Muskoka Antiques; Some Expert Help Offered For Thomson Banjo; Romper Room Gibson

Vintage Gibson Acoustic Used By A Guitarist On Romper Room

1800's Dulcimer Style Instrument From a Muskoka Lumber Camp

THOMSON TENOR BANJO ATTRACTS A SUBSTANTIAL AUDIENCE - AN ART TREASURE; OR JUST THE CAMPSITE DOODLES OF AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY PICKER?

WE HAVE OFFERS TO MORE THOROUGHLY EXAMINE THE MYSTERIOUS INSTRUMENT.... WITH THE SKETCH OF A BEAUTIFUL LADY


     WHEN I TRY TO EXPLAIN, IN THE MOST GENERAL AND BIASED TERMS, HOW WILDLY EXCITING THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE BUSINESS IS, I HEAR LAUGHTER IN THE ECHOES OF MY CAVERNOUS HEAD. THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION IS FOR THE NEARLY DECEASED YOU SAY? MANY OF US MAY ALREADY BE DEAD AND DON'T KNOW IT? I UNDERSTAND HOW IN A BROAD STROKE OF OPINION, ANTIQUE DEALERS HAVE TAKEN ON THE CHARACTER OF VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS WITH A PULSE. WE'RE A LITTLE MORE VIBRANT THAN THIS, BUT STEREOTYPES ARE WHAT THEY ARE.....SO WE HAVE TO GET ALONG IN BUSINESS, THE BEST WE CAN, WHICH ACCORDING TO PUBLIC OPINION, MAY ONLY BE A FEW FEET AHEAD OF THE UNDERTAKER FOLLOWING BEHIND.
     TO THE CURIOUS AND TUTORED READERSHIP OF THIS BLOG, AND MY OTHER PUBLISHED MONTHLY COLUMNS,I KNOW MANY FOLLOWERS HAVE THIS IMAGE OF A PIPE SMOKING, WRINKLED CURMUDGEON, SITTING IN LOW LAMP LIGHT, AT THE BACK OF HIS OR HER SHOP (MINUS THE PIPE, MOST LIKELY), GETTING TURNED ON BY THE GLOSSY PAGES OF A VINTAGE EATON'S CATALOGUE. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PAGES ADVERTISING THE NEWEST RAGE IN UNDERWEAR. RATHER, ANTIQUATED IMAGES OF THE ITEMS THEY HAVE JUST ACQUIRED, FOR A BARGAIN PRICE, AT A LOCAL FLEA MARKET. THERE'S JUST THIS OVERVIEW OF ANTIQUE DEALERS, THAT DOESN'T PAINT A VERY ACCURATE OR FLATTERING PICTURE, OF THE KIND OF ADVENTURES WE CAN GET UP TO, WHEN WE FINALLY PUT DOWN THE PIPE, AND FOLD UP THE CATALOGUE. IT IS TRUE, THAT A GOODLY NUMBER OF ANTIQUE DEALERS ARE SET IN THEIR WAYS, AND HAVE SOMEWHAT MORE CONSERVATIVE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT THEIR ROLE IS, IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF HISTORY AND ITS MEMORIALS. SOME OF US HAVE THAT STIRRING WITHIN, AND MAY EVEN ADMIT AFTER A COUPLE OF COCKTAILS, THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WILD SIDE.....JUST SHY OF ADMITTING TO OWNER THE BAD-BOY CHOPPER STORED UNDER A TARP IN THE BACK SHED, A REMNANT OF OUR "EASY RIDER" DAYS. MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE "INDIANA JONES," KIND OF PASSION, THAT WE LET OUT ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
    THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OUR AMBITIONS, AND FOLLIES, OFTEN GERMINATE FROM THE FACT, WE ARE CONSIDERED AN ELDERLY BUNCH; AND I SUPPOSE IF YOU WERE TO UNDERTAKE A CONTINENT-WIDE SURVEY, IT MIGHT BE FOUND STATISTICALLY, THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE DEALERS, IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.....IS IN THE MID TO LATE FIFTIES. WOULD ANY OF US BE SURPRISED BY THAT REVELATION? METHINKS WE MIGHT SUSPECT THAT ANY DEALER IN THEIR FIFTIES, WAS STILL A GREENHORN, STILL BEING A LITTLE SHORT ON WISDOM. IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS! IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOME YOUNGER FOLKS GETTING INVOLVED IN THE PROFESSION, BECAUSE IT WOULD SMARTEN-UP SOME OF US OLD FARTS, AND YOU NEVER KNOW......SPARK US TO JUMP ON THE CHOPPER AGAIN, AND TAKE TO THE OPEN ROAD; HITTING ANTIQUE SHOPS AND YARD SALES ALL ALONG ROUTE 66; TO FIND OURSELVES ALL OVER AGAIN. IN OUR NUMBER, LET'S BE CLEAR, THERE ARE SOME CRAZOIDS, WHO LOVE TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES IN OUR INDUSTRY...., AND GO AFTER THE KIND OF ADVENTURE, AKIN TO SUCKING THE MAPLE SAP RIGHT OUT OF THE TREE....WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF SPILE OR BUCKET. NOW THAT'S RAW, MAN! CAN'T YOU JUST SEE ALL US CUTTING-LOOSE ANTIQUE DEALERS RUNNING AMUCK LIKE THIS, TRYING TO DRILL HOLES IN THE TRUNKS OF MAPLES, WITH THE TIPS OF OUR CANES. I'M ONE OF THIS GROUP AND I'VE GOT FIVE CANES IN CASE I BREAK THE FIRST FOUR.....IN DUST-UPS WITH PACIFISTS.
     YOU KNOW I'M A KIDDER. RIGHT? BUT THERE IS A PORTION OF THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, HONESTLY, THAT IS SO DARN EXCITING AND ADVENTURE-FILLED, THAT IT'S NO WONDER WE GET CREDITED AS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL HOARDING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD....AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY. IT'S JUST SO DARN MUCH FUN BEING OUT THERE ON THE HUSTINGS, COLLECTING ALL KINDS OF STUFF, AND HAULING THE TREASURE HOME. WHAT IMMENSE JOY VISITING ALL OUR FAVORITE AND SPECIAL HAUNTS, BEING HISTORIANS AND EXPLORERS, RELIVING OLD ADVENTURES AND TIEING INTO SOME NEW ONES; EACH BEING KIND OF A SURPRISE. THE "SURPRISE" FACTOR SHOULD NEVER BE MINIMIZED. THE SURPRISING ASPECT, TRUTH BE KNOWN, IS THAT THE WORTH OF DISCOVERY ISN'T JUST THE ZEST OF MAKING MONEY.
     IT MIGHT SHOCK SOME READERS, WHO MAY HAVE AN OPINION OF DEALERS AS M0NEY-GRUBBING BANDITS. WE ARE ACTUALLY FED IN THIS INDUSTRY, BY THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY, WE CAN ADD TO THE HISTORICAL CHRONICLE OF THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE AND WORK IN. WE CAN GET AN ENORMOUS THRILL, WHEN WE FIND AN HISTORICAL "MISSING LINK," THAT WAS DISMISSED AS BEING LONG GONE....OR NEVER HAVING EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF THERE WAS AN ANTIQUE DEALERS HALL OF FAME, AND SERVICE PINS HANDED OUT AMONGST THE INDUSTRY, FOR ACTS OF COMMUNITY GENEROSITY, I THINK YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY ANTIQUE MEMBERS, HAVE MADE HUGE DONATIONS OF HERITAGE ITEMS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVINCE AND NATION, AT NO PERSONAL GAIN OTHER THAN SATISFACTION. ANTIQUE DEALERS AS HISTORIANS? ANTIQUE DEALERS BENEVOLENT? I MIGHT COMPLAIN FROM TIME TO TIME, ABOUT THE AGING OF OUR PROFESSION, BUT I WILL NEVER STOP BEING AN INDUSTRY DEFENDER. IF I GAVE UP ANTIQUES RIGHT NOW, AND SWORE-OFF GOING TO ANOTHER AUCTION, ANTIQUE MALL, OR YARD SALE EVER AGAIN, I WOULD STILL WRITE WITH CONFIDENCE, THAT HAVING ANTIQUE DEALERS IN OUR COUNTRY, IS AN IMPORTANT AND UNDER-UTILIZED SAFEGUARD THAT HERITAGE WILL BE GUARDED, CONSERVED, AND IN SOME CASES OFFERED ON LOAN OR EVEN DONATED, TO MUSEUMS; AND BOTH NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES. WHILE IT'S TRUE WE MAKE OUR LIVING BY EXPLOITING THE GOOD GRACES OF HERITAGE, THAT AFFORDED US THESE ABUNDANT RESOURCES, WE ALSO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT FOR THE NATIONAL GOOD. THESE DEALERS ARE LARGELY UNSUNG, BUT SUFFICE THAT MANY OF US INSIDERS KNOW WE HAVE TAKEN OUR ROLE IN HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SERIOUSLY....AND WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHEN WE HAVE TO DIVE IN, AND SAVE SOMETHING WE SUSPECT HAS A GREATER SIGNIFICANCE THAN CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.
     WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE POINT OF THIS BLOG, REGARDING YESTERDAY'S FOCUS ON A VINTAGE TENOR BANJO, WITH A SKETCH OF A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE SKIN, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE HANDIWORK OF CANADIAN PAINTER, TOM THOMSON. IF YOU MISSED YESTERDAY'S BLOG, YOU CAN ARCHIVE BACK TO READ IT. IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT THOMSON, AND BY GOLLY I'VE WRITTEN A LOT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, YOU CAN ALSO ARCHIVE A "THOMSON" REFERENCE, TO VIEW ALL MY PAST ENTRIES. WE HAVE BEEN FLOODED WITH TEXTS AND EMAILS ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS STORIED BANJO, INCLUDING NOTES FROM THOMSON EXPERTS, WHICH IS OF COURSE, VERY EXCITING. THE ONE DIFFICULTY DEALERS OFTEN HAVE, YOU SEE, IS GETTING TO THIS LEVEL, BECAUSE IT IS OFTEN WRONGLY ASSUMED, ALL WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS A CASH REWARD. A BIG PAY DAY PROFIT. WELL OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE NICE, SEEING AS WE HAD TO SPEND A LOT MONEY, IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THESE PIECES IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT WE DON'T PRESUME TO KNOW IT ALL, AND FREQUENTLY WE LIKE TO RUN THESE FINDS PAST MUSEUM AND GALLERY STAFF, EVEN IF JUST FOR PIECE OF MIND. NO DEALER WANTS TO LOSE MONEY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PRACTICE THE MOST IMPORTANT ANTIQUE COLLECTOR'S RULE OF OPERATION....WHICH RESTS ON THE PREMISE OF PROPER IDENTIFICATION. WE DON'T WANT TO SELL A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ARTIFACT, HAVING NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, JUST BECAUSE OF LETHARGY TO FOLLOW ALL THE LEADS. IN SOME AREAS, THERE IS A CLOSER BOND BETWEEN MUSEUMS AND THE ANTIQUE COMMUNITY. I CAN ONLY THINK OF THIS AS A GOOD THING. WE DO, FROM TIME TO TIME, NEED EXPERT OPINION. SOME OF US DO FEEL AS IF WE ARE IMPOSING, WHEN WE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. SO GETTING A CALL FROM AUTHORITIES ON TOM THOMSON, REGARDING THE BANJO, IS CERTAINLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AT THE PERFECT TIME.
     IF WE HAVE AN HEIRLOOM, WE SURE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, TO, FOR EXAMPLE, KEEP IT IN CANADA, OR RETURN TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT OFTEN THE KIND OF STORY THAT EARNS A DOUBLE BANKED HEADLINE, ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE DAILIES, UNLESS IT'S THE RETURN OF AN EGYPTIAN MUMMY WITH ROYAL LINEAGE, THIS PASSING ALONG OF HERITAGE PIECES OCCURS ALL THE TIME. QUIETLY. WITHOUT FUSS. AS A CREDIT TO THE ANTIQUE  DEALERS, IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAD ACCESS TO THESE ACTS OF GENEROSITY AND STEWARDSHIP.
