The Muskoka Cookery Challenge; We Are Close!

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL COLLECTING CHALLENGES - IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN OPERATE IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE

SUZANNE CURRIE'S COOKERY NOOKERY? WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM A FULL RESOURCE CENTRE…BUT WE'LL BE READY TO ROLL BY JULY 1ST

     IT WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2012. I HAD ENDURED ONE OF MY QUITE-USUAL, WILD BRAIN-STORMS, ON AND OFF FOR THE WHOLE DAY……., THAT IF VISIBLE AS AN ARTIST'S RENDERING, (IF THAT WAS POSSIBLE) WOULD LOOK LIKE SOMEONE RECKLESSLY TACKED A NORMAN ROCKWELL PAINTING, ONTO A JACKSON POLLOCK ABSTRACT. I'M A MAD, MAD, MAD TRADITIONALIST, AND WHEN WE GET CRANKING ON AN IDEA, ESPECIALLY A NEW BUSINESS PLAN, I'M NOT JUST A LITTLE OBSESSED……I'M TOTALLY, ARMS AND LIMBS OVERBOARD. I GO FROM A DIE-HARD TRADITIONAL AND CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, IN THE DISCUSSION STAGE, TO BEING UNABLE TO MASK ALL MY UNFETTERED LIBERALITIES, FIVE MINUTES LATER. I'VE BEEN LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE, AND MY MOTHER MERLE TOLD HER FRIENDS, AND OUR FAMILY, (BECAUSE I HEARD HER) THAT "TEDDY IS EITHER GOING TO BE A FUTURE PRIME MINISTER, OR A JUNK DEALER." CLOSE. THIS RADICAL AMBITION, IN ALL DEGREES, IS HOW I GOT INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY MUSEUM, FOR THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, BACK IN 1977-78. WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM, OF COURSE, OPENED IN THE EARLY 1980'S. I DID THE SAME THING WITH THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, AND GOT MYSELF INVOLVED WITH ROGER CROZIER, AND THE CROZIER FOUNDATION FOR TWELVE YEARS. I IMMERSE MYSELF, AND NEARLY DROWN, BUT SOMEHOW, THROUGH ALL THE ABSTRACTIONS AND CRAZY MOMENTS, WE (MY WIFE RESCUES ME) SOMEHOW MANAGE TO LAND THE PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT EVEN ONE CARTWHEEL THROUGH THE AIR. CLOSE, BUT THEN, THAT ONLY COUNTS IN HORSESHOES.

     WHAT BEGAN AS NOTHING MORE THAN A SMALL BUSINESS DIVERSIFICATION, FOR OUR ANTIQUE BUSINESS, TO SUIT MY SOON TO RETIRE TEACHER-BRIDE, HAS BECOME A SMALL, RAGING BEAST WITHIN. FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, BIRCH HOLLOW HAS BEEN JAMMED WITH EVERY KIND OF COOKBOOK…..MOST OF THEM BEING OUT-OF-PRINT, AND STACKED FIFTY HIGH. THE IDEA FOR A COOKERY HERITAGE COMPONENT, TO OUR DECADES OLD ANTIQUE BUSINESS, WAS TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THE HUNDREDS OF ANTIQUE, RARE, AND OUT-OF-PRINT COOKBOOKS, AND HANDWRITTEN RECIPES, WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING SINCE OUR FIRST DAYS (AND AUCTIONS) OF MARRIAGE. WHILE I HAVE SOLD THOUSANDS OF OLD BOOKS, WE HAVE VERY SELDOM OFFERED OUR COLLECTABLE COOKBOOKS FOR SALE……UNTIL NOW. PART OF THE NEW BUSINESS, WHICH WILL BE KNOWN AS "SUZANNE CURRIE'S COOKERY NOOKERY," WILL HAVE A PRIVATE ARCHIVES OF OUR MOST COVETED AND IMPORTANT REFERENCE BOOKS, INCLUDING NUMEROUS BINDERS OF HANDWRITTEN RECIPES (DATING BACK TO THE MID 1800'S), WHICH CAN BE UTILIZED BY THOSE RESEARCHING COOKERY HERITAGE……AND JUST LOOKING FOR OBSCURE, OR EVEN FAMILIAR RECIPES THEY REMEMBER FROM THEIR MOTHER OR GRANDMOTHER'S KITCHEN. SUZANNE, A RETIRING SCHOOL LIBRARIAN, WITH THIRTY-ONE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS BEING MY LONG-SUFFERING RESEARCH ASSISTANT, FOR ALL MY MUSKOKA AND ALGONQUIN HERITAGE PROJECTS, WILL BE GLAD TO HELP OUT WITH REFERENCE QUESTIONS, AND AS WELL, SHE CAN BE HIRED TO DO MORE IN DEPTH INVESTIGATIONS. SHE'S A COMPUTER WHIZ AS WELL, SO WE ALWAYS HAVE THAT OPTION TO ASSIST RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS.

