Oh, I do love Ace Hardware Stores. Throughout the years, they haven't changed. No matter where one is located across this country... in cities and small towns, the atmosphere is the same. Walking through the door instantly transports one back in time. It's being greeted at the door with a friendly "Hello," and "Can I help you find something?" It's the homey items that line the store shelves.
A small, independently-owned business like Ace Hardware requires small town banter... exchanging pleasantries. It's just expected. "Have your baby chicks arrived at the post office yet? How's your crop of tomatoes this year? We just stocked the cutest canning jar lids in aisle 5." From today's visit, I came home with two fun treasures. First is a magnetic hook for the side of my fridge to hang my mitten booklet that holds "to get" lists. (The three handy dandy kitchen charts, that I printed onto magnet sheets, came from marthastewart.com.)
In addition, to add color to my world, I snagged this ceramic "paint can" on a 50% off display of valentine-themed items. The words, LOVE LIFE, is carved into its side. I lined the bottom of the inside with a circle of red felt to cushion the sharp points of pencils and pens.
A few other little handy kitchen tools from my Ace Hardware outing will show up in future posts. Count on it.