New Olds

We had planned to do lots and lots of yardwork this weekend but the sudden freeze and inclement weather (snow in the forecast for tonight) caused us to think otherwise. We decided to check out some new garden centers and antique shops on the other side of town and drove up 447 to the top of Newfoundland and headed down 191 see what we could find.

the breakdown...

Growers'Greenhouse: ?

We didn't stop because Yuula had just fallen asleep

Whitcomb Antiques: F

Looked like it has been abandoned long, long ago

Mountain Home Antiques: A

A fine selection of wrought iron fence, a little pricey, and a tolerable mix of actual antiques, country furniture, and plain old weird shit. We bought a nice little pitcher, a new planter, and mountainhome custom candle holder, baby hankies and a scrap book.

Bloomin' Onion Restaurant: B+

Easy to miss and easier to pass up on first glance, but the real surprise was the quality of food in this little woodland themed comfy shack famous for their abundant breakfasts. It was lunchtime so Laura and I had cheesesteaks (her cow, me chicken) and Yuula ate lots of delicious fresh fruit, almost an entire blueberry/banana pancake and some french fries. Cozy.

Odyssey Booksellers & Antiques: D-

Anyplace where you're "greeted" at the door by a suspicious looking elderly woman speaking in Ye Olde English with a hint of desperation who then lingers tho you've assured her you're just here to browse is already on shaky ground. Add in the enormous stuffed animals, creepy lifesize dolls, sequin-laden 80's evening wear and shockingly out of place 12 foot columns, no amount of country kitsch or quality knick knack can save ya. Good from afar but far from good.

Barn Door: A-

Last stop on our way home, a small stretch mall broken down into two shops, the Barn Door is full of country style knick knacks along with some other impressive finds we've seen nowhere else. Giant iron chandeliers and interesting artifacts, great old kitchen implements and a cute little collection of itty bitty figurines, the relatively high prices wouldn't keep us away but might keep us from gouging. Next door the Quiet Man established a much more elegant atmosphere, flooding the room with classical music and focusing more on large authentic furniture than trinkets and in the back was a separate room just of books equal parts NY Times Best Sellers, classic and manga.