Long Weekend

With a three day weekend, we are back on the road looking for those beautiful fall colors...and of course some bargains as an added bonus.

We started toward Mississippi and ended up in Duckhill. Barbra and Ida run a little shop called The Thrift Den on South State Street. I found a couple of little gems there - a clear glass juice pitcher with a starburst design for $4, and four little dimpled custard cups for $2, also in clear glass. Barbra and Ida are a joy to chat with, and will definitely work you a deal on their already reasonable prices. Be sure and check out the items inside the little shop, as well as the tables outside.

 

 

We were back on the road and stopped in Elliott at a little roadside barbeque stand and thrift store. The barbeque smelled divine but it was a little early for lunch. Buster did spy a green glass bowl that he snatched up for me for $1. Won't it look nice filled with green and black olives?

 

 

 

On to Granada and Another Man's Treasure! As I have mentioned in earlier posts, I have a weakness for restaurant ware, especially pieces that have an air brushed decorative edge. I found three pieces in an absolutely beautiful blue! I have never come across this blue before. The two round bread plates and one small oval came to $6.

 

 

 

We traveled on to Abbeville and found The Abbeville Flea Market open for the last day this season. Unfortunately, they are not sure if they are going to reopen in the spring. That is such a shame as they have very high quality goods at very reasonable prices. I didn't find much to catch my eye but Buster spotted a hammered aluminum tray that I had missed. Look at the details in the tray handles and the fine lines in the tulips, and for only $4!

 

 

 

The uppermost stop on our trip was to Lobelville, Tennessee. A new shop was opening - 72 N. Main Antiques - the name and the address. The owner was working on the interior arrangement and not really open but let us browse around just the same. I found a lovely yellow dove vase for $16. Her shop is a true delight and I cannot wait to see the shop filled as her taste is very similar to mine.

 

 

 

 

 

As we started back down, we stopped in Bellmeade Antiques located in Franklin, Alabama. I didn't think this was really our kind of stop but Buster convinced me to get out and stretch my legs. I am glad I did. I found six Ballerina Ware coffee cups. The cups were 50% off so they came to $6. I love those 50's colors of burgundy, gray, yellow, and green.

 

 

 

Now for the find of the weekend! At John's Trading Post, a little open-air stand on the side of the road in Guntersville, I found Marcrest Daisy Dot pottery and Russel Wright! Four Daisy Dot beer mugs (which I use for coffee), a bowl, and a coffee cup came to $6. That works out to $1 each! Amazing considering that I have seen the mugs for $18 in antique stores. The Russel Wright divided vegetable bowl in blue was $2! Also amazing! Russel Wright is my favorite designer. In addition, I found a small mixing bowl for $1. Everything was covered in dirt and full of leaves but, at these prices, I don't mind cleaning things up a bit.

 

 

 

 

Be sure and say hello to Delbert when you stop. He is really a character and can tell some stories. Buster chatted with him and got in a few laughs while I browsed. I uncovered two matching 8x10 frames before I left. They were also $1 each.

 













That was our last stop before heading south. We had a long way to go but we enjoyed our long weekend...On the Backroads with Buster.

P.S. The fall colors were already past. We could not seem to time it right this year.

Fall Leaves and Vintage Finds

My job has not left much time for road trips but the weather was perfect and we squeezed in a weekend trip. We hoped the leaves would be changing color and we could combine a little thrift shopping with a little nature viewing. Unfortunately, nature was not cooperating. It was a little early for the color show but we did have a relaxing weekend and found a few nice bargains.

Our first stop was in Attalla. The shop was chock full of interesting items in every nook and cranny. Dishes and pottery were mostly outside on shelves next to the building. When the proprietor realized that she did not have many dishes inside, she exclaimed, "Well, I guess I need to go shopping!" and laughed gleefully! I did find one treasure to take home, a little green and yellow cat planter from the  1940's or 50's.

In Cave Springs, we stopped at an antique car show. Buster thoroughly enjoyed checking out the muscle cars. He picked up some fudge while I wandered around in the Cotton Patch thrift store. I found a green coffee pot and creamer. Although it wasn't a terribly unusual find, I had the matching sugar dish at home and it was only $2.

We moved on to the Goodwill in Rome, Georgia and picked up a LuRay sugar dish in blue. Next, we stopped in Brighton, Georgia at an old schoolhouse that had been converted to a thrift store. I picked up a Frankoma leaf dish for $2 and a gray Ballerinaware bowl for 50 cents. I love restaurant ware and found a platter with a green decorative edge for $1. A platter for a dollar? That was a deal!

Later, we came across the Flamingo Flea Market. The long buildings appeared to be a storage facility in a former life. The interior walls had been removed and were divided into thrift stalls. While there was lots to look at, I only choose a pair of salt and pepper shakers for $1.

Our last stop was at the Mountain Top Flea Market. While there was plenty of publicity, this was not our kind of flea market. The crowd was huge and the rows of stalls seemed to never end. Merchandise, however, was mostly new or fell into categories that didn't interest us - like used medical equipment - wheelchairs and walkers, or tools. If I lived in the area, I would have frequented the produce stalls. There was lots of variety in the produce stalls and many specialty items for people interested in Hispanic food.

We have to be back at work tomorrow so it was time to hit the road south...until the next time On the Backroads with Buster.