JOHN DAY – As the saying goes, “There’s plenty more where that came from.”

Dan and Judy Jefferies, owners of Ki-Yo-Te Antiques in John Day, said that if the collectibles filling their shop aren’t enough for customers, there are plenty more stockpiled at their home outside Mt. Vernon.

“If you don’t find something in the shop, ask us. We probably have whatever you’re looking for at home, or we can get it really fast,” said Judy.

The Jefferies have been collecting antiques for over 40 years. They ran businesses in antique malls over in the Vancouver, Wash., area where they were both born and raised. Dan also worked at Portland International Airport for 30 years.

“It all started with old bottles,” Judy reflected, on their interest in antiques. “It was kind of a snowball-effect after that.”

The couple travel around to antique shows, garage sales, and estate sales, always on the lookout for a good deal or just something different to add to their cache of vintage items.

According to Judy, “We just collect what we like. We have a good selection and a good variety of items.”

The Jefferies said that they specialize in antique knives, bottles, jewelry and old Native American art, such as beaded items and baskets. Dan said that he has recently taken an interest in Native American baskets.

“I have an antique knife collection I’m proud of, too,” he said, adding that the collection includes mostly specialized hunting knives, some from the 1920s, as well as gold and silver pocket knives.

He also is an avid amateur rock hound. The couple have spent a considerable amount of time in the Burns area where wood, agate and jasper crystals are plentiful.

It was during a bottle-hunting excursion near Juntura over 20 years ago that the Jefferies first happened upon Grant County. After stumbling and bumping around on a few off-roads (“We were lost,” Judy said), they ended up in Prairie City.

Falling in love with the area right away, they took many trips to Grant County in the ensuing years and decided to make it their home someday, once Dan retired.

When the time came, things happened fast.

“We put our house in Vancouver on the market and bought over here … the week I retired,” Dan said.

Judy added, “We love it here and haven’t regretted it a bit.”

In addition to collecting on their own and running Ki-Yo-Te Antiques, the Jefferies said they are also in the business of buying whole collections and doing the pricing, on a percentage basis, on estate sales.

The Jefferies, who have three children and six grandchildren, just celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary this month. A daughter and grandson live in the upstairs quarters of Ki-Yo-Te Antiques. Dan’s mother also lives with them in Mt. Vernon.

The couple said they enjoy “just about every outdoor activity,” bow hunting, camping and fishing, and, of course, rock and bottle foraging.

Ki-Yo-Te Antiques is located at 301 E. Main Street in John Day. The Jefferies’ said the shop is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, unless they are out of town at an antique show or estate sale. It is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information, call 575-0408, or after 5 p.m., 932-4737.