When I moved to the Ozarks I imagined that I was leaving behind the pressures of city life, that I would be living at a slower and more manageable pace. I’ve always avoided the mall on Black Friday like the plague. People change under the pressure of the potential deals laid out before them. You won’t catch me camping out at Best Buy for a week or fighting off another shopper for the last bathrobe on sale. I’m not opposed to Black Friday at all, it’s just that for me the three dollar savings on an iPod is just not worth the stress. I have also found that with all those rabid shoppers occupied there are other places that are magically tranquil and serene – at least that was what I expected to find as some friends and I made our annual Black Friday pilgrimage to the Boxley Valley to visit the elk.
Now I have posted about Boxley several times, it’s not like I only visit on Black Friday – but it is a day that is typically quieter. Shoppers are otherwise occupied. It is the last half of the rut and action is often sparse. Personally, I find these creatures to be magnificent and love to see them any time – in velvet, during the rut, in the dead of winter – I’m game for the drive over.
The peaceful setting of Boxley Valley is no stranger to the pressures of Black Friday…
Sadly, the consumerism and pressures of the outside world have intruded into my peaceful valley sanctuary.
It all begins with the crowds lining up to get a look at sales and specials.
They’re opening the doors – I’m headed straight for that shiny new crock pot!
Listen up! Don’t even think about heading to the crock pots – that new red Sunbeam is mine!
I’m not kidding – I will fight you for that crock pot! Don’t even think about it!
The doors are finally open – crock pot, today you are mine!
I told you buddy, that crock pot is mine!
There is no way I’m losing out on this crock pot to a crack pot like you!
I’m gonna have to dig deep to hold onto this crock pout!
Can you believe these two are tussling over a crock pot when everything is half off at Old Navy?
You messed with the wrong bull buddy – you are going down. No crock pot for you!
I can fight on forever knowing that I will get 20% off that crock pot! Savings like that fuel my fire!
I will never surrender my crock pot!
Victory is within my grasp – I can see that crock pot and it has my name on it!
Victory is mine! A red Sunbeam self timing crock pot with a thermometer and a locking lid – I’m living the dream baby!
You cows can’t touch this! I got the crock pot! I got the crock pot!
Doing my crock pot victory dance!!
Victory is so sweet, but not as sweet as the deal I got on that crock pot!
Maybe I should go over and check out the specials at Old Navy…
Meanwhile at the Food Court…
Family Dinner
Girls night out
Open Seating
Frozen dinner
Kids Meal
Meanwhile our victor is enjoying the spoils of his shopping day…
Wanna come to my place and check out my crock pot?
The holiday season is officially here and I am thinking that the madness of Black Friday will pass soon in Boxley Valley, although I hear that Cyber Monday is madness. Be careful out there, it’s not worth an antler in the ear to save a couple of bucks.
If you want to read more about the amazing Boxley Elk, check out these links:
the eff stop 
Great photos and fun commentary!
Thank you! I have been perusing your blog – nice work!
Love it! Anything for a bargin I guess!
LOL – got to get those deals!
Absolutely stunning!
And I also avoid Black Friday shopping. I agree, not worth it at all. Besides, I didn’t really need that crock pot. 😀
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
I really wish I had been a good enough photographer to capture the bull with the crock pot – maybe next year 😉
😀
“There is no way I’m losing out on this crock pot to a crack pot like you!” LOL, this is awesome! Love the photos and the commentary.
Count me in as another person who hates shopping and would prefer to be outdoors. Fortunately, “Black Friday” isn’t a stat holiday here so it doesn’t bother me to work that day and miss the sales!
Thanks 😊. Thanksgiving is like an early winter break here, a 4-day weekend. I work in a pretty stressful job so there’s no way I’d fight over a crock pot at the mall on my break! I know that retailers need to push to make a profit of the year, but it’s kind of over the top here now. I prefer the valley to the mall any day.
