This past weekend My Rare One and I went on a road trip to the beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills of southern Alberta -- cowboy country -- ranches, cattle, horses, oil wells! We were headed to Cochrane, a town of 25,000 just north of Calgary that is nestled in a valley overlooked by a huge statue of a cowboy up high in the hills.
Now, Cochrane is a pretty kickass, happenin' kind of place but more about that later this week. Our road trip's immediate purpose was to go to Water Valley, which is very near Cochrane. We were going to visit Lynne of Insomniac's Attic blog at her new store!
If you read her blog, you know that Lynne The Insomniac is an extremely creative devotée of all things dark, mysterious and gothic! Her blog is always a delightful read. And you know what? She is even more delightful in person! My Rare One and I had an absolute blast meeting and spending time with her!
Lynne's new store is a gothic treasure house of the most unique items, decor and clothing! Here's a few photos I took which hopefully give you the feel of it --
I could not resist buying this reproduction antler horn frame with a Victorian-era photo of Odin and his ravens! Isn't it awesome? It's gracing my den/library/computer room now.
And then, when Lynne had closed her store for the day, she did us the great honour of giving us a tour of her acreage home. With characteristic humour and understatement on her blog, Lynne refers to her home as "The Little Gothic Cottage in The Spooky Forest in The Wilds of Alberta, Canada." It is all that and so much more! However, her storybook house is considerably larger than a cottage, thank goodness, because she needs the space to display all the gorgeous gothic furniture, decor and objets d'art that she has collected over the years from all corners of the world.
My Rare One and I were amazed and charmed by both The Insomniac and her home. Thanks so much, Lynne, for a wonderful time!
[First two photos from the internet; all other photos by Debra She Who Seeks, May 2017]
42 comments:
the human bodies with the bird heads are cool!
I second Anne Marie's comment, I want those raven-headed-people pictures. Your Odin picture is super rad (a term I haven't used since the 90's, but absolutely applies here). I can't get past the fact you were excited to visit "cowboy country" and the third thing you mention is oil wells!
my kind of place!
strange working hours of that shop, I think I'd become an insomniac myself if I was to see so many bones, skulls and symbols of death in one place!
That's cool that you got to go visit her.
My great gradnfather was a human with a crow's head, so those pictures really hit home with me.
Oh, boy! An adventure that would be right up my alley. Odin with his ravens is very definitely awesome!
What an incredible place to browse!
What a wonderful trip and that store is amazing. How nice of her to take you for a tour.
I would never have imagined a place like the Insomniac's Attic in Alberta. I always picture it as prairie and cows, full stop. Nice to know there is a little diversity in cowboy country.
Love your purchase! You'll do your best work with Odin, Huginn and Muninn watching your every move. Thought and Memory will peck your eyes out if you screw up.
Oh my gosh, love it. This would be a blast to walk-through. Headed to hear blog next ... then offline to do chores and finally get more mud done. For realz.
Looks like you had an amazing time! Although I'm not much of a fan of the "dark side" I can't resist skulls. In fact sometimes people in church will comment on my skulls as not being very appropriate. It always makes me grin because you know, we all have 'em under our skin don't we?
How I wish it was within driving distance! Treasures!!!!
It looks amazing. Sounds wonderful I love hearing about the meet up with other bloggers.The decor makes think of an America gothic as in the dark folk music of the 1930s. I guess it would be Candian Gothic. Still looks amazing.
I also would want those bird head people pictures. Though Odin and his ravens is very cool, too (and creepy).
We're on the southern end of those Rocky Mountains, which is also cowboy country, but unfortunately, I do believe it would take more than a day's ride to reach Lynne's shop. So color us greatly jealous.
Oh Cool! I would love to visit her store and house. You are so lucky and I am so jealous!
Very cool Debs. There is a store here in New Hope that does very well called the Creepers Gallery she would probably love. Soon as I saw the first picture, it reminded me of it. They sell the line of the same wares...Fine Gothic Art, Antiques and Peculiars and the such. Here's a link, but I'm not sure I know how to do a link in a comment. I have also did a post on it called Seen in New Hope
thecreepergallery
I totally need to road trip to this shop! Its always been my desire to have crows as pets. I feed them in my backyard - have yet to get them to come to me while I hold peanuts in my hand.
What a fantastic trip you both had!!
How amazingly wonderful! And macabre! Would love to go for a visit. :o) And the location is beautiful! I have always wanted to go to Alberta. So many places to see....
What a great shop! I wish I could go.
Love,
Janie
I bet it's even more fun on Halloween.
And the area (southern Alberta) looks beautiful.
Thank you for the tour of the Insomniac's tour.
strange stuff - good strange but strange. If I had that piece you bought it would scare my younger grandkids.
Now I have one more reason to want to visit the Canadian Rockies. I heard there is a train you can take through the mountains that makes a beautiful journey.
Sounds like a good time was had by all, Debra.
How fun this must have been! Lynne's style looks amazing. That is fantastic that she can live that style at work and home. I can only imagine what her house must be like so I will be stopping by her blog!
So many neat things!!! I LOVE the framed photo of Odin, he's one of my inspirations. :)
It was so amazing to meet and spend a little time with you and your Rare One, Debra!I definitely have to make a trip up to see you now before the snow flies again. Like maybe next month, just to be safe. ;)
What a neato place! My gosh, I just love it. So eccentric and wonderfully eerie. Those photos of human bodies with the bird heads caught my attention! They are so captivating.
That looks an interesting place and I know that my niece in Toronto would love to visit there.
Interesting place to visit..fun browsing..The Rockies are beautiful..The Canadian Rockies are on my wish list..probably won't make it :(
This has made me realise I need a raven ... just the one , because my balcony's small ... perhaps I could borrow one from the Tower of London since Alberta's rather far away .
The store is very interesting. It reminds me of the TV show called Oddities, which sold similar items.
"Think I'll go out to Alberta,
Weather's good there i the fall"
Someday I'll get there.
oh wow..on my bucket list
Funny you should mention traveling. My humble abode now has a beautifully appointed spare room that used to house the Spare but now has a nice bed. Come see me! You could meet anne marie and me in the same trip!
My BIL is really into all things Gothic. He gave my niece a skull doll. It's a stuffed and has the outline of a skull on it. Creepy as fuck but it became her favourite. She still has it. It is going to come back to life one day and that will be the end of all of us.
I think it's very cool that you can visit a blogging buddy and hang out for a little while.
I think gothic is pretty cool. I try to work a little bit into my stories when I can.
I Are Writer!
sounds like a fun trip! and oh, so interesting indeed
I don't think I've ever been in Cochrane or Water Valley. I had it in my head that Cochrane was a bedroom community for Calgary. Now I'm going to have to get there. Thanks for sharing the photos of Lynne's cool shop. Enjoy your weekend, Debra!
Oh, SO COOL!!! I want to go!!! Thanks for sharing Debra! Excellent you all could meet up! So special! Big Hugs!
I've been looking around, does she have her shop on line for sales?
@ Magic Love Crow -- Lynne used to have an online shop but the postage was killing sales so she discontinued it. That's why she's going the bricks-and-mortar route now.
LUCKY GIRL! Greener than green with envy! How wonderful for you all to visit ! You & Insomniac Energise me! I love your purchase! I love the crow man & woman pics & the miiniture floor lamp.....when I win that lottery! Go West Old Bitch!
Huge hugs and thank you for sharing your amazing adventures! xoxoDebi
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