With it being Saturday, I had one goal in mind. And that was to get as much done as I possibly could in the morning, and then just bum around in the afternoon for awhile in Elkader. I had it in my head that I wanted to go to the Antique Mall in Elkader, Iowa and for some reason I just couldn’t get rid of the thought. So after getting tons of laundry done, the house somewhat picked up, and some things made in the kitchen, I jumped in the shower and then headed to the mall. Now there really wasn’t anything in particular that I wanted or needed, it was just that I wanted to go and see what treasures that they had. I was hoping not to spend more than $40, so it wasn’t like I was going to plan on buying anything big. Now it took about an hour to get to the mall from the farm and it’s just crazy how the landscape changes in such a short time. The closer I got to Elkader, the farmland changed from pretty much flat where we live, to rolling hills. The hills are kind of cool to look at, but I couldn’t imagine baling hay on them. Your wagons would always be leaning down hill with the bales falling off. Well, I finally found a parking space and I’m out of the car in a flash. I don’t know if I was thinking that I couldn’t get to all the vendors in the 2 & 1/2 hours or maybe it was just that I was excited to see what they had. Either case, I was on a mission.
Picture of the mall taken from their web page
When I opened the front door, I just knew that it was the right decision to go. I first checked to see how long they were open, and it was until 5 pm. I was hoping that I wouldn’t stay that long, but who knew right? I slung my purse behind my back and off I went. Now this isn’t a small antique mall by any means. It has over 100 vendors and 14,000 square feet so there’s a lot to look at. And when I was walking around looking at all the treasures, I decided that I really like how the style was back in the 50’s and 60’s. If there really is reincarnation, I bet I was someone from that era. So I’m checking everything out and taking note of the things that I want to go back to look at when I hear this kind of creepy voice coming from one of the rooms on the third floor. I make my way to the room and find out that it was an old Winnie the Pooh Bear saying that it was 5:00. What 5:00? Well, he must not have gotten his time changed this fall, but the funny thing was that I didn’t think anything about a bear saying the time, just that I might be out of time. Now with only an hour to shop, I had to make up my mind. Was I going to buy anything and if so, what would it be? I finally bought an old shotgun cream can. Even though Daryl knew exactly what it was, I checked it out on the web when I got home to see if I could find out anything more on how it was used. They were used to hold milk and then placed in cool water baths. The cooler the water the better the milk and cream would separate. Now when we were kids, I don’t ever remembering using these cans. We milked the cows twice a day, but put the milk into the milk tank. Then you’d turn on an agitator to keep the milk stirring and cooling until the milk man came. But if you needed cream to bake with, you’d shut the agitator off and the cream and milk would separate. You’d use some type of a scoop and skim the cream off the top. I think that was better cream that you could ever buy today. So getting back to my little cream can. I had paid for it in the mall and just as I was leaving, I saw that they had a basement filled with stuff. So I put my cream can down by the check out desk and down I went into the basement to see what other treasures are waiting. And guess what I found? 2 more pulleys for my collection. Now I have no idea why I have to have more pulleys, and my collection is only now a total of 4. But I really like how they look for some reason. So with my cream can and pulleys in hand and the time so close to 5 o’clock, I head to the car. What a fun afternoon and I even had some money left over for a Diet Coke for the trip home. Yea for me!
Shotgun cream can and pulleys.
And when I got home I found this ‘present’ on the steps. I think it’s an old dead raccoon or something. I’m guessing it’s Reno’s way of trying to bribe me to let her in the house and lay by the fireplace. It didn’t work.
From Reno