Death of a Camera, Birth of a Business

I knew it was coming.
For several months, its pictures weren't as sharp as they once were.
Its Macro setting would no longer Mac.
Its batteries lasted 12-and-a-half minutes before draining.


But on Sunday, when my little Canon Power Shot digital camera would not
take any pictures at all, insisting that every card I inserted was locked . . .

I knew it was time.

Goodbye, old friend.

And a temporary Hello to my nemesis, Howard's Nikon D3000, which I try my darnedest to use

like a simple point-and-shoot, because that's my level of expertise with cameras.

Admit it, that's one scary looking camera.

It's heavy, it makes me use the view finder thingy, it's cumbersome, it asks me to think . . . 

but it does make that nice, satisfying chunk-chunk sound when the shutter opens and shuts.

Like a real camera.

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 So, you say, what about this Birth of a Business stuff?

Well, you see, it's like this.

I really enjoy the hunt for old stuff.  Furniture, mostly, which is why right now there are way too many legs

in my sunroom, and only two of them are attached to me, and only four are attached to the dog.

The others are attached to oddball pieces of furniture that I brought home

because I couldn't not bring them home.

Does that make sense?

Dion DiPoochy, lower right, is not so sure about all of this.

 Last Thursday I went to Pennsylvania and brought home 3 small tables

and one old nursery rocker with a splint seat.

On Saturday, Howard and I circled New Jersey, and came home with a wrought iron patio table and chairs.

It's in storage now, but it will get fresh paint before Spring.  It is an old, very heavy set.

At that seller's, I spotted a huge and weighty old serving tray, silverplate, with gorgeous curves,

that had been painted white and was serving as the cover for their outdoor recycling bin.

The owner was very surprised when I wanted it.  Did I mention it was covered with mud when I spotted it?

Yes, it came home with us.  Wait till you see it; no pics yet, it's too gruesome.

Also found on Saturday: a small kitchen table, and four chairs that we are using

around the oak table in the Sunroom.  But that small kitchen table?  It's in storage, too.

On Sunday, we picked up some estate-sale leftovers.

Are you getting the picture?

From my PA trip -- a one-drawer stand with reeded legs.  Will be painted.

Also from PA -- a small table; it too will be painted,
but the top will be polished and waxed, left natural.

Not all veneer is bad veneer!

From PA - I love this table.  Arts & Crafts?  Asian?  Rustic?
Whatever it is, it's getting sanded and painted.  Black.

From the estate sale "dregs," a small trumeau mirror.
I can't bear to tell you how little we paid for this sweet old thing.

Yes, it needs a good cleaning, both glass and frame.
I will leave it in the old gold color - I think it suits.

Also from the estate sale leftovers - a professionally framed picture.
Ink and watercolor.  Just needs a bit of cleaning.

What brought us out spelunking for junk on Sunday was this table, found on Craigslist: 

 It's not often that my heart flips over for a Craigslist find, but this one was special.

It was listed at $25.  I called right away.

When I saw it, and realized that the top is just 3 wide boards -- one for each leaf, one for the center (although sadly

the top has a split for most of its length) -- and that it's got the wackiest pattern of use & abuse from decades past,

along with a fabulous color and patina . . . well, I had to have it.  This old gal is old.

"How much?" Howard asked.

"Ummm . . . twenty?" said the seller.

Sold.

I haven't yet turned this table upside down to get intimate with her and learn more of her story.

But I will.

Am I nuts that I love those old scars?

Don't answer that!  :-P

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So, what about that business tease?

I'm doing what I need to do so as not to end up on an episode of Hoarders someday:

I am taking a booth at an antiques mall not far from here.

This means that I can continue to hunt and bag trophies, and choose to either keep them

or pass them on to someone who will love them, too.

I'll share my process and my set-up with you; right now I'm still figuring out

how much I can fit in a little 6-foot-by-9-foot space!  Howard just shakes his head.

Happy Monday; I hope yours is sunny and your only blues are in the sky!  -- Cass