Love Cats

We were never going to have more than two cats. So how did we end up with four? Find out at the bottom my good friends. 

 Above: Duncan holds two-month-old Stella. Possibly the cutest kitten known to humanity.

 Four-month-old DJ (the cat was actually named Duncan so he's DJ for Duncan Junior). I love the "Kindly set me down" look on DJ's face.

 We've set Stella and DJ up in the upstairs bathroom until all cats get to know each other.

 Above: Stella and DJ have snugs on some pillows. Ahhhh...

 Meanwhile outside the bathroom, Kiko gets increasingly stoned on the catnip ball spinner while Marty watches on in horror. "Steady on old chap."

 "Catnip. Where have you been all my life."

 Marty peeps under the door to try to catch a glimpse of our newest family members.

Alright, here's the story. On Tuesday, it was very hot in Ontario. My family had converged in Dundas for a picnic. We left a few windows open. Marty managed to pop through a screen and when we got back, Ken noticed Marty high-tailing it away. My family circled the block shaking cat treats and calling his name. No Marty. I blanketed the neighbourhood with missing cat signs and we kept the search party going. It was difficult sleeping that night, and the night after. On Thursday night I went out on the porch as I'd forgotten that I'd applied paint remover on a step stool. It was around 11 p.m. when I started scraping paint off under the light on our porch. I heard meowing and it was like something out of a made for TV movie. "Marty - is that you?" I could see the silhouette of a light coloured cat on our neighbour's front lawn. I slowly crept closer as I pulled off my rubber gloves. He kept rolling on his back to get his belly rubbed. I finally got close enough to rub his belly and as I did, I grabbed the scruff of his neck and brought him in, much to the amazement of Ken, Duncan, and Kiko who harassed him for the rest of the evening.

Earlier yesterday, we had gone to look at some kittens up for adoption and fell madly in love with Stella and DJ. Someone had found Stella the day before with her little head stuck in a fence. DJ was getting passed over because he's not a wee kitten anymore. He's a very fun cat and we've never had a black cat before.

So that's how two became four. I hope to have happy updates in the future. Thanks for reading!

Duly Noted Mother

My mother pointed out that I mistook George VI for Edward VI! in a recent post for a 1937 coronation glass I recently bought. The correction has been made. I'm afraid I get the royals muddled all the time. It might help if they introduced some new names occasionally - Prince Chester.

Thanks mama. Now back to Downton Abbey.

Salt 'N Peppa's Here

Every now and then, you hit the jackpot with a garage sale that sells the kind of things you're looking for and the prices are cheap. That was the sale I went to yesterday. 

 For $1, I got these three salt and pepper shakers (sixties 'made in Japan'), the atomic age egg cups, the funky seventies flour sifter, and the 1937 King George VI Coronation glass. Woo-hoo! Start the car!!!!

 I bought this Kathie Winkle tea pot at the Aberfoyle Antique Market last week for $15. I just had to have it. I've never seen any of her tea pots before. Sometimes I wonder if she's still alive.

 Through Kijiji, I bought this vintage sixties Kodak Brownie Light Holder. The 8 mm movie camera would screw to the top of it and two flood lights would screw into the front to illuminate the subject of your movie. I'm now on the hunt for the movie camera that goes on top. It looks so cool when you see it put together.

 I miss Kodak!

For $20, I also bought this amazing Junior View-Master bakelite projector that is operated through light. I just think it looks so stunning. It's hard to believe that goods used to be made to serve a function, but also be so stylish. Unless you pay for designed items, it's hard to find that nowadays.

RIP James Garner

I just heard that James Garner has died. I have so many memories of being a kid in the seventies and having The Rockford Files on. My mother especially liked James Garner - wink wink. They don't make 'em like James Garner these days.

Kijij & Auction Treasures

 Barely a week goes by that I don't buy something from Kijiji (a Canadian online Classified company similar to Craig's List). Lately, I've been buying items for our booth, but when I saw this beautiful Niagara Falls motion lamp from the 1920s, I just had to have it for myself. It looks beautiful lit up at night, but it's so old that I don't want to leave it on too long in case it melts.

 I bought this nifty C-I-L oil colour tube display box at a country auction in Dundas yesterday. I paid $30 for it, which may seem like madness, but I love commercial art and I'm sure I'll use it. Check out the handy storage at the back.

I also bought a very cool vintage floor lamp at the auction, which I haven't taken a picture of, plus this Bakelite phone, which looks very old. It will be sold eventually, but I can enjoy it for now.

Oops - Happy Canada Day!

My last post was ranty and we're so much more than a nation of masochists. This is what we're all about...





Happy Birthday Mama. You don't look a day over 147!

Goodwill Vs. Value Village

I used to like shopping at Goodwill better than Value Village.  My folks have a Goodwill near them where in the past, I've found countless pieces of primo vintage goods for a fair price. The last time I went there (granted it was late on a Sunday), the only thing good was a cheerful fondu pot (just the pot). I was almost tempted to buy it when I noticed the $9 price sticker! I almost fainted.

They do have a silent auction there which my father has done very well at, but I'm a little sad that things have become so expensive.

Value Village is hit and miss. Sometimes they too seem to be overcharging for goods, but there is always a good chance that I will come home at least with a nice tea towel for $2.99.

I know, I know. By blogging about vintage things (and now selling), I'm contributing to the price push at these stores. However, I do feel that if you're running a thrift store that gets their stock mainly from donated goods (which I contribute to  - as do thousands of other people each day), we deserve to get a deal. It's like having a yard sale. I participated in Valley Antiques Garage Sale in May and I blew things out at rock bottom prices because it wasn't an antique booth - it was a yard sale. People don't come to yard sales wanting to pay more than $2 for most things. All that was left behind was donated. Yes, donated to Goodwill. I'm Canadian and for many of us that means straddling the line between charity and masochism.