Heaven on earth?

Along time ago, in an era before "Google earth",  men travelled the country taking aerial photographs of rural farm properties and then sent unsolicited door to door salesmen to these properties to sell land owners these images. Often these pictures were hand tinted to make them look like paintings. Proud residents would display these "works of art" in their homes.

Yesterday I bought this wonderful "artwork" to display in my home. If you look close you can see a dog in the dog pen at the back of the yard and clean laundry on a clothes line blowing in the wind. What a lovely suburban home, complete with picture window, two car garage and of course in ground swimming pool. The house is plunked down in the middle of a sanitized country field flanked on one side by a clean slab of country highway. How idyllic! The surreal colours you see are because this black and white photograph has been hand tinted with Marshall watercolors. The only thing near natural about this picture is the real oak frame that embraces it.

-Martin

"Old Timer"

I'd like you to meet an "Old Timer". It's a pen knife that sits on my kitchen table in a sugar bowl when it's not in my pocket. I remember first finding this knife at a garage sale and feeling the desire to carry it with me for utility. Pen knives first appeared as tools for fashioning Quill Pens. They were originally one piece, thinner and didn't fold but morphed into what you see here over time. In early American history they were often referred to as Barlow knives and were affordable and common. These knives get mention in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and Barlow even produced a Mark Twain version of the knife.

Last week the dogs tracked a thorn into the house and with my luck I stepped on it, embedding it deep into the bottom of my foot. Without hesitation out came "Old Timer" to assist in me digging out the sliver. A sharp pen knife can cut string, peel an orange, skin a rabbit and open the mail.  Carrying a pen knife is as much about utility as it is about tradition. You should try it some time.

-Martin

Wisdom on Wood

Cedar novelty plaques are an undiscovered source of wisdom and wit. They became popular travel souvenirs after World War Two when gas rationing was eliminated and road trip vacations were common. Today often dismissed as tacky kitsch, people could learn a lot if they gave this "low brow logic" half a chance. Too these mementoes are often real pieces of Folk Art that are just asking to be collected and cherished.

-Martin

"What I Wore"

Flashlights and Arrows is less than two weeks old and has been quite a learning experience for me. Prior to starting on this adventure I didn't really know what a blog was or how one worked... I haven't seen many blogs, so I have just been designing this site from scratch. So far I have encountered a few interesting problems that are slowly working themselves out. One is the fact that my original  intention was to create a dialogue that was as much about experience as it is about objects...this I think will work itself out over time. Another relates to my lack of sophistication when it comes to the computer...I think this too will work itself out in time.

Today is a blustery day outside. It's overcast and raining. I have already lost electricity once -this happens often where I live....very isolated and rural. This morning I have had to adjust my blogging plans because I have been photographing my collections on a white table by the window and today the light is very poor. When I am done with this post I am going to have a look in the shop for materials to make a light tent so I won't need to check the forecast before preparing to post.

The image above is a typical chain store catalogue page from the 50's with a nice selection of outdoor items. When the weather improves I may revisit this image with some examples of some of  my own vintage gear .

I titled this post "What I Wore" because I do often wear clothes that seem to have come out of a 50's ad like the one above (albeit very well worn, faded, and sometimes patched)  and also because "What I Wore" seems a common theme out there in the blogosphere.  I doubt though if my idea of fashion is shared by many.

-Martin

Word is Out

This morning I was surprised to find that Flashlights and Arrows was mentioned and reviewed by another blog called Tea & Chickadees.  How wonderful to be noticed! 

The Library is open

Today I built a Library into this blog to archive some of my favourite books and feature their covers. What better title to start off with  than Robin Hood. From time to time I may take a title out of the Library and offer  it as a "Book Club" title to my followers. Interested followers can read the title on their own and then offer up their own comments. If this idea appeals to you then let me know.

-Martin

Night and Day

Years ago I developed a fascination with old flashlights. To my mind they represent the perfect blend of form versus function. Models from the 1930's onward were often given rugged names like Hunter, Sportsman, and Captain.  Having a sturdy flashlight to see with when it's dark at night is not only handy but a comfort too. 

-Martin