It’s All About Joyce!!!

So who do you know named Joyce?  It’s kind of an old name. I don’t hear many parents now a days make their children Joyce but maybe I’m not in the flow.  I know a few Joyce’s from grade school and high school and some I still connect with on Facebook.  But this Joyce was more one of a kind!  To get to this Joyce you need to go about 25 miles from Sequim north of Crescent Lake.  She’s popular every year at this time for her Blackberry Festival!!!  Not ever having been there we decided it would be a good opportunity to take in some tasty blackberry treats and of course all the activities.  To give you a perspective on Joyce I’d say it’s mostly a grocery/hardware/post office/deli/gas station with a fire station across the street.  I’m not sure I remember a bar there but possibly.  And there was a very very small museum about the size of a one room cabin. Now that doesn’t mean that we regret the trip or the festival. In fact we enjoyed ourselves listening to the thigh clapping old timers play and sing , watching the parade and having some black berry scones and pie along with a good ole greasy burger!!  So feast your eyes on some of the unusual photos and enjoy it like you were there!!

Yummy!

This store is still owned and operated by the original family.  It was a hoot to go in and walk around. It’s full to the brim. 

This poor old clown was doing a fine job of entertaining the younguns even with his bad foot and crutches. 

Now, I saw these two guys dressed in a bit of an unusual fashion mode.  I watched awhile trying to figure out if this is  Joyce thing or personal preference or if they were low on cash.  I didn’t see anyone else dressed like this so maybe they were out of towners or part of an elite motorcycle group.  You choose! 

Inside the grocery store is the actual post office and the old boxes are still used.  I hope they keep these in working order. Aren’t they awesome?!

These are parts of the store. It had everything!!  And a very large old fashioned candy section too. I missed that so just take my word for it 

The safe works!  So does the old chest cooler and there are more mail boxes here and some shady hats too!

Here’s a full on picture of the post office counter and more boxes!!  

The old coolers here are still cranking out cold beverages and food!

And here is Albert the store cat!!  Lots of folks thought he was a stuffed cat!  I stopped to give him a pet.  He was tired of folks poking and prodding him and gave me a bat with his paw. I asked about him and the granddaughter told me he was a stray that wandered in about 7 years ago. She gave him a few treats and he never left and he never leaves the store much either!  He stays there all night. He chooses a spot to hang out during the day and it might even be at the check out counter..

Folks were enjoying a snow cone, burgers, music and just visiting.  Lots of tents were set up for crafters to see their wares too.  Something for everyone for sure 

Now this photos is a one man operation. This old timer makes his own batter, while taking your order and then cooks it while taking another order and his name is Fred!  He was very popular and had a long line of customers too.  I have a feeling he’s a regular food vendor every year. 


Here’s Fred’s sign with just a few spelling errors.  But I’m sure they don’t affect the taste of the food! 

Most music groups played for an hour.  Some were single entertainers and others a small group. They brought back some songs from way back in my memory bank of songs 

Uh….. Bigfoot made an appearance and why??? Ha ha. It was to pass out candy to all the kids that didn’t run off screaming like Dan!

 And then some wanted to know where the rest of his family was and why he only comes out of hiding during Joyce Days?

This giant salmon offers more than meets the eye!  You can crawl up inside it clear to the tail. Inside are painted pictures of the life cycle of the salmon. Kids loved it and parents had to threaten them to get them out or offer them ice cream!!




Here’s one of the little ones coming out of the mouth. No shoes allowed :)

Do you know this song??!!  

Even free crafts for the kids which makes mom and dad happy. 


And after the big parade of fire trucks, five processed lumber trucks loaded, old cars, motorcycles, one bike not decorated, politicians, karate group, royalty for Lavendar Days in Sequim and one for a Chamber of Commerce,  lots of candy was thrown, riding clubs and a pooper scooper, it came to an end for us and this little girl.  She was totally tuckered out. I asked her mom if I could take her photo and she laughingly said sure.  Mom was happy she was tuckered.