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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Dry Goods


Somewhere, nested deeply in the DNA of every man and woman, is the recorded thrill of the General Store. Like phobias and deep seated fears, a few irrational joys are likewise seeded in the beds of our cellular memory. It's the only explanation. . . .



Notions and potions. Fabrics and threads. Tools and seeds. The potent rewards of emerging intact through the frozen winter. To ride into melting spring, and a shop dripping with the pleasures of answered needs. . . .




No need to imagine the excitement. Some of us feel it all the time. That call to pretty buttons and lace and cards of every imaginable doodad. (Now it's just called Walmart.) Ah me. . . .






























































I hope you're all high and dry, and trekking out!

Jacqueline


Don't miss the party at
and




37 comments:

  1. oh how delightful it would be to walk into a General Store circa 1887!!! It would be a dream...a DREAM! (As are your photographs...which made me feel I was actually there if only for a moment!) ;)

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  2. And that's why i love your blog.

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  3. I dream of that pace of life when sewing, cooking and gardening were easy and just a part of life.

    Gretchen

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  4. What lovely images, Jacqueline. They evoke recollections of all the childhood stores I'd go to: A&P with my mother for our weekly groceries; the hardware store with my father on Saturdays (he was always building or fixing *something*); Garr's fabrics where you could literally become lost in all the fabric bolts; Mason's Drugstore for presciptions (or ice cream at their counter!); Red Robin Bakery after church on Sundays; and McClellans 5¢ + 10¢ store, where my mother bought her yarn, buttons, spools of thread and face powder. Not as exciting as the 19th c. but so much nicer than our big box stores of today. Thanks for stirring up these memories!

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  5. That is so beautifully done, and written - you just take us back to a time gone but not forgotten.

    Thank you for such artwork.

    Lovely.

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  6. LOL: "Somewhere, nested deeply in the DNA of every man and woman, is the recorded thrill of the General Store...it's the only explanation''. LOL this is hysterical....I think you're right! I could never understand that thrill I got/get, it makes no sense, not part of my dignity
    ..out the window it goes when I see the precise little thing I need, or an old version of something good at old cheap prices...thrills yes, lol, in our DNA....thanks for the laughs! much needed this week.

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  7. Pretty...I love the egg in the basket/ Maria

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  8. You find the most beautiful laces. I have been looking but apparently not in the right places. Beautiful post, today.

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  9. Jacqueline: You have made it fun for all of us to look back, especially those of us of a certain age, to see the places of the past in our minds. My first recollection was a little store called Butler's, where I stole a spool of thread,(age 5or6) and my mother made me march it back. Oh, young humiliation!! But I did learn a valuable lesson.. Happy Tuesday,..Judy

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  10. What a lovely post. Beautiful images.

    I love laces, crochet cottons, ribbons, and buttons...Including these simple notions in my space softens the edges of the day.

    Blessings,

    Vee

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  11. Jaqueline, those images are fantastic...just lovely! I am just soaking those lovely laces into my memory so I can go back and visit in my mind's eye....
    Ahhhh, better than a bath.
    Lovely post!
    Blessings, Doni

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  12. Oh dear I am smitten with sewing notions. I bought vintage wooden spools of thread on Saturday for nothing. Made me smile, just like your images do.

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  13. As I was in the garage today looking for Easter items I ran across a bag of wooden spools. It was a happy moment! Glad I still have them. I got rid of so many old neat things when I moved to this small house - wish I had them all back! Your pictures are just wonderful, as usual.

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  14. Beautiful vignette! Yes, I love old general stores and the like!
    Yvonne

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  15. Just imagine the excitement of a trip to town over a century ago before we had shopping right at our fingertips! Lovely images.

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  16. Love, love and love! The lace, the buttons, the old general store paper. Fabulous! How come I can't see where to follow you???? Heck, I'm adding you to my blog sideboard b/c I'm in love! Coming over from Faded Charm. =)

    Jeanine

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  17. Love, love and love! The lace, the buttons, the old general store paper. Fabulous! How come I can't see where to follow you???? Heck, I'm adding you to my blog sideboard b/c I'm in love! Coming over from Faded Charm. =)

    Jeanine

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  18. Such dreamy, creamy beauty! Some of my very favorite items from all time...antique lace,buttons and beautiful handwriting...thank you for sharing!

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  19. What a beautiful post...both the photos and the words,so glad I came by! x0x0

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  20. Hi J,
    LOVE all your this and thats... bathing in that glorious light... stunning! A whole spool of lace... ahhhh!
    Hugs,
    Bella

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  21. Lovely, all of it, lace,especially.

    xx jeanetteann

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  22. Love the lace & buttons! There is a nice country store at Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA. It's a working museum in western MA that is very realistic. Have a good day! Luanne

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  23. I do ever so much love your beautiful posts Jacqueline.. How charming this one is.
    A bill from 1887..Oh my gosh. It was probably your grandmothers! how lovely.
    Great photos ever so delicate.
    Imagine. I have just finished sewing hems on some new curtains I bought.. and then i read this.
    Of course it was just with the normal needle and white cotton.
    Thank you
    happy wednesday
    val

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  24. Your post has the wonderful feeling of nostalgia along with a few of my favorite things...vintage paper, buttons and spools :)

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  25. There was still a dry goods store in Las Vegas when I was in college. I think there were still clothes there from the early 20's! The notions department always fascinated me- all those laces and buttons.. Aaah..... your photos evoke days of yesteryear, Jacqueline!

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  26. Again, Jacqueline, the peace and soothing quality of your blog posts inspire me.

    Barb

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  27. Truly beautiful photography, thanks for sharing!
    Karee

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  28. Your photos are beautiful. I still love finding old general stores in small towns. They are wonderful.

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  29. How eloquently beautiful! White can be so stunning just in it's simpleness and you have again captured so much with your camera.
    Cindy

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  30. Lovely pictures and lovely things.....:)
    Hugs Git from Sweden

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  31. First time visitor!

    I love your photos, and that hardanger on that runner is gorgeous!

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  32. I agree with you , Jacqueline. Whenever we visit a historic village, my favorite spot is not the old home kitchen where the ladies are cooking...it is the general store!! Beautiful pictures!

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  33. Your photography transports me back in time. Absolutely beautiful and soothing. A simpler time.

    Linda
    QBC

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  34. I would be so happy to walk into a General store... Was I born in a wrong century?! Beautiful post!

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  35. Gorgeous! I love how you so skillfully photographed all of this! I love an old dry goods store and all of it's props! Thank you for linking up to Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  36. how very beautiful. I so wish that I had your eye and ability!!
    Joan

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