Brave Girls Camp Part I

Thanks for the image Sheila!

What do these two words mean to you?

BRAVE GIRL

I started off this summer trying to figure this out, surrounded by art,

a beautifully peaceful vista,

 and a group of women with various backgrounds and different reasons for attending the Brave Girls Art Camp. 

I have ended this summer thankful that I pulled the plug and jumped over hurdles to make this adventure work into my life, for I have utilized much of what I took from my four day experience to be brave during a summer filled with transitions. I would like to share it with you in the hopes that you might be able to utilize some of what I learned.

For those of you who have not been in ear shot of me when I have launched into heralding the virtues of the Brave Girls Club, here is your quick Brave Girls Club 101 lesson. It is an uplifting online, inspirational and motivational "worldwide community of women, of every age, who want to live the best, happiest, most productive and fabulously brave life that they can possibly live...and that means something different to each and every one of us."

 That is the caveat...being brave means something different to the woman you are sitting next to on the train, to the one you are class mom with, to the one you share office space with, to the one you are in line next to at the grocery store, to the one you are cheering with at your child's sports game, to the one you are kneeling next to in church.  Each of us has a different path that has taken us to this stage in life...where our life is right now. We have our own set of individualized triumphs and trials that have influenced us and continue to do so on our path of where we would like to take this beautiful life whose beauty is often disguised by both these triumphs and trials.  What is not different about us, is that we are all beautiful souls who have often forgotten about what life was like for us when we were 8 years old...the fun, the joy of life, the dreams, the idea that we could do anything, be anything...we were unstoppable! Then life happens.

  Melody Ross and her sister Kathy Wilkins cofounded the Brave Girls Club  in 2009 and that is one of their messages that they like to make you think about. All of their messages are so true but they are said with such depth and eloquence that I do not feel that I can do them justice. I would like to speak to how they have affected my life but to find out more, do yourself a favor and check out their site www.bravegirlsclub.com

 Read the ABOUT part first, EACH and EVERY section of it and you will understand!

My obsession with Brave Girls Club started a few years back when I saw on my Face book feed one of their Daily Truth emails which felt was written just for me. It immediately made me look them up to find out more. Once I did, I was hooked. I signed up for their Daily Truth emails, entitled "A Little Bird Told Me" and you can too, once on their site. I sent these messages to women in my life who I felt needed them and shared them on my FB page. I went on their site and found out about their Brave Girls Camp. Almost four days of immersing myself in creative pursuits and art all based on feeding my soul???

SOLD! Well almost...I clicked on that link probably one hundred times over a three year period and the timing was never right. I had done that for another creative function that I had wanted to attend years back and it never happened and now, they no longer hold the event I had so badly wanted to attend. This time I pulled the trigger. Do you believe in things that sometime happen that look like a neon sign telling you that this was meant to be? 

I do.

That neon sign blinked at me in the form of my request to be put on the waiting list for the June 10th date only (my kids would have just ended school), being answered that they were adding two more spots. (It was sold out for the rest of 2014 and will start to fill up for 2015 shortly) I was desperately in need of "living" some of their messages and of restoring my "brave girl face!" I had to answer quickly before the spots were released to their almost 100,000 FB followers and to their who knows how many web followers. 

I booked it, credit card and all without even consulting my husband and family. To be embarrassingly honest with you, I apparently had the location of Idaho (the Brave Girls Club local) and Iowa confused, for after impulsively hitting Send on my registration, I looked at possible flights and was shocked to see flight times of seven and half to fourteen hours. Another small detail overlooked before I pulled the trigger. Another lesson I learned while there, backed up my impulsive decision. WE WILL ALWAYS FIND AN EXCUSE NOT TO... 

