The Blue Jays are playing spring training games and the snow is melting, so we’ve decided it’s time for spring! Around this time of year is normally when we start receiving new outdoor items. But given the commonality of shipping delays during the pandemic we planned ahead, and lots of new outdoor items have already arrived. Plus, there are still lots more fun new and returning outdoor items due to arrive throughout the spring.
Below there is three photos of new items from a recent shipment. If you would like to see them in person, we put samples in the windows at The Barn, if you happen to be out for a walk in the neighbourhood. The popular large crane is the only returning item from last year, from this shipment that is, the rest are all brand new items. My favorite is the 52 inch tall rooster. Yes, you read that right, 52 inch tall rooster. Because who doesn’t need a giant rooster in their backyard?
There are fun bees and butterflies that hang on the wall or fence, stoplight bird feeders, feathered blue jays & cardinals, praying mantis, woodpeckers, lots of penguins, and of course pink flamingos. We now have four different sizes of pink flamingos in stock.
There are three additional photos below of outdoor items that came in earlier during the lockdown. You may have noticed some of those items if you watched one of The Barn tour videos.
I definitely buried the lead on this one, but after 15 weeks in lockdown we are opening up for instore shopping again, with a low-capacity limit. We have decided to allow a maximum of 10 customers in the store at a time. This is well below the government mandated capacity limit. We will be taking reopening slowly. When the covid numbers improve we will increase our capacity limit.
We will be open on Monday and Tuesday by appointment or chance, closed on Wednesdays, and open 10am to 5pm, Thursday through Sunday, on a first come first serve basis. No appointments will be taken for Thursday through Sunday. These are the same hours we have had since early on in the pandemic. When we weren’t closed for instore shopping of course. These hours allow us to book appointments two days a week for customers who would rather shop by appointment. They also allow us greater flexibility with our schedule, which we’ve needed to deal with covid related challenges. Just about everything we do related to our business takes longer these days because of covid safety precautions we have to take.
We have had some confusion in the past about our hours and procedures, so I would like to explain further. Thursday through Sunday we will let a maximum of 10 customers in the store. After that the door will be locked. As customers leave, we will allow new customers in the building to a total of 10. If the door is locked that means we are at capacity. We will also place a sign outside the door explaining the situation. You can book an appointment for Mondays and Tuesdays, so you know you will be allowed in, or you can just chance it. Appointments are especially useful for customers who would like certainty that they will be able to get into the store. “By chance” simply means if we are available and have capacity, we will let you in to shop. Please understand that just because we are in the building, we are not always available to receive customers. We need time to get sold pieces out, bring new items in, and for cleaning and sanitizing. We will do our best to accommodate customers when we can. Hopefully this explanation will clear up any confusion around our hours and procedures.
We are asking that everyone come alone or with one other person. Groups larger than two will not be allowed in The Barn. Masks must be worn at all times. Please keep a minimum of two meters from anyone you didn’t come with. If you are experiencing flu like symptoms, do not enter the building. Hand sanitizer is available inside the front door and on the counter at The Barn.
Hopefully there will not be a third lockdown and we can gradually return to more normal operations. But for now, we will be open on this limited scale for everyone’s safety. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