      AS TIME GOES BY, WE WILL INCREASE THE SIZE OF OUR REFERENCE COLLECTION, AND OF COURSE, THE BOOKS WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR SALE, AT ANY ONE GIVEN TIME. ADMITTEDLY, WE HAVE HAD ONE OF THE MOST TRYING HALF YEARS, IN OUR MARRIED AND BUSINESS LIVES, AS OUR RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE DOUBLED. I TOOK ON A MID-WINTER WRITING GIG, AND THAT SET US BACK AT LEAST A FULL MONTH. GREAT EH? SUZANNE FINALLY GETS TO RETIRE, AND WALKS INTO A BUSINESS THAT IS EVEN MORE DEMANDING OF TIME, THAN HER SCHOOL CLASSROOM. WE HAVE JUST, THIS PAST WEEK, OPENED UP THE LAST ROOM OF THE OLD MUSKOKA THEATRE COMPLEX, ON MUSKOKA ROAD, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, AND THAT WAS A MONSTER OF A JOB THAT FELL ON THE SHOULDERS OF ANDREW AND ROBERT. SEEING AS BOTH BOYS LEFT THE OPERA HOUSE, AS TECHNICAL STAFF RFECENTLY, THIS LATEST BUSINESS EXPANSION, WAS EXACTLY WHAT WAS NEEDED TO TAKE THEIR MINDS OFF A REALLY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE OPERA HOUSE, BUT FELT THEY HAD NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER. WE WON'T BE INVITING ANY TOWN OFFICIAL, TO CUT THE RIBBON, AT OUR COOKERY NOOKERY OPENING. WELL, WE WON'T BE HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING ANYWAY; JUST SOME COOKIES, AS WE USUALLY HAVE FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. SUZANNE'S RETIREMENT? NOW THAT'S SPECIAL TO ME. I HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE CLERK, FOR THE PAST TEN MONTHS, RUNNING THE SHOP, AND ADMITTEDLY, I WORK BEST AS HER "ALWAYS UNDER FOOT" ELFEN HELPER. I DON'T MIND THIS AS LONG AS SHE DOESN'T INSIST I WEAR A POINTED CAP, AND CURLY-TOED SLIPPERS WITH BELLS ON THEM.