Now that I had ignored my excuses "not to," I made my way to the Brave River Ranch in Idaho, solo,  having no idea what I would find at the other end of my journey. Looking back on my travels, I found it so apropos that my seat companion on the plane ride there was a young man, who looked to be a recent college graduate currently employed and heading somewhere on a business trip. That fact, in and of itself is not earth shattering. What is, is that we spoke not a word to each other on the four hour flight, except when I asked him if I could please sneak past him to use the restroom. To which he mumbled, "sure."Now let me give you a little background on why this was earth shattering. I am constantly teased by my family in that I always seem to get a person's life story whilst sitting next to them on a plane, or at the grocery store, or wherever we may be. They have been known to stand at the end of an exit ramp of a plane waiting patiently for me as I bring up the rear of the plane talking to my new found friend. They used to ask, "What took you so long?" Now they ask, "Where is he/ she from? What is their story?" as they shake their heads at me. With this young gentleman, there was a definite air and unapproachable bubble around him that said, "Do not speak, " when I said hello and then climbed over his lap to get to my seat  So I didn't, as I sweated profusely hoping against hope that I did not fall asleep and me being the bobble head, wake up sleeping on his shoulder. That might have really freaked him out. I will apologize now for having to read Part #2 to find out why that is so apropos. 

The few days spent at the Brave River Ranch were some of the deepest days that I have had in my lifetime. Spent with women from all walks and stages of life...mothers, widowers, company owners, art teachers, army sergeants (majors?), daughters, nannies and teachers;

 all looking to live life a little more deeply,

The truth whispers and never gives up

 a little more meaningful, 

Our art journals

a little more creatively

The fabulous ART BARN

 and just a tad bit braver for I think we already are pretty darn brave! 

We knew not what to expect but had been lured here by the promise of relishing in the creative genius of Melody, Kathy and her crew whilst immersing ourselves in art as they gently handled our souls as to help us expand our horizons as we came to the conclusion that:

  

We were pampered with scrumptious home cooked meals that we delightfully shared with each other around tables that were beautifully and personally decorated. (Seriously, was that not the best lemon ice cream and sugar cookie bowl ever?)

We were over the moon being surrounded by art supplies and the thrill of uninterrupted creativity for three days.

The scene as we arrived...

My "area" a little later!

We laughed, we cried, we shared, we twirled, we created, we talked late into the night with our new roomies, we walked, we talked some more, we sang, we drank Cool Aide, we got in touch with our eight year old selves and listened to what they had to say to our 80 year old selves, we were still and listened to what we had to say to ourselves, we were brutally honest...and we did this all with strangers...who at the end of the four days... became a band of sisters who will carry the Brave Girl message on with them that I think is the most important one...

LET'S BE GOOD TO ONE ANOTHER! 

We are all traveling through this thing called life together, let's try and make the road a little easier for each other.

So...as I finally write this after pages and pages of crossed out and edited text that I have written beginning on my airplane ride home, I realize why it took me so long to summarize my experience out West, not in the midwest as I had originally thought. There was so much that I took away from my time in Idaho, how was I to encapsulate it without writing a book? (My posts are already too long!) What kicked me in the butt to get this finished was the fact that it was my oldest son's twenty third Birthday today, and he is not here. He left last weekend to participate in a nine month wilderness, find out what makes you tick and run with it to find your future, executive function planning, independent living skills program for young men with ADHD and learning differences. He will be out in Wyoming for nine months and I already miss him dearly. He is my biggest challenge in life and my greatest reward at the same time. He is my right arm here at our little farm and my left arm when it comes to setting up for our barn sales. Yet, again, and all to close together, another one in our nest has flown off to find their path and the transition of life as it continues on without them, is an adjustment. One in which many of us have thought we yearned for... a quite house, peace in the bathroom...alone, at times in their rambunctious younger years. Then the thought, in their teenage years of, will we survive this? all thrown to the wayside when they are gone.  

Those strings are still attached on our end with worry being the thread. The Brave Girls Camp experience made me stronger in facing my fears for my children, helping me to let go of my control over everything, to let the chips fall where they may.  Things happen, life goes on, it is beautiful, it is grand, it is meant to be lived with ALL of our heart and soul.  

  

From the bottom of my heart, a sincere thank you to the brave girls who helped me to get to this place. You know who you are and your brave souls have been imprinted onto my heart as well as your stories. To the quiet guidance of Melody, Kathy, Patrice, D'wana and the rest of the Brave Girls staff, you are all amazing in bringing your gifts to the table to be shared by others. 

