Follow up to ‘Grandma’s’ plate.  Took the plate out of the soak yesterday. It had been soaking in the Hydrogen Peroxide ever since my post of July 17 – so that’s just a little over 4 weeks. I didn’t do anything special – just let it sit. Gave the pan a little shake about once a week to dislodge the air bubbles. Was very pleased the way it turned out – really nice and clean. Even the chips and cracks look white. The ‘after’ picture is just like it came out of the soak – no touch-ups. I don’t think I’ll ever use it as it does have a pretty severe crack and a couple of major chips but – I do enjoy having it. Every time I look at it – I can just smell Grandma’s homemade chicken noodle soup and taste those delicious kolaches we used to snitch out of the old pie safe.

Can’t believe it’s Friday already. The week seems to have flown by.  David and I may go to ‘my favorite country auction’ on Saturday – IF it isn’t too hot.  There are a few things there I know he would like to bid on.  A small trailer, lawn mower and some other assorted ‘guy’ stuff that falls into the category of nuts, bolts and screws. I have learned that a guy can never have too many tools, nut, bolts and screws. This auction is an onsite auction – which means we have to pack as if taking a trip. We’ll have to take lawn chairs, food, water, drinks, boxes, packing material, snacks for David, and some sort of cover ( like a large umbrella) in case it rains so we don’t get too wet – and in case it doesn’t rain we’ll need it so we don’t bake  in the sun. Nothing there I want and even if there were – knowing I would have to make a special trip to carry it back to the truck is a major deterrent when it comes to bidding.  If my purchases can’t  fit into a file box so I can carry them back at the end of the auction all at one time - I don’t bid.

Since we’ve been living in the country, people often ask, ‘do you have any pets?’.   No, we don’t have any pets – not because we don’t want them – we just like the freedom of being able to get up and go when we feel like it at a moments notice.   But – IF I did have a pet – it would be a wiener dog. I just love wiener dogs. They have such an intelligent look and the ones I’ve been around are such fun. I’ve even got a name picked out for when I get my wiener dog. . . . Cornnut.   Now that being said, I thought I’d share one of my favorite YouTube videos with you. Can’t you guess…. it’s about a weiner dog. Enjoy!!

Left Old Henry Farm and checked out the La Bahia show just up the road. Rows and rows of tents plus a couple of old buildings full of stuff. There were a lot of garden type antiques, i.e., chairs, chase loungers, tables – so if you have an old iron patio set hang on to it – they were selling for over $500! There are a lot of shows between Round Top and Warrenton that run for about 10 days. Not all shows have the same schedule. If you are looking for information, visit Texas Antique Mall Show Calendar.

We headed back to the car so we would have enough time to take a leisurely trip home as we wanted to get some pictures of the bluebonnets that were in full bloom. Of course the kolaches we had bought that morning in Caldwell had warmed up sitting in the car so that when we opened the door we were hit in the face with the tantalizing smell of yeast and assorted fruits – apple, pineapple, raspberry, and peach – and we just had to eat a few of those on the drive home. So much for putting some in the freezer.

If you have time in the next couple of weeks, take a day to see some of the Texas countryside that is in bloom. You’ll find useful information about wildflower events on This is Our Texas, Events page.

There are some beautiful drives between Sommerville and Round Top off Texas 390 as well as in the Brenham, Chappel Hill area. I’ve been enjoying the wildflowers here in Texas for as long as I can remember, but the flowers this year seem to be more plentiful with a more intense in color.

Lots of people there but I did manage to get a couple of what I think are jewels. Two very old, oak chairs that I will refinish and put cane seats in. Very time consuming to do the weaving but well worth it. And, a beautiful oak buffet top – in need of refinishing and some minor repair. But it has 3 large beveled mirrors, barley twist pedestals and some exquisite carving. Guess I can add that to my list of things to do. Now all I need to do is plan a trip to Bryan-College Station to get all the goodies I will need to get things finished.   Once I get all the stuff together,  I’ll take you step-by-step through refinishing an antique piece.

Went to my very favorite auction this past weekend (lot’s of really nice people) and bought an old stenciled chair with a rush seat for a whopping $5.00. What a steal – oops, deal. Granted the seat is in pretty bad shape, but that’s easily fixed and with a little TLC I’ll have a beautiful piece of furniture. Being in the antique business for 20+ years I’m always on the hunt for little treasures like this.   The main thing is to remember my budget limits and not get carried away.

Now about husbands. Girls, if you can’t get your better-half to go with you – take note. Find something being offered at the auction that interests him. David is crazy about tools and has come to enjoy the auctions because he can buy box-lots (boxes filled with lots of mixed items that are sold as 1 item) of tools and other assorted hardware bits and pieces. I have to say in all fairness, he only buys stuff he can actually use around the house for repairs - tools, screws, nuts/bolts, plumbing pieces,  and the like.  Most of the time purchased for no more than $2.00 a box-lot.

Sound like fun? It is. But, if you’re not familiar with auctions and would like some helpful tips on attending one, I’ve put some information together – visit the Texas Antique Mall Compendium and click on ‘Auction’. Here you’ll find a glossary of auction terms, what to expect at the auction and what you’ll need if you plan on attending an ‘on site’ auction vs. an auction held at the auction house.  I’m working on a list of Texas Auctions and hope to have it uploaded in the next week or so.