Monday, February 22, 2010

Melrose Trading Post Flea Redux

(If you missed it, here is a link to Part I.)


So I promised I'd be back with more Flea Market goodies.  And yes, why not Flea Market Flowers?

(See that guy on the far left?)

A visit to a Flea Market is always full of surprises.  That must be why we love them.


So what IS wrong with this picture?  (Besides the obvious.)


I like Flea Markets because they are so full of layers of meaning and possibility.

(Slow down! Take a look!)

The possible second life of goods forsaken and discarded.

(How devastatingly daring and original would I look showing up in a little black dress and these?!)

The second life they suggest to us and new meaning in our own.

(Let's pull the truck in and take me home that sofa and the flowered coat behind it!)

The idea of second chances and the second glances that remind me us WHAT GENIUSES


we must be, when we discover beauty in random piles of other peoples' rubbish.


And the pure pleasure of discovery in a harmony of forms.


Some things just scream out at you:  STOP!  LOOK AT ME!

(Once upon a time, EVERYBODY had one of these coolers.  Don't you think they still should?)

If you took them home would they continue to talk that way?  (That typewriter FOR SURE!)


I THINK SO.  And everyone who visited you would afterward say.  "Ohhhhhh!!!!!!  That house!  How it speaks to me!"


Somehow markets like this also always draw pretty people.


And pretty people need pretty things.


And things that will make them seem more interesting.  Because sometimes just pretty isn't enough.


If you don't think you're interesting enough yet.  You could look at how other people have lived and glean ideas.

(What do I want more, her dog or her boots?  So busy looking at them, did not even notice the skull at the base of her spine.  I mean, derriere)

OR -  you could just STALK the most interesting, pretty people.


BLUE and INTERESTING seem to be the agreed theme for this part of the market.


And have I mentioned BACKSIDES?????  Yes, I think I did.  No Depends here.


Once upon a time, we were all someone else.


But they say that the child is the father of the man.


Maybe this explains the appeal of past lives, our own and others'.


Somehow those lives took simpler forms.  And were easier to understand.


We're reminded we have choices of lives.  The kind that sits and waits and settles for less and lets the world come to them, maybe?


The kind that puts its best foot forward and hopes to make a quiet impression.


And knows that a well-chosen accent can signal and characterize a lifetime's endeavor.


Here's an accent that I would have LOVED to adopt.  (Yes!  The skirt - I ADORE!)
But I have big hips and short legs and when I tried it on, instead of Frida Kahlo, I just looked like a tinsel-trimmed beer barrel - "Just push me over lads and ROOOLLLL ME down the hill!"


Even flea markets can sell you on that sleek, soigne restrained style.


If you get your stuff and get out before you find the food court (Otherwise it's back to barrel-land.)


You will definitely leave feeling more colorful.


More adventurous.


More glamorous.

And no, this is not Bentley either, but so pretty.

 NOW.  My flea market day is done.  I feel like "Stepping Up" and trying out a whole new attitude.  Just call me.........


Do you love flea markets?  Do you haggle?  What is the best thing you ever got at a flea market?  Which is your favorite flea market in the world?



7 comments:

  1. Flea markets rock. What camera do you use for your blogging? I am going to buy a new and so I'm very interested in what works for others :)) Thanks.

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  2. A flea market in the sun is exactly what I'd like to do (on this cold, cold, snowy February day in Colorado). Thanks for the daydream trip! You've brightened my afternoon!

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  3. I want it all! Except perhaps the old shirtless guy, and even him looks glamorous as photographed by you

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  4. Thanks for this super-fun virtual wander around your (drool... sunny!) flea market. I like those 'distressed' lime green & turquoise bookshelves in the 5th pic from bottom... oh, the books I could cram in them!

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  5. Maia, and Suzanne - Oh yes, I think I could do with another day at the flea market myself. Just to see what's new.

    Kat - nice to hear from you! I've seen you now for awhile at the bottom of the page. You have been keeping me guessing? I use a Sony Cybershot 5.0 megapixels. It's a decent little camera. I would say so far I would only want more megapixels ideally in order to blow up my images way bigger. And to have a bigger viewfinder/screen at the back. For me personally too, it's a little heavy. This is an old camera already I'm sure there are many new choices on the market and to come.

    Corine - you embarass me with encouragement.

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  6. Like you I am partial to meringue and a little bit of leopard/cheetah etc. I hope you bought the shoes!

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  7. Ellen: Sadly the shoes were totally not my size. And meringues usually are!

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