Literally Hugging this Huggy Mid Century Modern Chair and Ottoman

This summer has been a whirlwind.  I have been lucky to have a lot of freedom to enjoy it.  Our apartment is coming along, we've been able to get out of the city to visit family in St. Mary's Ontario lots and I was able to spend some time out east with my parents - we threw a big party to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary.  I've tossed myself back into the ring for acting things and the other day between a couple of callbacks I decided to stroll over to the local thrift store to see what might be lurking in the shadows.  It turned out to be a bumper crop of a day when I stumbled upon this virtually brand new armchair and ottoman.  I couldn't believe it was $100 for the entire set!  I swear I nearly fell over.  All the shop folk could tell me was that it had come in that morning from head office.  After I brought it home I did a little research online and finally found out that it is a Huggy Mid Century Chair and Ottoman.  Listed for up to two thousand dollars more than I paid depending on which site you go to, this was a huge feather in my thrifting cap.

The Garden Deck

I've been giving these little packs of cards as gifts lately.  Wonderful designs by Frausto & Co.  Each card has a fruit, veg or herb on the face and the back gives you detailed instructions for growing success. They are perfect for playing a hand of bridge or for knowing how much to water your carrots.  Win win.  They also have really great packaging.

image fab.com

Green Bean

I've been riding my almost brakeless, very rickety 1964 Raleigh Sport 3 Speed for the past five years and I was beginning to notice that I was choosing public transit over my bicycle far too frequently.  I think the weight of the thing and its rather abrupt gears were really starting to wear on me.  It was a gift from my friend Tom when we were living in Halifax in 2006.  He ventured across the street to a garage sale and came back with a lovely vintage Raleigh for I think $25 bucks.  It has served me well.

Growing up my family had a bright green Volkswagon Westfalia camper van that we drove east for a summer, until we ended up buying a cottage in NS.  We called it the "Green Bean" because my dad had some body work done on it before the big trip and then had it painted a beautiful bright Kelly Green.  I have been looking at upgrading my bicycle situation for the past year with the ambition of riding a little more often.  This bike, the very same colour as the 'ol "Green Bean",  jumped out at me the other day as I walked trough the Annex.  It was  a beautiful day and I was pressed for time and contemplated taking the subway home.  If only I had my bike.   She is a Linus Dutchi 3 Speed designed in Venice, California, with lovely classic character and flare.  I couldn't stop thinking about this beauty so I went back yesterday aft and took her for a spin.  She is smooth and shifts effortlessly and has a whole bunch of options for attachments and baskets.  I was sold.  A little bit of an investment now will no doubt pay off with huge joy over the summer months.

Summer Scavenge

I've been lucky enough to run the roads a little this summer.  A couple of weekends ago I traveled to Port Elgin Ontario to visit with my dear friends Tom and Ali at Tom's childhood family cottage.  I was treated to numerous lake Huron swims, a canoe ride at sunset, the Keady Market, family feasts and a country road garage sale.  Above is a photograph taken by Ali on our way home from the sale (it wasn't much of a sale as everything had turned to "free" by the time we got there).  Ali suggested it might be nice to see me in action as I hunt down the trinkets and wares I collect and photograph.  I ended up taking away this lovely little serving bowl which we then filled with dark pickled beets for dinner.