This past week has been a roller coaster of pain, sadness and joy. My family has undergone a great loss, and as such we have come together and re-formed our little social network which keeps us afloat in times of trial.

Wow, that’s like the vaguest and most Hallmarky thing I’ve ever said, eh?

My aunt passed away last Friday. She had been fighting cancer for the last 12 years, and we are happy that she is in a better place, and no longer in pain, but we’re still all a little shell-shocked at her leaving, and the anticipation of the upcoming memorial service has us all speaking in hushed voices.

My Aunt and Uncle from Australia are here, serving us wine and keeping us chipper (as they always do), and we have begun our recovery process in the only way we know how.

By going shopping.

On Saturday we went to Macy’s, on Sunday, Old Navy and Ross, and today we hit up the antique stores in a neighboring city (and of course, Goodwill!). I love antique stores, mostly because every find truly is a discovery, entailing searching through piles of unsorted jewelry, a thousand china cups stacked on a shelf, and similar other oddities, not to mention the artistic way dealers arrange their sections in the big antique malls. Today I brought my camera along, to demonstrate to the uninitiated how absolutely charming antique stores can be.

How about these two little ladies? A pair of salt and pepper shakers for $25; I see them as friends, waiting to adorn your table.

I love bunched up jewelry displays, I can’t help myself. I’m rather fond of the blue rhinestones, but I think my favourite ones are the silver cowboys on the right.

This little corner seemed very quiet and solemn, the way the angel was sitting in the corner was just too perfect! Sometimes it’s hard to shop around in fear of disturbing the wonderful arrangement of objects.

How about these little blue pitchers? I love the way the doe is eyeing them.

As for me, I came home with two items: This lovely rhinestone bracelet, which I shall wear to the next wedding I’m invited to.

And this funny little contraption, which I hope a few of you will be able to identify: it’s a walnut grinder!

My mother inherited one from her mother, and I associate many days of my childhood with this tool, chopping walnuts for a pie or cookies and such. My sister, being the eldest, has claimed priority on inheriting Mom’s grinder, and I’m pretty excited to have one of my own to add to my hope chest!

Antique stores remind me of the silver lining in history: Tragic things happened, wars went on, friends grew sick and died, but there was still a cup of tea at the end of the day, and a friendly pair of salt shakers on the table. It’s nice to have little familiar things in times of grief.