Stripped Piano

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that a beautiful old piano had been left out by the garbage bins at one of the thrift stores I visit from time to time.  I guess they must have assumed that it would be a tough sell and considering how many pianos show up on freecycle, maybe they were right.  I went back today with my camera for a few pictures and found all ivory keys completely gone.  Old pianos are one of the few relatively abundant sources of legal - and often free - antique ivory.  Obviously someone had seen the opportunity here and taken what they could.

The inside of the piano had gorgeous lettering and graphics from the company.  B. Shoninger was apparently one of the first major piano manufacturers, opening in 1850.  This piano had the serial number 5356, making it a very early model.  According to this website, the company had made over 25000 pianos by the 1950's.

It's sad to see a wonderful, antique instrument left forsaken in a grungy parking lot.  Honestly if I had a bigger house, I would have at least a piano or two.  We had one growing up and I learned all about music from plunking away at those old keys and deciphering my grandmother's ancient sheet music.  Ah well, everything must come and go, I suppose.  Maybe I'll have to get a storage unit and start a piano rescue.  Imagine that!

Fixing a hole?

Rainy October Night, originally uploaded by bossbob50.

And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong/ I'm right/ where I belong I'm right/ where I belong

They Say it's Your Birthday

Hello, hello!  I'm back again, after a long hiatus.  It is indeed my birthday (yay!) and I'm looking forward to a fantastic new year.

But first I want to look back at a great little nature walk I took with my family in Winnipeg's Assiniboine forest.  Assiniboine forest is a park/preserve of the natural woodland in this area, right in the city.  I love it there.  We went in the middle of November, which is usually frigid here but was unseasonably warm this year (thank-you, El Nino!).  The leaves had mostly fallen but the moss was still green and "flowering" - it was a beautiful day.

Lovely, isn't it?  It's amazing to think that the whole city was once a natural boreal forest!  We've seen all sorts of wildlife at the forest, including deer, beavers, many birds, and of course, insects.  It makes me sad to see nature increasingly marginalized, even though I do appreciate the comforts of modern life (especially in the -20C weather we are now experiencing!).  I am very happy that there is this tiny portion of the past can be preserved, and that I can share it with my son.

Recent Knitting Projects

BRRRRRR!  All of a sudden I'm starting to believe winter is on its way!  Only two weeks ago we had 30 degree weather here in Winnipeg, now we're into the single digits with frost at night.  I have to admit, though, that it's nice to feel like I can bake again in our non-air conditioned house, and to have that motivation to once again pick up my knitting projects.  My theme this fall seems to lean towards greyed out natural colours like mossy green and a weird brown-charcoal, with pops of bright primaries thrown in.  Right on trend, according to one of my favourite websites, the Pantone Fashion Color Report.

I've been working on a new design of cabled fingerless glove which came together very nicely.  They are very fitted and came out very well for my first attempt at designing a knitting pattern that isn't a scarf.

I have also been working on a lace scarf in bamboo/wool for my son's daycare provider.  I just need another skein before I can finish the last half.  Bamboo/wool blend is fantastic - silky but not splitty,  light and not itchy at all... I can't sing it's praises enough.

Off to put on a pot of tea!  Enjoy the autumn weather!

Living in the Moment, or for those of us who remember the nineties, There is no spoon, ha ha ha.

I had been looking for a sign from the universe.  What should I do next?  Where should I be going?

Here is what I got.

A message in a bottle.

Things have been such a struggle lately.  I have been trying so desperately to move ahead with opening my business.  Instead of enjoying it, I have been feeling so negative and constantly running into roadblocks.  Why was I always stuck?  Why couldn't I just act in the here and now and stop worrying about being a huge failure?  In what seems a comically desperate move, I typed "how do I live in the moment?" into google.  I ended up on a message board where everyone seemed to be suggesting this book by Eckhart Tolle called The Power of Now.  The message of the book is so simple and so difficult.  Just be.  All we ever have is now.  The past and future are illusions.  Stop worrying about the things that aren't real and connect with what is.

I impulsively decided to try the book out - not in character for me at all.  Somehow it ended up on the shelf at the library, despite there being nine requests for the book and it being shown as unavailable in the online catalogue.  Weird, huh?  Or is it?

I'm honestly not quite sure where things will go from here.  But I guess that's all right.

Here are some fall images from my neighbourhood:

Doesn't this log washed up on the shore look like a rock?  Amazing colour.

Ahhhhhhh...

The weather here in Winnipeg is beautiful right now, but the leaves are still falling.  I just love the light in the trees.

I have been really enjoying macro photography lately.  Perspective can be such an interesting thing to play with.  Lichen is actually pretty spectacular up close.

This hawk sat on a branch directly above me for about ten minutes.  Now that's humbling.

Happy Friday!

Don Draper is now following you...

This gave me quite a thrill!
Maybe I should get drunk, phone his house and ramble incoherently.

Ebay-ing

Things I learned this week:
1. Skeleton keys are now extremely expensive.
2. I need to practice bidding on ebay if I ever intend to win anything there.
3. I should be checking my favourite sellers more often!

I was definitively crushed while bidding on skeleton keys on ebay this week.  Can you believe that nine skeleton keys went for over $20?  I guess I shouldn't be so surprised.  Seems those amazing keys are everywhere lately, on necklaces, altered art, books, cuffs...  Oh well.  Maybe I'll luck out at an estate sale or something.

The saddest news of all is that I missed out on this fab cape from one of my favourite ebayers, Coronetweeds.  Arrrrrrrrrgh!  A gorgeous 1930s black wool cape lined with orange satin.  And it only went for $51.  So choked!

Well.  After I recovered from the immense disappointment I decided to look for a similar vintage cape.  That led me to a new Ebay favourite, timelessvixen.

What an amazing cape!  It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

Now this cape is probably one of the coolest pieces I've ever seen.  Except it has monkey fur on the collar.  That's a deal breaker.  Too bad.

Oh my god!  Betty Draper!  Too bad my rib cage is gigantic in vintage terms.  I would never make the 34" bust even if I never ate again.  But if you're more petite, feel free to scoop up this beautiful 50s cocktail dress.


Isn't it wonderful how sometimes a loss turns into a win?
Now if only I could find a gorgeous beaded silk sheath in slate blue.  Oh well, back to the Ebay trenches!