No. 11: KETCHUP vs. CATSUP

No. 10: A ONE IN A MILLION PICK

My buddy Ted, a local realtor (he was actually our guy on the farm purchase), was checking out the reno progress on a recent sale of his, an old house in town. The buyers, a Toronto couple, had pretty much gutted the main floor stripping walls and ceilings to the studs. Outside, Ted noticed something in their dumptster that caught his discerning eye. To his amazement and disbelief it was a beautifully preserved vintage tin Orange Crush sign, I’m guessing circa 1930s. Ted asked the owners where it came from and if they wanted it. They didn't want it. It wasn’t their style. During demolition they found the sign in the ceiling where it had been used to patch the old roof more than 70 years ago. Unfortunately I guess there were a couple holes to patch so the inventive carpenter(s) had sheared the sign in two. 

Ted just happens to have one of the best curated collections of vintage advertising I’ve ever seen and he estimates the sign’s value at about a grand if it were in one piece. $400 as is. But he'll hang on to it. This one will make a great addition to the collection. 

No. 9: HEAVY METAL

I checked out a local auction this weekend and ended up taking home a truckload of crazy stuff. Among my haul was a 1940s Johnson outboard motor, an amazing massive factory light (got it for a buck!), a great vintage work table, and a variety of fantastic boxes including these old metal stackable factory storage bins. My winning bid for each container including their contents ? $7.00! The industrial bins had been sitting outside at the auction and it had rained earlier that day so what I bought was three metal boxes full of rusty junk swimming in sludgy water. But back on the farm the next day, upon closer inspection these old boxes were harbouring some pretty cool items.

Bin #1. Highlights: 2 tiny vintage oil cans, 2 scary 3-pronged hooks, and a 50s chrome-plated boat mooring tie.

Bin # 2. The highlight: Primitive E clamp.

Bin #3. The highlight: Antique butchers cleaver. It must weigh 5 lbs.

No. 8: Miscellany Pt. 1

No. 7: REAPING THE HARVEST

This past weekend we attended KEG’s (Kawartha Ecological Growers) first annual Potluck Harvest Party at Elm Tree Gardens (the home and garden of Emma, Elliot, and Shannon) just outside of Kirkfield. Chef Kyle Deming grilled up his famous Naked Pig sausages and corn on the cob. There was a fantastic pumpkin soup baked in a big ol’ punkin that had a fresh baked bread lid rising out of its top. Also great heirloom tomato salads, preserves, raw mennonite butter, pulled pork and cold beer. I was so hungry by the time we ate I forgot to take photos of the food! But here are a few pics from the funky farm.

No. 6: THE LOCAL CEDAR RAIL FACTORY

No. 5: PLYWOOD MOSAIC NO MORE

Well, they finally painted it. The old Lindsay Drive-In, just outside the town of Lindsay, Ontario, a few clicks down Pigeon Lake Road is now a bright mustard yellow. This yellow was painted over a massive quilt of fading (mostly) red 4' x 8' sheets of plywood in various states of decrepitude. Disproportionately small red type set in all caps Helvetica is the only message adorning the 60' high facade. It’s like something out of The Last Picture Show. I can’t decide which incarnation I like best.

No. 4: MADE IN CANADA

Last week I bought my first pair of Kodiaks since grade 7 and I’m happy to report that with the exception of a few little upgrades and the noticeable absence of the old Greb logo these no nonsense, nothin’ fancy work boots haven't changed a bit. Back then they were a massive fad that swept through the old neighbourhood like the Atari 2600, and, when paired up with the classic red and black “stoner jacket” effectively turned the majority of my public school into tiny suburban lumberjacks.

The iconic company has been around for over 100 years and the boots are still manufactured in Canada.