A Cool Auction and a Fine Restaurant

56f/13 3C, mostly clear, low humidity.  High reached 79.

It was auction pickup day today, so we were on the road. This auction offered many unique Asian items, quite different from the usual in our area. There were many toys and gaming items too, along with collectibles from popular shows like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, and Nascar collectibles. I brought home some interesting stuff, like these:

This is a jewelry armoire, about 3 feet tall. 

Gorgeous glasses made in France. There were 2 sets, the others are rocks glasses.

This 3-foot diameter wood wall hanging is stunning.

This horse is huge and heavy. Sadly he was damaged and repaired, so I got him for $1.00. The repairs are actually done quite well.

This is a 4-feet long framed tapestry.

And you know I would buy the peacock teaset!

This trunk was much bigger than I realized. In nice shape inside, still has the tray.

The room dividers that I was so excited about turned out to be a disappointment.  I had hoped they were mother-of-pearl inlaid like others I have seen, but either the inlay was never done or someone removed it. So sad. 

There are two of them, and I still think they will sell, but they were not what I thought. Neither was this one:

I had hopes that it might be silk, but it is not. Still very pretty though. Overall I was happy with our buys, and I think they will add a unique touch to our booths.

Afterwards we stopped at a place I have wanted to check out for well over a year: The House of Wines, near Marietta,Ohio. Not only do they offer a large selection of wine and beer,

they are also a restaurant,  offering outdoor dining beside the Muskingum River.

My meal was delicious--I had already cut my sandwich in half before thinking to take a photo! It was a bacon chicken cranberry thing with lettuce and tomato and a sauce, with homemade ketchup, and a real treat for me, fries! Rarely have them.

Larry pronounced his Reuben sandwich and Swiss onion soup absolutely perfect. I took a photo of his but it came out terribly blurry. Oh well.

We had planned to go to the West Virginia State Folk Festival tomorrow,  but we are both so tired, I am not sure we will make it. We'll see!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

And Then There's This

62°f/16.7°C, heavy, violent storms this morning. Still cloudy and looking like rain.

We were still in bed when the storm hit, and boy was it a doozy. Larry jumped up to close the window, and thrn we heard it---the unmistakable cracking and breaking of a tree.

What a mess! But fortunately only a few boards and my wicker planter and a couple flowerpots were broken.

Then our neighbor Mark, who grew up with our boys, showed up with his chain saw.

And now, it looks like this:

I'd say we were very fortunate! All the brush is piled up and ready to burn sometime later on. We needed to pressure wash the deck anyway, and I think we will only need to buy 3 or 4 boards to replace the broken ones. This wasn't on the to-do list for today, but all in all, it's not too bad.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

At Cedar Lakes

51f/10.5C, mostly clear, breezy. Beautiful!

This house was moved to the park some years ago and restored. Today, it is in serious need of restoring again. According to the park's website,  "

The cabin was once the home of Jacob L. Starcher, the grandson of Jacob Starcher, the first permanent settler in Ripley. It serves as a memorial to the early settlers of Jackson County. It was donated to Cedar Lakes by the late Genevieve Starcher in 1968.

Visitors may take tours during the Arts and Crafts Festival."

I am not sure where this building, or any of the others, came from, but certainly somewhere in Jackson county.

Look at this dovetailing. 

The yucca plants, or Spanish Dagger as my mother called this plant, look striking against the logs.

Old fence detail. I doubt it will stand much longer.

I pressed my phone to the window to see what was inside the house, as it was , of course, locked up. 

A zoomed picture,  because I want to try to identify the Early American Pattern Glass compote on the table.

The covered bromide was moved almost 50 years ago, from the nearby community called Staats (or Statts, depending on who you ask) Mill. 

Another small log building. I wonder what it was used for?

Pawpaw trees border Mill Creek beside the park. Many people love pawpaw fruit, and there is even a Pawpaw festival in Ohio and I think one here in West Virginia too. I can't stand it myself-- it has the consistency and texture of over-ripe bananas. Yuck.

Close-up of the leaves.

Off to the open mic now, after a stop for rabbit feed! Never just one thing to do when we go to town.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.