Antique Show, year three

Wow, four months of no posts!  I'm sure I have officially lost all my readers (except one...Hi Ash!).  I haven't really done anything creative or house-related. 

I did dismantle the piano, finally.  It was a sad event (that took about a month!).  But I am very glad to have the extra room in the house now.  I have rearranged the furniture a couple of times already.  I really love the way I have it now.  It almost makes the fireplace make sense, and it accomodates the kids toys and things.  I'd post a picture, but right now the house is an absolute disaster.  Why?  Because that's what happens when Kevin is home for more than the usual two days, especially when the weekend is busy.  It's not Kevin's fault, of course, I just need to learn to keep up my tidying routines even on the weekend. 

Yesterday I went to the antique show--this time I brought a friend too.  It is much more fun to shop for antiques with a friend than by myself or with my easily bored family!  I usually stick to my budget when I go to the show, but this year, I almost doubled it.  I couldn't help it!  We were in the second last row of vendors, and I had already spent my allotted amount, not thinking I'd find anything else more interesting.  THEN, we came across a vendor with a lot of books  Oh my word!  I could have spent at least $200 there.  There were no fewer than FOUR first editions by L. M. Montgomery.  Anne of Avonlea ($95), Emily Climbs ($45 - I really wanted this one), Pat of Silver Bush ($25), and my favourite book of all time: The Blue Castle ($35).  I have been looking for an old copy of this book forever!  Looking online, I've never seen a first edition of this book selling for any less than $80, so I knew it would be years before I ever got a first edition.  But I would have been happy with anything pre-1960.  To find a first edition in pretty good shape for a price I could justify gave me quite a jolt of adrenalin!  I had $25 cash left.  I felt mildly guilty about spending more than I'd planned, but I knew Kevin would understand.

I offered the seller my last $25 and he said no.  He said the book was too rare and he had just gotten it.  But he did offer me 10% off, so I paid $31.50 for my treasure.  Now I owe my friend $10.

But what else did I buy?  I got six pretty linen napkins, and a Victorian rope-design barometer from c1890.  The glass is broken, but if I can find a place able to drill a hole in the middle, I can replace it.  If not, it looks quaint with the broken glass.  I don't think the barometer works, but it may just be because where I live is too far above sea-level.  I've been researching antique barometers online this morning, and that may be the problem.  The dial is pointing to somewhere between "stormy" and "rain", which is perfect!  Those are my two favourite types of weather.  Maybe I'll get a modern working barometer to hang next to it someday.

Click to read about years ONE and TWO