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 