Old George's Hidden Village

 Last week we went on a day trip out to Old George's hidden village in Whitewood, it's a couple of hours from here and it's a neat place to go (if a little dusty), part Museum, part antique shop, part something else entirely, Old George is the owner and quite the character- happy to tour you around and explain the place, and it's a great place for kids, (well maybe it's just that way for our kids, they're well versed in looking at old junk and finding it interesting). If your kid has any sort of imagination they'd love it- there's tons to look at and imagine about, N was almost every shopkeeper there was, a sheriff, a shoe salesman, a pioneer woman, a kid about to get eaten by a bear, you name it.

It's like an old curio cabinet you can walk around in, and it's really interesting, and inspiring to see this place, because it's huge and built out of one man's imagination and passion for old things and times. And also because there's a treasure trove of stuff to get your juices flowing, at least two new ideas for pots came out of this trip, and lots of designs that I'll appropriate, as soon as I get the chance to work in the studio again.

If you're passing by Whitewood Sask. this summer I highly recommend a little visit to Old Geo.

Vintage Treasures

I love thrift store shopping- I was raised on it- and whenever my mom asks you to guess how much an item cost her you should always start at 5 cents, always, sometimes it's true, and even when it's not, it's probably not too far off. Anyways- usually there isn't too much for me but I always go and check out one place in particular because they have great sewing notions, old thread, and buttons, knitting needles, lace trims, I go with whatever change I have in my pocket, and try not to spend over that amount.

The other day I was dropping off some old clothes there and went in with 2.75, and I had some great luck- five of those small blue and white plates- 25 cents each, and the red and white table runner for 75 cents- but actually it was half price! Also the jello mold for 25 cents, which I plan to use to bake coffee cake in. I left the place with change!

One of the great things about shopping at second hand stores is that usually your money is going towards a good cause,  and I love the older church -run thrift stores for exactly this reason- when you buy something at Value village- it's still Eco -friendly and all, but it's essentially mimicking a department store, and they're not a non-profit organization. When you support the smaller stores you're probably contributing to your local non-profits, and that's important, and Eco-friendly, and Human-friendly. Also, though it's less important, when you step into these stores, it's just like stepping back in time, they charge ridiculously low prices for things, and it makes me feel nostalgic and just generally happy. 


 P.S. I wasn't sure I could bake in the mold- but I looked it up- and sure enough it's just coloured aluminium, not copper, so it's safe to bake in- you wouldn't want to bake in unlined copper pans, or jello molds with any sort of varnish on them.

History

The weather this weekend was a little depressingout here- a blizzard- the yard that was just free of snow- filled up again- such is life in Manitoba I suppose. But while we stayed in and avoided windows N decided to dress up a bit- choosing the most extravagant dress in her wardrobe- velvet with jewels. Then we went through a few more boxes of stuff , and K found this snoopy watch. This watch was his when her was five or six- he said it stayed in such good shape because he grew out of it right away- it's just the right size for N- not that she can tell time yet- but she sure loved having it on her wrist.

It's a priceless thing to find the treasures of your youth in a box in the attic, but it's even better to see them become a treasure for your children too.

Tea for Two

Monday Inspiration: Ethnic Furniture

Over the last couple of Weeks K and I have had a few chances to see some really fantastic Ethnic Furniture collections. One was pretty exclusively Doukhobor, and really really refined beautiful stuff, another collection was on display at a Mennonite house barn museum in southern Mb.- in which a few of our chairs (which are possibly Mennonite), and a sweet little carding bench of ours made an appearance. The furniture we collect is not quite museum quality (this stuff can get expensive) but it's all handmade- and after a few envious days of looking at collections that we will never ever be able to put together- we figured out what it is that drew us to this furniture in the first place.

The people who built it had nothing- not even the money to buy good quality wood- a lot-if not all of our furniture was made out of second rate wood- apple crates-2 x 4's, old doors you name it- but the person who made it knew what they were doing- they wood pegged it, dovetailed, scalloped, made rounded drawers, they had nothing but skills. And we love that- it's a reminder of the people who were hardy enough to survive out here in Manitoba; the immigrants who settled out here, who, despite their serious lack of goods made the best stuff with what they had.

There's lots of old furniture out there that isn't so well made, it's true, but when you come across the stuff that is well done, it's priceless. ( not literally priceless, mind you, wouldn't that be grand if it was?)


( more photos of our furniture here)

Guilty Pleasures

I've been picking up books at the local value village for a little while now- it's a bit of a routine- I buy some kind of light trash-esque paperbacks (or sorry- did I say trash-esque? I meant Chick Lit. Oh how I hate that phrase, but guiltily love the genre.), then I also buy some proper literature books- Edith Wharton, Timothy Findlay, Margaret Atwood etc.- to ease the guilt a bit. (I'll take turns reading 'fun' books and 'serious' books- though truthfully I think they're all fun)

Lately though I've been running into another genre- food literature- I've picked up Micheal Pollan's The omnivore's Dilemma, Last chance to Eat by Gina Mallet and some other frightening books about chemicals and organics and food. All of the books are in top shape and have highlighted selections- so I can only assume that they are textbooks. The other day I confirmed it when I saw two bonafide textbooks about food politics. I've been enjoying these books immensely, and they've been really reinforcing just how important it is to re-vamp the way we eat.

I'll be sure to keep you posted on my reactions to the latest such book- The Hundred Year Lie- It focuses on chemicals and drugs, and toxins, and it's my punishment for reading(and enjoying) a book by Sophia Kinsella of the Shop-aholic book series.

What's your 'guilty' book genre?

Lemon Cake

I tried out this recipe for lemon almond cake the other day. It's a low calorie cake- which I thought might be good, and I had a few lemons kicking around (plus I like the novelty of boiling lemons whole and pureeing them, then using them like applesauce in cakes).

But it wasn't very good- the lemons were slightly bitter- I think If I boiled it in a simple syrup it would maybe solve that- but it would also probably no longer be low calorie, so really what's the point? It was passable- but I don't think I'll make it again, it did look pretty though.

This cake plate is an auction find that we spent the day waiting for. The auctioneer waited till the bitter end to sell it, but I was so in love with it we waited, It was worth it though, I love how fierce the lions' look.

Flea Market Finds

A teeny tiny tea set

and an Edith Gator decorated cream jug.

Also- myriad crocheted and lace trims and some vintage hankies- of course.