Useful Objects

A while back, I happened upon yet another antique scale. Yep. They are my weakness. It was different from the others (and very inexpensive), so of course... I had to have it. The hubby has never told me that I shouldn't buy them, but I knew I was facing another bout of eye rolling and those dreaded words "Another scale? Really? How many of those things do you need?" So I quietly cleared off the bathroom counter, installed my new beauty front and center, filled both sides with the items that I had just removed, and walked away. The hubby came home from work and went about his business. And I waited. And waited. And the kids cleaned up before bed time and said "Mom? What ..." and I shushed them. The ball was in his court. Nothing. I'm not very good at the waiting game, but I stood firm on this one. Finally... the next morning, just before he walked out the front door to work, he said "By the way, did you really think I wouldn't notice another scale if you filled it full of junk?" "What? That old thing?" I answered. "It's been there forever. Have a great day." Hmmmmm. I just might be on to something.

Antiques Are Like Real Estate

No, really. They are. What's the most important factor in setting the price for real estate? Location! Location! Location! The same is true for antiques. Which is really crazy when you think about it, because you can move them where ever you want. I'm not talking about where you keep it, though. I'm talking about where you buy it. The nicer the place and more foot traffic it gets, the higher your price. I was looking through my Pottery Barn catalog the other day ( I LOVE Pottery Barn. I would live in their pages if it were only possible. I like to think that Pottery Barn and I would be friends if I had a lot more money and perhaps a tad more style. We'd go out for cappucino together and I would call her PB, because we'd do cute things like that.) and came across a few things that were very familiar. Maybe I have more style than I thought. There on the fabulous pages of PB were some of the treasures that I've collected since we moved to Belgium. My jars, my trogs... heck, they even had my irons! But something wasn't quite the same. Ahhhhh. Location. All my treasures together didn't cost what one of those glorious Pottery Barn trogs (bread bowls?) did. And that makes my lovely finds just that much more special. Besides, now I can tell the hubby that they are investments. Just the sound of that word makes him smile. See? Now we're all happy.

Tongeren Antique Market For Mother's Day...Sweet!

When Russ asked me what I wanted to do for Mother's Day this year, it was a very easy decision. I've been wanting to go to Tongeren... forever! I've been there once before, but it was just after I moved here, and not only was I still jet lagged, it was raining. I didn't get to truly savor the Tongeren experience. Yes, Tongeren is a beautiful old city full of historical significance. (In fact, she's the oldest city in all of Belgium - 1915 BC). That's not why I was so excited to get back there, though. Tongeren is also home to an amazing Antique/Thrift Market. Each Sunday, from 6 am to 1pm, vendors set up stalls all over the streets in the centrum and sell antiques. It's better than chocolate. Well, almost better. Let's just say it's a pretty close tie! We left the kiddies at home and took off on our adventure. Just walking around the city is a wonderful experience. This little outdoor cafe was beautiful. You can sit outside, enjoy the sun and watch the ducks and swans float by. Very relaxing. We're not here to relax, though. We're here...to SHOP!Vendors line the streets, displaying their magical wares. Whatever you're looking for, you can find it in Tongeren. They have every antique imaginable, from furniture...to books...to games...to dishes...to locks...to tools.... You name it, and someone here will have it for you. There are also some hidden surprises here. Follow along with the other shoppers, and they will eventually lead you to two parking garages. They are on the same street as each other, so once you find one, the other is close by. Why do you want to see a parking garage? Because on Sundays, they are FILLED with antique vendors. It tends to rain a lot in Belgium, so they have the choice real estate at the Market. The weather was so gorgeous today, though, I had a hard time staying inside. We took a break from shopping and wandered over to say HI to Ambiorix. He helped to defend Belgium against Julius Caesar. He's quite the hero in these parts. Caesar even mentioned Ambiorix in his Commentary de Bello Gallco, Caesar's account of the Gallic Wars. I don't think he mentioned those 6 pack abs, though. Ambiorix is facing the Basilica of Our Lady. This building is on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Roman ruins have been found on the site of the cathedral, and people claim that the first chapel was built here in the early 4th century. The current building was first constructed in 1240, but she's had a little work done since then, due to damage from battles, storms and fire. We decided to relax at an outdoor cafe to enjoy a delicious cup of cappuccino, when out of no where...we heard music! A few minutes later, this marching band appeared and played us a lively tune as they strolled by. Once around the corner, they disappeared again, and the streets were quiet. I told you Tongeren was a magical place. Refreshed, we started off once again on our antique adventure. Those are the old city walls on the right. This is one of the old gates in the city walls. It's in great condition. If you find this gate, take a look to your left and you'll find...Antique Alley. It's a fascinating little alley way filled with antique shops, and their goods are literally spilling over into the walk way. Be sure to head down there and explore. After a fantastic morning exploring Tongeren, we headed back home, ate lunch, and took off to have some fun at a local carnival. Brandon really wanted to check it out. They had some great rides!

