Copying is the most sincere form of flattery, so here I go; a week or so ago, Beatrice, a bloggy friend at
http://thefrogandpenguinn.blogspot.com/ posted their adventures at an auction, browsing but buying not. I commented that I used to enjoy those so much but have tended to avoid them and flea markets and estate sales these days lest I be tempted. I have enough accumulation of stuff and so do not want to be tempted to add to things when in reality I should be downsizing, but here it is all coming to me later in life, collections and trinkets and treasures from my family members who pass on, adding to what I have already accumulated. Funny but when we moved to MN from CA I shed many belongings, donating to the Goodwill, Salvation Army, the Cancer Society Thrift Store and the church for future rummage sales, a necessary step toward moving into retirement and to a different part of the country. But today, I have just as much, maybe more.
The last source, as you know was my Aunt Jinx who passed on in PA last year; while clearing her home for sale we discovered box after box packed neatly away in the basement filled with knick knacks, collectibles, some valuable which I'd have picked up at sales myself once upon a time, some just nice and some mysterious. I recalled her admonishments to me when she visited in CA and I dragged her and Mom along to sales, antique shops, etc, "don't buy that junk, someday you will have too much!" Little did I know the truth and prediction in those words. She gave me something every time I visited her, but I think she had long forgotten about these boxes packed tidily away in her basement, many with items from the Irwins (her husband's family.) I had already amassed enough to bring back home to MN, with crystal and cut glass items alone. I left behind a beautiful 12 piece place setting of china that would go with some of ours, not a replica but same silver and grey tones. But our hutch is full and I have boxes setting inside my closets already so what would I need with more. Besides I don't use it as much here because I seldom host big gatherings; this is how weird life is, once you get the stuff to do what you think you want to do, it's over, no more. I thought surely I'd be the entertainment queen of La Crescent, but not so, not that many people to gather around together and mostly we gather out at the Legion or restaurants.
So in PA, every item I picked up Jerry would look at and say, "now where are you going to put that?" I would sadly leave it for Sandy, the woman we hired to hold an estate sale to clear the home. I now possess a full comprehension of why families leave items like china, vases, trinkets and the like to be sold. It just becomes overwhelming when you are faced with the task and you do not live near by, so have limited time to sort and discard. I even left a shoe box of unlabeled black and white photos, recognizing that someone might see it and say as I have, "how sad no one wanted these pictures..." But as you know I am engaged in sorting and discarding through an accumulation of ever so many photographs of our own, along with ones from family that I need not have added to the mess with ones of I know not whom nor what. I will admit that periodically I get pangs of remorse remembering some trinket, object, utensil, that I wished I'd have kept, but water under the bridge. We just do our best and try not to look back.
So I have turned the corner avoiding what was a fun past time, browsing flea markets, antique booths, estate sales, etc. On Saturday though we headed up the road to Houston, MN and their annual Hoedown. This is a weekend long celebration of all sorts of things, games, carnival, parade, gatherings, foods and a big open flea market in the park. "Well, I probably wouldn't look very long there anyway," so I said to myself and to Jerry, who nodded and replied, "well you never know." I have this relatively new little camera which I just insisted I must have to carry around in my purse (which I seldom carry BTW) so off we went, with myself armed and dangerous thinking, "I can take some neat photos for the blog like Beatrice did. Yes, that will give me a reason to look and perhaps keep my fingers from purchasing. " Actually, most of the prices vendors put at these things now are beyond what I want to pay, when I was acquiring I was only looking for bottom bargain prices, it had to be inexpensive or I would not purchase it.
The photo above of the horse pull is from our La Crosse Tribune newspaper. We learned a funny story about this event from our amusing friend Richard, former mayor of Houston, retired teacher, and all around jokester. He said that Saturday's
32nd annual Minnesota State Horse Pull was his inspiration; years back they were sitting around and thinking of what kind of attractions Houston would host. They determined that there was no "State Championship horse pull" and so they named theirs that, which it still is today causing them all to laugh and raise their beer mugs in deference. This photo of 72 year old Lawrence Anderson with his draft horses says a lot; these horses pulled over 3,000 pounds, and he himself is not light weight. Most of these horses and farmers are from working farms and they do enjoy this sport. Read the story of this team and the WI event too at
http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_6cdece7a-97a2-11df-ba69-001cc4c002e0.html
The flea market in the park at Houston was a great way to pass a few hours looking at an endless variety of things, like these home made willow contraptions and talking to the man who made them who was sitting in the shade, not caring if he sold or not. These are a bit too rustic for my tastes, as I prefer the fancier, white wicker furniture in our sunporch room. Victory continues as I was not tempted. But as I said, he didn't care much one way or the other, this is a sideline hobby and as he shared, it wasn't important to sell in Houston because , sooner or later someone will buy them at a fair; and he expects the city people near Minneapolis would be happy to get such bargains, but not here in the southeast corner of rural MN, the market is not as good and buyers are more selective. I guess at one time I might have been one of those city folks willing to buy anything handmade too.
