The Big 50 Junking Bash!

     I can't believe I am actually 50 years old!  Old is the optimum word, I suppose.  Actually, I don't feel old.  On most days!  What I wanted to do more than anything for my 50th was to go to the Farm Chicks Antique Show in Spokane.  They planned it on my birthday weekend!  How on earth did they know?  I drug my favorite sidekick.  Yes, drug!  He was a sport in every sense of the word.  Chuck has become my favorite shopping partner over the years.  Maybe because he doesn't seem to have an agenda of his own that conflicts with mine.  Oh dear, I need to work on that piece of self evaluation. Anyway... It was the most fun weekend.  Friday afternoon, on my birthday, we checked into the Davenport Hotel.  We didn't originally pick the Davenport.  We chose a "Motor Inn."  You know the kind that you drive right up to your door.  The kind big in the 50's and 60's.

Well, to our good fortune, we didn't end up there.  There was an email from Expedia that stated that there was a problem.  It so happened that this place was closing down.  Actually, it is being turned into monthly rentals.  When we drove by we were VERY surprised!!  These monthly rental were occupied by individuals that otherwise would've been homeless. That would've added an interesting element to our weekend.  Like I said, to our good fortune, Expedia put us up in The Davenport.

This was one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen! The Davenport is one of the older buildings in Spokane.  What a jump from the Airway Express-montly-rental-almost-homeless-type-of-motor-inn! 
     I felt like I walked into a beautiful hotel during the turn of the century.  WOW! It still gives me goose bumps.  I was so THRILLED to experience something so awsome.  That evening Chuck and I went on a bike ride around Spokane.  I wasn't sure I would survive, but I did!! Yay!  After the ride we stopped at an Italian restaurant for dinner. I couldn't ask for a more fun birthday. 
     Well, actually the next day was just as TERRIFIC!  We went to the Farm Chicks Antique Show.  It was certainly a blast from the past.  What a way to celebrate 50 years...everything OLD!

     I have wanted to attend this for several years now.  You can bet your bottom dollar I will attend this for several years to come.  I had such a great time looking through JUNK.  I am not a serious junker but I can see how one can become totally addicted to old junk.  What treasures! 
     I enjoyed seeing the types of people that attended this.  I would say the average age was about 40.  I am sure the the older shoppers enjoyed reliving their memories of "back in the day!" The funniest trend was seeing all the "granny carts" used as shopping baskets.  What a great junk trendy idea.

Here are some of the wonderful old stuff still hanging around.  I tell you it's addicting!!

Ok.  Some of the stuff was a little bizarre!  Remember those dolls whose eyes would shut?  Creepy.

And of course I have treasures to take home. Let me just add there were a ton of stuff that would've come home with us if there were the money and the car space.  Those gals that pulled a trailer, now they were on their game!

The wonderful thing about all this junk is that it will go to use.  I purchased every piece knowing what I was going to do with it or where I would put it.  Upcycling can be a fun and creative outlet.  Yes, I suppose one can go overboard and have too much "junk" around.  The nice thing is you can always give it away, sale it, trade it in for some new junk! 

Kathy

Road Trip!

WOW! About 3600 miles!  Jeff, Tim, my good friend Jen and myself headed south for the spring.  Jeff, Tim and I planned a trip to go see grandma and grandpa Cherry in Arizona.  We decided to bring Jen along and drop her off to see her parents in St. George, UT.  Jeff, Tim and I spent about 1 1/2 days in Vegas before driving all the way to Green Valley AZ.  The warm weather was so welcoming considering we drove through heavy rains all the way through WA, high winds through Oregon and snow flurries through to Salt Lake.  The worst thing... I could barely walk when we arrived in Vegas.  I figured it was because I was sitting so much for the drive.  It was some sort of sprain, strain or something in my hips. I limped up and down the strip not only from sore hips but also from my flip flop's cutting into my toe.  Las Vegas was like Disneyland for adults in a cheap sort of way.  We stayed at the Excalibur Hotel/Casino.  Boy, was the casino buzzing, literally.  There's this weird buzz from all the gaming machines.  I can't even imagine staying in there for hours, which I am sure some people do.  Like I said, the best part of Vegas is the sunshine and the pool! 

Our visit with grandma and grandpa Cherry was productive.  They are doing as well as expected.  The main reason for the trip was to check up on them and to bring back some of the larger things that they were ready to part with.  Jeff was able to get grandpa's lathe.  I brought back my mom's beautiful oak hutch and my grandmother's china.  Nona's china is around 90 years old.  It was nice for my parents to visit with the boys again too. With the boys having busier lives it might be the last time they get to have some one-on-one time with them.  I thinked they enjoyed their visit, all involved.

I sure enjoyed the roadtrip with Jen.  Jen was so much fun and so tolerant of the boys and their wacky humor. We were able to stay at Jen's family's houses along the way.  I felt so comfortable with her family

A Little Gem!!

Often when surfing the internet there seems to be so much one has to weed through just to occasionally stumble upon something spectacular.  When I do come across a rare find, I feel as if my world has opened up before my eyes.  I love these moments.  Even at 12:34 am I wish I could call someone to share this find with them!  I came across this short film, The Butterfly Circus.  It was right up my alley as far as spectacular goes. I am so appreciative when talented individuals share their talent.  Someone has to be their audience.  How LUCKY I am!