My apologies to those that are reading this that there is a part two to come tomorrow night...late. My flight home was a revelation in and of itself and that little neon light blinking, "this was meant to happen" was working overtime and I have to share. I cannot continue on now, for our youngest (one of our two left at home) came down with a fever and a bad cold today and it is time to tuck him in. 

As always, thank you for reading my musings about life. Writing is very cathartic for me and I am thankful to have a place to do so. I promise that after the next installment, I will get to lighter material for we are neck deep in preparation for the Fall Barn Sale and writing will have to be put on hold for a bit!

xxx

Meg

Chester County Day is Coming to Willowbrook Farm!

After you read, be sure to check out the link at the bottom to see the article inside the magazine!

I am not sure if I ever told you about how Willowbrook Farm came to be our "labor of love." If you have heard this story before, than please forgive me as I give you a brief synopsis. We were living in the best neighborhood ever, (don't we all?) where our five children could run to and from the neighbors and their friend's houses without accompaniment. They were growing up almost as close as siblings with those friends and we were all having the time of our lives, "growing up"in this fashion. We had one snafu with that scenario and that was our oldest son and his education, in regards to his learning differences. He was not making progress nor reaching his potential at our public school, even with his IEP so after much searching, we found what we felt was a better alternative for his needs. The only problem being, that it was at least a forty five minute commute each way, with no busing. We traversed that distance for three years while we looked at houses that would move us closer or at least close enough to get transportation. We were heartsick with the decision to even begin looking, for we truly loved our neighborhood and our friends who had become as close as family. We decided that in order to make that move and tear our family out from the roots that we all had become entangled in, the new place would have to be pretty special. As our oldest was going through Middle school in his new environment at Hill Top Prep we realized two things. The first being that Hill Top would be the place that he would most likely stay through Graduation, and that with his unique perspective on life and the way he was wired, he was not going to traverse the neighborhood social scene quite like the other kids or at least, not as he did as a little kid. What did he love that he could embroil himself in on a daily basis that might take the place of some of that social existence that is so integral in a teenager's life? Nature and the outdoors. 

This was a kid who could eat, sleep and breathe for the National Audubon Field Guides. Okay, let's add a place where he could eat, sleep and breathe nature AND get us closer to his school, where all of us could thrive and grow. While we were at it, we decided to bring something back into our lives, or at least my life, that had been missing for awhile from our neighborhood track home... history and the old! As a confirmed lover of both and having spent many years of my teenage years living in an old farmhouse, maybe we could find something akin to that?  You know who I drove around Chester and Montgomery Counties with for three long years to try and find just that? My partner in Life's Patina, Chris Stoner, who happened to be a real estate agent. Funny how things work out...hmmm? I will never forget after looking at five houses earlier that day and as she was about to turn into the driveway, she said, "This is the last one and it is something called the Vassar Show House? Have you ever heard of that?"

 Heard of that??????

I had gone on that tour almost every year and my next door neighbor and best friend had just given me tickets to go on the tour with her for my Birthday! I said, "Chris are you crazy? These homes are always outdated elephants that while architecturally beautiful and old,  usually have no working or updated modern necessities...like indoor plumbing, heat or electricity that might not burn the house down...small details." She said, "Come on, I already bought us tickets." We had to buy tickets to see the house?

Bought tickets she did, and as I walked in the front door, I remember vividly thinking to myself...who needs heat, electricity or plumbing? We were pleasantly surprised that all three were not in bad shape. As we walked outside, I remember calling my husband and saying, "Honey, this place speaks to me." That was a joke that we always used after I looked at places. We were adamant that the home we were moving to had to speak to our soul. This one was practically screaming at me. So the rest is "history." We fell in love with a house that keeps us up at night, in many respects, has caused us to work harder than we ever have, in many respects and has fulfilled many a dream. 

We would love to share it with you on this years' Chester County Day House Tour on Saturday, October 4th. We were thrilled to be a featured house in the Chester County Lines Magazine this month and even more excited for Willowbrook Farm to make the cover!

