Candy & Kathy's EXCELLENT Junk Adventure!

JUST A NOTE: I've been catching up from our trip, and reading everyone else's awesome posts (by Candy, Gretchen, Amy, Lani and Sue - just click on their name and it will direct you to their blogs and you can read their tales of Oronoco, Minnesota and see their great junk style)...

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But now it's my turn to get started...

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A couple of the girls have posted a kind of a day-by-day review - I'm going to do kind of the same thing. We did so much in our few days out there - our heads were spinning - but part of that may have been due to sleep deprivation - but we followed our itinerary...and got-r-done! (thanks Sue!). I remember reading her email, and I thought "WOW"...we'll never do all that...well, we did - and it WAS amazing - start to finish!! And, when she threw in camping - that just took it over the top (and I wasn't sure if it would be a good or bad thing...)! ha ha

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This post is covering our drive out to Minnesota, our first night, and our first FULL (and I mean full) day of our adventure.

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My next post will cover Oronoco - flea-ing, camping and blog party-ing. OH MY!!!

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And, finally a post on my "finds" - which I'll post on the JunkMarket Style site too...(Just trying to get my thoughts in order as I type. ha ha).

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So....here goes......................................

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Well, the countdown was over, our bags were packed, and we were up and at 'em early in the morning on Wednesday, August 12th - and so excited I know we both could hardly stand ourselves... Leaving our house at about 5:30 a.m. - my hubby drove me up to meet Candy at about 6:30 a.m. (we may have been a few minutes late...) - and, it was definitely "friends at first sight" - we had only chatted through emails, facebook, once on the phone, and of course through the JunkMarket Style website! So after a quick good-bye kiss from my hubby, and a pic of me and Candy - we hit the road!

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Here are Thelma & Louise, I mean Candy and Kathy ready to hit the junking trail.

I think they're/we're going to have a fabulous time!!

It was about a 13-14 hour trip, and we saw a few things along the way...mostly we were talking/laughing - so a lot passed us by...! HOWEVER, this heavily packed car was ahead of us, and I had to get a pic. I told Candy I thought it looked like a couple kids heading to college, and when we passed them...that's exactly what it looked like (wonder if their Dad helped them pack that monster???)

Well, here we are...driving into Minneapolis (quick trip, huh??). I said that a lot passed us by...(even a toll booth...oops!)

Our arrival at Sue's (just a few minor glitches in the stupid GPS in the last 5 or 10 miles, but we made it...). You can see the "W" at the window - I'm pretty sure it means "WELCOME'...and we were!!!

It was more like a reunion than a first meeting - and walking into her home felt so familiar and comfortable (lots of things that we had seen posted as "projects" on the JunkMarket Style site...) Sue knows how to make a person feel right at home - feeding the weary travelers - AND to top it off...it was slumber party night - (you're never too old, right girls???). We also met Amy and her talented junk hubby, Ron, Gretchen ---- oh...and Sue's trusted watch dog...Lily)! We shared junk and laughed until we dropped - which was after 4:00 a.m. - not thinking we had more than a full day coming up on Thursday - oh heck - it was already Thursday - guess we'll just call it a power nap then!!

The first day began with a visit to mine and Candy's very first occasional sale at The French Fleamarket, where Gretchen and Lani sell their junk finds (and Gretchen's beautiful redesigned vintage jewelry). We were a little behind schedule, but we didn't waiver from our appointed rounds (sounds a little postal... :) It was a great shop, and so fun to see Gretchen's jewelry in person - and of course, we bought a couple things!

Oh...and ya gotta have a "group" photo (actually we had quite a few of them...)

And, see those smiles...they never left our faces the ENTIRE time!

(Left to right: Gretchen, Me, Sue, Lani, Candy)

Some of Gretchen's beautiful jewelry - and she displays it all so well!

Here's our happy jewelry designer! Hi Gretch!!

