midwest get together

[Kay/NC]

There used to be a map function on the old site where we could mark our locations...wonder if SF still has that file stashed somewhere????

Soilbabe, I think having an antiquing husband is a mixed blessing.  It can be just an excuse for dragging home a lot of old iron implements...you know, the ones that require a corn-burning form of horsepower to utilize. 

I look at antiquing as a fun way to spend an hour or an afternoon, as I stop in to see my old friend at his shop, or attend an estate auction.  Haven't had time to do either for many months now. 

I've been thinking about going to his place to ask him to teach me lamp repair, and maybe picking up a couple of fixer-upper projects, now that my schedule is not too demanding anymore.  Ordered a few used books on furniture restoration via amazon this week, mostly from resellers. 

I've been thinking more lately of turning the corner store into a "restoration station." Maybe running monthly yard sale rental spots on the first Saturday, and/or some sort of a small business incubator, renting space to people who want to sell handicrafts, home-canning products, home sales items like the candles I saw this week, and such.   Might be interesting....

[Ruby Lou]

Are you looking at the Galena area?  Down river would be LeClere, Iowa where the American Pickers are from.  I haven't been to their shop yet, but I am hoping to get there this spring.  I think there are a couple other shops in that area.  Anamosa, Iowa has a nice primitive shop.  Gatherings.  I was real surprised when I went in there last weekend and saw alot of what I would call "eastern" primitives.  I do like her shop. 

[linda/IL]

Hate to correct you, Ruby, but if they're looking on the map it's spelled LeClaire.  There's some other cute shops there.  Sandwich IL, east of Galena,  has some also.  Doesn't Muscatine have quite a few antique shops also?  Banowitz?  (sp. on that one ?)

The end of March is OK for me, it it's OK for everyone else.  Mar. 25?  And where?

[linda/IL]

Sorry, meant Sat. Mar. 26.  Whatever.  Blame it on morning fog.

[Ruby Lou]

No problem on the correction!  I questioned it when I typed it, but too lazy to get the correct spelling!  Banowitz's is in Maquoketa..WOW lots of high priced furniture there.  I have seen a $14,000 bed there.  Fun to look though.  I did buy some old chairs for garden art for  me and a friend,  and a stoo,l but ole' Verle, he's a tight one and I couldn't get him as cheap as I wanted.  I believe March 25th works for me.  the Iowa Machine Shed works for me if that is what we want to do.  Hopefully some of the other gals can join us.  I just don't know of any other resturaunts that are in the area.  I would be willing to drive farther your way if that is what ya'll want.  Or the other way, doesn't matter.  I am flexible here.  No hogs or dairy cows to milk. 

[MN cowgirl]

Would love to get together with a bunch from MN, SD, IA and Nebraska....  Anyone over this way? 

[turkey feather]

I am in S Central IN but I don't think there are others near here? So KY would work for me too.

I have all the antiques my home will hold so I no longer really do that but I wait for DH to search for hammers and hatches and now pocket knives. Good ones are hard to find so it doesn't take long. But he has had good luck near Galesburg IL where he has cousins.

I liked the idea of visiting the SF offices, is that not in the right area for most of you?

[lawinkle]

When I asked Ed if he would like to drive with me to Des Moines, he said, "Heck, yeah!!"  He has lots of farm friends around there....count me in for Saturday the 25th.

[suey1973]

I'm up for a day trip the 25th, 26th, or 27th of March.   Basically,  I need it to be a day trip.  day and half at the most.   Turkeyfeather,   can you get back to this area and then we could go together to the west/ Northwest?   I'm sure  we could find something besides Machine Shed  if we want.    Main thing is they were very accomodating for us to tie up a table for quite awhile.   I don't know where too many things are in the Quad Cities although I am learning.   Our favorite spot is the Deere and Butterworth Estates in Moline.   Unfortunately,  they are not open during the winter.   Isabel Bloom is someplace in the town.    The Botanical Garden in Rock Island is a warm welcome during the muddy season.     Several suggested Miss Effies. 

I currently have 50 sows left to farrow and should be done by the end of April with the stragglers.  But,  then we are into spring.   We are awaiting our planter's delivery any day now.   Then Tom will be very busy setting it up the way he wants it.   Help situation is iffy most days.   Parttime girl gets here 2-3 afternoons/week (and that's all I ask of someone with a fulltime job),   Full time employee  whom we know needs to find something else  just seems to find lots of reasons not to be here.   But,  he usually gets the chores done most days.   But, no help with the extras that need to be done.   We just won't go into the details on which one is working right now.   Hope to get the "OLD"  employee back for some part time work come planting time. 

Next year I could very available for a trip to Kentucky?    LindaIL  will your cows be gone by then so you and I could go together? 

I do like the idea of Meredith Publications?   I bet we could all offer suggestions to Better Homes and Gardens on White Sofas,  cream colored carpet and  remodeling just because it is so 80's!    I'm sure most of us are in the 70's mode yet.   My kitchen is still done in harvest gold and avacado green.   I also specilize in John Deere and pigs! 

[linda/IL]

Oh my, I'm getting confused about where we're going!   Need to go back & reread these posts.  Machine shed was very accomodating & they also have another room in the back if we needed it for privacy.  Another option is Cracker Barrell but I don't know how they would be to work with. 

Isn't the big John Deere building open anymore?  I think they closed the one with the restoration tractors.  I have a classmate who works at Deere as does my neice.   I'll ask.  Isabelle Bloom is right across the street catycorner.  Rock Island botanical garden isn't too far away either.  Guess it depends on how much time we have.

I don't know if we are getting out of dairying quite as soon as we hoped.  BUT we are cutting down next year with livestock even if we continue one more year.  I know there was quite a bit of chatter here about medicare & working, etc. but for us, we've based ourselves on getting medicare & S.S. since DH's retirement benefits were lost from his company going bankrupt.  We were getting a nice little check when he retired from his pension he'd built through the company.  After bankruptcy, the gov. secured pension fund takes over & everyone's check is based on how old you are the day the company quits.  Anyway, next spring we will qualify & until then we're paying a pricey ins. premium.  Sorry for crying!  LOL  I'm sure I could get away for a night though. W/or WO DH. 

Back to the get together.   Are we doing Davenport this spring then planning Des Moines or farther later?  One day or what?