CHAPTER 14
T he next morning, after taking care of a few things at the inn, I scoop up my four-legged friends and drove down to the marina where the giant warehouse has been transformed into a crafter’s dream.
The Crafters Warehouse is bustling with activity, filled to the brim with colorful booths adorned with handmade crafts and holiday decorations. Visitors wander through the aisles as the cheerful sounds of holiday music play softly in the background, interspersed with the frenetic chatter of shoppers admiring the more than unique wares on display.
Everywhere you look they’ve got those lime green electric scooters to help you navigate the place if you’re brave enough. And good thing. This place is the size of a football stadium.
Although I won’t be hopping on one of those whirly-gigs anytime soon. I happen to like my front teeth right where they are. And I certainly don’t want to hear Jasper singing “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” for the next five weeks either.
He would so do that.
The air is alive with the scent of freshly brewed coffee from a nearby vendor, mingling with the sweet fragrance of scented candles and potpourri scattered throughout the warehouse. The aroma of freshly baked cookies drifts from a makeshift bakery on hand, tempting every passersby—that would be me—with its warm, delicious scent.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the atmosphere is downright festive as vendors eagerly showcase their handmade treasures and engage in friendly banter with potential customers. And everywhere you look there are dogs of every shape and size, leashed and right by their owner’s side.
Nothing brings a bigger smile to my face than being in a pet-friendly environment.
I’ve got Chestnut, Acorn, and Sherlock on leashes, and Fish is poking her head out of my tote bag as we walk through the crafty fantasy land.
The warehouse is so big that the air inside is just as crisp as it is outdoors. And layered underneath all of those delicious scents coming at us is the briny scent of the ocean that sits just outside the doors. But the best part about this place is the fact that every last inch has been festooned with fall décor. Fall leaves and fall wreathes are scattered about in the cozy warm colors of autumn.
“Wow,” I muse to my menagerie. “For a fall lover like me, this is basically paradise.”
Ooh, you should get a pumpkin spice coffee like you had at that fancy grocery store, Fish says. In fact, we should go back to Rose Glen and get it there. Of course, we’ll have to stop by the kitty aisle. I’ve never tasted treats so delicious.
“The coffee was delicious,” I tell her. “But no need to head back just yet. I stocked up on everything you sampled and loved before we left.”
You always have my back, she purrs with delight.
“And I have your backs, too,” I say to the pooches among us who can’t seem to help stopping every few inches to get a good sniff in. Heck, I’m tempted to do the same.
Thanks, the three of them say in unison with a soft woof as Chestnut and Acorn do a little dance.
I can’t wait to have more biscuits. Sherlock gives a happy bark. I hope I get at least two when we get back.
Give him as many as he wants, Fish mewls. Just make sure they’re those special poisoned biscuits we keep hearing so much about.
I shoot her a look before pausing to take in the landscape.
Rows and rows of booths are set up, in every direction. The floors are concrete, the ceiling is vaulted with large wooden posts jetting across it, and intertwined over each beam are miniature pale blue twinkle lights. Honestly, they look like stars, and with all the cozy offerings, it looks as if we’ve landed in another universe entirely—one I won’t want to leave anytime soon.
“Well? Maybe we should squeeze in a little Christmas shopping first. Where should we start? They’ve got quilts, candles, holiday ties for men, jewelry for the women, and just about every knitted item under the sun for everyone in between.”
What’s that to the left? Fish mewls. I see pawprints on the sign. I say we inspect that first. After all, we are here to investigate.
“That we are,” I say as I cast a dark look around, but I don’t see either of the women we came to speak with. At least not yet.
We head over to the sign with the pawprints that reads Cozy Cuddles for Your Fur-ends! And, sure enough, everything available for purchase is designed for the furry among us.
They’ve got hand-knitted sweaters adorned with festive patterns, perfect for keeping your furry friends warm during the holiday season. The front table is lined with personalized pet ID tags, and more than a few of those catch my eye. They even have the cutest little rhinestone charms to add to their collars in the shape of Christmas trees, Santa hats, and silver bells.
Bizzy look. Fish points a paw to the right. They’ve got catnip-stuffed toys in the shape of snowmen and reindeer. Why, those are sure to delight any feline companion. Hint hint.
I can’t help but laugh as I pick one up. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
And look at this. Sherlock sniffs at a basket filled with colorful bandanas in holiday prints. You know I can’t resist a good holiday bandana. Some of them even have jingle bells attached!
I give an amused nod. And I’m sure I’d be hearing those jingle bells straight through the new year.
And don’t forget the cheerful holiday motifs on these bandanas, Acorn barks. They’re sure to add a festive touch to any attire. I bet Jasper would love one, too.
“That would be a sight.” I laugh as I picture it. “He has been wanting to switch up his ties a bit. A bandana would really be switching things up.” And potentially getting him fired.
I pick up a stuffed mouse filled with catnip for Fish and a colorful bandana for each of the dogs. One for Thanksgiving—orange with cute little turkeys printed all over it—and red ones for Christmas with glittery trees printed all over them—bells and whistles included.
Additionally, I toss in custom-made pet stockings, embroidered on the spot with each of their names on them, ready to be hung by the fireplace. They’re so much cuter than the ones I already have. Plus, these are bigger and can hold twice as many treats. Who would object to that?
Somehow I manage to restrain myself from picking up a few handcrafted beds made from cozy holiday-themed fabrics, ensuring my sweet friends would rest comfortably in holiday style. Although as it stands, I only have so many hands, so the dog beds are out for now. But as I’m anteing up at the register, I toss in a few organic treats shaped like candy canes along with a selection of holiday-themed and pet-themed greeting cards and stationery sets, perfect for sending warm wishes to fellow pet owners or just about anyone.
Most likely they’ll just sit in a drawer.
I’m so bogged down at the inn this time of year, I hardly have enough time to write a grocery list, let alone a thank-you note. In fact, the other night I was getting ready for bed and remembered that I hadn’t ordered the holiday trees for the inn just yet, so I wrote myself a note on the bathroom mirror in lipstick.
Hey? I should totally get one of these notepads with the face of a cute kitten on it for the bathroom.
So I toss in a couple and do just that.
Emmie can use one, too.
No sooner do we turn to leave the booth than I spot an entire display of adorable costumes available for pets of any size, from Santa suits to elf outfits, ensuring both cats and dogs alike can join in the seasonal cheer.
Don’t you even think about it , Sherlock all but growls.
Keep walking , Fish snips.
Suffice it to say, they still haven’t forgiven me for that Halloween fiasco, which seems to happen again and again, year after year.
We walk a little deeper into the haven of craftiness when the sound of two women arguing emanates from the right.
“ Stop, thief ,” one of them shouts and I look over to see Georgie trying to stop what looks like a shoplifting in progress.
And I run right over to help.