January 31, 2011

Going Dutch

My friend invited me to take a little Dutch Country, Pennsylvania, adventure this weekend. Any road trip involving thrift stores (eight stops in the town of Ephrata alone!), a flea market, hand rolled pretzels and Amish buy-in-bulk stores works for me.

The snow fell steadily while we were out and about, but it looked way more spectacular stretched across the farm-dotted Amish landscape than it does plopped across the roof of my car (which I dug out AGAIN yesterday when I got home. Ugh.). Did I take photos of any of the postcard-perfect scenery? Of course not. That would make too much sense.

But I did catch a couple of shots of our thrifting in action.


Jean was on a mission to find inexpensive turquoise vintage Ball canning jars. You know how it is when you have something specific in mind and then you can never find it? Well, apparently that doesn’t happen to her. She found a treasure trove at the Green Dragon

She scooped up the best of the blues as fast as her hands could scoop.


I exercised tremendous restraint. For the most part. I picked up a couple of milk glass pieces.


The hobnail piece is Fenton and more my thing, but there’s something about the larger piece I liked. I’m hoping the wide mouth will make for a nice flower arrangement; if not, it may be returning to a thrift store near you!

These little butter knives were too cute to pass up. A good deal for a set of six, and I think they’ll polish up well:


I know I promised that I would ease up on tchotchke purchases this year, but I think this little guy winked at me. And he was only $1. So how could I leave him on the shelf? Plus, I’m planning on using him as a cake topper (but am secretly hoping to keep him).


The only downsides of the trip? Seeing this gigantic painting at one of our stops (which I think may give me recurring nightmares) and finding an olive in my margarita.


I hope you all had lovely weekends! Thank you so much for your comments on my last post. I wrote it from the bottom of my stomach, which is much bigger than my heart, and your kind words meant a lot to me.

23 comments:

Janelle said...

I am soooo envious. Some years we make a trip up to Lancaster County this time of year for a machine show, and I go shopping and exploring through Amish country while my DH looks at machines. It's so much fun, even in the winter's cold. I am dying to go this year but we can't find the time! I love the hills and the farms.

Anonymous said...

Laura,

I need to get away for a day or two and Pa Dutch Country may be the destination.

The little man winked at you? Was that after the atrocity of discovering an olive in your margarita? Isn't it odd that you came across my portrait?

Your Friend,
Deborah

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Looks like you had fun, and I think that little man is very deboniar. How could you resist buying him, Laura? No, he's going to be fun. I can tell!

And the ball jars and milk glass were good purchases, too. You guys did well!

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, and speaking of margaritas, one of the garden club girls used margarita glasses and glass plates to make a tower for some fruit she displayed. The margarita glasses have taller stems so it works better with fruit if you are doing some sort of centerpiece like that. I took pics for today's post. :-)

Jean Martha said...

Fabulous! Same time next week?

Purple Flowers said...

I love living vicariously through you. My Mother has some milk glass pieces that I love.
Glad you had such a great time w/your girlfriend finding all those treasures!

Blondie's Journal said...

Those blue Ball jars are fabulous and all the rage. I think I will have to make a trip to Amish country here in nearby Indiana for some. The scenery is beautiful here, too. I like your milk glass and the hobnail piece...I have a few, too. It sounds like you had a wonderful time!

XO,
Jane

Ina in Alaska said...

I am in love with your little butter knives and the cake topper man. I imagine someone receiving those little butter knives in their silver service and all the dinners and holidays they attended... sigh....

And that last picture: Mrs. Johnson she is NOT!!! EEK!

Keetha Broyles said...

1) I LOVE those ball jars, especially the ones with the clamp down glass lids.

2) The little guy that WINKED at you looks like Fred Astaire to me.

3) The poster girl looks like Charro!

pve design said...

Glad to see your comments and that you have not lost your thrifty touch. Hope to see you soon...
Come up to ski.....
pve

Joyce said...

I have a couple favorites- the jars, the knives and the guy with the wink! xo

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I haven't been to the Pennsylvania Dutch area in years! I'm putting it on my list of places I want to re-visit.

Love the butter knives!

theappletea said...

what a cuties! :) loooove it!

j.cro said...

I keep forgetting to tell you - I have some milk glass pieces for you at my house. They're from M's gram. She was getting rid of them and I knew you liked milk glass.

I hopefully see you soon to give them to you.

Sue said...

I haven't been to Pa Dutch Country in years...but the last time I was in town me and daughter did go over the border to a great thrift shop outside Philly...found the best stuff for cheap...like china for 60 cents and piece...we were in heaven!!

Kwana said...

Lookie here, for some reason you were on my mind and I decided to check your blog and you're back! I'm so glad. Great to see you back blogging. I love your flea market trips.

Maureen said...

What? You passed up the portrait?

You're slipping, my friend. Slipping.

Linda Lou said...

Good to see you back exploring and thrifting Laura - hope your 2011 is going well so far - I haven't blogged much, since I started my business at the Farmers Market last year...it has been a lot of fun!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

sending love to you for v-lentine's d-ay, l. i've got computer issues. keys stick. so it's going in. i'm going out. only till it comes in from its fixing. ;-p

xo,

s.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

I haven't been down in Amish Country in ages...I used to love to find fabric there when I was sewing. You came up with some terrific finds...and oh those turquoise jars...fabulous! Love the little man too.
♥, Susan

Anonymous said...

I used to love going down to the Amish Country! It was always a wonderful resource for fabrics...You came up with some great finds...love the little man and those turquoise jars are fantastic!
♥, Susan

Free Art Printables said...

That sounds like you found some great things! I love those jars,, the painting scares me just a bit!

Caren said...

I live really close to Lancaster county, if you ever need another thrifting/outlet shopping buddy, let me know... I'll meet you!