31 Oct News from Experienced Goods: November 2023

by Jennie Reichman

The garlic is planted, tucked into the cool soil for its long winter sleep. The grill is cleaned and stored on the porch, where the screens have been replaced with windows. The snow tires are on my Subaru, maybe a little early, but I’ve seen snow before Thanksgiving some years and would rather be prepared.  Halloween with all its costumes and candy and spooky revelry is over; now the holidays can begin! We’ve been putting out Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Solstice decor at Experienced Goods for weeks now, and what was once the Halloween corner has become the holiday wonderland of your thrifting dreams. Ah, but poor Thanksgiving, it always seems to get short shrift when it comes to holiday shopping, unless you’re buying food for feasting. Remember, though, that our housewares department is a goldmine of cooking utensils and vessels, platters, dishware, linens and home accoutrements to wow your Thanksgiving guests and make the meal spectacular. Roasting a turkey? We’ve got roasting pans. Pumpkin or apple pie? Pie dishes galore. Need to plump up your flatware drawer to accommodate those extra eaters? Forks, knives and spoons are a budget- friendly 10 cents each. Olive pitters, avocado slicers, whisks, spatulas, even the occasional tiny butane torch for finishing creme brulee. We are here for you and your cooking adventures. 

And of course, next up is Christmas and all that frantic shopping.  Here’s a little friendly holiday advice: Start now. Shop at Experienced Goods. Shop often. Jewelry, clothing, artwork, toys, games, books, so many beautiful, interesting and fun items show up on our shelves and racks. Savvy gift givers know our store is the place to find unique, one-of-a-kind gifts at amazing prices, and new items are constantly being added. Finding something perfect for someone you love is the best kind of victory; even better is the look on their face when they open it.  

Before the bustle of the holidays starts, however, we at Brattleboro Area Hospice have always taken a day to acknowledge and honor those people in our lives who have passed on. In the past, we have celebrated Dia de los Muertos with an altar featuring the traditional Hispanic skeletons and bright colors festooning a space where people can leave notes, photos, artwork, mementos and offerings in remembrance of those who have died. The altar would stay in place for a month and then be dismantled. This tradition has now evolved into what we are calling the Community Altar, an installation in our book room that will serve the same purpose as the Dia de los Muertos altar, but will be a permanent part of the store. To inaugurate this lovely addition to Experienced Goods, Brattleboro Area Hospice is hosting a Lantern Walk: A stroll with lanterns or other lights from Pliny Park at the corner of High and Main Streets in downtown Brattleboro to the parking lot in front of Experienced Goods at 80 Flat Street. Walkers will gather there for a reading, a time of silence and a poem. Light refreshments will be available, and participants can come into Experienced Goods to interact with and enjoy the altar (the store will be closed for business at that time). The walk begins at 5pm on Wednesday, November 1, rain or star shine, and is open to all.  Lanterns will be provided, or participants are welcome to use a flashlight or cell phone light.  In almost every holiday tradition, casting light to dispel the darkness is a central theme. This dark and fallow time of year inspires us to create light, create love and community. In the summer months, light is a given, abundant and plentiful. In the winter we must make our own light, both inside ourselves and out into the world.