CAMDEN — For 76 years, the Smiling Cow in Camden has held a half-price sale as a way of saying thank you to the community. The Cow opened its doors at 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 15. By 5:30 a.m., there was already a line outside waiting to get at all the goodies inside.

It was a crisp October morning. Veterans to the sail standing outside were patient. Once inside the serene scene quickly changed. Shelves were cleared in the blink of an eye. First to go was the Blueberry Maple Syrup. Within 10 minutes of opening that shelf was clear.

Some people did all their Christmas shopping in one fell swoop. Presents and stocking stuffers alike stuffed into their bag, as well as, things for people on their lists. When the store said half price on everything, they mean everything.

Owner Meg Quijano has not been present at all the half-price sales, but she says some years she feels like it.

"It was an idea of my father's to end the season with a bang," she said. "It was a combination of doing something great for the community for them to get Christmas presents and it was great for the store because it meant we could start over fresh in the spring."

The sale lasts for two weeks. The Smiling Cow will close  October 27 and reopen in mid-April. Meg gave a prediction as to what would go first.

"Probably those swings and then the wind spinners out on the back porch," she said. "All the food stuff goes right away, but you never know what people are going to grab. The less we have to store, the better."

By 6:30 a.m. it was a crowded store and the staff it would probably be that way all day. Eight weeks before Christmas and all your Christmas shopping done. Wouldn't that be a nice change.