                                               Check out the article for more information

     

County Lines Chester County Day Article!

Get your tickets soon, for it sure to be a wonderful tour this year filled with homes and properties that beautify the Chester County landscape.The Life's Patina Barn at Willowbrook Farm will also be open during the tour as well!

Thank you for reading!

Meg

UPCOMING BARN SALE DATES:

Fall into Vintage Barn Sale at Life’s Patina
October 3-5
Preview Party - Oct 2
Chester County Day - Oct 4

Winter Barn Sale
November 14-16

Holiday Open House
December 5-6

College Apartment Decorating with Recycled Items

Our last minute application, acceptance and move in of Shane to Bard College at Simon's Rock was proceeded one day later by our daughter's move in at Wake Forest for her Senior year. Kelsey and I were originally going to drive over to Wake from where we were on vacation in Wilmington, North Carolina  (about a three and half hour drive). I was to help her move in and furnish her first ever apartment and then fly home. Best laid plans always go to waste, and with the unexpected detour to Great Barrington, Massachusetts to move Shane in, that wasn't to happen. Frequent flyer miles are a gift and I used them to fly down and meet Kelsey.

We had exactly forty eight hours to shop antique and consignment stores to find the bones that we could use to furnish her apartment. With a little embellishment, we turned some one else's cast off objects into some functional and pretty pieces to set the stage for her new apartment. Here are some tips and ideas on how you can transform "trash to treasure."

Step 1 ~ Identify the rooms that need to be furnished and then make a list of what furniture or pieces you are looking for.

Step 2 ~ Google consignment and antique stores in the area that the new residence is in within a particular radius. Read reviews about the stores you find so that you do not drive half an hour to get to your destination to find that their idea of vintage is military paraphanalia. Don't shake your head, it could happen to you.

Step 3 ~ Head out with an empty car so you have plenty of room to jockey in and fit the goods you find.  Try to look differently at pieces when you see them to see if they could serve a purpose other than what they were intended for.

Step 4 ~ Buy, buy, buy!! Look for the bargains and what economically makes sense. 

Step 5 ~ Enjoy! for it is the thrill of the hunt! Make time to eat for that helps keep you and your partner from growling at each other.

Step 6 ~ After you purchase all of your finds, take a break, access what you have and then make a supply list of all the materials you need to gather to transform your items. For fear of getting snagged at security for harboring a glue "gun" (for that would be my luck,)  I decided to purchase most of the supplies I needed down there. I would then leave them in the apartment for the girls to continue to use throughout the year to add on accessory items that they retrofit from junk! 

Our hunting list consisted of a few key pieces that would primarily fill our number one task of furnishing the bedroom.  The girls had purchased used couches and coffee tables from previous apartment dwellers such as themselves and put them into storage until they moved in. There are some great deals to be had if the kids network to find out who is moving on and has furniture that they would rather sell than move. A stumbling block had been the mattress. Prior to coming down, we realized that it was only going to be Kelsey and I, so the thought of trucking a box spring, bed frame and mattress up to the second floor of her narrow apartment stairs gave us pause. Not to mention the cost of a new one and how did we actually get it to the apartment before we could truck it up the stairs?  Kelsey found, on the Sam's Club website, this full mattress and bed frame that actually gets shipped to you in a two boxes that both of us could handle together. The mattress and box spring like bed frame was less than $300 (less than anything else we found) and the shipping cost was $24.00. Done deal! We set it up while having visions of it exploding out of it's kryovac packaging and getting pinned against the wall. The reviews are all excellent and it was really comfy! 

Now that the bed was set up, we headed out to pick!

Our first score was a pepto bismo pink frame that was $14.00. Wouldn't that make a fabulous head board?

We spray painted it with one can of primer. We then coated it with 3 more coats of regular latex white paint. While each coat dried we worked on one of the other pieces and went back and forth like that so as to not waste any time.

