Shoppers Savored Saturday's Seasonal Vibe

With hardly a vacant place to park, cars lined Indiana Street on the morning of November 8. Chinook was doing a brisk business as people were out shopping for the holiday season. Shores Floral's holiday open house was one of Saturday's attractions.

Owner of the shop, Tomi Simenson welcomed shoppers not only with a holiday-themed store front featuring pink poinsettias, packages, bulbs, baskets, and bows but with clever signage that read: "Where Frost Meets Flowers; Come Celebrate the Season with Us" and "Open Our Doors to Your Christmas Spirit . . . . Come Sip, Shop, Savor the Season." That sign appeared somewhat visionary as Blaine County had received a dusting of snow that morning, foreshadowing the approaching season.

Inside, all was festively decorated with a predominant trees motif. Simenson's favorite was the "elegant green and cream display that greeted shoppers when they first walked into the store. It had a dark green color, velvet, and cream trees for accent." Polar bears, beige reindeer, nativity scene elements, and a large wooden star also accompanied the display.

Actually, many of the displays featured ceramic, wire-formed, glass, metal, velvet, feather-constructed, wooden, or battery-lit pines. From home décor to foods and more, shoppers seemed most attracted to the velvet trees and to anything that featured Highlander cows, according to Simenson.

In addition to items for sale out front, the back room of Shores offered a spread of holiday hors d'oeuvres. From party pinwheels to fresh fruit, nuts, cheeses, dips, and crackers, there was snackage to satisfy every palate. For those interested in something more substantial than finger foods, two crock pots simmering with chili stood beside jalapeño cornbread muffins.

"We served around 150 people for the day," Simenson reported. The store went on to serve approximately 50 more patrons on Sunday.