know more about this historic building. It appears that not only was it a school, but at one time was or is an inn.

Here's a shot of the inn's sign. I love how the tree and vines frame the walkway.

This is some sort of jail. I wonder if it's still used. I doubt it, but there was a cop car parked along the road beside it.

Even if it's no longer used as a jail, it may still be used as an office, as indicated by this sign.

This is Shelbyville Fountain. You can read info about it in the photo above.

The shopping signs outside the visitor's center and museum was very helpful. Shops are listed by category and a map shows you want street and building to find them. I think every shopping district should have one.

I'll write about Making Ends Meet, a shop I visited while we were in Shelbyville, in a few days.