When I typically make old frames into bulletin boards, I cut out a piece of plywood that fits into the frame to mount the cork and then the burlap. That adds a lot of weight and I wanted this to be light weight so after it was dry, we stapled burlap to the back and then a layer of thin batting.

We attached picture hangers on the back and strung wire between the two hooks. To hang it we hammered two picture hanging nails into the wall on either end so that it would center well and there you have it! A faux head board that with all materials came in under $35.00. We ran out of time to criss cross ribbons across the board but Kelsey has instructions on how to finish it up.

The next find that we came across was a very heavy gold mirror that was odd in that the top portion of it was not a mirror but was covered with an old green piece of velvet that looked like it might have had a picture mounted to it. Kelsey had been looking for a stand up mirror but we could not find anything for under $150.00. This was $20 and with a little TLC we made it into a mirror jewelry holder combo.

We first used Liquid Nails (love that stuff) to glue a piece of rolled cork onto the green velvet.

Once we glued the cork in place we put some of the heavy storage bins on top to help the glue adhere. After that set, we covered the cork with a piece of burlap doubled over. We then staple gunned the burlap right to the cork as tight as we could to the edges. 

We felt that we needed to cover up the edges of the burlap which we did with some rope trim that we had picked up at the craft store. We glue gunned it all around the edges of the burlap.

To make it functional, we hammered in upholstery tacks in antique brass so that Kelsey could use it as a jewelry rack. Kind of looks like the one I had in college...ha! 

Total cost $40.00

Yes...the dresser...another really important piece to have found in the short time we were down there. We found quite a few, but they were either way too expensive for the nine months that Kelsey will be living there, or too heavy for us to get it up those stinkin stairs again, or would have required too many coats of paint that we just did not have time for. We found this, not so special one at the last store we went to for $40.00. We thought with some new paint (you cannot tell from this photo but this piece had a pink cast to it and was very chipped) and some new knobs, it would do.

Do it did!

We could not find enough of our favorite knobs...

so we had to use two different styles. Kelsey is going to check out the store to see if she can get a few more when they get a new shipment in. 

We found this "frenchy" trunk that we tucked under the window for more storage options that we did not have to do a thing to. Topped with a pillow she brought from home, it makes a nice little window seat.

So here you have it:

All we need now is a cute end table. Shhh...I have the perfect one in the barn that if I paint and take the legs off of, I might be able to stick  in my suitcase and bring it down for parents weekend. We had bought the pillow shams at the Restoration Hardware Outlet before we came down and the comforter is from Target. The bed duvet at the bottom of the bed was purchased three years ago at the Pottery Barn Outlet for her dorm room. Since it was for a twin bed, it no longer fit but when we found the pillow shams, we thought it would work as a throw or extra blanket.

Another area that we thought we would snazz up was the bathroom. Pretty standard but with a pop of color, it makes it a little more eye appealing.

We found all the bath accessories at World Market which is a chain store in the South that is fabulous!!  You can also order on line. They have wonderfully fun, styled, unique, authentic decor at great prices, not to mention their food section. 

Shower curtain was $29.00 ~ not bad! 

Bath rug was $15.00

One thing that I recommend for kids going off to college is a set of monogrammed towels. It helps them keep track of them and who wants to borrow without retuning a towel that has someone else's initials on them? These I had a friend do when Kelsey left for her freshman year. She still has them and she is now a Senior. Look for a monogrammer who will let you purchase your own towels. You will pay a lot less for a quality towel at TJ Maxx or Marshalls and then you can have them monogram them for you. This makes a great Graduation gift as well.

We picked up a couple of odds and ends here and there including this cute little cork display board that we put a hanger on to use as a wall decoration. For $7.00 it was a steal.

On another wall, we hung this cute bulletin board that we found at Home Goods for $19.99. Snagged it because I cannot make one for that!

Really bad selfie

All in all it was a successful trip, not so much measured by the things we made but by the time we spent together making memories even if we slept very little...Mom, tilt it...

The end of the story:

I arrived safely in Philly with my bags, unfortunately they were under my eyes, to get dressed in the airport bathroom so as to not be late heading to an event where I met Cole Hammels and some of the other Phillies players. I wonder if he noticed that I had brought my bags with me? 

