Last Week Friday in Wisconsin

On this day we started out at an antique store, then went to a thrift store, paused for lunch, went to another antique store, and then two cheese stores.  After that we stopped at a gas station to buy THE BEST kringle.  It's so good to go with people who KNOW where to go and how much to pay for things. Sometime in there we also went back to the gardens which are on the property where my aunt and uncle live.

In mid October there were still a variety of flowers.

Aren't these beautiful?

I love the way the sun is shining on them.

It is always so peaceful here.

Well, maybe not ALWAYS.

This happened, and I highly doubt it was a peaceful process.

It happened between the two days we were here.

My statue friend.  

Again.

This time we came with my aunt.

We were discussing dreams.

Which was brought up because of my dream last year of someone following me around,, which when I woke up I realized was that statue above.

I find dreams to be fascinating.

To think that we spend 1/3 of our lives asleep, visiting other worlds that come from our own minds is astounding.

And then there are THGGM's dreams, which I find terrifying.

But that's a story for another day

This looked like ground cover.

Such delicate flowers just inches above plain old dirt.

Gardens really make one think.

 
So do statues.  

Hmm.

(I'm still wondering about this one.)

And bees.

 I don't normally think of myself as someone who adores gardens, statues, and being all contemplative.  But, I must be wrong about myself.  Because I certainly do love it here!

A Day at the Beach

Perfect weather!

Surprisingly uncrowded beach.

I like this bird.

THGGM, Daughter, Jonge, Famke, Kado and I had a wonderful time.

There will be more pictures.

Grand Haven in July

It was a perfectly gorgeous night for Grand Haven.

Dinner at Snug Harbor - I did not take a picture of my food. The Burgundy Mushrooms Augratin are fabulous.

Nice evening for walking and sitting along the channel people watching.

Although there weren't very many people there this Thursday night.

The Coast Guard Festival starts tomorrow.

You know me. Have to get to Grand Haven BEFORE the crowds.

Birds of a Feather

I went to the John Ball Park Zoo today.

Met up with a blogging friend and her family there.

I hope she had as wonderful of a time as I did!

Besides meeting a friend, I also enjoyed the overcast sky and cooler temperatures. And, the parakeets. Parakeets were the pets of my early childhood.

We had one that looked like this and could say, "Judy come here!" As I recall, he said it frequently and with a sense of urgency.

She Got Out

Been busy, yesterday and today.

Let's see...

I've been to two thrift stores...

Three antique malls...

Some of what I've found is up on my Simply Thrift blog at http://www.simplythrift.blogspot.com/

The thrift stores seemed to be in very low supply, but all three antique malls had GREAT stuff.

A good time was had by all.

Oh, Wow.

A week ago, while sorting through things at my dad and mom's condo, my sister found their silverware. She already has a set so she asked if I would like it.

Of course, I like everything.

There were plenty of forks, spoons and serving pieces, but only four knives.

No problem. I pick through boxes of old silverware all the time at thrift and antique stores. I've never looked for knives, but I know they are out there.

Soooo.., Friday, when I entered an antique mall for the first time since I had the box of my parent's silverware, I noticed a box of silverware in the very first booth I went into.

Upon opening it, I discovered the same pattern as my mom's silverware.

And, if that isn't cool enough, notice that it has only eight knives!

I am SOOOO happy!

Add it up.

Are you back yet?

That means that I now have TWELVE knives!

I love it when things like this happen.

Love it, love it, love it.

Labor Day Weekend

Just updated my Simply Thrift blog (http://www.simplythrift.blogspot.com/) .

It's been a good weekend for treasure hunting.

THGGM also found some interesting treasure. Twelve issues of Architectural Digest for 75 cents a copy.

He'll be occupied for quite some time.

I've needed a long weekend.