Unfortunately several vendors must have that attitude because sales were slim, lookers were many and there was no bargaining with these vendors. I asked one woman at this booth, where Jerry's browsing (back to us in photo) how long it took her to set up; in my opinion she had overpriced glassware and such. She said about 4 hours with 3 or 4 of them working. And I asked then didn't she want to sell and wasn't that a lot of work for nothing in sales? But she too said, this is her hobby and she just enjoys meeting and talking with folks. (I think I'd just take my lawn chair and not bother especially with wrapping and setting up and taking down. But to each his or her own. )
These boxes of dishes, cups, vases, things were plentiful and sported right uptown prices. I know that many of the vendors go to auctions and sales and pick these things up for nickels and dimes and then cart them around selling at a big mark up. Jerry is browsing selectively at the tables where I could honestly not find a thing that called my name. No temptation here either, so far so good. I have been noticing the past year on my infrequent trips that even the local Goodwill Thrift store in La Crosse/Onalaska has more uptown prices, which I find ridiculous as it is all freely donated to them. Of course, the items remain on the shelves lots longer too today than a couple years ago.
I was fascinated with this woman's woven rag rugs. She said explaining useable fabrics, "if I can rip it, I can weave it." And she does into very hearty rag rugs reminiscent of old time styles. I asked her to pose for me so I could put it on my blog which intrigued her as well to more discussion, as though I am a famous writer and here she was to be discovered. I am always astounded when folks are fascinated by my blog. She said she wished she could write; funny as it comes so easily to me...
The blue rugs above are of old discarded denim. She does teach her craft at different community education sites and here she was explaining to an interested customer. I know my grandmother made her own rag rugs too, and when I was small I remember making potholders of rags. She had one of her looms set up so customers could see the work in progress.
There were many young families looking about as the Hoedown has ample entertainment for kids, including a fair sized playground right there in the park with swings, teeter totters, and the like, ponies, baseball games and more. One young boy's loudly insistent impatient whine, "MOM ! C'mon Mom! Why do you have to look at old stuff!" gave me a good laugh, remembering so many years back when it was me dragging a young son along through such things where he'd rather not be. Mom just kept rummaging and her face straight ahead as the other son reluctantly followed more quietly and the husband hung back, covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud! Here they are, youngest son trying to get Mom away from the old stuff and the older standing quietly. I laughed at him and said, "I know it doesn't make any sense, does it how we like to look! "
Maybe if she could have dragged him down a ways, he might have been interested in these old toy trucks....didn't Tom T Hall write a song about little boy toys, little toy trucks zooming round the bend, doesn't it make you wish you were a little boy again? Nope, Google tells me it was Roger Miller and went like this,
Old toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?
Another interesting vendor made flower bud vases from butter knives and spoons, an industrious venture which attracted many looks. In a way it made me sad to see quality sterling silver so altered from its original state, but if he is recycling that which is just cast aside, why not? One of our friends bought several of these for Christmas gifts.
I had made a trip to the mall days before and commented that the clothes are getting uglier and uglier just when I thought it couldn't get any worse. And so following what seems to be a fashion trend there were booths offering ugly clothing too, all made in India, Honduras, and of course China. This was the only such booth as most had unique handmade or real flea market attractions. I was surprised at the women and girls attracted to this booth with assorted tie die rags, gauzy flimsy things that surely will not last through several washings, but then maybe this is some of the disposable clothing, to be the thing of the furture for travelers; just buy and toss, and eliminate need for suitcases!