Never a dull moment!

I hope that you can use some of these project ideas or revamp them to make them work for you!

Meg

Here are some of our finds and how we transformed them into a much prettier version of their old selves.

A Wave of Emotion

It is the end of a weekend where we just brought our 19 year old son Shane to college. I am hit with a wave of emotion. It all happened so very quickly that while it was happening, I rode that wave, steady and sure, helping the events of the last month come to fruition this weekend. It was two months ago, while at a dinner, that I learned of Bard College at Simon's Rock, an early college. It was one week ago, while on vacation in North Carolina, that we found out that Shane was accepted. It was three days ago that we arrived home from our vacation cut short, to pack up Shane and all of his belongings in twenty four hours. That twenty four hours time period might qualify for breaking a record in preparation for a college departure. The shopping was completed in three and a half hours. The securing of medical records, the cavity repair at the dentist, and getting a haircut took up another three, almost four hours and before we knew it, Shane's order of proceedings in leaving for college was accomplished in what definitely could be appropriately coined, "a blur."

I flashed back to our daughter's High School experience. The college search, her acceptance letter, the graduation, the party, the internet perusals and Pinterest posts of what bedding to get, how to decorate her dorm room, the matching of sheets, towels, comforters, dust pans, decals for the walls, desk accessories, and  a rug. 

Shane has a trash can... 

The sayings, "things happen for a reason" and "you are only handed what you can handle"are quite overused in my opinion. In this case though, if there was a personality better suited to the lack of proceedings and hasty departure, it was Shane's. Shane is a level headed, takes a lot to ruffle him...a real lot...  minimalist. Who, voiced questions upon shopping such as, "why does red not go with light green, navy and grey," and "why do I need a rug, I like cold floors," which made my jaw hurt from setting it tight so as not to reply sharply to such questions. Did he not know that he was totally ignoring any design sensibilities? All kidding aside, Shane's experiences of the last four years, due to his illness, have been out of the ordinary. It is absolutely true to form that the beginning of his "not the norm" college experience, should be the same. He is not bitter for his lost years, but excited to be on a path that he has dreamt of. I have faced my feelings of bitterness and that loss of time, relationships and experiences for him and now, I am excited as well. 

Two of my close friends have dear friends who have lost their teenagers in the last week to tragedy. It is those occurrences that you hear of that make you squeeze you eyes shut tight, and lift your face to the sky to say a litany to the heavens that no such tragedies befall your own children. Or that makes you do whatever you believe in to ask for their safety. I am writing about this because many of you are facing the same erie absence of one less voice at the dinner table. Not because of a tragedy, thank God, but because of the natural order of progression of young adults leaving for college. In our case, the abrupt departure of a young man who has been a steady fixture in our house, day in and day out, like it or not for the last four years will be felt with a heart straddled between joy and heartache. What if he cannot hold up physically to his lofty goals of Pre-Med and then a PHD in research? What if? What if? What if?

Those questions can make one feel mired in the land of the negative. A place I don't like to dwell, so I will ride that wave of emotion again, hopefully, prayerfully, the wave will crest out on the horizon to then fold itself smoothly onto the shore ahead. Hoping for a smooth ride...

 Sending out a show of support and empathy for the emotions that all of you are experiencing when letting your children fly out on their own two wings. 

They will soar...

and if they crash, we will pick them up, tend to their broken wings and send them off again...it is our love that propels them.

Meg

A Shortcut to Some Amazing Gazpacho!

Some of the best things are fairly simple...

Try this recipe at your next summer gathering. It is one of my favorites and I love to serve it when entertaining or at the beach.

Shhh...I have one secret...the main ingredient is V8 Juice. Yes...canned but the recipe tastes like you picked tomatoes that very day to use in this this tasty number. You can use the reduced sodium version if you are worried about the salt level in regular V8 juice. I also recommend that you let the flavors meld for at least a few hours in the fridge before serving. It is even great served the next day. 