     WE ARE CERTAINLY WILLING TO LOAN-OUT THE BANJO AND THE SKIN WITH THE POTENTIAL THOMSON SKETCH ON THE INSIDE, ALTHOUGH WE WILL HAVE TO WEIGH THIS OVER AS TO WHEN AND WHERE, BECAUSE OF THE NEW INTEREST IN THE VINTAGE INSTRUMENT. FUNNY THING, THIS NEW-AGE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SHARING.....THAT UNLIKE CALLING THE OPERATOR,....LET'S JUST CALL HER "SARAH," LIKE THEY USED ON THE OLD SIT COMS, SOCIAL MEDIA NOW IS LIKE SETTING FIRE TO YOUR UNDERWEAR WHILE YOU'RE STILL WEARING THEM. WITHIN HOURS, WE WERE GETTING RESPONSES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM NOT ONLY OUR MUSIC FOLLOWERS, BUT FROM ADMIRERS OF TOM THOMSON'S LIFE AND WORK....INCLUDING FROM THE ALGONQUIN AREA WHERE HE PAINTED SOME OF THIS MOST MEMORABLE ART PANELS. NOW HERE'S HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED. I HAVE RUN STORIES AND THE PHOTOGRAPH, REGARDING THIS BANJO, ON AT LEAST SIX OCCASIONS. IT HAS RUN AS A COMPONENT OF REGULAR COLUMN IN BOTH "CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE," SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND "THE GREAT NORTH ARROW," PUBLISHED IN DUNCHURCH, ONTARIO....PLUS DOZENS OF REFERENCES ON THIS BLOG SITE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. WHILE THEY ALL INDIVIDUALLY, INSPIRE SOME CHATTER ABOUT ITS AUTHENTICITY, THE NUMBERS ARE USUALLY PRETTY LOW. AS I WRITE A LOT OF HISTORICAL PIECES ABOUT THOMSON, I'M USED TO GETTING INTO ONLINE DEBATES INVOLVING HIS MYSTERIOUS DEATH, IN JULY 1917, ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF A CANOEING MISADVENTURE, ULTIMATELY THE RESULT OF THE LONG HELD BELIEF, HE DROWNED. I'M OF THE SIDE THAT BELIEVES HE WAS MURDERED, AND IS STILL BURIED IN ALGONQUIN PARK. BUT THAT'S A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY.
     LET'S JUST SAY, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO PLAY THE TENOR BANJO THAT WAS ONCE....AND I SAY, "POTENTIALLY" OWNED BY ONE OF CANADA'S BEST KNOWN ARTISTS. WE HAVE SEVERAL WHO WISH TO TAKE THE INSTRUMENT AND IMAGE FOR PROPER IDENTIFICATION, COMPARING THE ART WORK WITH OTHER SKETCHES. THESE ARE EXPERTS. WE ARE IN NEED OF EXPERTS. SO WE PLAN TO CO-OPERATE WITH THESE FOLKS, BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE HAVE RUN IT BY SEVERAL EXPERTS IN THE PAST, WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE, AND YET NON-COMMITTAL, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE OFFERED THEM THE OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING IT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. SO TO HAVE THIS SITUATION ARISE NOW, OUT OF OUR NEWLY LAUNCHED MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP "FACEBOOK PAGE," IS KIND OF NEAT AND A LITTLE UNEXPECTED. BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE EXCITING MOMENTS FOR US OLDTIMERS OF THE INDUSTRY, WHEN FATE SMILES UPON US IN THIS FASHION.....AND WE GET TO PLAY A SMALL PART IN FILLING IN SOME OF THE MISSING PLASTER OF OUR NATIONAL CHRONICLE. WHAT I'M ALSO POINTING OUT, IS THAT IT IS DONE LIKE THIS, MORE TIMES THAN WE WILL EVER KNOW, BETWEEN ANTIQUE DEALERS, COLLECTORS, AND PUBLIC FACILITIES DEALING WITH HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND EXHIBITION.
