This time next week

 By this time next week I will be in New Zealand......for 2 months!!

Once again wondering how these huge suckers get into the port of  Nelson 

 So much looking forward to this trip. As well as living in Nelson for a month we will also be staying near Hastings, an area I do not know yet.

I'll be blogging from there.

Over for another year

Christmas is over for another year. Everything was under control at our house.

The wreath was on the door and the outside lights switched on.  I understand that the window cleaners now offer a 'put up the lights' service...if I am in the money next year I will use them as we have two 40 ft pine trees on the lawn.

The tree was decorated with all the old ornaments, including Sams gingerbread men.

The Christmas cactus bloomed right on time. This one is 38 years old,found by my daughter in the trash..

This year the poinsettias  from out local garden center were a rich coral pink.

We even had snow....well sort of.

The table was laid with the best china and the 'once a year' tablecloth....( bought at a garage sale about 12 years ago)

 The Christmas pud blazed merrily. I have not bothered to make my own for about 3 years, ever since I discovered 'allthebest'  here in Toronto.
Christmas cake was conveniently bought at the TGH volunteer bake sale....$10 each and I was very happy.
 BUT....I forgot the crackers and I am down to my last jar of my mincemeat made from Delias recipe about 6 years ago I think.

anniversary

1930s 40s 

Its a year since I opened my 3rd etsy shop fabriquefantastique, devoted to vintage scarves. If truth be known it is my favorite site because it is so easy to manage. Plus you all know how I love scarves.

1940s

 The variety is infinite.....from the delicate late 40s
 

1950s

 to the romantic 50s....that show such a sense of optimism after the austerity war years.

1970s

 Got my pics mixed up a bit here....The 60s and 70s with their ( then )  clashing  colours.

1960s

 On to the  Power Dressing 80s.

The scarves take up very little room, fit in an ordinary envelope ( I use tyvek ones) and can be popped in the letter box at the top of my street.

1980s

And, don't get me started about souvenir scarves......more on those later.

wedding dress

I could not figure out why ' Salt Lake City bride and Groom. was showing in the statistics for one of my etsy shops. 

Turns out this lovely magazine had featured an enchanting local bride wearing a vintage dress she had bought on line from me earlier this year. Do have a look here.

 Lets send this attractive couple best wishes for a long and happy life together.

 The photographs were taken by Travis J Photography and they are gorgeous. I have gone through the entire site and am most impressed.

Travis.....if you were in Toronto I would send all kinds of business your way.  What a talented guy you are.

I certainly could do with some photography lessons. Here is my granddaughter in a vintage dress that is for sale

And thank you, Salt Lake Bride and Groom for the welcome publicity.

Patriotic curiosities

Look what I found. A silk hankie that most likely was to be a coronation souvenir for Edward V111, 1937, in perfect condition. Not sure what uniform the POW is wearing, but this image is seen on many other coronation-that-never-was artifacts

A Canadian Red Ensign that I have just dug out.  Canadian Heritage dates this design at 1873, others were produced in the same year.....can it really be that old? Lovely rich color

Gromets on the end....selvedge to the upper and lower sides....J Hendry penciled on the binding.  Was he a sailor, a cadet? . The ensign was authorized for use on merchant ships and was also used on land.

 A 48 star American flag (?) which was used between  1912 and 1959. Oddly this is made of silk that is 32.5" wide. Quite unsuitable for a flag.  Was it used for other ceremonial   purposes, and if so, what?
Could it possibly have been a patriotic scarf?

All these beauties have been lying around my house for a few decades and I have been having a sort out.

***** imput from my family
* royal hankie should be sold...on etsy or at an antique show
* ensign should go to the cabin, to be hung in the gazebo or a wall hanging in a bed room.
* Old Glory may have been a flag or banner for indoor use, a church or school hall perhaps.

Good bye to the Post Office

Ever since I began selling on line, about 10 years I have used the Post Office at 772 Dovercourt Road. Chosen as it was a short drive, parking often available and was a sorting office too.

The staff ,for the most part, have always been friendly, unknowable and helpful . Cathy (below, who is retiring) once repacked a quilt that was just over the 2k, going to Australia. She found garbage bags to wrap it in, rolled, taped and readdressed...not the prettiest parcel but it arrived just fine. This was much to the amusement of the other customers, some of whom lent a hand.

  Now Canada Post, in its wisdom, has consolidated sorting sites and is selling much of its prime, extraordinarily expensive Toronto real estate.

 New sites will be franchised to Shoppers  Drug Mart, a rather nasty drug store chain. The Shoppers poorly paid staff will, of course, not be unionized. If they are not at the desk they can be found stacking shelves or flogging Elizabeth Arden. But my pet peeve is that they a forced to wear ghastly promotional T shirts " triple Shoppers points this week" or  " try Shoppers saving plan"...not that you get triple points at the PO desk, of course.

As a small (very small) business it is not much fun having to struggle to the back of Shoppers aisles, with 5 or 6 parcels, knocking over the toothpaste and bumping into the Bourjois cosmetic Christmas display.

Yesterday was the last day for Dovercourt,the shelves are bare,
So long,guys. It was good to know you.

Oh....and what is  Canada Post going to do with its new found millions and savings......why? put the rates up,of course.