Downtown Sequim – Page 32 – Sequim Daily Photo

Fishing for mail

This eye-catching mailbox lives at the new Black Bear Restaurant in Sequim. Black Bears are locally owned franchises and the ones I’ve been to in California and now here all have large carved bears adorning their landscape. The bears here are fresh, cute, and nicely executed.

Here’s a closeup of the fishing bruin. The knot in his cheek is a nice touch.

Today is Saturday and the bear can expect a mail delivery today. This may change by fall if the Postal Service gets its way. I saw a recent poll and it seems people on the Olympic Peninsula don’t seem to mind losing their Saturday delivery. Parcels will still come. I guess it’s no big disappointment if the bills don’t arrive until Monday.

Sharing with Weekly Top Shot hosted by Madge from The View from Right Here.

Glancing back at 2012: Whimsy

One last look at 2012 before I launch into the new year: Sequim’s Yarn Bombing in June. These knitted bits on the streets of Sequim tickled my sense of whimsy. They disappeared in days, but were a bright spot while they were here. Really, guerrilla knitters? Love it!

Merry Kristi

This is Kristi, the manager of the Safeway floral department in Sequim. She wears a Christmas pinafore and a big smile as people look for Christmas flowers. I’m grateful today for all the kind and pleasant people who help us through the holidays, who support the less privileged among us, and lift our spirits with kind and caring words and deeds.

Be it flowers or Christmas trees, candles, candy, or a holiday toast, I wish you a warm, merry and meaningful Christmas. And joyous, happy celebrations to those who observe other seasonal holidays at this time of year!

Holiday spirit

Even Sequim’s “Welcome Elk” seems to be getting into the spirit of things these days. And yes, that is a Rudolph style light on its nose.

Hey, Santa! You’ve got backup here in Washington if you need it.

Best of the Peninsula: Vision Center

Costco was named Best Vision Center in Peninsula Daily News polling this year.

Full disclosure: I’m looking through a pair of Costco spectacles as I create this post. I picked up my current frames and lenses for about $100 less for the whole pair than I’d have paid for lenses alone at my optometrist’s office. I can’t ignore that kind of value.

Best of the Peninsula: Jewelry

This year’s polling of Peninsula Daily News readers awarded Sequim’s Costco with “Best Jewelry” honors. If you thought that Costco is focused strictly on low cost production jewels, take a look at the price tags for these baubles. In addition to expected gift gems, they carry pieces that are definitely outside the typical impulse purchase price range.

Best of the Peninsula: 2nd Hand Shop

Here’s another winner in the Peninsula Daily News polling. Goodwill was selected by readers as our best 2nd hand shop. This store opened in Sequim a year or so ago; there’s another branch in Port Angeles.

Goodwill is big. In addition to clothing, they sell small appliances and televisions that Goodwill workers have fixed if necessary, kitchenware, and some furniture. They do stock some new items and there was a big selection of stuffed toys when I was there last week. I picked up a really good Eddie Bauer down coat here for a song a year or two ago. In case I haven’t admitted it before, I’m an avowed bargain hunter.

Locals: old computers, monitors, and televisions can be recycled for free at Goodwill, another reason to make a stop here.