Daytripping Fall 2023

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Magic Place
By William Bedford
from Daytriping Sept-Oct 2009
Standing in the knee-deep weeds
and grass in the front yard, I take
one more picture of the dilapidated
fieldstone house, which stands halfhidden
by the hardwood bush. The
sagging roof is ready to cave in. The
front porch has already given up the
ghost. As I gaze at the broken windows
and ragged shingles, I have to admit that
it looks like any other old, abandoned
Ontario farmhouse, and not a magic
place at all.
But I remember this sad old place
as it was a long time ago, and it was
old even then, when I was young and
the world was still a wonderland. In
those days, this old homestead, with
its barbecues in the now weed-covered
yard, was a magic place indeed.
As a gust of wind blows the crisp
maple leaves around me, memories
of the old place cross my mind like
faded pictures in an old album:
memories of fresh cobs of corn
bubbling in a giant cauldron, of
wieners being roasted on the
tips of sticks over a wood fire, of
fragrant smoke hanging dense in
the still, chilly air.
Memories of Halloween - a
terrifying night for the ancient Celts. But
at this old house among the maples and
sumac, it was a night for fun, games and
spooky tales.
Off in the distance, a dog’s barking
interrupts my reverie. It still has a wellremembered
haunting sound. A wormy
apple falls to the weedy ground beside
me with a soft thud. Picking it up, I’m
reminded of a favourite fall poem:
“Plums purple and red, pears amber
and brown, thud! In the garden-bed,
ripe apples fall down.”
Memories, memories. I remember
the aroma of hot chocolate and burnt
marshmallows. I remember rolling in
huge mounds of crunchy leaves beneath
a coal-black sky glittering with endless
stars that seemed close enough to touch.
How, I ask myself, can a lifetime fly
away so quickly, while those long-gone
October days seem like only yesterday?
The setting sun reminds me that it’s
time to leave this magic place of happy
memories. As I drive away through the
swirling leaves on this lovely fall evening,
I give the crumbling old house one last,
fond look. I know I’ll never pass this
way again. I also know that, like the old
house itself, most of my own Octobers
have also slipped away.
On a frigid winter evening, or on
a humid summer morning, when I’m
stuck in the din and the poisonous traffic
fumes of the “real world,” I only have to
close my eyes to picture my magic place
in the hardwood bush as the creeping
autumn dusk enfolds it in its dark
embrace. I just have to close my eyes to
see a “V” of Canada geese winging high
in the October sky, or to recall the aroma
of hot pumpkin pie topped with freshlywhipped
cream.
In a secret corner of my soul, I’m
always young and carefree. There, the
fields of long ago are forever ablaze in
their fall splendor. In this inner sanctum,
where only I can go, “God’s in his
heaven, and all’s right with the world,”
and it’s always October.
Over 17,000 square feet
1175 Hyde Park Road
London, ON • 519-471-2835
memorylaneantiques.ca
Open 7 days Including Holidays
9:00-5:30
FRIDAY 9-8
Since 1946
The Fine Art of
Traditional Baking
•Breads •Cakes
•Pies, Pastries
and Cookies
• Traditional
Seasonal Baking
Please Order Ahead for
Guaranteed Availability
12 Front Street West
Strathroy • 519-245-0741
hamiltonsbakery.ca
Sew
Creative
In Store Now - Check out the
New Handiquilter Amara ST
The new 20 inch Amara sit down
or stand up quilting machine
Authorized Dealer
Handi Quilter
Long Arm Dealer
• Sales
• Service
Monday to Saturday
10-5
22486 Adelaide Road
Mount Brydges
www.sewcreativequilting.ca • 519-264-2177
Visit one of Canada’s largest secondhand bookstores
BOOKS • MAPS • PRINTS • POSTCARDS • CURIOSITIES
Welcome to Attic Books - one of Canada’s largest antiquarian and secondhand
bookstores. You can find us on London’s new flex street, Dundas
Place, a few doors west of Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, Canada’s largest
ceramic gallery. We have three floors of books, maps, prints, ephemera,
postcards and all sorts of curiosities that appeal to readers, scholars and
seasoned collectors alike. The atmosphere is spacious, bright, relaxed and
professional, not to mention architecturally beautiful, with its original tin ceilings,
hardwood maple floors and all the charisma of a Victorian building. This, along
with the help of our friendly and knowledgeable staff, will ensure that every visit
to Attic Books will be memorable.
240 DUNDAS STREET
LONDON, ONTARIO
N6A 1H3
Heads up to drivers:
Queen St and Wellington St
are going to be worked on
most of the construction season,
so please call and we’ll
be happy to give directions.
519-432-7277
Check out our website to browse
through some of our rare and
quirkier stock and to find out about
new arrivals, store sales and events.
WWW.ATTICBOOKS.CA
STORE HOURS*
Monday to Saturday
10 am to 5 pm
Closed Sundays
*hours may be extended certain days
due tostreet events &fairs but please
refer towebsite for up-to-date hours.
Let’s be book buddies!
Follow usat@atticbooksca
We buy, sell and trade
as well as provide appraisals
by appointment.
Check our buying guide under
Services onour website.
We look forwardtoseeingyou soon!
Upcoming BOOK SHOWS WE’LL BE AT:
TORONTO ANTIQUARIAN
BOOK FAIR
October 20th-22nd 2023
at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
in Toronto
OLD BOOK & PAPER SHOW
November 12th 2023
at the Artscape Wychwood Barns
in Toronto
FALL/WINTER
2023-2024
“Peace is the virtue of civilization. War is the crime.” -Victor Hugo
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