This one came with a great view, as well.

Brandon's favorite thing about these street carnivals is the shooting booths. They have pellet guns, and you get to shoot targets like balloons and plastic pieces to earn prizes. In the states, they would never just hand a kid a pellet gun in a crowded area, but they are much more relaxed over here. He did great and came home with a couple of fun prizes.

Everyone was coming out, enjoying the beautiful weather and checking out the games. The local towns put these carnivals on all summer long. Today was a fantastic Mother's Day! I couldn't have asked for anything more. I hope yours was just as great!

Todays Theme...is Bread

It's raining today, so I figured it was a sign from above that I should just stay home. Who am I to argue? The weather has been so glorious lately that I've been putting off my household chores. Who wants to stay inside and mop or do laundry when the skies are blue and the sun is shining? Not me, that's who! I figured that if I was going to be here all day, I might as well try out a Cinnamon Swirl Bread recipe that I found not too long ago. It's pretty simple to make, but HOLY COW does it take some serious time! (That's why I haven't tried it before.) I am a sucker for cinnamon bread, but I don't buy it very often because for some crazy reason, bakers seem to think that you also want raisins in it. I'm not a big fan of raisins. Neither are the rest of my family. I started on the cinnamon bread (sans raisins) and got to the part where it had to sit and rise for...two hours. This led me to something else that I've been putting off... Waxing my antique bread boards. I bought this in December of 2009. I bought the wax not long after that. Can anyone say "procrastination"? My bad. My excuse is that it looked fantastic without the wax, so what's the hurry? The great news is that it looks even more awesome with it. (And I haven't even buffed it off yet.) By tomorrow morning, it will be dried, buffed, and back in the corner of my dining room in all it's glory. Another job checked off of my "to do" list. On to more chores. I have to keep busy, because if I don't... I'll end up back at the antique store and spending more...bread. Aren't these trunks fantastic? Wouldn't that bottom one make the most interesting coffee table or end table (with storage) in the world? *sigh* Must keep busy. Must keep busy. Must keep busy. Hey, I think the rain is lightening up. Could that be a sign?

Queen of the South, Belgian Style

When you pass this building, you can't help but stop and take a second look. It's just so interesting. Inside and out. It's Queen of the South, and antique store and restaurant, located in Genk. I just had to go inside and check it out. We had just eaten lunch, so we'll have to go back another time to try out the restaurant.

This is the view just inside the front courtyard. I didn't take any pictures inside. I was too distracted by all of the fantastically unusual things that I was looking at in the antique store. This is not your regular antique store, either. They sell architectural antiques. There is a huge section with nothing but antique doors. Another section has stairs. Yet another section has fireplaces. You get the idea. You meander through crowded room after room, and finally end up in the outer back courtyard with all sorts of lovely goodies to decorate your yard. They have fantastic fountains! If you find yourself with an hour or two to kill, I suggest you check this place out. All I can say is...WOW!

If I Ever Own A Castle...

It was a lovely day in Belgium to go out Antique shopping with friends, so of course, who am I to refuse such an opportunity? Off we went. I love this place. Each time I go, they have new and wonderful items to examine, as well as some old friends who are simply biding their time until they find their new home. This table falls into the second category. It's been there since my first visit. It's quite possible that there isn't much call for a dining room table that seats 22 people. I have no idea why. This is #1 on my "If I Ever Own A Castle" shopping list. The first thing I'll do is pick this baby up. Just think of the dinner parties! (I imagine that if I can afford the castle, surely I can afford a cook as well. If not, I'll just bug Erika until she folds and bakes me all sorts of her Pampered Chef goodies.) This beauty is on the list, too. I love all of the intricate carvings on it. I didn't even glance at the price tag. After all, if you own a castle, you don't have to ask. I'm just saying...I don't know where these beauties will fit in the castle, but I'll take them just the same. Again, the attention to detail is amazing. Oh, well. Until I get my castle, I will just get items that fit in here. I've been on the prowl for a coat rack for the entry way since I moved in, and today...score! It's wooden, so it doesn't weight nearly as much as the metal ones, and it's in excellent shape.
This item is one that I've been eyeing since I first started going to this store. It's an old tiered bread board stand. I can't believe it was still there! We'll call it fate. Thanks to my enablers (Erika, Melissa and Denise), it found it's way into my van today and is now relaxing in a quiet corner of the dining room. I'm sure it will be very happy there.

In case you were wondering about the trog that I picked up the last time, here it is in all of it's Christmas finery. Russ calls it the holiday trough. I had pumpkins in it for Thanksgiving, and now it is all decked out for Christmas. We'll call it a new tradition. I'm sure the animals won't mind.