In the past 4 weeks I’ve shopped 3 antique markets. One Saturday, two Sundays.

Locally in suburban Philly, Clover Market has been a mainstay for several years. I always go and, yes, I always buy but it’s getting a little harder. I realize that most everything I see I already own or have owned in the past! Is that years of looking or just good taste? I came away with a lovely clock that had been refurbished into a planter. The dealer told me he likes to do unusual things with usual items. Of course I identified with him. Right now it has a live plant in it and is hanging on my living room wall. How soon will I kill the plant? Shouldn’t be too long and then I’ll re-purpose it again.

I don’t know what to call the other item. Maybe a very tall glass lantern? And I haven’t figured out what to do with it. A plant inside, candles inside?

The day I came home from Clover I was inspired to move things around in my cottage. New things in, other things out (to the basement).

The other market was touted as a gigantic barn sale. It was in Chadds Ford, Pa. Mostly what was large was the traffic jam. Too many people on a two lane road. The organizer told me they expected 1,500 people and had 5,000. Not enough dealers and not enough porta potties. I did buy a wood spinet piano top made into a mirror. The artist collects old pianos from north Philly homes and churches, takes the parts and makes something else.

Quite unusual!

I also had to have this handmade wooden train. Maybe to add to the decor in a child’s room? We’ll see…

My next antique market will be Lucketts in Virginia. This is the big one for me. The cream of the crop. Southern furniture, blue grass music and crab cake sandwiches.

I do drive an SUV but my cottage can hold no more!