GAZPACHO WITH SHRIMP, AVOCADO AND LIME

Serves 4 ( I often double and you can easily serve 8-10)

SOUP

1 jar (12 oz) roasted red peppers, drained

1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise and seeds scooped out or use the seedless variety

2 cups V8 juice (you can use plain tomato if you are not a V8 fan but I prefer the flavor of the other)

Put all ingredients in a blender . Blend at medium speed 1 minute or until smooth. Pour into a metal bowl , stirring occasionally and chill in fridge until ready to serve. 

While that is chilling mix together the following: (THIS is what makes it really yummy)

12 oz peeled, cleaned and cooked medium shrimp diced

2 Plum (Roma) tomatoes diced

1 avocado diced

1 small green pepper diced

1/2 small red onion

3 Tbls minced parsley or if you want a little more flavor use cilantro (I prefer cilantro)

2 Tbls fresh lime juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

To serve, pour a cup or so of soup into a decorative bowl. Use an ice cream scooper to mound shrimp mixture in center of bowl. Top with a tsp. of sour cream or more if you really like sour cream! Sprinkle with a little cracked black pepper and enjoy!

When I am serving this for a crowd, I pour the soup into a large glass candy holder type container with a lid. Lay a silver soup server on a pretty glass plate in front and let guests serve themselves. You can also serve the soup in a glass pitcher. Lay out instructions or assemble one so they are sure to not miss every ingredient!

I will post pictures later in the summer of how I serve this refreshing dish but I wanted you to have plenty of time to try it since the summer has now half passed us by.

Bon Appétit~

Meg

All is Well That Ends Well

After an incredibly welcome shower to wipe both the dirt and grime off as well as the memories of the past day, we started Sunday off with a bang. Things start much later on the fields of Brimfield on Sundays so we fit right in. Arriving around 8:30 am, we hit the stalls and tents and found many more treasures to fill up the last remaining space in both the Suburban and the trailer. It was too bad that the roof rack was stuffed with all the luggage from our family trip the week before. Only half of it fit in Chris' car when she met us so the rest went up in the roof rack and still awaits unloading! Maybe tomorrow...

This we had no room for although isn't it so very cool??

This we could fit in and NO it is not an antique port-o-potty but a grain bin. Wouldn't it make a fabulous recycling center?

We could not fit this in either...nor would we have wanted to. It is an antique torpedo, and I know, we totally missed the boat on not trying to fit that strapped to the roof rack.

We were able to fit in a collection of rusty metal lamp shades in all shapes and sizes which we have some really neat plans for. 

Up and down the main street of Brimfield, for a mile long, are tents upon tents of anything and everything you can imagine. Some things you can use your imagination on to dream of what they could become...some you cannot. It takes all kinds of folks!

There are tents of vignetted items...

and rows and rows of...stuff...for lack of a better word.

You definitely need a good sense of what you would like to do with this stuff or you need a clear cut idea of what you are looking for because you can absolutely get mired down in...the stuff.

We definitely found some "stuff" that we really like. Some that is ready to go as is and some that we have grand plans for.

(You know I love my mantels!)

We will be documenting the change over of some of these items over the next two months as we get ready for the Fall.

So seven hours after leaving Brimfield we arrived home to the crack of thunder and pouring rain at 10:25 pm. Brimfield is not that far away but have you ever tried to pull a heavy trailer and go above 55 mph? Don't!

 It is a good thing that we could back that stinker up within a foot of the entrance. Four of the five of my brood and my doting husband (Ha!) I think fed up husband by this time, met us up at the barn and we unloaded the loot, returned the trailer and fell into bed in an exhausted heap at 12:40 am.

As I fell asleep, the question of, "why am I doing this?" did enter once of twice before my heavy eye lids closed. I do not think that I had time to answer that question for myself before I started snoring but I certainly can now!

The thrill of the hunt...

the love of all things old and vintage with a past...

the stories behind these objects...

the beauty in their age...

I just love it...

and always will!

Thanks for coming along for the ride with me!

My favorite find reveal is coming tomorrow so check back in here!

Until then~

Meg