Needing supplies and Jewel needing to get out feeling a touch of cabin fever, after having been stuck at home since she hadn't felt good since Saturday evening, we went to the Southern States feed store yesterday in Gloucester to get some supplies for the chickens. On our way home, traffic was bad as we arrived at the Coleman Bridge during a bridge opening. It was nice in a strange sort of way to be able to watch the ship pass through as I casually read my new 2011 Farmers Almanac and Jewel read a magazine article Needing supplies and about alpacas as her feet swayed back and forth on the van dashboard dreaming about a large farm in the hills of Missouri with critters of all sorts and her own farm.
Once the bridge had opened though, traffic was slow as every car found its rhythm again, so instead of getting frustrated with stop and go traffic, I decided to stop at a antique/thrift store along the side of Route 17.
Upon first glance, it appeared as it might be open, which was exciting because we'd passed this way a number of times before, wanting to stop and either didn't have time, or they were closed. This time, the door stood open and a few antiques were outside, some of which were in the process of being cleaned. We didn't see anyone and the room was dimly lit, so Jewel by my side peering into the magical room, like another world, full of antiques, I called into the shop to see if they were open.
To my fortune, a nice gentleman in a pair of work jeans and shirt with mussed up hair and a heavy accent appeared at the door and said that while they really weren't scheduled to be open today, he would turn more lights on inside and I could take all the time I wanted looking around, since he was there working on cleaning some pieces up anyway. We were thrilled - the whole store, unrushed by either of us, the shopkeeper or other patrons - all to ourselves! It was like a virtual journey back into my grandmothers attic and basement. We could have spent a small fortune in there and redecorated our home (if our budget would allow it), but instead, I chose a few special items to bring home!
We had a bit of cash in our purse pocket, but did not anticipate spending all or any of it, but once inside, the memories started to flow. The materials, plates, books, furniture all reminded me of home, and even more warmly, my grandparents home. I was reliving the memories with Jewel as we gently wove our way through the little store that was so packed with goodies it appeared for a few moments we might not be able to walk through some spots.
It was then when I came upon a set of 3 copper pans. Hmmm... Ken would
love these! Oh, I love these too! $38 for the set... Mmmm... $38 is money I really didn't want to spend on just three pans, but they beckend to me time and time again as if testifying to me of their worth as I meandered through the store further and further back. After finding a couple of fun books and losing Jewel in the store, only able to keep track of her by the Ooohhss and Ahhhs, then finally losing her to the 70s section again, I went back to the copper pans. They were heavy and built SO
nice! I finally justified it in my mind to go ahead and buy them, but realized if I did, I'd have to get rid of either one or both of the books I had wanted as I didn't have enough cash with me for all of them.
It was then that I remembered the clerk said that he would be willing to negotiate prices, so I went outside where he was working and told him that I was ready to check out and asked the price of one of the unmarked books. It was when I told him what cash I had, that he then he offered the 2 books and all 3 the copper pans to me for the $42 cash I had in my pocket. He then proceeded to thank ME for the compliment of actually spending time in his store and enjoying the fruits of his labor and his love of Americana and antiques. I couldn't imagine not enjoying all the wonderful goodies he had in the store! I gave him the money for the purchase and went back into the 70s section to retrieve Jewel where she mentally was designing her room and future home.
The storekeeper was so thrilled to see Jewel enjoying the antiques within the store that he insisted on giving Jewel something for free before we left. Jewel had been adoring a fun pair of handmade wooden clip-on 1/2 hoop earings she found in the 70s section, when the gentleman came in and asked what it was she had in her hand. Jewel not having been privy to our conversation, promptly put down the earrings carefully thinking perhaps he might not want her touching them. With his thick Israely accent, he asked Jewel what she had had in her hand and asked her to show it to him, which she did, now concerned that perhaps she had done something wrong, but upon inspection, the gentleman told her to take them home and enjoy them adn how glad he was that she enjoyed his store. It was so fun. It was also rather cute, when he asked where Jewel went to school as he was curious because he had a couple sons of his own about her age... LOL... Anyhow, we're definately going back there again!
Here are the copper pans I purchased. When I got home, I researched them and to my surprise, I had scored BIG!!! The 3 copper
Falk pans made in Belgium, which I had paid a mere $38 dollars for were worth over $850 and advertized as for the serious professional chef! The sauce pan alone new sells for $275 -
not including the lid which is a minimum of $65 more!!
http://www.copperpans.com/coverslids.html
http://www.copperpans.com/facosapa1.html
http://www.copperpans.com/facosa.html
http://www.copperpans.com/facochpa.html
These are the two books I got for Jewel to read and enjoy. The Geometry book was printed in 1918 and is in very nice condition.
