The Old Tattered Flag

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Ahhhh Vermont............

Hello Everyone!  What an absolutely wonderful weekend we had. I am still getting use to the fact that now that hubby is retired I can make "life plans" and one of them is that the second weekend of July will always be reserved for the Chelsea Flea Market in Vermont.  It's really not about the flea market, though it really never disappoints.  It's not what treasure you will get but rather just enjoying the whole atmosphere!!  Come along with me as I share our weekend....

Friday we made the trek from upstate NY over to my Sister's house in Vermont.  Before I became a military wife I grew up in Vermont.  Every time you cross the lake into Vermont and see those mountains.....oh, they are just so beautiful.  We arrived just as the sun was setting.  Here are some views from my Sister's backyard.  Imagine seeing this every night?



Camels hump to the right....




After 15 years my Sister and her Husband finally decided to fence in their backyard.  Well, it seems that mother nature didn't agree.  With the bad wind storm last week a tree took out two panels.....Murphy's law, eh?

Nice garden this year!!

Mom, my Sister and I usually skype over lunch and one day I saw her having coffee out of this fabulous pottery mug.  I had to know where she got it.  Well, funny story, she picked it up in an antique store.  It's not old, but how unique.  When she brought it up to pay for it and the lady was horrified.  She said "oh, that's so ugly"!!  What!?  I think it's great, look how it's pinched at the bottom.  A short time later my Mother brought something up to pay for, I can't remember what and the sales lady said, "well at least you have taste".  I think she needs to work on her customer skills, but anyway, we laugh about her "ugly" mug, that every time I see it I want to steal!!





 My Sister was going to have a booth at the Flea Market with her primitive Papier mache folk art.  Here are her wares all ready to go!

 So Saturday morning it was up bright and early.  Here I am all set for the day with my sun hat and shades and a good thing too, it was warm!!  And yes, I did bring my punching to do while we sat at her booth.....

Here's my Sister's booth.  To see more of her great work find her on Facebook, Folk For All Seasons.....



That's Sis in her straw hat....







Hey, I know him.  Hubby actually had a good day too, enjoying the market, enjoying some treats, even got a couple things to fix up for the house....


The proof is in the pictures, what a lovely Vermont Day at the Flea Market.  Beautiful weather, good food, good company and great ANTIQUES!














The Chicken BBQ was great, you have to have it, it's tradition, but I have five words for you:
Fried dough with Maple Cream
....do I need to say more?


Hubby enjoying the Chicken BBQ...


...and Mom......wow Mom, go for it with that cupcake, lol!!


Here's Mom with her good friend Prudy!  Prudy is a hoot, wish we had more time with her that day, but when there are Antiques involved she is at a dead sprint.  After this flea market she was off to another one in Craftsbury.....


I did manage to pick up a few goodies.
33 Maple sugar spigots.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them just yet, but something will come to me.  I also got the neat bowl they are in, not old, but I like it...


A very pretty blue banded pitcher....


This cute little chair that will be going in my Mounting Boards section on the website...not old, but again, I liked it...
We also got an amazing deal, a cupola with an Eagle weathervane for the top of the shop.  I was going to get one anyway, and it was a steal.  I will show the photo when it's on the shop.  Hubby also picked up an old buggy bench that needs a lot of work, but he has something in mind.....


When my Sister, Mother and I get together, the chatter never stops.  We laugh, discuss every current event, pop culture (even though we've decided that we are finally old because we don't know any of the popular celebrities anymore), brainstorm for future ideas on our business, how to decorate our homes.  It's just a good time.  This photo below I was so glad I captured.  This was at the end of the day and well, nature called.  I refuse to do porta-potties unless it's an emergency, especially at the end of the day in 85 degree weather.  Well, Lisa headed up and Mom informed her that there was no TP so she handed her some kleenex..........one square.............this was the reaction........ 
....really Mom........one square??
 So after a great day it was back to my Sister's house for some take out and a campfire......

...and a little frisbee time for Maya....


Sunday morning it was time to head back home to real life.  I was worried about Baxter because of his seizures (2 in the last week) but he did well with the boys...
Look at that face, it's as if he's saying "are you coming home"?


And Monday morning it was right back to business with a great wool delivery...



So, as you can see we had a great weekend.  It's so nice to be back up north again where we can take a short drive and spend the weekend with family.  Thanks to my Sister for a great weekend and the start of a yearly tradition.
Until next time.....

10 comments:

Unknown said...

It was great! Cannot thank you all for the help with the very last minute booth construction, set up and take down, and for spelling me for the "natures call visits"' and of course, thanks Mom for the "square"! Good times, good times...........

Myra said...

A fun post ... and a great new tradition! Now for a testimonial. I ordered your rug hooking/punching gripper frame and it arrived on Saturday. I absolutely LOVE it!! It's the perfect height (I'm using it for punching) and light weight. No more heavy frame to hold .. and Julie I don't need to cover the grippers with anything, they just don't scratch like my old frame. I think because these are attached flat to the frame and mine are rounded over the edge. WHY didn't I order this sooner!!!! Thank you ... thank you.

paulette said...

OMG...thanks for sharing your wonderful weekend with us!! I had a great time...AND I leave you lusting over that gorgeous wool!! WOW...sigh....!

moosecraft said...

Awesome! All of it! Got to say I'd be sitting next to your Mom having one of those cupcakes! Also, I absolutely LOVE your sister's paper clay pieces! I have the one with 3 rug hooks with the green background and I smile every time I look at it! I hope to be purchasing another one within this week... and all that wool! Oh yum! Yes... I'll be shopping with ya'll very soon! That pic of Baxter just melts my heart... he looks likes he missed you gals so much!

theoldtatteredflag said...

Yes, her work is beautiful! The only reason I wasn't eating a cupcake was because I had just eaten that huge piece of fried dough......oh that fried dough.......I miss it!!

theoldtatteredflag said...

Thanks Paulette! I am just about to get that wool on the website......pretty colors this time, who am I kidding, I always love every color!!

Jacqueline said...

Looks like a wonderful weekend. Perfect in fact. Thanks for sharing.

theoldtatteredflag said...

Oh Myra, you are so nice!!! Thank you though, that means a LOT. We sell a nice basic frame, no frills, but it is lightweight and does the job. Hubby will be happy to hear that as he makes them for me. Really, thank you very much for the great testimonial!!

Sheila said...

Wow what a wonderful fun packed weekend you had. Being a NH native I truly miss the east and all the wonderful shows to skip off too. Thanks for the wonderful write up, it took me home for a bit, and I'm lucky enough to have one of your sister's beautiful pieces of art for my SEWING ROOM that I ordered on her site. Lovely talented group you are :) I drooled when I saw the fried dough/maple cream!
Cherish the moments together!
Blessings from Idaho,
Sheila

Shirlee said...

What a fun trip! I've never been to Vermont but have always dreamed of going there. That looks like a Roseville pottery pitcher? My aunt collects their wares : )

About Me

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my blog. I am married and just entering the second phase of my life as a Army retiree's wife. My husband and I did 25+ years in the Army. He is now officially a retired Colonel and has just entered the civilian workforce and I am happily settled in our 1830 Stone house. I (along with my Mom) operate www.theoldtatteredflag and currently we are building a small shop in the back part of the house. We live in Northern NY, right near the Canadian border. I have two handsome sons and 2 puggles. Life is busy for us, but I wouldn't have it any other way.