Yesterday’s post was on handles. Today, I have some more cool pictures to share.
I love the idea that someday I’ll be reading my old blog posts and I’ll see these photos and remember traipsing around my dad’s tool shed, chasing the daylight.
Another thing I love, is that these things seem to have earned their places. They are not so new and a little worn, but they are still useful and somewhat charming, right where they are.
Handles… and not the CB kind. (Think old fashioned radios truckers used and cool names.)
I’m visiting my dad. After doing my walking laps, I got this idea to see if I could photograph some handles. I struck it rich with an old tool shed and some equipment. So many cool ones here.
On my walk around Ricketts, Iowa last Sunday, I saw some cool windows.
front view of the gas station windows
windows through windows behind the pump
Up the block from the gas station, I saw a reflection in this window.
scene in the reflection ~ Ricketts, Iowa
small windows in the mini train station ~ Ricketts, Iowa
church window~ Ricketts, Iowa
reflections on a window of windows in the mini train station and old gas station ~ Ricketts, Iowa
Window are so cool, aren’t they? They allow us to see in, see out, and even see behind us sometimes. I always watch for reflections in windows because it’s fun to get to see something more than once.
And, completely off subject, oh my gosh, you guys! This morning, I was researching the old gas station in Ricketts, Iowa and the town itself.
While looking through internet images, I saw my photos on the internet search! The ones from ‘New Favorite Building’ are on there!
I about fell over! Ha. I’ve never seen my photographs on there before!
Here’s the screenshot of it. How cool is that?
screenshot of my photos on an image search of ‘old gas station Ricketts Iowa’
Thanks for joining me on my Iowa trip recently. I had a wonderful time there.
I have a new favorite building. It’s in Iowa. After filling up on potluck food, I went for a walk in Ricketts. This is the last building going out of town, or the first building coming in.
my new favorite building~ Ricketts, Iowa
a rainbow roof~ Ricketts, Iowa
not sure if it’s still a business, but I love the sign
windows that don’t see out or in~ Ricketts, Iowa
vintage door~ Ricketts, Iowa
on the building’s window reflection, I could see the mini train station and gas station down the block
back end of the building ~ Ricketts, Iowa
sliding door~Ricketts, Iowa
In this age recycle, recycle, recycle, this building models using what you’ve got. That’s my favorite thing about it.
Thanks for being here. Hope you have a wonderful day.
We had a family potluck in Ricketts, Iowa today. It’s a tiny town, in the midst of corn fields and farms. Seriously, I saw two streets in town that ended right in a corn field, with no dead end signs even.
When I was a kid, my grandparents had a farm not far from there. I spent a good amount of time in town, at my cousin’s house. There used to be a tiny bowling alley we went to. These days, the bowling alley is long gone.
A walk around town this afternoon led me to some pretty cool opportunities for photographs. Thought I’d share some of Ricketts with you.
old gas station~ Ricketts, Iowa
a mini train station ~ Ricketts, Iowa
Railroad Street~ Ricketts, Iowa
bell in front of the fire station ~ Ricketts, Iowa
Ricketts, Iowa post office, love how the sun tossed the trees on the side of the building
remnants of the old bowling alley ~ Ricketts, Iowa
Just got home from checking on the booth. Before going in, I asked my kiddo how we’d feel if we sold nothing. He replied that we’d feel great! Indeed!
The doilies, potholders, hankies, and books seemed to fit right in. They sure give it a warm ‘pull up a chair and we’ll drink tea while visiting’ feeling. Sort of rooted, in a way. Not quite how sitting at a grandma’s kitchen table feels, but down home.
I thought I’d show you how it’s coming together.
new things in the booth
books I added
I got some magnetic hooks to hang the vintage pieces on
added potholders and hankies
flower face potholder above the trinket boxes
So fun!
P.S. We’ve had the booth one week and a piece of my art made it into the world!! How exciting! I’m so grateful!
When my kiddo went to kindergarten, I missed him sooooo much that I had to have something to do. His school had a very wonderful nurse who needed help with the Free Store.
The Free Store was a place where people could drop off clothes donations. It was set up as a place where the kids at school were provided clothing, if they needed it and for local families if they needed items for foster children or really fast placements.
When I started volunteering there, the place was a mess. Eventually, I got it all sorted and cleaned out and up. Although it wasn’t a real store, it resembled one.
On certain days, volunteers brought kids who needed clothing over and they got to shop. You guys, they were so excited! Everything we had was used, but they didn’t care. Another volunteer and I had the clothes all sized and on hangers, so they could go right to their sizes.
One time the principal at one of the school buildings told me that some of those kids were SO happy that they got to go shopping! Kind of like we do when we go to the mall or a new clothing store.
Then, I found out that some of the kids had-never-been to a store with clothes in it. Not even to Walmart. My heart cracked into a million pieces.
So, what did I do?
I made them their own store, in their school building.
I took real round clothing racks in, size tags, shelves, hangers, and more. I set it up as a beach shop. I made a huge mural on the wall with brown paper, fish cut outs, and nets. With chalk, they could draw on it.
On the door, I made a sign, like they’d see at a real shop. Our “store” wasn’t for all kids, it was for kids who needed a little help or didn’t have any clothes or had never been shopping.
It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever been apart of in my life.
Back at our other building, I had a list of kids ages, and when clothes were donated, I’d go through them and make clothes piles for the kids. That was really fun to pick out in-style clothes for them.
One day, someone donated a pair of little red tennis shoes. The old fashioned kind. Soooooo cute. I kept one to remind me why I volunteered to help those kids and I gave the other one to my friend.
I’d forgotten all about the school stuff until the other day. While I was looking for vintage potholders from eBay to put in my new booth, I saw the cutest thing!!!
This!
sewn vintage red tennis shoes
How cool is that?! I had to have it!
Love when something suddenly brings back memories that warm the heart.
My eBay items I ordered to put in my art booth are starting to come in. I loveeeeeeeee vintage handmade potholders and doilies and I thought jewelry design books would be fun to add to the booth.
Look at these:
I got these from an eBay shop
a sweet vintage potholder from eBay
vintage handmade potholder from an eBay shop
part of a lot of vintage potholders from eBay
so pretty- from an eBay shop
The first used jewelry book came, too! So awesome!
a used book from eBay
My idea is to layer the shelves up somewhat to invite people to ‘mess things up’ a bit and take a look. Rarely will I touch things on a shelf that looks pristine, you know?
If it looks and feels down-home and inviting, I usually feel more comfortable digging in and and looking around. I’m guessing I’m not the only one.
Now comes the hard part!
Deciding what to choose!
What goes to the booth and what stays with me, haha!!
Yesterday, we finished the second half of our trip home from my dad’s. We took country roads a lot of the way and saw some old buildings and tiny towns. Love that.
a stately building with a wagon in some town
care for a sit?
At an intersection, I saw this sign on a building and laughed. I asked my son if there’s a store where we can get A’s too. Ha ha.
‘N’ store in the country that we saw
Miracle photos:
I had my highest game ever bowling last night!!! I got a 123! A few weeks ago, I had a 49.
my highest score ever!
I also broke a 100.
scored 100+
What miracles are you seeing? Noticing any big or small ones? Feel free to share, if you’d like. I love reading them. Thank you.
Unmeasured Journeys 