Ethan is helping his father and me with a project at his house.His mother captured the moment when he was asked if he wished to go to the lumberyard.He wore the hard hat the whole time. One of the things I have changed my son in law's thoughts on is Big Chain vs the local boys. You should buy your lumber where someone knows a treated 2X4 is more than a good place to stub out your Marlboro when you see the boss coming. We go to Main Hardware a lot,it happens to be on Main St.Come on how Leave it to Beaver can you get? Loose screws in paper bags, free red flag on your load and a nail apron given to generation 3 as we leave.I hope there is something like this near you, I pray there is something like this when Ethan has grown.
No James, absolutely nothing like that here anymore I'm afraid. It's the big chains or nothing. But it's really lovely to read about somewhere there is...Leave it to Beaver indeed! Looks like Ethan's got the measure of you as well!
ReplyDeleteJames, We have the Old Gladwyne Hardware about 1/2 mile from Chateau Sportsman. I always opt to go there rather than the Lowes or Home Depot about 5 miles away. I like the service and the personal touch of an old hardware store...and one does not need GPS to get from the aisle with PVC pipe to the aisle with hasps and hinges. My wife has said she does not like the small store because of the prices...I always reply that I would rather pay a few cents more for the convenience and to help the small proprietor.
ReplyDeleteStub out yer smoke when the boss is coming...now that is so on time I had to crack up...
And that little man weilding a tape measure is a tremendous image....boys need to be steeped in rituals like going for lumber by the men in their lives....well done.
Just a distant memory I'm afraid and we live in the bush! I so envy you and the carpenter in the making!
ReplyDeleteSo you recken you've got a house builder or a master carpenter in the making there? Aren't kids cute at that age?
ReplyDeleteHe is too cute for words! Yep, there's a local hardware store right down the street from us, so I try to go there before heading out to the behemoth chain on the outskirts of town. Another local hardware store we pass going to school in the mornings always has dog houses displayed out front, along with sleds in the winter. I just love that!
ReplyDeleteJames, he is precious. And yes, there are still a few small stores around. But not many I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more. We have been going to the same store for lumber and hardware for over 35 years now, and under the same ownership. A visit was not complete until my son sat on one of the forklifts. I also agree with Main Line Sportsman - I'll gladly pay a bit more.
ReplyDeleteHappy to report in Le Petit Village and the surrounding areas, it's pretty much all like this :-)
ReplyDeleteDon't you love the smell of old hardware stores?
ReplyDeleteGrumpy staff members who know where everything in the place is hidden, even if they haven't sold one in 20 years make such places near heavenly.
My dad is a joiner/carpenter/builder, well he can pretty much do everything. In the UK we are still lucky to have small independent builders yards and a few years back I spend a lot of time in them as we were renovating a house together. I may be female and 42 but I know what a purlin is (not a knitting stitch!)and spent many a time up to my neck in dust. Again we are lucky to have family run hardware stores too, hope they are still around when my daughter needs them.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite outings was to go to the local hardware store with my dad, I still adore them and love to go up and down every aisle. You never know what you're going to find, and there's usually a story to be shared by one of the old timers, if you have the time. Oh, and they give out popcorn at ours, which is an extra treat. Going to the dump comes in a close second...my dad used to put me in his lap and let me drive the Ford Falcon.
ReplyDeleteXO
Heidi - Heart and Home
What fun with the little guy!! I love the locally owned hardware stores! Long may they last!
ReplyDeleteKarena
Art by Karena
Oh there is something beautiful about a proper hardware store,it's like a treasure trove of useful things.I love digging about and looking at all of the nails and bolts and brass bits and pieces.
ReplyDeleteCute kid with a great dream. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm all for the local mom-n-pop stores for just about everything. There's a charm about them that cannot be created by a chain store. I love small, independent bookstores for the same reason - the people actually know the books and shopping/browsing is a joy and a connection with a real human being.
ReplyDeleteSounds delightful. We have a local DIY shop that we go to. It's run by a guy and his two brothers - they have everything, including the appropriate advice. And they never make me feel awkward when I go in on my own. As opposed to B&Q or Homebase, whose shop assistants call me 'Luv' (I am not his bl***y Love!!) and have much less of a clue than I have. Which is a miracle, when it comes to DIY stuff.
ReplyDeleteOk, rant over. I'll join in and pray for that shop to survive until Ethan will be grown up. And much longer, of course. x