The weather would not co-operate with my plan for a long bike ride today. It was very windy and riding into the wind is just plain no fun.
I took a car ride instead and went to check out Arcadia, FL. This is one of those side trips Mike and I had talked about doing but never got around to.
Compared to Venice--a different world entirely. The interior of central Florida is farm country--citrus groves, cattle farms, and a few horse ranches. It has its own beauty.
Also, it was a good reminder that there is more diversity in this state than one would ever gather if Venice was one's only experience of Florida. Venice is older, white men with grey hair, gold watches, and sporty convertibles. Then there are the tan, blonde women of a certain age that you would not be able to guess. (There is a reason why the dentist office offers all kinds of make-over services!) I mean, I live in a "poor" neighborhood where shopping at Steinmart or Beall's marks our status. I had kind of started to forget the rest of the world.
I did not realize that a rodeo was going on. Arcadia is cowboy country. I hit a bit of a traffic jam driving into town. However, the rodeo left the historic downtown area crowd free, and I enjoyed browsing through the a fraction of the many antique shops.
My purchases:
California pottery dish, pie bird, small egg cup, Noritake plate, and two Swanky sips juice glasses.
Most of these will be gifts, but I will keep the juice glasses for myself.
I took a car ride instead and went to check out Arcadia, FL. This is one of those side trips Mike and I had talked about doing but never got around to.
Compared to Venice--a different world entirely. The interior of central Florida is farm country--citrus groves, cattle farms, and a few horse ranches. It has its own beauty.
Also, it was a good reminder that there is more diversity in this state than one would ever gather if Venice was one's only experience of Florida. Venice is older, white men with grey hair, gold watches, and sporty convertibles. Then there are the tan, blonde women of a certain age that you would not be able to guess. (There is a reason why the dentist office offers all kinds of make-over services!) I mean, I live in a "poor" neighborhood where shopping at Steinmart or Beall's marks our status. I had kind of started to forget the rest of the world.
I did not realize that a rodeo was going on. Arcadia is cowboy country. I hit a bit of a traffic jam driving into town. However, the rodeo left the historic downtown area crowd free, and I enjoyed browsing through the a fraction of the many antique shops.
My purchases:
California pottery dish, pie bird, small egg cup, Noritake plate, and two Swanky sips juice glasses.
Most of these will be gifts, but I will keep the juice glasses for myself.
It's fun to see what other people purchase on their antiquing trips!
ReplyDeleteI was "just looking" but then I thought of you. And then I spied those Swanky Sips. I have a couple at home that I bought when my grand daughter was first born.
DeleteIt is easy to forget that Florida is more than just beaches, your trip to the interior sounded interesting.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy my day of exploration. I kind of wish I had gone prepared to attend the rodeo, but that might be a step too out of character.
DeleteI'm with Linda -- it is fun to see what other people buy from neat little shops and antique places. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnd my gift-giving shopping for this year has begun!
DeleteHi, Olga. I came over from Kay/Musings blog, just visiting and reading. These are some great finds. They are all cool but, I really like the snow scene plate.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for stopping by. You have reminded me that it has been quite a long time since I surfed others' blog lists. That can be a fun field trip in itself.
DeleteI'm so glad that the bike ride you didn't get to have turned into such a nice adventure! I would keep those glasses, too! They really remind me of being a child.
ReplyDeleteExactly! That is what part of what attracts me. The other part is grandchildren sipping orange juice out of them at my breakfast table.
DeleteHow wonderful that you were able to enjoy such a happy day. Those will be very fun gifts indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nostalgia-filled day. First, because Mike was the one who knew about antiques. Second, because some of those shops were filled with the everyday items from my grandmother's and my mother's house. So many memories stirred up!
DeleteNice purchases. I don't think I have ever been to an antique shop.
ReplyDeleteI am not an antique collector, but I lived with one for twenty years.
DeleteWhen my parents wintered in Florida, they did the same thing -- visiting places elsewhere in the state. Good antiquing!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting items...but I have to ask, what is a pie bird? I'm thinking if it is baked in a pie it might release the steam...just a guess.
ReplyDeleteThough if it is, shouldn't there be four and twenty (blackbirds)?
Good guess. I just thought it was cute. I will give it to my sister.
DeleteOoh, I used to really enjoy going to Arcadia. I dated a ranch owner there. Thanks for the reminder, I may re-post that adventure. Twenty miles away from either coast is a surprise to most. No high rises but lots of food, either on the hoof, tree or in the ground. So glad you got to see that side of the sunshine state.
ReplyDeleteNice finds.