Fall is definitely in the air!  I've even noticed leaves beginning to fall so decided if I wanted some hydrangeas to dry, I'd better get it done.  A friend of mine has beautiful hydrangeas of several different varieties and she's nice enough to let me cut them.  Aren't they gorgeous.....

 

 

They dried enough that I could take some to Leola's.  Love them in this primitive basket.



 Bought this wonderful European wash stand from a friend and took it to the shop also.  Almost kept it!

 



It's supposed to be a cool weekend and I soooooo hope that's true.  The heat makes me so lazy and non-productive and I have so many projects awaiting me in the garage.  My nice neighbor who sometimes helps me is working on a table.  I found a wonderful old table top and then found four great legs.  Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Last weekend my sisters and I went to a big auction in Sarcoxie, MO.  It was the widow of Gene Taylor's auction and he was a U.S. senator from Missouri many years ago.  We lived in LaRussell before he became a senator and my dad bought his Ford pickups from Mr. Taylor.  Anyway, it was a wonderful auction and I found several treasures.  I always concentrate on primitives and was lucky enough to find some crocks, a really nice early beveled mirror, a few silver pieces and a great shelf.  A great sale!

Have 3 grandkids with me tonight and they need to get to bed.  No school tomorrow so they're staying up a little later.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 Judy and I took off on Saturday morning heading to an auction in Stotts City, Missouri, a tiny town not far from Springfield.  It's the home of Stearnsie Bears and it was this family that was cleaning out their parents houses, barns and storage buildings.  I think they own most of the buildings in town.  Were we ever in for a thrill!

This was one of the buildings that was piled with the most incredible things.

I've never been to a sale like this one.  It had started the night before with items that were offered on-line.  It was in the 90's all day and we almost didn't make it through the heat.  Think we're tougher then we think we are.

This was our main reason for going there on Sat......Judy's husband wanted this post office piece.  He even let us take his brand new pick-up.  By the way, the piece went for more then he was willing to pay.  It was beautiful.

 This little bent willow chair came home with me.

 ....and some of the crocks.

Also brought home a bunch of green mason jars.  The really old big ones.....some have bales and some with zinc lids.

 We couldn't believe all the Christmas.  Judy brought these old bottle-brush trees home.

We both have several boxes of vintage ornaments.

 Judy got the lighted Santa in original box.

 I love really early baskets and managed to bring a few home.  There were two others who seemed to love early primitives.  These were so good that I knew that if I paid too much to resale that they could live happily at my house.

 Here was the back of the truck plus the extended cab was piled to the top with quilts, crocks, a mannequin, suitcases and all kinds of treasures.  I was so thrilled to actually get some furniture.  It gets harder and harder for dealers to buy furniture at auctions.

It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday, even with the heat.  It's so fun getting a head start on fall & holiday goods for Leola's.

Guess I'll spend today washing old jars and oiling lots of old wood spoons and rolling pins (some of my favorite things to do).  Just love to see what happens when you put that oil on a dry piece of wood (I'm such a simple person).

Hope you all have a great Sunday!

It's getting there......

I know, I have been MIA.  Besides having a sinus/cold thingy (technical term), I've worked like crazy trying to get the weeds from the garden before they become large, out of control weeds.  I sold my tiller because it was too hard to manage so it's having to be done my hand.  There seem to be a lot of gardeners who think the no-till method of gardening is the best.  You don't stir up all those weed seeds buried deep in your dirt.  Anyway, it's just waiting now.....

I have a few onions that have come back from last fall and that green in the back is mint that I use in my tea and mojitoes.  We're having a cool couple of days and then it's warming again (hopefully, for good).

I love arugula and especially love how easy it is to grow.  It just keeps coming back.  These are plants left from last year.

The chives and lavender plants are looking so good.  Thinkin' I might make a baked potato for dinner and sprinkle with these tender, mild chives.

Yesterday I cleaned out the hostas and after raining last night, I swear they grew 2".

 

 

So proud of my tomato starts.  They finally have 4 leaves (on some).  They just take a long time to grow but they're looking strong.

 



If you look close, you're see the shiny little basil leaves coming on.

Finally had an auction to attend on Saturday.  It's been a long spell since I've found an auction to attend.  It's really hard to find early primitives in this part of the country but look what I found......

These are wonderful, early prim baskets.  Don't know if I can bare to sell them.

Great old crock with bale and lid.....

I have 3 of the early herb shelves but this is the largest one so far.  She's a beauty!

Also found some great old ticking feather pillows and an ironstone slop jar.  I think that's what it is but it doesn't have a bale so not certain.  Anyway, it would be wonderful for lots of uses.  I'll wash it well before I take it to Leola's.

Hope everyone has a good Wednesday.  Take care and pray for spring.

A beautiful day for an auction!

This was such a beautiful day that Mike & I decided to hit an auction. Did I have fun or what!!! I bought & Mike carried it to the car. The most fun was bringing it home & going through all of it. There was a large box full of vintage sewing supplies. Wonderful old buttons & seam tapes & wooden spools & all kinds of crochet needles.

Is it just me or does everyone wonder what other buyers are doing with their purchases. I found myself watching others & forgetting to pay attention to the auctioneer. Some day I think I'll just take my camera & take pictures and actually do a little study on "auction go'ers". They'll probably tell me to go away & leave them the "heck" alone.

Now I have to figure out how to sell all of it. There seems to be a new group of young sewers these days. I've always loved sewing but when I was young, very few of my friends were home sewers. It was always a means for me, as a stay-at-home mom, to make some extra money. I remember one Christmas in Minnesota when I made so many calico cats & gingham dogs that I didn't have time to go Christmas shopping but it sure made a difference in our Christmas. Allison also had some great sweatshirts with appliques when she was little. My sister sent me sweatshirts from her company & I decorated them.

Anyway, just wanted to show off my treasures.