WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR STUFF?
It's a question we get asked a LOT here at the shop, and the answer (while truthful) is generally pretty vague.
The answer?
All over. It's a full time job.
And that is true. I don't do much online anymore, no craigslist, very very few online garage sale groups.
Too many folks doing that and I don't want the stuff everyone else has seen, ya know?
There are a few go to places in Oregon I have told you about but other than that, it's a get in the car and go kind of gamble and a girl has to have some secrets.
But I am ready to spill on another secret and share the latest trip, because it was awesome.
I brought Mama P along and we hopped into the car on a rainy day.
We drove west from Sumner across the Narrows bridge.
And then we continued over the Hood Canal Bridge.
But I am ready to spill on another secret and share the latest trip, because it was awesome.
I brought Mama P along and we hopped into the car on a rainy day.
We drove west from Sumner across the Narrows bridge.
And then we continued over the Hood Canal Bridge.
On our way to the treasure that is Sequim (say it like "skwim").
Sequim is less than two hours from home on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and is located in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains, which means it averages about the same rainfall as Los Angeles on a good year.
For example, it was pouring at home, but cloudy with bits of sun the whole time we were on our trip.
It was there that we found a treasure trove of good junk in a gorgeous little town (on the water) AND we stayed in the most gorgeous converted barn, where we were served gourmet food.
UM.
I have to tell you about it.
You have got to get to Sequim.
More importantly, you have got to get to here:
Please forgive me while I gush about it and share with you the glory of this magical place.
So, say you had dreams your whole life of living in a place that is just like this...on the water:
with your own private beach access and the perfect place to watch a sunset
but along with that... is green, lush, and rural
with your own private beach access and the perfect place to watch a sunset
but along with that... is green, lush, and rural
full of history and cool old stuff to see
AND your house was AN OLD CONVERTED BARN surrounded by lavender fields!
I mean! Come on!!!!
These Sequimians have got it made!
Inside that place? Warmth and light, the most lovely folks, and laughter
Mama P and Clare, innkeeper extraordinaire
So many beautiful things to see inside
and crazy gorgeous views from every single window (I checked)
where even the vegetable and herb gardens are eyecandy
and the grounds look like something out of a storybook
and the FOOD is everything. And prepared with all locally sourced natural ingredients.
And the company could not have been better.
And just because nothing would be perfect without the world's cutest dog, they have him too:
This is Fee, and I love him.
So you find this magical place, and you meet the magical people that run this place and you fall head over heels in love with their place and with them, and they are into antiques and junk too, and it is just this perfect meeting of kismet proportions.
This does not happen to me. Like, ever. I stay away from bed and breakfasts. I like my privacy. I like to sleep in. I don't want to talk to people in the morning. I need a TV. And Wi-Fi.
They have TV's in the rooms. Free Wi-Fi. You can choose when you are served breakfast. Plenty of privacy.
And the people?
I would talk to them all day, every day!
There are two suites and we got to experience them both, as well as two additional cozy rooms.
The beds are the most comfortable in life and I am not even kidding you right now.
You can rent out the entire inn for family stuff and retreats.
I intend to do both, because I am hooked.
Ok let me shake out of my Dungeness Barn House Bed and Breakfast daydreamy haze to talk to you now about the junking in this town.
Go HERE:
In the center of town and really packed to the gills inside and out with AMAZING finds and super amazing prices.
I would move here just to see what they brought in every day. It's real good. This one is in Sequim and there is one in Port Angeles as well. We definitely recommend the one in Sequim. I love this place extra because they are a local charity that actually helps those in their community of Clallam County with tangible goods and services. A Goodwill moved in across the street and we checked that out too but, junkers, Serenity is where it is at.
Another favorite though, was this place. Around Again. It is right outside of town and they believe, like we do, that waste can be a huge resource. Don't be fooled by all of the old exercise equipment out front and make sure to find all of the nooks and crannies inside the store and in the sizable back area. The stuff we can't seem to find anywhere? It is here. And the prices are, again, rad. They are a not-for-profit as well, and support their community in a lot of amazing ways.
They also have employed the BEST dude in all the land:
This bearded fellow, along with his blurry (sorry about that) coworker, defied all normal logic and saw the potential for fitting a 80 jillion pound, giant farm scale in an already filled rig.
Mama P looked this when I was like: IT'LL FIT, I KNOW IT
Hahahahahahahahaaaaaa
The bearded fellow above agreed and measured and made. it. happen.
Bearded fellow, you are my hero!
Not to be missed: Re-Creations, which is right on the same property as Around Again. There is also a drive up coffee joint on the property. Which basically means you can just live there forever.
Also in town, a bevy of infrequently open antiques stores and lots of sweet lavender farms and home decor stores and garden shops of all kinds.
Great food too, although this one wanted to go to one place and one place only:
And I have to agree, it had moments of greatness.
Dungeness crab grilled cheese sandwich? Uh yeah.
Homemade Mississippi Mud Pie? Totally.
And they have the good ice.
You know what I mean by " the good ice", right?
The ice all drinks should be cooled by:
Now, for the rest of your picking and junking adventure in the Sequim area you first will need coffee.
SO. GOOD.
Then hit all of the goodness up the road about 20 minutes in Port Angeles.
We hit Habitat for Humanity, Serenity Thrift, Brocante , and the place next door (um, don't know the name. It's big, but way out of my price range).
Brocante won for coolest and best prices but for as big as Port Angeles is, we found a ton more in Sequim in just a few key places.
It has been two years since Mama P and I took a trip just the two of us.
We see each other at least three days a week at the shop but neither of us could remember the last time we had done something just us.
I love that we love so many of the same things and let me tell you that long drives are great for conversation for those of us that don't do a lot of deep talking. Ahem, cough. Mom.
I sure do love that Mom. She and Dad found the secret of Sequim, I give them all the credit for that and for finding the Dungeness Barn House.
Clare and Sue, the innkeepers, are part of the family now too, and I already miss them.
It's almost odd, really, when you meet people and instantly adore them. You can feel the true essence of their goodness exude in every thing they touch and everything they do.
And definitely everything they cook in that kitchen! Dang!
Thank you Clare and Sue (and Fee) for making our trip so amazing.
Sure we found a truckload of good stuff in Sequim to bring home but thanks to ya'll and the beauty of the barn house we found a whole lot more than that.
Thanks, ladies, for the reminder.
XO
Mandi
all content and photos property of Persnickety's/Mandi Smith 6/9/15
