“I need some more glass. I’m heading to the flea market tomorrow with the kiddos. Want to come?” The voice at the other end of the line was somewhat distorted.
“What?” I stopped chomping on my Tootsie Roll Pop {three bites!} and shifted the receiver to my other ear. I won’t embarrass myself by telling you what I thought she had said. ”You’re going where?”
“To the flea market.” Mindy repeated patiently. ”My glass projects?”
“Ooooooh.” I glanced out the front window at my flower beds, and comprehension washed over me.
Mindy is truly an artiste at heart. Do yourself a favor, click the image, and check her out at Styled Living.
“I’m in,” I confirmed without any further hesitation. ”So are The Cherubs. Groom’s golfing. What do I bring?”
“Cash…and the Groom’s pickup truck.”
I drew my breath in sharply, coughing up tiny red gems of lollipip on the exhale. If it necessitated backing the redneckmobile F150, with all two inches of wiggle room on either side, out of our garage? This flea market thing was, indeed, something special.
The Cherubs disagreed wholeheartedly and whinged approximately thirty-eight of the forty minutes that it took us to drive to the market the next morning. This included 10 minutes of gingerly maneuvering the behemoth thing out of its resting place.
Which I did without putting a single ding in its precious exterior. ThankYouVeryMuch.
Anyway.
The whinging ceased as quickly as it had started, once we arrived and The Cherubs had a little look-see around the premises.
There were collectibles.
And strange artifacts from centuries past.
And seemingly ordinary objects…
That, when opened…
…Were nothing short of beautiful.
But I wanted to come home with a treasure, too. So my hunt began in earnest.
What was I looking for?
I didn’t exactly know.
But I was reasonably certain that this was not it.
There was potential everywhere…
Treasures every which way I turned…
Sadly, I was often beaten to the best finds by the more savvy market-goers.
But just when I had given up hope…
And was about to call it a day…
I saw it.
You know…it.
I will go to my grave vowing that it spoke to me. “Take me with you,” It whispered seductively.
So I did.
And that? Is how I found love amongst the fleas.
Inspired by a prompt from Mama Kat’s Writers’ Workshop: What are you crushing on?
Awww!! So pretty! I would have wanted that, too. I love the glass work of art, too. I’m just wondering why you didn’t pick up that A&W sign to send to me?
Kel – I was holding out for a ginormous Pepto-Bismol sign for you, my dear.
So many interesting things to see amongst the fleas. Looks like you found a treasure.
It is impossible to describe how infatuated I am with that birdbath, Kim. <3 <3 <3
Omg – I laughed at “love amongst the fleas.” CUTE!
*blush* Ain’t love grand, Lisa?
Oh these are so fun! One man’s trash…yadda yadda yadda. I so need to take my boys on a flea market adventure. Oh and they love busting geodes. It’s like opening God’s presents with a hammer. What boy could resist!?
I love that! “Opening God’s presents with a hammer.” Outstanding! And yes…you totally need to go!
I WANT TO SHOP WHERE YOU SHOP!!!
Come with next time! Are you anywhere near Chicago?
Noooooo, southwest Missouri. Wahhhh! But if I ever make it to Chicago, we’re totally shopping together!
Makes me want to visit a flea market. And REALLY makes me wish I was remotely crafty!
I’m not remotely crafty. I keep hoping that if I hang around with Mindy long enough, she’ll just sort of rub off on me. And yes…flea markets are da bomb.
Adorable!!
My virtual trip to the flea market caused less anxiety then the real thing
Still a little anxious, but it’s subsiding now
Breathe. Good thing you’re out of state at the moment, huh?
That is a really beautiful find but please tell me you took the A&W sign home.
The Small One wanted it so badly, Jen…the geode was sort of a consolation prize.
You’re killing me – I need a flea market nooooowwwwwwww!
With a name like Hollow Tree Ventures, I always assumed that you had a flea market right down the street. Don’t go bursting my bubble, now…
Great day! Will be the BEST day next time we go without ice cream, popcorn, slushie consumers. That’s the day we fill that F345 (whatever). Love! Love! Love!
They must have a cocktail barn somewhere…right? Or we just drive the ol AK47 {whatever} up to The Turf Room afterward. Or maybe we hire a DRIVER to cart us and our haul around in the B52 {whatever} FROM the market TO The Turf Room and THEN back home. After a quick swing by Bien Trucha, of course. Spicy corn? Anyone? Anyone?
Now that is A plan. I think C-Sto could even get on board with that one.
Wow, great story. I’m a garden art person, too, so I understand.
Dang – I wish I could find a flea market like that one in my area. Were the prices good or inflated?
Most flea markets in this area charge so much because they consider everything to be antique. Definitely not yard sale prices.
Loved the post – it made me smile.
I’m pretty sure we don’t have any flea markets that cool around here! And you definitely scored on that bird bath. I would have snagged it too!
This place is fantastic, Kat. Kane County, IL. A mere hour away from BlogHer13!
This was wonderful. I never seem to make it to the flea markets in my area but I love the October Festival and it seems there are so many beautiful things to choose from. I collect candles, so it’s safe to say, I make it back to that table time and again until I give in and buy one.
Haha…you are so cute…(and I don’t mean that in an offensive way), I can just see tiny you driving that big ol’ pickup truck.
I need to get myself to a flea market, STAT!!
xo
You are so cute! I love this post. My hubs has an F250 that I would have made him back out before leaving if I had to drive it! =)
Thank you for spreading JOY and sharing at the Oh What a HAPPY Day party.
Holly at Not Done Growing
Thanks, hon. I LOVE your Happy Day Party! xo