     IT HAS BEEN, BY ITSELF, ONE OF THE MOST DAUNTING PERSONAL CHALLENGES WE'VE EVER UNDERTAKEN, AND FROM DECEMBER, TO THIS POINT, WE HAVE LIVED THE LIFE OF COOKERY HISTORIANS. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE……BY IMMERSING OURSELVES DEEP INTO THE CULTURE. YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THIS IF YOU COLLECT YOURSELF. YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO LIVING THE LIFE OF A COOK BOOK COLLECTOR, A COOKERY HISTORIAN, AND QUALIFYING, MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS A GOOD COOK AT THE SAME TIME. SUZANNE TAUGHT CULINARY ARTS DURING HER YEARS IN TEACHING, AND EVEN LED A SCHOOL BASED CATERING GROUP. SHE LOVES TO COOK, WHICH IS HUGE FOR US, AND GREW UP IN A FAMILY, LIVING IN THE VILLAGE OF WINDERMERE, WHO HELPED WITH FOOD REQUIREMENTS FOR HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY, LIONS CLUB AND CHURCH SUPPERS, SINCE SHE WAS ABLE TO STIR A POT OF TOMATO SAUCE. SHE COOKED AND SERVED CUSTOMERS ALL DAY LONG, AT THE FAMILY'S WINDERMERE MARINA SNACKBAR, KNOWN AS "THE SKIPPER," IN THE MID 1960'S, AND EARLY 1970'S. SHE COMES FROM A MUSKOKA PIONEER FAMILY, FROM THE UFFORD AND THREE MILE LAKE REGION, OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, AND PART OF HER PERMANENT COLLECTION, INCLUDES RECIPES DATING BACK TO THE 1870'S, WHEN THE SHEA AND VEITCH FAMILIES ARRIVED IN THE FREE LAND GRANT REGION OF THE PROVINCE.

     GETTING THIS COOKERY HERITAGE RESOURCE-THING RIGHT, WILL TAKE A YEAR OR MORE. WE KNOW THAT MUCH FOR SURE. BUT SHE'S ALREADY TO GO, TO TAKE ON SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND IS WILLING TO WORK WITH GROUPS TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF COOKERY HERITAGE…..OR ANYTHING ELSE FOOD RELATED. MY JOB IS TO HUNT AND GATHER, AND COME UP WITH A CONTINUOUSLY EXPANDING SELECTION OF INTERESTING, UNIQUE, RARE AND OUT-OF-PRINT COOKBOOKS, LITERALLY FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IF THERE'S A BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO PUT IT ON OUR LIST OF TITLES TO HUNT FOR…..AND WE HAVE MANY SOURCES TO CALL UPON. AS A FAIRLY EXPERIENCED OLD BOOK HOUND, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS SAME THING FOR MOST OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE, SO I'VE TOLD SUZANNE, TO GET MORE SHELVING TO ACCOMMODATE THE UPCOMING FINDS. TRUTHFULLY, WE HAVE FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING IN THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE FIELD, WE BOTH LIKE, AND BOTH WISH TO PURSUE AS FAR AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. I SHOULD REMIND YOU, THAT WHEN WE ADMIT TO THIS, AND PROMISE OURSELVES TO REACH THIS PINNACLE, WE ALWAYS HIT OUR OBJECTIVE. IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A GREAT PERSONAL DEFEAT IF WE DIDN'T COME THROUGH, WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE INTENDED. SUZANNE AND I ARE BOTH BAD LOSERS, AND RABID COMPETITORS WITH OTHERS IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE…..TO BE THE BEST OF THE BUNCH. IT'S JUST THE WAY WE ARE, AND I KNOW WE COULDN'T CHANGE OUR AMBITIONS, EVEN WITH THERAPY. WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGING EACH OTHER SINCE WE GOT MARRIED, AND IT HAS MADE FOR MANY INTERESTING FEATS OF NEAR INSANITY……ATTAINING OUR GOALS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO TURN IT OFF……SO STAND BACK, AND WATCH TWO CRAZY PEOPLE BUILD THE SMITHSONIAN FOR COOKBOOKS, HER IN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST. GIVEN TIME? AFFORDED A FEW MORE YEARS OF HUNTING, BY THE GOOD LORD? SURE WE'LL REACH THE TARGET. MAYBE NOT A MILLION BOOKS. CLOSE THOUGH.

