"Catch Up" Part Three - Something Old, Something "Odd" . . .

Dear Hubby Steve and I love going to antique shops, and make a point of stopping at them wherever our travels may take us. It's always a kick to go to some little "spot in the road" town in the middle of nowhere, find a small antique shop, and walk out with a "treasure" that you would never find anywhere else.

We had also been kicking around the idea of renting booth space in an antique shop for at least a couple of years. I have a lot of antiques from both sides of the families, plus TONS of "stuff" from Dad's basement that has been down there for at least 50 years - - in fact, some of it was probably already there before he and Mom bought the house almost 55 years ago! A lot of the antiques I have are treasured family heirlooms, and will NEVER be sold in my lifetime. They were very special to my grandmother, or my Mom, and they stay. Period. NO amount of money would make me part with them. So take your wallet and GET OUT.

But then I have so many other things just stored away in large plastic totes - - around 9 totes at last count, I think . . . plus more "stuff" to get out of Dad's basement this coming weekend . . .

SO - - one Saturday in mid-July, we got on the road and made the rounds of antique shops in the area to see what booth space cost, and what was available.

Talk about an eye-opener!

Some shops charge so darned much for booth rent, you would be selling your antiques and collectibles to just be able to pay your rent!

WELLLLL - - excuse me, but I'm no dummy - - I want to sell my "treasures" for fun, and of course a little profit on the side, thank you very much!

One shop we went to is on Interstate 55, and gets LOTS of traffic. We started there, thinking that would be a good location. It is, but you pay dearly for all that traffic . . . $140/month, plus you have to work a minimum of 2 days a month in the shop; if you don't want to work the 2 days, they charge you an extra $40/month.

That's ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DOLLARS a month, folks - - because this place was too far away for me to be able to make it over there to work 2 days every month.

I don't think so!

So it was off to another place, closer to home - - which was $180/month.

THIS was getting frustrating!!!

Finally, we went to Tuscola, which is abot 35 miles from home, and with all the Amish crafts and businesses in the area, AND with Arcola, the home of Raggedy Ann and Andy, just down the road, AND having a HUGE Outlet Mall, AND being right off Interstate 55 - - it seemed like a possibility.

I walked in to Paddy Wagon Antiques . . . and felt like I had come home.

I had been in the shop before, when it was under the previous owners, and was not real happy with the place. But it had changed hands, so we decided to check it out. I am so glad we did! The booth rental is very reasonable, you are not required to work in the shop any days during the month, and Sandy, the owner, is a total jewel.

So Dear Hubby Steve and I spent lots of time getting displays painted and ready to set up, and sorting and pricing some of my antiques and collectibles. Then one Saturday in July, we headed up to Tuscola, with BOTH trucks loaded down to the max, and got moved in. I have been back quite a few times since, arranging, re-arranging, adding, sorting, checking price guides to help find values for some of my "stuff" . . .

It's a lot of work, but I'm enjoying myself immensely.

I am SO happy to be there!