he immediately retreated to radio silence with the thought that the picking was more suited to his sensibilites. i have to say, the shop has never looked better so i tend to agree. the thing about picking full time is that stuff does tend to accumulate. and bonds are formed. and just how thin is that line between accumulating and hoarding ? that question is possibly a low blow but

honestly ? there is a whack of depression glass-cobalt and amber and red sweet jesus- and i have peeked into a box of it on the back of a truck. is it in my shop ? no. it is not.

poole pottery ? boxes of it. the most stunning green wood kitchen utensils that never met a dishwasher i ever did see. in my inventory ? nope.

i am now going with the public taunting method so popular in these modern times. i think it is only reasonable to expect that stock purchased for the store should be in the store.

however,  it doesn't take in to account that thing that happens to us pickers sometimes. we fall for it. pieces get their hooks into us too. i know it has happened to me when i put a piece on the floor priced for a king. a blue enamel bowl for 65 dollars. that kind of thing.

i know it has happened to dave because i don't have these pieces. his house does. boxes and boxes of treasure. are they that much closer to being in the store, after this public outing ? betcha. i'll let you know.

if you don't live in the big smoke you may not know that winter is kind of a big deal for us here, a few years back we had to call in the military to shovel the sidewalks. (insert canned laughter here, for our winters are tidy little events compared to the bulk of the country, it just seems to bamboozle us city folk somewhat)

roncesvalles feels like a hopeful pussy willow these days. our street is blossoming despite the season of the snow. so much talent just pulled up and dropped down we feel the vibration of it down loro. mrs h is amused and encouraged by the sudden pinwheel of talent featured on the avenue.

The Store is busting a gut with fresh stock , perhaps before the snow takes these brave pussy willows you will save them and come see me for a vase ? or you could always go see sara up at sweetpeas and forget i was condoning liberating branches from a neighbors tree. yes, that might be better. just come for the vase then.

how this slipped through the mine field of diaries and jewelry boxes is beyond me. has this red white and blue beauty a higher calling ? a dogs collar ? a dolls house padlocked against the passage of time ? not just for sweethearts , the sweetheart lock.

right now its higher calling is being the cherry on top of my display case. everything is a little shinier for its presence.

the exquisite penmanship of the past has retreated into the hesitant strokes of modern times, when our fingers tap out our thoughts and their dexterity slowly dwindles in a sad Darwinian denouement.

at some point round about the 1920's we ended up with the modern typewriter. ironically, i suspect it took a whole lot longer to use that newfangled time saving devise than it would have to put pen to paper. perhaps it is the time spent thinking of others in this season that is the charm. take it slow. make it sincere. use all the weapons in your arsenal to let your feelings be known- include a letter you posters of cards. peace.

i think it is an interesting point of reflection on how much times have changed in the last couple of decades that no woman in her right mind would be caught dead being so unabashedly festive in these modern times.

when did we become such a cynical lot ? don't we all have a great  aunt mona in our hazy distant memories who could take your breath away with her one two punch combo of sparkly and shiny ? it would knock your socks off to watch the unveil-silk scarf off head, long gloves off arms, fur off shoulders and whammo, there it was, christmas in jewelry form.

heaven  forbid you should be just the right height during  the christmas season,you would spend the next 12 minutes with a perfect christmas tree embossed on one cheek post hug, and some coral lipstick  on the other. (many of you will have smelled like menthol cigarettes to boot)

i throw the challenge out there, who amongst you has enough lady shimmer to rock this impeccably festive piece of the fanciest season ? it awaits your visit, on a mannequin just inside the front door of the junction shop. i believe in you. 

they survived the big storm of '09. uncle james wake in '17. that huge fight back in the forties when he gave her the pearls she wore to her grave. they made it through visits from company both welcome and strained. late nights / early mornings.

112 years of drama has left them unscathed. they are ready for a new cupboard, fancy potatos and gravy, new hands to wash them up with a silent smile of remembrance at the joy of conversation and laughter. could it be you ?

we came together to celebrate many things, this wall is one of them. this wall has been hidden behind change rooms for the last six and a half years. until a few short weeks ago i never thought of liberating the wall. i had taken its beauty for granted, stopped seeing its desire to bust out and shine.

it has been a big season for busting out , we also did the reveal on all those boxes that found a reason to get on up out of the cellar. just so fine.  mrs h is right inspired to carry on travelling this path, it can only lead good places. magical places. waiting just around the corner places...

Occasionally she'll  bring me up something; It's always fun, unexpected and without question spectacular.  She knows that I resell the items, she's happy to have it back in the hands of someone who'll appreciate it as much as she does.

This is what she offered up this summer: an Anchorglass Polka Dot Pattern Range Set.

Still in the box, still in the tissue. MINT!

I'll bring it in on Tuesday; while I'm at it I'll bring in a trunk with 50-60 pieces of Pyrex and Fire King.

I know that Robyn will display it in a way that Pamela will approve.

Dave

I compensate for not smoking by collecting all things cigarette: advertising, tobacco tins, ash trays... my collection is varied and I thought I'd drop off a few things for Mrs H this week.

A Black Cat Cigarettes store window that I picked in Orillia in the 80's

A Boule d'Or advertising plaque that I found in France about 10 years ago

And a pair of tramp art ashtrays from our own Roncy neighbourhood

We'll see how these are received and maybe I'll bring in more this month