With the days getting predictably sunny and warm; and the longer hours of daylight here, I forget that winter is now upon you. I love this wintry scene you have captured and the falling snow on your background is fantastic. (How did you do that?)
Great post.
Thanks Elizabeth. This was a great day, one of those special experiences. The snow is a WP thing, they usually turn on the option for snow about December 1. It’s not visible here in the states yet, but you are a day ahead of us. It’s typically under appearance in the dashboard.
You made my day Lorri! Such a great deal of beauty… and we all get to share in it – thank you 😉
Thanks so much, the boys made my day too! This is one of my favorite spots. A great way to spend a day off for sure.
I can’t say we experience ‘Black Friday’ over hear – my cousin in Boston has spoken of the madness though. I do however think that the Ozarks will need to feature on my travel bucket list now… who can resist seeing such an eager elk running around with a crock pot…and some dear lady deers gathering for a night out! You do have progressive and civilized wildlife!
LOL – our wildlife is very progressive. You should check out their club scene!
Can’t wait! Can’t think of a cooler hang out, a winter heard-up huddle, a crockpot dinner and perhaps a little elkaholic beverage will get the trotters tapping 😉
LOL – Elkaholic could be used to describe some of the photogs down there 🙂
Brilliant photos and what brilliant commentary… love it..
Thanks Bulldog! I was looking at your amazing Kalahari skies while we were driving, stunning!! Thanks for stopping by.
Ha ha! ! I love the fighting. Great commentary👍 I’m not a fan of shopping on any day, but never on Black Friday.
Thanks, I’m no fan of the mall on any day. This was a lot more fun and less stressful for sure.
Very funny, Lorri.
What a great series of photos. I especially like the shot of the winner and his majestic stack of antlers. Elk are such beautiful creatures and I’d never get a chance to see them otherwise, so thanks for sharing.
Thanks Vicki, these are actually not the big bulls, they are about a third larger. They are such majestic beasts. I shot until my fingers couldn’t move in the cold. It was a great morning.
haha great commentary Lorri. Canada is in its 2nd or 3rd year of Black Friday. Of all the things we’ve copied…not sure why this is one.
Love the photos!
This year the sales started the afternoon of Thansgiving, it’s crazy. I have been making the trip to the valley for the last three years and this year was the best yet. Sad that rampant consumerism has come to Canada too.
hey all in the name of the mighty dollar!
So true. I know that most retailers move into profitability in early December! but it’s so over the top. They are all afraid that you will spend your money before you get to them. I like to shop in small local stores or at art fairs.
Me too Lorri! I shop local stores too!
That’s my kind of shopping! Great story. All the photos were great but I particularly liked the ones where they were fighting. We definitely need more malls like this.
Thanks Lyle, the fighting was wonderful to see, I made about 600 snaps, about 3x my norm. Although these weren’t the big boys, they gave us a pretty good show. Much more fun than the mall.
Republicou isso em Curiosidades na internete comentado:
Add your thoughts here… (optional)
Unfortunately your Black Friday and Cyber Monday nightmares are seeping in over here now. Not that it affects me. I hate shopping – only do it when absolutely necessary and usually online!
Loved your commentary – who’d a thought sales could be so amusing 🙂
Great photos too, as always 😀
Jude xx
Thanks Jude, I prefer shopping online or at small local shops where they know my name. This year the sales started on Thanksgiving day, one of our last uncommercial holidays. I can’t imagine leaving supper to hit the mall. The elk were amazingly active Friday – and so few showed up to see them. It was a lot more enjoyable than the mall 🙂
Your commentary got me laughing! Oh man that was fun. I hate shopping at any time, but Black Friday? Forget about it. Even up here in Canada the madness happens! It’s like a bad zombie attack or something. I love those Elk Lorrie. Wonderful!
Thanks Jackie! I have never enjoyed braving the crowds. I’m usually almost done by Black Friday. The elk are not typically so active this late, but they gave us a great show.
LOL! Love it….thanks!
Thank you for stopping by!