Saturday

So it's not really "tomorrow" as I stated on Sunday, but better late than never?

Anyway - on Saturday DeAnn and I went to Red Wing for their Fall Festival which they've been doing for 42 years apparently. I'd never heard of it until an artisan gave us a postcard at Renaissance Festival. It was so much fun! We had a perfect day for it, it was even a little warm to be outside - amazing for October, no? There were paintings and pottery, textiles and tummy-pleasers, even woodworkers and widget makers. Omigoodness, I'm starting to get to alliterative (is that a word)? It was excellent. We toured around the tents and then found the "Uffda Shop" on the street corner and had to go in. All kinds of scandinavian treats. We got to sample almond cake with lingonberry jam and whipped cream - yummy. There was a super cute bag that I "had" to have but I couldn't find one close enough to buy so it stayed on the wall. DeAnn found a really cool birchbark moose that she thought a family member would like but, like me, let it stay on the shelf. I found an excellent little booth with the coolest little animals - once my Christmas gifts are distributed, I'll post a photo of the cool art he does. Okay - maybe not that late, but I'll get some posted as I can.

After perusing the art, we wandered through a small farmers market, stopped by an ice cream shop and got turtle ice cream cones and then headed out of town. As we were driving north on 61 DeAnn saw a cute little series of shops and right after it was the big brick building with shops that I had wanted to see last fall (but didn't have the time), so I whipped right at the light and we shopped some more! The store we went to first looked like a strip mall but all the shops were connected within, with very few barriers. I wondered aloud to DeAnn about the building being owned by the same person and all the items being purchased at any cash wrap, but I never found the answer. Cool knick-knacks, plates, kitchenware, gardening mumble-jumble, t-shirts and the like were stretched for the length of a football field...worth the stop just to see the fun stuff. I found a cute little elf with a spot to count down the days to Christmas on his belly. Thought it'd be fun for Janna cuz she's working on her numbers and letters.

Then we stopped at the brick building. Woohoo! Antique Heaven! We went in the first shop, wandered a bit and as I turned the corner there was Annie the Cromwell Postmaster and her husband! Wow!!!! Small world, eh?! They go down every fall to visit family, didn't know about the art festival. Anyway - cool, no? DeAnn found all kinds of Schmitty's stuff for Gabe - lucky guy. I didn't find anything I couldn't live without but I need to do more research on coins. I think I could've made a haul on pre-'65 silver...oh well...next time.

We stopped at Treasure Island on the way home - gave a little more money to the Indians (you're welcome) and then headed home...a very good day, even though I spent more money at Target in Vadnais Heights that anywhere else! :)