Antiquing 101
Of course, everyone likes to get away and do something a little extra special every now and again…..and we’re no different. I admit I’ve gotten a little extreme with my outings over the years, having leaped from a perfectly good plane, flown in a hot-air balloon, and a host of other activities that ensured I’d have some memories to look back on later in life when I most assuredly won’t be quite so able-bodied.
However, coming a bit back down to earth…..a weekend get-away to a luxury hotel, or the Outer Banks in Carolina, or an annual pilgrimage to Florida to take in my kids Spring baseball games are still special to me having only occurred on somewhat infrequent occasions…..and coming at some expense. A long-awaited trip to see Sequoia National Park to stand amongst the redwoods will no doubt eventually fall into that category, should I ever get there.
But what happens more regularly are those trips that repeatedly take us to destinations that we relish on more of an ongoing basis. Toward that end, we began seeking out ‘witch stores’ to assist in delivering increasingly unique All-Hallows-Eve experiences for our annual masquerade party-goers (see: ‘Halloween – Life of the Party’). Likewise, we’re constantly looking to upgrade our taste in culinary delicacies through enhanced dining experiences. And we enjoy hunting for the occasional antique to add to our ever-growing collection…..to name a few. I will say that the antique thing became addictive once we realized they make for perfect wall décor…..which became more of an obsession when we purchased a home with a media room that had a 12 foot high ceiling and not much to adorn it with!
As a result, we’ve made our rounds (and then some) when it comes to antiquing out here in central Massachusetts. Luckily, having moved from West Boylston to Paxton, MA. some time ago, we already knew of a local antique store before we even started collecting. We just never knew how good of a shop it was until it mattered most! The place is called ‘Wayside Antiques’ and is definitely worth the trip as it boasts multiple floors and a varied collection that changes over time with new additions arriving on a regular basis. Truth be told, I don’t believe we’ve ever visited and left empty-handed.
Down the street a ways is ‘Hunt and Gather Vintage Market, LLC’ in Princeton….another worthwhile stop on the local scene. But if you travel down route 2 about an hour or so you’ll run into ‘Freight House Antiques’ in Erving….a compact collection of artifacts also well worth a good rummage. And I’ll also give a shout-out to the ‘Sturbridge Antique Shops’ (Sturbridge, MA) as being worthy enough for being placed on our list of regular stops.
But, saving the best for last…..out in Uxbridge, MA. are not one, but two of our very favorite antique shops. They’re right up the street from one another and are called the ‘Stanley Mill Antiques’ and ‘Bernat Mill Antiques’…..both well worth the trip even for the most discriminating antique collector. In spite of the distance, we’ve frequented these fine establishments many times and have greatly benefited from having done so. They each possess collections worth every one of the 5 stars I’ll rate them at! And the fact that they’re located in old mills adds just the right amount of the proper ambiance….and space! Highly recommend!
(Note: It’s just happen-stance that they’re also located right up the street from another of our faves, only this one is of a different nature. It’s called ‘Touch of Magick’ and caters to our witch senses. Even though it’s small in size, we can’t resist stepping inside every time we’re in the area.)
Happy hunting,
Dick D.