Junk Bonanza

 

The Junk Bonanza was this past weekend, along with the big State Fair Flea Market. 

 Lots of good stuff at the Junk Bonanza.  

 It was very crowded, and it looked like people were buying. 

The displays and booths were beautiful.

 This Halloween Grave Digger is made from all vintage/antique parts, including a metal drawer as the base.

 It was from C.J. Robb's booth, she had some really amazing holiday items.  

Also found some Halloween themed flour sack towels.

And a handful of silver.

 Since it is now October, Halloween decor is coming out!  A couple of Halloween blow molds.  The cat/pumpkin is a new find.

 Some other outdoor Halloween items.

A child's Halloween Costume from 1937.

More Halloween to come, as well as an upcoming visit to Salem, MA.

Monograms

 Monogrammed Flatware.  It is my favorite thing to look for.  I collect it and sell it on Etsy. 

 

 This new magazine, Victoria Classics Monogram, is really amazing. 

It has some of the most beautiful monogrammed pieces I have ever seen. 

These are some of the pieces I have collected, most are on my Etsy shop.  

Above are single letter monogrammed flatware.

Multiple letter monograms.  

I love pieces that have old dates.

And engraved names, such as Dora.  

Lawrence.

And Lorett.

Three letter monogram napkin ring.

Napkin ring engraved Mable.

A pair of French napkin rings, Madam and Monsieur.

And a little baby cup.

It has a three letter monogram, and engraved "Age 5 years".

Tomato Season

 It's finally tomato season.

 This year we are growing purple heirlooms.

 They are called Indigo Rose.

Not quite ready yet, they are still green on the bottom.

 Some red tomatoes hiding amongst the others.

 Pretty purple flowers.

 Raspberry bushes.

There are a few ready to be picked.

The basil is doing very well.

 New sun dial.

 Fairy door, with a little gnome.

 The tallest tree in the back was recently struck by lightning.   It is hard to see, but it split the tree right down the middle.  Chunks of bark were strewn all over the yard. 

This tree came down during the same storm.

It just missed the little birdhouse, very lucky since a family of birds was living in it!

 Some tomatoes from the garden (along with a silver tomato server).

With some basil and mozzarella.  Yum.

Historic Houses

Happy 4th of July! 

I came across an article online showing Historical Houses currently for sale.  I love them all!

Above is the Joseph Norton House in Edgardtown, MA.

 Marquis de Lafayette spend time in the house above in Culpeper, VA.

 This pretty yellow house has connections to Dartmouth University in Landaff, NH.

 The Peggy Stewart House in Annapolis, MD.

The Linsley-Howd Barnhouse in Northford, CT.

Fox Hill Farmhouse in Jamestown, RI.

I think this one looks like the Amityville house!

18th Century estate in Milford, DE.

(All above images from Yahoo Homes/Zillow)

Here in Minnesota, we have recently had many historical houses demolished or destroyed.  Above is the George Peavey Mansion in Minneapolis.  While the house still stands, much of the beautiful interior and exterior has been torn down and destroyed.  Very sad.

See more pictures here:  1889 Victorian House Restoration Blog.

Recent Finds

 Lots of Estate Sales and Antique Shows lately.  These are some of the things I've found for my Etsy shop.  Above are brass cat bookends.  

 Antique Sugar Tongs.

Engraved "Fox".

 A giant punch ladle, the biggest one I've ever seen.

 Beautiful art nouveau monogrammed spoons.

 Brass open/closed sign.

Pretty soup spoons.