     I CAN TELL YOU UP FRONT, THAT WE INTEND TO CO-OPERATE WHERE WE CAN. AS SON ANDREW IS THE RIGHTFUL OWNER OF THIS POTENTIAL PIECE OF CANADIAN ART, AND I DARE SAY, CANADIAN MUSIC HISTORY, I KNOW THE IDEA OF SELLING OR DONATING IT WILL START HIS EYES ROLLING, AND FEW REMAINING ROOF-TOP HAIRS TO STAND ON END. HE'S NOT A RICH MAN. HOW MANY MUSICIANS THESE DAY ARE, COMPARED TO THE FEW WHO MAKE IT TO THE LIMELIGHT OF THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE? SO I UNDERSTAND HIS RELUCTANCE TO MAKE ANY RASH MOVES, THAT HE MIGHT SOME DAY REGRET; LIKE FINDING OUT THAT THE BEDROOM HE HAD WHEN HE WAS SIX, IS STILL HIS DIGS AT FORTY, BECAUSE HE'S STILL LIVING GUITAR SALE TO SALE. AND AS WE MAKE DECISIONS AS A FAMILY, IT WILL REQUIRE SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSION. IT MUST BE ASSUMED HOWEVER, THAT THE TENOR BANJO AND NEAT PEN SKETCH, IS STILL, AT THIS MOMENT, JUST ONE OF THOSE STRANGE AND CURIOUS VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS, A MUSIC SHOP HAS HANGING ON ITS WALL FOR DECORATION. INTERESTING, QUITE PLAYABLE, A CONVERSATION PIECE, BUT IN MANY WAYS, JUST A NEAT REMNANT OF SOMEONE'S PAST AFFECTIONS. IT MIGHT BE WORTH A COUPLE OF HUNDRED BUCKS, BUT REST ASSURED, WE HAVE NEVER ATTACHED A PRICE. TO THIS POINT, ALL WE'VE HOPED FOR, IS THAT SOMEONE OTHER THAN US, WOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.....AND TELL US, ONCE AND FOR ALL, IF IT IS A THOMSON RELIC, OR JUST AN OLD TENOR BANJO FOR BEST SUITED FOR COUNTRY PICKING.
     PHOTOGRAPHED FOR TODAY'S BLOG, ARE TWO OF OUR OTHER NEAT VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS, WITH ATTACHED PROVENANCE; OF WHICH WE LOVE ABOUT THE STUFF WE'VE HUSTLED-UP OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES. FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS A PRIMITIVE DULCIMER-STYLE INSTRUMENT, MADE FROM WHAT WE BELIEVE IS MUSKOKA PINE, THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY MADE FOR USE IN ONE OF THE LOGGING CAMPS, OPERATING ON GEORGIAN BAY, BACK IN THE LATE 1800'S. ANDREW'S GREAT, GREAT UNCLES WERE LOGGERS WORKING IN THE SAME AREA OF WEST MUSKOKA. IT WAS, OF COURSE, PLAYED WITH A SMALL HAMMER, AS ARE ALL DULCIMERS. WE FOUND IT IN A FORMER ANTIQUE SHOP IN THE VILLAGE OF BALA, IN WEST MUSKOKA, AND THE DEALER THEN, NOTED ON THE PRICE-TAG, THAT IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT COTTAGE-COUNTRY COFFEE TABLE. THANK GOD WE BOUGHT IT BEFORE SOME WEINER STRAPPED LEGS TO IT, AND USED IT FOR NESTING COTTAGE BRIC-A-BRAC. THIS IS A HEAVY PIECE, AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM GETTING IT BACK TO PERFORMANCE-QUALITY, IS THAT EVEN DULCIMER EXPERTS ARE STYMIED, AS TO THE STRINGING OF THE INSTRUMENT. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SOME MODIFICATIONS AND BRIDGING WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE, AND PIANO WIRE EMPLOYED, INSTEAD OF WHAT WOULD NORMALLY AND TRADITIONALLY BE USED FOR DULCIMERS. WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, HOPING THAT SOMEONE WOULD DROP BY, WHO HAD SEEN ONE OF THESE BEASTS BEFORE....AND COULD GIVE US ADVICE ON RE-STRINGING AND SET-UP. SO FAR, NO LUCK. BUT AS A CONVERSATION PIECE AMONGST OUR PATRONS, IT HAS BEEN WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOOD NATURED DEBATE. YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THE RULE OF SUCH THINGS. IF WE CAN KEEP YOU IN THE SHOP LONGER, MAYBE YOU'LL BUY SOMETHING MORE. HEY....WE'RE RETAILERS. NOT MUSEUM CURATORS. WE GET TURNED ON BY MAKING MONEY, JUST LIKE YOU. STILL, WE LIKE HAVING PIECES OF THIS NATURE AROUND, BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT CHALLENGE THEY REPRESENT....GIVING US REASON TO KEEP QUESTING FOR INFORMATION. ANTIQUE DEALERS HAVE A NEVER-ENDING LEARNING CURVE. WE NEVER EXPECT TO TRULY KNOW IT ALL.