Sue and Candy checking out the garden area - lots of rusty cool stuff...

Well...we have a schedule to keep - it's off to Lani's! This sign was hanging just inside the door - "hello" on the front side and the back side of it said "good bye" - I thought it was so clever!

Just a peek into the kitchen (the sign said "EAT" - and we did). She had a wonderful lunch set up for us - and cheesecake for dessert - everything was perfect - thanks Lani!!

Sue & Lani...talking "decor" I'm sure!

Her home is beautiful and such clever, creative touches in every room!

Lots of oooohs and aaaahs AND "didn't I see that on one of your posts???"!

Seventh Heaven!

This mantle was way cool - iron spacers (I forget what they were used for...but she's reused them beautifully).

And a lamp with a musical touch...

Cloches, we know Lani loves her cloches (me too!!)

Alrighty then...time to have lunch - and some tasty lemonade...with a little help! :)

And, away we go............to Hunt & Gather.

No need for signs...we know exactly where we're going!

The sections of old bed springs were cut to hold pots - and they could be used in so many different ways (why didn't I buy one of those????).

What no dressing room???

No worries - this cute dress was a perfect fit - and the bestest color of vintage pink!

It was like stepping into Disneyland for junkers - so this little guy looked right at home!

And some great French Country style...

M'aam...there's a bird in your hat...

Alright - stop right here...I thought these squares of vintage lineoleum were so cool - scattered across the floor in one room - they're on my list of things to buy...next time! I found some (the next day) at Oronoco...that had been framed - and I loved them! It also reminded me of the floor of my Grandma's back porch...

AND away we go...again - ha ha!! (yes, that is the reflection of Candy's car in the window...)

To see more on this great store - visit their website - Hunt & Gather, AND - Candy did a great post on our visit (click here... http://junksophisticate.blogspot.com/2009/08/hunt-gather.html - You'll want to visit this store if you're ever in the Minneapolis area - it's on Candy's list of "things to do before I die"...and it is like "junk heaven"!!

We really could have spent hours and hours scouring the rooms (two levels) - but, our next stop was back at Sue's to get ready for our sunset pontoon cruise on beautiful Lake Minnetonka with Kimberly and her mother-in-law, Lisa... (and we got stuck in a little 5:00 traffic - that wasn't on our agenda...)

Here they come - can't wait to meet Kimberly!!

Now, how did we take off without Gretchen?

You can see she's patiently waiting for us to "back up"!

Ahoy matey!

This little maneuver made me a bit nervous...a great Kodak moment, don't ya think?

This was our Captain, Kimberly's mother-in-law, Lisa - thanks for the ride!

And, Lani's daughter, Rebekah (putting up with us silly ladies) :)

Again...friends at first sight! Kimberly is a sweetheart!

There were snacks and drinks to share - and again...lots of laughter!

The ride over to the restaurant was beautiful - and a perfect end to our day

(well...almost the end)!

I think this is my favorite picture of our happy group!

Cheese!!!

More fun...


Junk Sisters!


Here we are...at Lord Fletchers.
I think most of us had their famous walleye sandwich with sweet potato fries - yummo!!


Beautiful Minnesota sunset...

A few unexpected visitors (3 to be exact) at the end of the evening...scared us for just a moment - Sue was able to calm us down, and then the cameras started snapping (I'm pretty sure we "scared" them away!)...

Don't get too close Lani!

We're sailing away now...see ya!

A ride in the dark - but there were no wrong turns made.

Lisa skippered like a pro!! Thanks!!!

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At the end of Thursday, it was time for another "power nap"! We were "scheduled" to leave Sue's by 7:00 am on Friday (well...that was my prediction - ha ha - thanks Sue, for bringing me back to reality!!)

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Stay tuned for BIG fun in Oronoco.......

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Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing in our adventure!

Hugs, Kathy

P.S. Candy - I'll be your junking, traveling partner anytime!! :)