As seen in my last blog post, Apotheca offers a gorgeous setting for sipping tea, strumming an instrument, or chatting with friends. Goffstown certainly benefits from its presence in the old train station it converted. Yet, in addition to the tea room & hangout space, the true passion of the owner appears front & center. Floral arrangements & indoor plants to liven up the home enhance a bazaar-like offering of funky cards, knick-knacks, jewelry, fragrances, & other sorts of gifts for purchase.

   

You can easily lose yourself for a while, just browsing the curated items brought together on display. Alyssa, owner & creative director, will happily discuss how she found unique items in her travels. She prides herself on supporting the individual artist, which makes the visitor feel good about being a patron for a small business & the artists it features.

As the visitor browses the shop, each corner or turn presents entirely new views with all kinds of neat things to examine. From air plants & terrariums to jewelry made from old bicycle parts, the aesthetic emphasizes sustainability & repurposing of the old into something new. Confessedly, many of the things incorporated in the interiors of the farmhouse were found at Apotheca.

   

(And, no, I’m not a paid endorser; just an appreciative customer. This business not only preserves the old train station but also encourages a small-town feel, perfect for introverts. So, this is really just introvert appreciation for a pretty place where one can sit comfortably or stroll about to look at pretty things.)

The tea room & floral shop hosts local events, too. From terrarium-making, painting, how-to tutorials, open mic sessions, & photography classes, Apotheca provides a community space in a sleepy New England town. Its presence adds incredible value to the downtown, from supporting Old Home Day to Halloween’s Pumpkin Regatta, offering to residents & visitors a spot that encourages connection. For an introvert like me, it takes a pretty special place to lure me out of the home on a day off.

   

Yet, I enjoy meeting friends here. From colleagues to former students to even my mother & her sister, all who’ve frequented Apotheca have been charmed. Like Uncanoonuc Mountain Perennials, which has provided an outdoor space to relish & adore, so too has Apotheca gifted residents an indoor place for a tasty cuppa.

As you walk around, be sure to look above, as there’s always something to see. New displays perpetuate the alchemy of wood, plant, fabric, & minerals that reward the eye. Ever-shifting, the aesthetic keeps its coolness factor in keeping up with trends or even starting new ones. It doesn’t hurt that the scent of coffee & chocolate drift in from the tea room.

   

If you spot something you like, don’t hesitate to ask if it’s for sale. Even if it’s not tagged, there’s a wish to please the customer & I’ve found a few things I just couldn’t leave behind. You’ll definitely feel inspired, one way or another, from something you see.

Thus, this homage is also a crediting to Apotheca’s owner & creative director a unique style that’s inspired many of the interior furnishings & niches at the farm that readers of this blog & followers on Twitter & Instagram have complimented. Granted, I would also need to give nods to my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, Country Living issues, Joanna Gaines, & even Edith Wharton as influencing my sense of home decorating. I love the whole concept of rustic chippy surfaces, cottage living, & the old with the organic. (Mostly because I don’t have to worry about dings & scratches from a massive dog! Those new imperfections add to the aesthetic.)

   

Also, from my summers living in England, I’ve learned to absorb some of the intriguing elements seen in the Cotswolds or preserved homes of authors like Henry James in Rye, Jane Austen at Chawton, or the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth. One of the gifts of travel is the indelible imprint of another culture on your mind, heart, & soul.

In this second installment on Apotheca, my hope is that I’ve been able to convey to readers, viewers, & fellow introverts a special place dear to my heart. Even though I’d prefer to keep this place to myself (as crowds can detract from the very ambiance that makes it so remarkable), my aim in writing pieces for this blog is tied to sharing & supporting others like me. And as a very happy result of this, I’ve been meeting & connecting with many, many introverts.

   

Ultimately, I hope to show others that finding special places & creating environments that soothe the soul. Even slowing down to read these posts or enjoy images can provide a few moments away from the pressures of a society fascinated with business & being busy.