Natural Happiness Travel/Tour Guide

An Interesting Sunday Experience

This Past Sunday, I was fortunate enough to find myself as a passenger in my friend's car as we made our way to the RockFord Flea Market.  I had never been to this market before, and I really didn't have any presumptions on what would be inside, for all I knew, it could contain the same old licence plate vendors  and broken radio collectors that I had met at other markets in previous excursions. 

I must say that I was pleansantly surprised!  As I entered the building, I was met by the faint smell of coffee brewing at the cafe that reminded me of a 50's diner, which came complete with a sweet little older woman that wore a smile cheek to cheek.  As I ventured further, I came across a gregarious coin collector who actually had a line up to look at his rare coins.  A young boy stood before him, fixated on pennies that dated back well over a hundred years, and I recalled when my Dad first gave me a rare nickel.  This imagery was exciting to me , as I have watched many small towns welcome big box stores that have all but replaced these diamonds of a kinder past in the rough of a modern, commercial existence.  This place was to prove itself to be a treasure trove of the strange and the exotic. 

I headed through the ceiling high stacked isles of previously owned merchandise, heirlooms, collector's peices, antiques, glasswear, clothing, etc......  with the feeling of looking through someone's old heritage.  It was like a long lost episode of an Indiana jone's, where Indy found himself accidentally falling into a vault of antiquities of an ancient civilization. 

Kitch; wasn't that the term that I had heard from my parents as they had described the artistic work of the 70's and 80's,?  I thought to myself as I walked past a booth of old paintings and lights that had felt and strings worked into their design. 

This place was not for those that want stark condo living, or homes that seem more like show houses then lived in and comfortable.  This was a place to find that conversation item that steals your guests gaze as they visit.  I personally found blown glass from the 60's that was made from Europeans that had migrated to Canada. These artisans had  created peices of such precision and vibrant colours, that they made any modern circular dish look pale in comparison.

There was even what appeared to be the worlds largest pry bar...a tool for taking apart old decks..which I am sure weighed 40lbs on its own, and tons of old tools and craft making devices.

All in all,  a wild experience!

Words of advice...

Bring cash, as there is no debit or credit card here!

Take your time...This is where you may find something that well eventually end up on Antique's Road Show!

-Owen Sound natural happiness Guide