Antiques and Cat Poop Don't Mix

If you think it is possible to immediately know if an antique shop is worth your time or full of junk--think again. Some of the junkiest, dirtiest and darkest shops have been the location of some of our best antique finds. And some of the cleanest brightest and well organized have been wall to wall junk.

But there is a rule that we always follow that indicates to us whether we should stay to explore a shop or get back in the car and move on.. There are certain real turnoffs that should not be anywhere near an antique shop, but they frequently are. Real antique shops do not smell like or sell potpourri--and if we get a whiff--we walk right out. Why do some shop owners think that because you like antiques--you must like the items they think are complimentary to them--candles-- or bumper stickers that say "I brake for a flea market" or bags of smelly, acrid, burn your eyes out of the sockets potpourri. Something about cinnamon potpourri in the middle of July that just turns my stomach. Or how about those Glad plug in the electric socket smelly things? I want to browse antiques without my eyes tearing up.

While we're at it--let's expand that nasty list of shop no-nos. If I hear Muzak--I don't stay shopping long. Or if I see beer signs--1970s and 1980s brewery signs--those plastic kind--that shop is not for me. If the shop keeper smells like cigarettes or is smoking one--out the door we go.

How about a roving cat? There really is a shop in Wisconsin that has a smelly pooping cat roaming around the shop. Really. You can be standing looking at something--and that cat twists and turns around your legs. As you walk through the shop--you have to be careful that you do not step in a lovely pile of treasure left by you know who.

Come to think if it--maybe THAT"S the reason for all that potpourri!