I went on a little adventure last week to meet up with fellow blogger Doreen from Treadlemusic. Doreen is a Minnesota blogger and quilter extraordinaire who quilted a few quilt tops for me that came from Chris’s grandma. She is an amazing quilter (check this link for my finished quilt) and an even more amazing friend. 
She suggested we meet at this tearoom that she loves in Wykoff, Minnesota called The Bank Haus Gifts and Margaret’s Tea Room. I LOVED this place as she knew I would. From the looks of Wykoff there isn’t a lot going on but this was definitely THE destination. I would urge anyone traveling anywhere near there to make the time to stop in. The menu is very small—you choose 2 items from 4 selections that they recite to you and they arrive at your table immediately. I chose the lovely ham salad on a croissant and a mixed green salad with the most deletable poppyseed dressing. Oh my goodness. Doreen and I split a slice of cake for dessert which was to die for. A whole piece would have put me under I think.
They have recently moved to a location across the street from their former establishment and Doreen raved about the new space. I loved that the tearoom sitting is at the front of the space and that all the gift items are located around the seating area. Great viewing while eating and I shopped from my seat before I physically shopped. 
I found several lovely things that will be gifts and I even got a cookbook that shares a lot of their wonderful recipes that they offer as menu items. The downstairs was a lovely collection of primitive art offerings and I loved being able to browse leisurely. They confided in us that they had spent the past 4 days changing out the decor to the Christmas offerings and what a lovely job they did.
When I had driven through the countryside to get from Iowa to Minnesota I saw two strange things enroute. I saw a helicopter coming down the highway on a trailer behind an SUV—-it was blade-less and had no tail but it was indeed a helicopter. Then I saw a camel in a pasture with a bunch of cows and bison. I told Doreen and she thought I had flipped. When I drove home I stopped to document it—–I am not crazy. At least this time I wasn’t.
It's Just Life 
What a fun place that looks to be! (Very similar to a little place in our area, which, sadly, closed. Great fun, and fun finds, but just not in a good location, so they didn’t have the business needed to stay open.)
I had to laugh about your camel photo…just a couple of miles from us, there’s a farm with emus and zebras! In fact, should you care to read it, here’s a post I wrote about them: http://thesedaysofmine.com/2013/05/01/goats-and-donkeys-and-zebras-oh-my/
Oh I will read about them. Seriously—I think Doreen thought I was nuts. I said “but I know it was a camel”. And she just chalked it up to me being from Iowa. Imagine!!! But hey—I proved it later on. After trying to take pics out the window when I drove by the opposite direction I actually turned around, drove back and pulled off the road to snap a couple pictures. So there, Doreen! I am not nuts!!! 🙂
That looks like MY kind of place, Beth Ann! Gosh, there are few things I love more than meeting fellow bloggers, drinking tea, and Christmas. Seriously, does it get any better than that?
I’m trying to get my butt back in the saddle. I did manage to post something a month ago, but have been busy teaching workshops, looking at self-hosting my blog and writing my memoir (yes, I’ve been doing that), but I will make an effort to get something new out this week, including photos of our new home. Sorry to have been absent of late.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Great to hear from you! I know that you have such a busy life and are doing such wonderful fun things in Ecuador and that is the way it should be!! Yay. Good to hear from you!
Great post!!!! I think I must re-blog it!!!!! I’ll be returning to the “scene of the crime”(?) on Wed. to pick up a quilt from a quilty friend/client. Made the broccoli salad yesterday and it is just as wonderful as that day!!!!! I even followed the recipe!!! Thanks for making the day complete with your sweet friendship. Hugs…………………………….
Thanks, Doreen! I have not made a darn thing out of the cookbook yet—been too busy—but I definitely have several things highylighted to try soon. Maybe a couple for Thanksgiving!!!
This salad will be on the menu for several holiday gatherings that are coming up. Even Tom made several positive comments!!!!!!!
Reblogged this on Treadlemusic and commented:
Dear readers…….I know this is a bit redundant, but I view it as a different perspective of the same event (it’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!!! LOL!!). Additional photos give further insight to this lovely tea room.
What a quaint shop to visit especially at tis time of year looking at all their decorations. I would love to get one of their cookbooks as that salad looks delicious! By the way, did I fail to mention I love to buy cookbooks??!! You camel would look great down here in a pasture with Texas “longhorns”!!
It was a really fun place to shop AND eat and yes–the food was lovely. I have the cookbook on my counter and have to figure out what to make first! So many options!
I love cookbooks, too!!! That is the greatest thing to collect, isn’t it??
Oooo my kind of place! Glad you had a fun meet up and the FOOD was GOOD! Great company, good food AND a cute place to browse!
It was perfect in every sense!
Did you find any teapots is the question of the day?
I’m glad you showed us the camel. I really wonder why someone in Minnesota would have a camel. Christmas pageant?
I once saw a helicopter on a trailer on the road, too, in Tomah, Wisconsin. It was a strange sight.
There were bison in with the cows and camel so who knows why they had it but it would come in handy for a manger scene! I did not buy a teapot–they had utilitarian ones and no fancy or unusual ones that stood out. I did buy some tea, though! Prairie Passion. 🙂
What a find! The tea shoppe, the camel and the friend! 😉
Perfect combo!
And of course the obvious question(s) would be.. One (h)lump or two?
One!!!!
This looks like a magical place! What a fun day. And cool to hear about how she made the quilt tops.
It was a fun day and the food was yummy.
What a darling place to meet up with a friend. So cute and the food sounds delish. Glad you proved the one about the camel! 😉
It was a darling place . And yes—-I DID see a camel!
What a great concept for a small community. It takes places like that to maintain the fabric of a town.
It really is a neat little place, Ozzie. And not much else seems to be going on in that town but the place was busy when we were there.
Documenting is always good! lol Sound and looks wonderful!
My kind of tea shop. I have already found a few here in Spain that I like.
Darlene–you are one amazing woman! I am going to live vicariously through you!
I love cozy and creative tea rooms like that! there was one in my birth town and I miss it so much. But my current home town has a really wonderful one too, that has both a book store and a craft store attached to it. And they make the most delicious scones!
No camels though. LOL
That would be the trifecta in my book!!! Oh my goodness!!! What a great combination!!!!
“At least this time you weren’t”–LOL Too funny. Don’t see camels grazing every day (or any day, or that matter). I like a place that has much to look at while eating. Looks like a great little tea house.
Looks like a lovely tea room & I love their Christmas decor!
Good thing the camel was facing the other way because they spit!
He kind of gave me a “look” so I am glad I was in the car far away from him. 🙂