The Army Surplus Store of Shelley

This isn't a shopping blog. Unless the store is a heckuva lot more interesting than anything featured in a fashion magazine.

Like the Army Surplus Warehouse in Shelley, Idaho. That's where I buy merino wool socks for less than $4 a pair. They are fluffy, they don't itch and they keep me happy in the below-zero weather we are enjoying right now.

The store's decor is just a bonus.

I didn't photograph the yelling soldier mannequin in full assault mode. I was afraid if the management saw me do that, they'd think I was making fun of them.

We knew the place in the early days of our marriage. It was in another building and was stocked with military castoffs from Texas or Bulgaria. It was a warren of stained duffel bags, greasy bolts and chains, ripped field jacket liners, that sort of thing. Part of the adventure was finding something useful--like a bright green deck jersey with no fraying around the cuffs.

But then two things happened: the outdoor crowd discovered the store, and the management moved to a bigger building. Suddenly it became respectable. It added a women's section.

This is not the women's section of an outdoor sporting goods store, where the women's clothes look a lot like the men's. It's lacy and frilly and includes a bank of painted wooden signs with sayings like "Live Laugh Love" and the recipe for family happiness.

The spice mixes for wild game cooking are not far away.

The store also has some excellent outdoor gear, but that's over in the men's section by the ghillie suits. As for the greasy metal goods from other countries, they are probably still there. They're just in the back, about five rows down from where I lose interest.

I load up on the wool socks and warm hats, buy some cute fuzzy gloves for the gift closet, pick up a syrup pitcher and head home.