Saturday Saling

I set out Saturday morning with Ilaiy and Dana for the farmer's market and a few garage sales. I have to tell you about one particular stop.

We were late. The proprietor was closing down, taking a few items back into the house. He invited us to continue to look around, and indicated that he had a few more things in the house; he asked what we were looking for. "How about a table and chairs?" I asked him.

Awww. No. Someone just took off with the table and chairs. Oh well. Early bird gets the worm.

But then he said, "oh, heck, just come on in, and see if there's anything that interests you."

I am trying now to remember just what I was expecting. Maybe a desk, or a chair with the price tag still on it? A few things boxed up in the doorway?

I do remember that we gasped in unison when we stepped into his home. It was filled! Floor-to -ceiling with beautiful art and antiques and furniture and clocks and books and lamps and radios and...history. It was as if we'd stepped through a portal into another time, another world. I was Robin Williams, in What Dreams May Come, standing inside a favorite painting.

Our host was most kind, showing us into every room, and giving us oral histories of several of the artifacts: Tattered books of political cartoons from the early 1900s. Gossip chairs. Stained glass. A billiards table built in the late 1800s.

He allowed me take a few photos, gave me permission to blog about it. The photos don't really do the place justice, but I hope you can get an idea. Upon entering:

(Click on any image to enlarge)

This organ really works. He played a few notes for us.



A matching cat in every room. I would hardly have been surprised if this cat had just come right out and introduced himself in plain English.



Clocks. Working clocks; the ticking enhanced the ambiance of the house even more. They were wonderful to look at and to listen to.



I fell in love with this little globe lamp, but it wasn't for sale. "It goes so well with this room," he told us. He was right. It fit his place better than it ever would mine; it is where it should be.


We were there for quite some time, poking around and admiring. We left out of sheer politeness, as we could have all fixed ourselves a sandwich and stayed all day.

We left his home feeling both astonished and...cozy. We'd staggered out of bed at the crack of 9:00 to hit a few sales, and—Lo!—smacked into an nice guy that led us into his house of treasures. It was an unexpected twist that left us feeling all warm and fuzzy. Amazing things are just waiting to happen to you, if you get out of your lazyboy and step outside.

Don't you love it?