     WE'RE ALL PRETTY EXHAUSTED, WHICH IS KIND OF A PROBLEM, SEEING AS THE SUMMER IS NOW UPON US……AND REST FOR THE WEARY IS POSTPONED UNTIL THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT, WE PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, SO TO SPEAK…….AND LET OURSELVES GET THIS EXHAUSTED, KNOWING THE ONSLAUGHT OF THE TOURIST SEASON IS GOING TO BEAT US TO A PULP. LUCKILY, WE HAVE THE KIND OF SHOP THAT IS FULL OF CREATURE RECREATIONS, WITH AIR CONDITIONING, PLUS SOME VINTAGE SOFAS FOR MID-DAY BREAKS.

     I WROTE EARLIER THIS SPRING, THAT I WOULD OFFER YOU AN HONEST CRITIQUE OF HOW WE HAVE FARED IN OUR MISSION, TO ESTABLISH THIS COOKERY RESOURCE FOR THE PUBLIC……WITHOUT OFFERING ANY EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING READY ON TIME…..WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD PROMISED. I DO BELIEVE WE DROPPED THE BALL FOUR OR FIVE TIMES ON OUR END TO END RUN DOWN FIELD, BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE RECOVERED EACH OF THE FUMBLES, BEFORE BESET BY DISASTER. WE UNDERESTIMATED THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO CATALOGUE OUR COLLECTION, AND JUST HOW MANY MILES WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TRAVEL, IN ORDER TO FIND THE BOOKS WE STILL NEEDED. THIS WAS CRITICAL. AS OF THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE TIDIED UP SOME LOOSE ENDS, AND GOT TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REFERENCE BOOKS, WHILE HUNTING IN ORILLIA. GOT TO HAVE JULIA CHILDS WORK IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION! SO WHILE WE'RE ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED BOOKS AWAY FROM WHERE WE HAD HOPED TO BE, AT THIS TIME, OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION MAKES UP FOR IT. WE'VE GOT A FEW DAYS TO GO, AND WE STILL NEED ANOTHER THREE BOOKSHELVES AND ONE NICE CABINET WITH GLASS DOORS, TO HOUSE THE REFERENCE COLLECTION. WE HAVE EVEN COME IN ON BUDGET, WHICH IS REMARKABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT WON'T BE A STUNNINGLY HUGE COLLECTION, WHEN WE OFFICIALLY COMMENCE SERVICES, BUT IT WILL AT THE VERY LEAST SHOW INTENT……AND THE DIRECTION WE WISH TO GO FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

     IN THE MEANTIME, I'VE GOT TO PLAN SOMETHING NICE FOR SUZANNE, ON THURSDAY EVENING, AS IT WILL HAVE BEEN HER FINAL DAY AS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER. SON ANDREW, HAD ONLY ONE REQUEST OF HIS MOM, AND THAT WAS A FINAL DAY TOUR OF THE BUILDING WHERE HE AND HIS BROTHER WENT TO SCHOOL. ROBERT DIDN'T CARE TOO MUCH FOR SCHOOL, AND SUGGESTED THAT HIS MEMORIES WILL SUFFICE INSTEAD.  I HOPE SHE WILL FIND ME, HER FAITHFUL HUSBAND,  AS A GOOD, AND DURABLE MATE FOR OUR RETIREMENT YEARS……BECAUSE HONESTLY, THE FACT THAT WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME APART, FOR THOSE THIRTY PLUS YEARS, ALLOWED US TO BE FREE OF ONE ANOTHER…..LONG ENOUGH, TO FEEL THAT THE ABSENCE REALLY DID MAKE THE HEART GROW FONDER. I WON'T COMPROMISE HER TIME SPENT ADJUSTING TO EITHER RETIREMENT OR HER NEW BUSINESS……AS I WILL BE OUT DOING MY THING……HUSTLING UP COOKERY HERITAGE ALL OVER THIS PART OF ONTARIO. AND SOMETIMES, JUST STAYING OUT OF HER WAY.

     THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING THIS BLOG TODAY. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU DROP BY! DROP IN AN SEE US AT THE SHOP, IF YOU'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.