Field of dreams

We’re heading south this weekend to central Florida.  The main event will be celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday with my husband’s siblings and their respective families.  The cousins will be together and will make doughnuts one morning, a longstanding and delicious tradition.  Some of us will shoot.  And some of us, including me, will spend at least one day antiquing at the Renninger’s Extravaganza in Mount Dora, Florida.   It’s a tradition for my sisters-in-law and me to attend each winter.  I am beside myself with excitement.

The Extrav consists of acres and acres of dealers and wares, ranging from items euphemistically dubbed “collectibles” to the sublime—Tennessee sugar chest, anyone?  Some booths are elegantly staged; others are, well, honestly, they are simply random items displayed on the grass or a piece of tarp.  Most dealers opt for a few folding tables to showcase the “smalls,” placing furniture and larger pieces around the perimeter of their spaces. In the past, I’ve found furniture, paintings, lithographs, etchings, rugs, lamps, and well, I could go on and on.  For years, each of us girls (another euphemism) had a long list of specific items she hoped to find.  Now, we’re all in the “upgrade” phase of antiquing, which means we’re really only interested in furniture if the piece is a much better replacement for something we already have.  (The replaced piece may either be sold, or more likely, stored for one of our children’s first apartment.)  This year, specifically,  I’m looking for:

old leather books in English,

rose medallion porcelain,

and American coin silver.

So, my “hit list” is rather short, which means the possibility of finding some unexpected wonderful “gets” is deliciously unlimited.

I’m feeling rather giddy.