     THE SECOND INSTRUMENT WE HAVE ILLUSTRATED TODAY, IS JUST ONE OF THOSE PIECES THAT WARMS THE COCKLES OF OUR HEART....SO TO SPEAK. IT IS A VINTAGE GIBSON, WITH A SOFT LEATHER COVERING ADHERED TO THE TOP OF THE BODY, THAT ACCORDING TO PROVENANCE, WAS USED REGULARLY BY A STUDIO MUSICIAN, BACK IN THE 1960'S, ON THE SET OF THE CBC'S CHILDREN'S SHOW, "ROMPER ROOM." I WAS A ROMPER ROOM OFFICIAL "DOOBIE," AND WHEN I WAS OFF SCHOOL SICK, I INHALED THE GOOD QUALITIES OF THIS CBC MORNING SHOW, FOR ALL IT WAS WORTH. IT WAS MY BABYSITTER. IF I FELT CRAPPY WITH A COLD OR THE FLU, ROMPER ROOM....AND I SUPPOSE THE SOUNDS OF THIS GUITAR, SEEMED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER. CALL ME SENTIMENTAL, BUT WHEN ANDREW OR ROBERT PICK IT UP AND START PLAYING, I GET SO DAMN COMFORTABLE AND NOSTALGIC AT THE SAME TIME, I FALL INTO THAT SOFT SPIRALLING DOWN OF UNEXPECTED, BUT WELCOME, HALF SLUMBER. I'M IMMEDIATELY BACK AGAIN, TO THOSE CHILDHOOD DAYS, WHEN ROMPER ROOM FIT MY OCCASION OF CASUAL LIVING.
    SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT PROVENANCE? IT'S SO DARN MUCH FUN, AND AT TIMES, EVEN BRINGS OUT THAT DEEPLY IMBEDDED "INDIANA JONES," THAT GIVES US THAT EXTRA "OOMPH" TO QUEST A LITTLE FURTHER, IN THE HOPE, ONE DAY, THAT WHEN WE DO REACH OUT OUR GNARLED OLD HANDS, AND BONEY FINGERS, WE WILL FINALLY GRASP UP THAT EVASIVE, LEGENDARY, HOLY GRAIL.....THE ONE WE'VE BEEN CHASING FOR A LIFETIME. OF COURSE WE ALL HAVE OUR OPINIONS OF WHAT THE "HOLY GRAIL" IS, IN TERMS OF THE TRULY BIG FIND.... OF ALL THE ADVENTURES WE'VE EVER UNDERTAKEN. PERSONALLY, I'D LIKE ONE OF THOSE TOM THOMSON PAINT BOARDS, THAT HE USED TO SKIP INTO THE ALGONQUIN LAKES, WHEN HE WAS DISSATISFIED WITH HIS WORK. DO YOU KNOW, HE USED TO CLEAN HIS BRUSHES, ON THE SURFACES OF ROCKS AND TREES, WHEREVER HE WAS PAINTING. LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.....NO CURRIE FAMILY MEMBER, HAS EVER ONCE, TRAVERSED AN ALGONQUIN LAKE, OR HEADED ALONG A PORTAGE, THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR HEADS POINTED DOWNWARD, LOOKING FOR ONE OF THOSE TREES OR ROCK FACES. AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE BEEN  LOOKING. IT'S FUN, AND WHAT KEEPS US FINELY TUNED, TO THE ONGOING TASKS OF BEING AN ANTIQUE DEALER.
