January 2015 Renningers Extravaganza

Connie, Michelle, and I spent some quality time at the Extravaganza in Mount Dora on Friday.  We usually don’t go more than once a season but we all had an open day and why not?  But this wasn’t a buying trip for me.  I’m trying to get rid of stuff rather than collect more.  So I was just going to see what I could see.

And I saw a lot….

Here’s some bizarro items….

camel and four guys
Not sure what this is but I really wanted to buy it.  
Cooling Casket
Cooling Casket. $900. Did not want this.
Octopus
Octopus to complete someone’s weird coastal collection.
Goat heads
Goat Heads in a Barrel, I was a bit revolted by this display. But I had to show you anyhow.  Really, once upon a time these guys were alive and running through the mountains. Or somewhere.

Vendors aren’t just in tents, there are also several permanent shops that you can visit every weekend.  And we usually spend a few hours browsing through them before heading out to the “field” as I heard one shop owner call it.

And I would show you some pics from my favorite place and it’s lovely gardens but after I took about 15 snaps I noticed the “NO PHOTOS” signs all over the place.  So sorry, no free advertising for them!  

But this shop had no problem with me taking pictures.  

Connie wants to remodel her kitchen and thinks this bar should be the centerpiece.  Or maybe the whole kitchen.  I gotta agree.  This bar is gorgeous.

Bar
Only $16,000!
Deer on top of bar
The deer does not come with it.
mounted deer heads
These guys would miss him!

Terry and I talk about putting something large in our front area.  A statement piece.  (One that would stop our kids from running over the sprinkler system when they visit. And creating a large pool of water.  And not fessing up who did it until a year later.  You know who you are!) So I like to send him photos of possibilities as we wander the grounds.

Pirate
Arrrrrgh! $500! Arrrrrgh!
alligator
This would be Perfect! Fits right in to the area! But it’s $2000!
Dinosaur
This one is my favorite. I think the grandkids would love it. Complete with a metal donkey in his mouth! I jumped into the pic so you could see how big it is! $600! Darn, forgot my checkbook!

None of us bought much.  

Me, because I think I’m turning into a hoarder.  I’ve been going through cupboards, boxes, and all of the nooks and crannies that I use for storage. I discovered six water pitchers. And two were identical.  But what’s really bad is the cake pedestals. I counted them before we headed out on our adventure.  Nine ! Two with domes. And I don’t even bake! But I can’t give them up.  And everywhere I went I found more and they were all calling my name. Next it will be salt shakers.  Oh, wait, I already have too many of those.  No, next it will be cats. The old lady with all the cats.  And her husband hates cats so he left her. So sad.

We had a lot of fun, though.  We’ve been doing this enough now that we have a routine. Connie makes lunch, I bring the beer (of course I bring the beer!), and we rotate who drives.  Michelle had that awesome responsibility this time so I wasn’t too upset that she didn’t bake anything. 

There’s one more extravaganza this year–February 20 – 22.  If you like going to antique or thrift shops or just like to browse through junk, this is the place for you.  Admission is $10 on Friday and gets progressively cheaper for the next two days.   I like to go on Friday because it’s not crowded but Sunday is the better day since the vendors are more apt to deal.  (Hey, they have a lot of stuff to pack up) But, I gotta warn you–the extravaganza covers acres.  Almost 800 vendors.  And those vendors are down in a valley and up the hills.  Wear your most comfortable shoes. And plan to discover sore muscles the next day that you didn’t know you had!

Michelle, Connie and Me
Michelle, Connie, and Me. Treasure Hunters!

Friday!

Michelle, Connie and I are off treasure-hunting at Renninger’s Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza today!  (I just love saying that word–ExtravaGANZA! That’s what I want my life to be–an extravaGANZA!) 

We usually do this event once a season but here we are stepping out of our boundaries! We didn’t decide to actually go until this week so that’s really last minute for us. Because we are planners.  And very busy people.

TReasure Hunting
Here we are back in November!

I didn’t feel like we got to see everything last time.  We were kind of wandering. Should we have a plan so we hit every booth and building?

Nah!

Wandering is good!

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
My treasures from our last outing–piano stool, crocheted snowflakes, and a really old phone.  Still haven’t refinished that piano stool.  But my coffee sits on it every morning while I peruse the newspaper in our family room. I thought we could rewire the phone but it might be beyond the “point of no return”.  Meanwhile it looks great as a book end on my book case.  The lovely cake pedestal is used every day holding fruit.
the front
Here’s one of the snowflakes! The other joined crystal snowflakes in my piano room for the holidays.

I’m not really searching for anything in my treasure hunt but I’m sure something will jump out and grab my eye.  And my wallet.

Gonna get on my soap box a bit here.  I live way out and the shopping choices are limited. I know–it’s totally my choice to live here.  And I love it.  Love Publix and get all my groceries there.  Besides that we have Walmart.  And it’s a very nice Walmart.  And we have a lot of local people that are employed there. Plus the company does give back to the community. But if I want anything that Publix or Walmart can’t provide I drive to Spring Hill which is about 35 to 45 minutes away.  Not a big deal.  There is a Jo-annes Fabric there.  I dropped my rotary cutter (which is indispensable to sewist) and it was bent.  I needed a new one. I couldn’t order it online because I NEEDED IT NOW!  I stood in line at Jo-annes almost 20 minutes. Really? I wasn’t even getting fabric cut. I am all about supporting local businesses. But really.  If you are having a sale.  And all businesses in the area know that we have a huge influx of shoppers in the winter, wouldn’t you have at least two cashiers? And that’s why I order my fabric and other sewing basics online. Stepping off the soap box now.  

This weekend is the annual Manatee Festival in Crystal River. $4.00.  Which includes a free bus ride to Three Sisters Springs.  And there will be manatees there.  If you haven’t been to the spring this is the perfect opportunity to check it out.

With apologies to my northern friends, it will be a beautiful weekend here in Florida, I hope you enjoy it!

Out and About: Ozello

We had planned on doing a couple of road trips this weekend. Thought we might even have a “Top Down Travels”, but it was kind of ugly so we cancelled out on Saturday’s plans.  Sunday was warmer but still no sun but we had to get out so drove out to Ozello to see what we could see.

Ozello Trail
Ozello Community Park, all the way at the end of Ozello Trail
Old Port Cove
Old Port Cove
Old Port Cove
View from Old Port Cove
Ozello Water Tower
Ozello Water Tower
Island Grill
Island Outpost, I put this photo up for my Lakeland friend Ellen who was asking me about it last week. Yes, it is a convenience store. And a restaurant. And a bar. But not a gas station.. $1.00 draft all day, every day!
Terry
Here’s Terry, my always patient driver, ready to make a quick getaway!
Ozello Park
Found another park where we could launch our kayaks.
Ozello Park
But only kayaking on a better day!
Ozello Park
View towards Water Tower from Ozello Park

Ozello Trail is a very popular road for motorcyclists and sports car drivers.  Lots of curves and scenic views.  We were surprised to see all these new solar powered signs.  Some of them were set for 10 mph!   

Traffic signs
First it flashes the speed limit, then it warns us to slow down.
Out and About: Ozello
Then we get the speed limit again. Didn’t phase the guy behind us because he passed us right after this curve!

Out and About: Ozello

It was a nice drive.  Just wish the sun had come out!