No end of tools, gadgets, and collectibles of bygone, even tobacco tins, some of which I think may still be on the market. Several months back, my friend Samdy, in CA inquired about wood planing tools and told me to look carefully through my uncle's things in PA as we are cleaning out his home. I noticed several booths had such things for sale here too.
A local hunter/trapper offered an array of knives with bone handles in sheaths with remnants of fur of beaver, muskrat, otter, rabbit and the like.
I am not a salt and pepper shaker collector though some of these older ones made in Japan and of lustreware caught my eye.I had almost talked myself into a purchase of a pair of birds to go with my bird collection, but I restrained my fingers from reaching into my wallet. These were all under $5, a bargain.The previously unforeseen benefit of taking the camera, became apparent, while taking pictures I would not be buying! Recently while visiting with a friend who is a professional seamstress and part time flea market vendor shared her secret of big sales is to advertise, "Buy old, buy now, not made in China anyhow!" I thought Pat's slogan would go well at these booths. Really wouldn't someone rather have a bit of history, something unique not made today and certainly instead of today's cheaper looking trinkets?
There is something beyond nostalgic to these items, something connective to other times, places and people?
Which brings me to the hay lecture. Every time Jerry goes to these sales he gravitates to the tools and old farm implements. No exception at Hoedown when I caught up with him, he began to explain the purpose of this array of things that I thought rusted beyond recognition. But he knew just what these were, citing his MN farm boy growing up years. It was quite a complicated explanation which I did not retain, likely because I have little interest in tools and implements, though I recognize a painted up tractor seat when I see one. But I was corrected and advised that was a mower seat not tractor, the one to the left with openings.
The item below and to the right looks like a torture mechanism, but Jerry explained how it was used to pull hay along and then attached somehow with ropes/pulleys to the contraption in the first photo and so swept up hay to get it to the bale stage. Something like that anyway!
And if one gets thirsty, the hospitality of hoedown includes unlimited free glasses of water. Sure there are booths selling lemonade, snow cones, etc but the nice cold fresh water was great and avoided having to buy a plastic bottle of water which is commonly sold at events. This makes lots more sense!
Real home made canned goods and produce were among other booths.
Now for our purchases, you knew there would be something didn't you? Well one lady who is also from La Crescent we learned, visiting with her, had baskets of the old glass knobs which we have on the antique bedroom set. Trouble is that over the years from the early 1800's the knobs were damaged and are not all the same on the vanity dresser or one of the bureaus. I spotted the basket of knobs and Jerry found what could be the right size. But we took the woman's card who said we could get them in town from her or that she would be set up Sunday. So we did return on Sunday and purchased 4 of the smaller knobs. The bigger size she had were too big, unfortunately. This is the first time we have found the knobs as they are getting harder and harder to spot. But this is one purpose to going to these kinds of events, now I have a reason to browse!
However, we did buy this sign from the Rag Weaver's booth who sold other things as well as her rugs. This made me laugh and I think we can enjoy it downstairs in the TV room. Jerry has now decided it can also go along in the motor home with us on journeys, as it seems to speak to & fit with parts of our lives---
And on our way back to the car, I could not resist this lovely home with a grand old porch! Noticing it was for sale, we discussed how it might serve as a Bed and Breakfast, not something I want to do, but someone might! It comes with nice screened side porch and gas light out front!
At one time in my life I would have loved to acquire a nice old place like this, but projects enough entertain us with our current modern home and these old ones take money to update unless one is willing to rough it without many amenities, and I am not. Now, if there were someone who wanted to invest in such a venture I could be interested in participating, with plenty of advice and ideas!
I can just imagine sitting on the porch sipping a nice cup of tea or an icy frothy margarita! No one was out on this porch though, maybe they were all at Hoedown activities. Actually with the comfort of air conditioning, it is less common to see folks out on porches, another relic pastime of times ago. The house I grew up in in PA had a big front porch and in her later years, my mother spent much time sitting out there, not inside watching TV.
This may be one of the last photos taken of Fran with her grand daughter, Caitlin, Paula's daughter. Fran died at age 83 in 1999. As I visited with my cousins, Paula & her brother Paul who is the spitting image of his father, Paul, I laughed that they were unsure of their mother's age; the adventuresome Kochanowski girl who changed her name to suit her circumstances, getting older to join the WACs in 1942, getting younger to marry a man younger than herself and all around keeping her age a mystery was one of a kind. 
