Loot!

 There's a very good reason for my lack of blogging lately...I've been in the Midwest.  Actually, the road trip took us through nine states, but Iowa and Minnesota were the main destinations.  While there, we visited family and enjoyed some incredible weather.  Sadly, we came home to temps around 116.  I keep telling myself that we are near the end of the heat, but there is still more than a month of it to go before we head into the chamber of commerce weather. 

I'm fairly certain that I hit every antique shop between here and there.  Above is some of the misc. loot that came home with me.  I see a theme going on with the alphabet, don't you?  I guess I'm pretty predictable, I always seem to look for the same things every trip such as vintage photos, old buttons, canning jars, silhouettes, and pewter.  I really had no intention of bringing home another piece of salt-glazed pottery, but I couldn't resist these two.  The crock was a steal at $40, and the jug, complete with "turkey droppings" was only $15.  I had no clue what a turkey dropping was until a woman stopped me to admire them on the jug.  She enlightened me with a story about the brown splats.  The glaze apparently drips/drops onto the ones below them in the kiln.  According to her, they make a piece more desirable and valuable.  Who knew?

We attended this event in Minnesota for the second year.  Last year, I flew and was limited to what I could bring home.  This year, I was prepared and brought our van.  We were just about to leave when I spotted the spinning wheel.  I have to say that I was feeling a little disappointed because I hadn't found any samplers worth buying and had missed out on a wonderful old spool cabinet by minutes.  So, when this came into view, I was excited.  It has the original blue/black paint, and is from 1844. You can see where the paint has worn from use.

The bee skep is not old, but I have always wanted one.  I'm hoping that it will age in time.

 Now this is something that you do not see everyday.  It was originally a large rhubarb leaf.  My sis-in-law participated in a fundraiser by making these.  I can't remember the exact process, but it involves forming an actual leaf over a mound of dirt to form the bowl.  Then some type of plaster mixture is added to make it hard.  This one was painted, but I love how you can see the veins.  I'm using it for a small bird bath along the walkway.

 We were on hand to wish brother-in -law, Mike a happy 50th.  He was golfing at the time, and came home to a surprise party.  That is yours truly in the middle.  I'm the only one not holding up a "50" napkin.  Another sister-in-law had just given me something from Tastefully Simple, and that is what I am displaying.

 We also spent time in this resort  I mean farm, of yet another sister and brother-in-law.  It is absolutely lovely here, and the dogs ran and played until they could run no more.  I sat on the patio and stitched...it was heaven.