juNxtaposition: August 2011

flea market

when i do shows...

people are always asking me where i find

all my materials..

i tell them...

i am a flea market junkie !

i am very lucky

here in pittsburgh,

we have a multitude of flea markets,

antique shows, and

junk fairs

this past weekend was a perfect example

friday we headed to rogers flea market

in ohio

it is one of the biggest anywhere around

we head out at the crack of dawn..

it's a little over an hour away..

and after 9 am..it's get very crowed..

and HOT

you can always find interesting junk there !

this is a telephone...cool huh?

this is a trunk that folds out to a table..

never saw one of those before

here's the crowd..

before it gets crowded !

lots of antiques

but no typewriters this trip..

acouple good deals on silverware though !

***

saturday morning...

foggy crack of dawn again...

headed about an hour

in the opposite direction

to an annual antique fair

in ligonier

http://www.ligonier.com/events.asp

they usually have some higher end stuff

at this show...

look at this quilt..it had the tiniest squares

cant imagine how long it took someone to make it !

lots of old chippy wood in great colors !

and furniture to die for !

it's always a good show...

but no typewriters here either !

bought lots of vintage jewelry though to rework !

this show is also good

for lots of primitives..

harder to come by these days

i did buy this awesome light, mirror, shelf,

towel rack, medicine cabinet !!!

it's going to fantastic in my bathroom

if we can figure out how to hang it !!

can you beleive this table?

16 feet long

original...not newly made..

came out a huge kitchen i'm told

there are also a few antique shops

(more like junk shops)

on the way,

which are always fun to stop at

this was way cool.

it held sewing macine needs and shuttles

you spun the dial and it would open to the section you wanted

***

sunday...again crack of dawn..

headed about an hour in another

different direction

we have great antique market out in washington county

http://www.washingtonantiquesfair.com/

lots of unique items here

loved the color of this childs set

and i really wanted this...

dont ask me what these are???

and did you ever see one of these with the wrapper on ??

i never did...

very cool

after this show,

i came home and hit the local flea...

which was packed today cause the

weather was nice...

got another type and a bunch of religious medals

***

we are really lucky around here as far as fleas go

we have a local one which is ok..

we can hit rogers any friday..it's always good..

and each weekend, there is an anique or fleatique

within an hours drive

we are also loaded with antique and junk shops

just about any direction you drive...

so..this is just one weekend..

and there's where i find my 'junk'

***

off to my yurt vaca tomorrow

for a week of solitude,

and massive jewelry making

for the country living fair !!

(last year's visit)

It's a sad day in our town,

we had an extensive storm this past week which caused a flash flood on a city street.

four people died. they are being buried today. it was so surreal, that we are all still in shock.

out of nowhere, on a street that we travel all the time, in the middle of the city, the storm sewers backed up and a 9 foot wall of water came right down the street, covering the vehicles that were stuck in traffic.

a young mother and her 2 girls were trapped in their mini van, and as rescuers came in row boats, they floated right over them and were unaware.

another 72 year woman, got out of her car, and was washed down the sewer drain, later to be found on the bank of the river, miles away.

many people were rescued due to some fast work of the responders.

but these 3 were not, kimbery, brenna, makalea griffith

this is such a heart breaking story, i cry as i type this.
i cant even give you more details, because it tears my heart out to tell it.

although i did not know these people, they are from my neighborhood,

just driving home from visiting their dad at work...on a street that i and my family and friends drive every week. ( it could have been me, my children, my grandchildren. )

i ask that you say a prayer for the young father, and siblings, who cant possibly be making sense of this tragedy.

* * * * * * * * * * *

i also tell the story in hopes of saving one life.

do you know what this is?

it is called an emergency hammer.

my brother bought me one a few years back...and i keep in my truck door.

it has a seat belt cutter, a pin to puncture your air bag, and what would have been most important in this case...a hammer to break your window should you get trapped in your vehicle.

they are relatively inexpensive.

buy one for everyone you care about !

* * * * *

as the tears stream down my face, i tell you the story of these lovely girls, to say that it can happen anywhere, anytime, when you least expect it...please be prepared.

* * * * *

and give your kids a hug today..........