Yesterday morning's dismal weather of cool temperatures, wind and heavily overcast skies transformed themselves into partially blue skies by mid-afternoon, and the occasional bursts of sunlight did much to warm up the day and the feeling that we had, after all, a beautiful day before us.

It was also time for the semi-annual (fall) antique show held at Carleton University Fieldhouse. We missed the spring one, and looked forward to going along to this one.

We weren't disappointed, although some of the dealers who hauled their wares from all over the province (Toronto and all points in between) and from Montreal, might have been, since the turn-out didn't seem spectacular. One dealer whom we've known for years said the night before, opening night, was very well attended, though he didn't divulge whether he'd been able to sell much. He did have quite a few paintings of interest to us, but in the end we bought nothing from him.

Over the years the show has turned gradually into far more of a jewellery exposition than an antique show, and each year the creeping presence of dealers in 'collectibles' has steadily increased, so a lot of costume jewellery, pressed glass, and bits of pieces of nostalgia have comprised a greater inventory at various stands' showcases. These are the ones we pass by without much of a glance.

And The Brooklyn Antiquarian was there, one of the very few old-time dealers that still come out to the shows; we missed seeing an awful lot of the old faces from whom we've purchased desirable items over the years, they're simply not attending any longer. Whether it's because the market for acquiring decent antiques has begun to dry up, or they're too inaccessible due to price, or the fact that Ottawa isn't a very good antiques sales market to begin with, we aren't certain.

In any event, it was a nice break in routine. The Fieldhouse presents as a very accommodating, pleasant venue, and it's great fun to walk among the offerings, to see what people have been able to assemble and put out for sale. There is still a plenitude of interesting, unique, beautiful and desirable objects available, from porcelains, bronzes, clocks, paintings, furniture, and all manner of earlier-Centuries objects to be acquired. Some are prohibitively expensive, some affordable.

A fascinating pastime, poking among them, admiring them, speculating about them, to spend a few fall hours indoors. And then, once again outdoors, we have the spectacle of intense, bright fall colours with the trees approaching their apogee in beauty within the landscape of the city.