     IF YOU SHOULD ARRIVE IN OUR SHOP, AND WISH TO SEE, OR PLAY, THE ALLEGED THOMSON BANJO, IN THE MEANTIME, WE WOULD VERY MUCH ENJOY YOUR COMPANY. IT MAY BE LOANED OUT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE, BUT AT PRESENT, WE WILL SHARE IT WITH OUR FRIENDS. REST ASSURED, IT IS VERY SECURE IN UNDER OUR STEWARDSHIP.
     THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING TODAY'S BLOG. SUZANNE HAS BEEN CHANGING DISPLAYS IN THE SHOP, TO CREATE A NEW SEWING AREA FOR HERSELF. NOW THAT WE HAVE ADVANCED THE COOKERY COLLECTION FOR THE SHOP, SHE NOW WANTS TO BUILD-UP THE SEWING COMPONENT THAT SHE HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS....MOSTLY IN HER HOME STUDIO. SHE PLANS TO PERFORM SOME REPAIRS ON THE VINTAGE CLOTHING WE'VE BEEN ACQUIRING SLOWLY THIS PAST YEAR...PLUS OTHER SEWING PROJECTS FOR THE SHOP, SHE'S STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. SUZANNE MIGHT SIT FOR FIVE MINUTES OUT OF THE DAY, TO WATCH TELEVISION, BUT THE REST OF THE TIME IS "SEAT WORK," WHICH INVOLVES THE EMPLOYMENT OF EITHER KNITTING NEEDLES, OR SOME SEWING REPAIRS WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD. I PREFER NEEDLE AND THREAD, BECAUSE THERE IS NO INTRUSIVE SOUND ASSOCIATED. SHE HITS THE KNITTING NEEDLES TOGETHER, AND AS I DON'T LIKE REPETITIVE SOUNDS, LIKE A TAP DRIPPING, OR EVEN A CLOCK, IT DOES GET ON MY NERVES. HOW IRONIC, THAT SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE SOUND OF ME TAPPING AT THIS KEYBOARD EITHER....AND FOR THE SAME REASON. OH WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS, SHE HAS ADJUSTED TO CIVILIAN LIVE, AFTER THIRTY ONE YEARS AS A SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER. DOESN'T HAVE A SINGLE REGRET, AND HONESTLY, SHE HASN'T HAD FIVE SPARE MINUTES, FROM THE TIME SHE RETIRED, TO THE PRESENT TASKMASTER, OF "SUZANNE CURRIE'S COOKERY NOOKERY." WHILE IT HAS BEEN A MUCH LARGER RESPONSIBILITY THAN SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, AT THE START, IT HAS NOW LEVELED OFF PRETTY WELL, AND SHE'S GETTING A KICK OUT OF BEING PART OF THE MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL FAMILY BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I STILL HAVE BIRCH HOLLOW ANTIQUES, AND THE BOYS EACH HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. AND ALTHOUGH A LOT OF FOLKS TELL US THAT GRAVENHURST ISN'T A GOOD PLACE TO RUN A SINGLE BUSINESS, LET ALONE FOUR, WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT, THE EXACT OPPOSITE HOLDING TRUE. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN TRYING TO REFORM THE NAYSAYERS, TO OUR WAY OF THINKING. THEIR LOSS, NOT OURS.
     PLEASE COME AND VISIT AGAIN SOON. TODAY, BY THE WAY, I WAS SENT PACKING TO THE BACK ROOM OF THE SHOP, WHERE WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY SESSIONS WITH GUEST MUSICIANS (NO ADMISSION COST). ANDREW AND ROBERT WERE RECORDING IN THE STUDIO WHERE I NORMALLY LODGE MYSELF ON WEEKDAYS. I'M IN A BIG COMFORTABLE CHAIR, SUITED TO MY SUBSTANTIAL BODY FRAME, AND IT'S BEEN QUITE PLEASANT HERE ALTHOUGH I REALLY NEED A COFFEE.....SO THIS IS MY SIGN-OFF FOR TODAY. DRIVE CAREFUL OUT THERE.