Found: Silver Lining: September 2011

The end of summer here in PA has kept us on our toes - first an earthquake, then a hurricane and lastly a flood - what a wild ride! Luckily we survived each one without damage or harm, and the only thing that happened was during the flood we were "stranded" in our house for a day, due to all roads being either blocked by debris or flooded.
I am so ready for fall!! Little signs are showing everywhere....welcome Autumn!

This is "our" groundhog who lives under the evergreen tree in our side yard.; we've seen the family grow and move on, but one always resides in this home.

Perfect specimens direct from the farmer's market - glorious!

This is our oak leaf hydrangea bush, beckoning fall by being the first to turn this year .

Before: This is the quaint one-lane bridge near our home, I had plans to feature it on the blog and took these pics a week before the flood.

Before: Here is the serene little creek that is normally about 10 feet wide and only a few inches deep

Before: Headed towards home

After: Here is the creek midway through the storm, it's hard to tell from this photo, but it widen to to, I'd guess, about 60' and had debris rushing downstream.

After: I thought it looked like frosting, the water just slide the pavement right off the street.

o.k., so this found: silver lining happened a few months ago (before I started my blog); in May to be exact, but this trip had been on my "one-day" list for over ten years now. So, now that we live near the East coast, I thought "I will never be any closer than this to Brimfield and all it's treasures". For those of you who aren't totally addicted to vintage pursuits, Brimfield is a mega antique/flea market that has happened twice a year in Massachusetts for the last 40 or so years, it is considered the "mother" lode of markets.

So I planned a little buying trip for my new store and what an experience! The photos don't even begin to tell the story. It is a spectacle in and of itself . When you get in town (which is normally I think only about 1800 people) there are just thousands of people walking along the street shoulder - they can't close main street because it is the only road to the next town - and vendors are set up on the open fields up and down main street of Brimfield. So you ever so cleverly find a parking spot that is not too far away and doesn't cost your first day's buying budget and start hoofing it. At first glance you might think "oh, here are a few interesting booths" and as you turn each corner, about 50 more booths are stretched out in the field. Eye candy everywhere! From the mundane to the jaw dropping. Some booths are comprised of only wooden tables, to one shop that appeared like "Brigadoon" popping up in the green field overnight, complete with copper floors, cool electrical lighting and merchandising to rival Pottery Barn. This was my favorite booth and I could have bought everything, but where do you exactly put a dozen male mannequins? By the way, they were all sold by the next day!

All told, it was a wonderful jaunt....found a few new treasures for the store - and myself - and got to be inspired by all the theatrics, colors and characters. Also, can't forget to mention the "Pilgrim Sandwich" had for lunch one day - it is Thanksgiving on a roll - turkey, stuffing, cranberry - scrumptious, never had "festival food" this good before!

Highlights: Loved seeing the diversity - young...old...scrappy to chic (picked up a few fashion ideas along the way),....the most interesting woman in the world (you just know from looking at her that she is the female version of that Dos Equis man from the beer commercial) hails from England, wearing dreadlocks piled up high, with beautiful high cheekbones to match...to the man wearing leather shorts and combat boots....hmmmm...thank goodness for personal expression or the world would be such a boring place!

Here's to checking one off the "one day" list!!!