No Lights...No Heat...No Problem!

Last week we had a huge storm out here, knocking out power to 280,000 customers all over the Puget Sound area. Snow quickly turned to ice and the trees around here suffered immensely. Last Saturday, hubby and I ventured out on our usual Saturday-morning-find-a-new-place-for-breakfast excursion. We headed down to Tacoma and found a nice little mom & pop diner. Hubby always brings along his "reading material" while I shop the stores. After breakfast we hit an antique store nearby and then we headed to the little town of Buckley. I had ventured to this "hole in the wall" town last summer for the first time and discovered a nice little junk-tique store that had just opened that week. I wanted to go back to that little store and then head to another little town not far from there that has some great prim stores and antique shops. As we were approaching Buckley, I couldn't help but notice all the downed trees, many of which had been cut off at the road where we were driving. This road had been impassable a few days earlier. As we entered Buckley I could tell immediately that all the businesses were dark and most likely closed due to no power. I figured we had made a wasted trip. As I turned on the street to downtown Buckley where the little shop was located, the first thing I noticed was how empty it was! Only one car was parked on the street. Power was out everywhere! But as I approached the little shop I wanted to visit, I saw a little reader board on the sidewalk that said "SHOP OPEN"! Through the shop windows it looked mighty dark inside, but I figured if they were open, and since I'd driven all this way there, I might as well give it a try.

I walked into the shop and immediately noticed the darkness and the rather cool temperatures inside. And then I heard someone holler from the back to come on in. Okay....how was I to shop in a dark store. I could see up in the little area by the front windows, but that was it. And then a young man walked up from the rear of the store, welcomed me in once again and handed me a flashlight! That's right...a FLASHLIGHT! LOL! I had to laugh but I took the flashlight and proceeded to walk through each little cubby of the store, shining the little light in every nook, on every shelf and in every corner. I learned from the young man that their power had been out for three days and they were trying to open up for the first time since the storm, working to get a generator going. I felt so bad for these folks, as I know this isn't a huge town, and I doubted the shop was a huge money maker. I knew no matter how difficult, if they were willing to try to open up, I was going to do my best to shop! I wanted so badly to find some stuff to buy, not just for me, but for them as well. And I DID! I found these great pieces there!

I already have plans for the front four pieces for spring and Easter creations! I think I'll save the wrought iron candle holder for later. Of course Harley had to check out what I was doing. He's such a ham!

Fortunately I had enough cash on hand to buy these pieces. They were able to make paper change, but couldn't get into the cash register to make coin change. But I had plenty of that, as well. As I left the store, purchases in hand, I told the folks working there that they would always remember me, as every time I returned in the future, I would tell them I was the lady who shopped in the dark! LOL!

We hit a few other shops in other towns that day. Many of those shops had had their power out previously, too, but were fortunate to have it restored that day. Here are a few more pieces I picked up.

I have plenty of the large cheese boxes, but not any of the smaller size left. So I was excited to find these three at a steal! And of course...more enamelware! All will be used for my gatherings.

Can you tell what I look for when I shop! Love the yellow ones...you will definitely be seeing those again very soon as spring and Easter gatherings. I hope to start listing all new spring creations by the end of the week!

Well, I was glad I made the trip to Buckley after all! It just goes to show that where there's a will, there's definitely a way. I'll have to say, shopping by flashlight was definitely a first for me! But it certainly got the job done! ~~Annie