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The Editorial Page   A place for Editorial comment and Letters to the Editor   By Sandy Neilly Rumour has it that fall is making a big come back this year, whether we want it to or not. Our less than incredible summer is winding down and leaving us all with fewer memories than we would like of outdoor activities - of the pleasant variety. Many of our outdoor antique shows this year experienced some nasty consequences from rain and wind, and yet, stalwart individuals that they are, the vendors keep on setting up to bring antique enthusiasts the great things they're all looking for. We've covered some miles in the past few months and been to a few new places, including Midland, Michigan, where we had a taste of their summer edition of the antique festival they hold three times a year. Being there one day prior to the actual event meant that we weren't able to experience the full scope of vendors and features, but despite that we were impressed with the sheer magnitude of the show.   "Festival" is an appropriate name, with the many events they plan - all held at a very large fairground venue in Midland. The festival isn't vetted strictly as an antique event, which it isn't, but it provides a lot of entertainment and a Webster, (Florida) type of atmosphere where you can find lots of collectibles along with items of a broad variety.   From Michigan, we headed back to Ontario and went north up the coast of Lake Huron towards the lovely town of Bayfield where we had the enjoyable opportunity to meet Elaine Scrimgeour who assists with the annual Bayfield Antique Show & Sale, which was to be held two weeks later. After a tour of her absolutely beautiful gardens and dropping off papers for the show we headed into yet another beautiful small Ontario town, Goderich and then headed east, homeward bound.   East, of course, brings to mind Odessa and the renowned outdoor show that Bill Dobson and his wife Linda organize there every year. This was our third visit to the show in as many years, and although we noticed a few less vendors set up outside (true of many shows, we've found) there were plenty of great booths to keep us busy looking for hours on end, with lots of merchandise - all antique. It also seemed that there were more vendors indoors - and who can blame them with all the weather related issues antique shows have had to deal with lately? I realize that it feels like we've fast-forwarded from spring to fall, but isn't this a wonderful time of year? We have some great shows coming up if you check out our Events Calendar, including some new ones like the Old Montreal Show in (you guessed it) Old Montreal, the Meister Markt show in Markham, and if you're into vintage clothing, June Troy is having a fall version of her annual show in September.   It's all good! If you check out the websites of our auctioneers, they'll lead to you to some fabulous auctions - an absolute must-do in the fall while you're out and about touring the province in search of fresh apples and corn . . . and our beautiful changing leaves. Drop into one of our many advertised shops or markets along the way and you have yourself a perfect autumn day, maybe with a little something that you found to remind you of it for years to come.   In closing, I'd like to share a note of remembrance on behalf of my dear step-mom, Annabelle Foster, who passed away in July, another huge loss for us this year.   Annabelle was not really overly fond of antiques and I suspect that came from a childhood in which she had to make do with many older belongings. When we moved from a perfectly nice suburban home to our present rural Edwardian house fifteen years ago, she was in total disbelief and let us know in no uncertain terms that she thought we had lost our minds. (Every once in a while, I'm inclined to agree with her, but not usually.) I will never forget watching her haul a bucket of water up the stairs, against my wishes, when our ancient dug well ran dry a few years ago during a hot, dry summer when she and my father were visiting.   "Dahlin'" she declared in her North Carolinian accent, "I don't understand why anyone has to live this way in this day and age."   Never mind that the problem was quickly corrected - to Annabelle it just should never have happened in the first place. She did have a wonderful ability to find quality and sort the great from the not-so-great, and she never held back her thoughts regarding any inventory we used to have in our shop. It was refreshing and provided us with many good conversations, typically filled with laughter.   Annabelle will be remembered for many things, and always with love. "God bless your little pointed head" was her smile- inducing sign-off, along with her favourite expression, "this, too, shall pass," when we pondered the many problems of life.   She was correct about that, and it serves now as a reminder that we have to live each day as it arrives and enjoy it as best we can. That's why I'm going to remind you, good reader, to take some time out for yourself this autumn and enjoy all of the wonderful things the season offers.   Thanks for reading the paper. Please remember to tell our great bunch of advertisers that you found them in the Wayback Times.   Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. And God bless your little pointed heads.     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2009 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster