Treasure Hunting 2014

Okay, so this is like almost the biggest day of the year for me.  This weekend was the Renninger’s Antique and Collectible Extravaganza in Mount Dora! So Connie, Michelle, and I headed in that direction and we were supposed to meet Kathryn but never found her so I just assumed that she decided to go a different day.  But she was there.  Along with about 1.5 million other shoppers.  

But Kathryn did send me a photo of her treasures…

Kathryn's treasures
Bet some of that booty is for her wedding decor!

Here’s Connie, me and Michelle after our long day…

TReasure Hunting

And the back of Connie’s van with our finds…

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
B is for Booty

This is my favorite shop, didn’t buy anything there this year but I spent a lot of time browsing.

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
This is just weird. Dead cat with bad jewelry.
Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
Acres and acres of “stuff”. Some weird, some wonderful.

A trend I spotted…..

The heads

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
WhaaaaAT?

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
creeeeepy……

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora

 

And the headless

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
Just want to know why someone would sell a doll without its head. Voodoo ritual? I did not touch that doll!  Oh wait, I posed it.  I’m going to die!

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora

and just plain bizarro

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora

So try to wipe all that scary stuff from your head and look at my perfectly normal treasures…

Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
Crocheted snowflakes, old telephone, glass cake pedestal, piano stool
Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
I love these claw legs that grasp a glass ball. I told the vendor that it was so sad that they were painted. And he said, “if they weren’t I would have charged you more”. Looks like I have a refinishing job in my future!
Treasure Hunting 2014 at Renninger's Antique and Collectibles Extravaganza in Mount Dora
Love the fluted edge on the pedestal. I could have made the crocheted snowflakes but they were one dollar. What can you get for one dollar? A crocheted snowflake!  I’ve been looking for an old phone.  They start at $65 and go up–if they work.  I got this one for much less but Terry will need to rewire.  Think I might have found him a new hobby!

OMG! How much fun did we have?  Love to look at all that crap and wonder where it came from! Especially all the creepy bizarro stuff.  It was a great day and I was totally wiped out by the end of it. And as usual, we drove by the huge flea market that was right across the street and wondered what cool stuff we were missing.  But our bodies could not actually make it out to see what we could see. Maybe next year.  

Check out badzoot.com for Michelle’s treasures!

Out and About. PJ’s Auto World in Clearwater

So where were you Saturday morning in this perfect “top down” weather?

We were at PJs Auto World in Clearwater.

PJ's Auto World

Hanging with Mr. Wayne

Mr. Wayneand Elwood and Jake Blues.

The Blues BrothersWe went south to Clearwater with the Citrus County Corvette and Camaro Club.  Just checking out the available inventory…

Old CarAlien mobile

Out and About. PJ's Auto World in Clearwater
Would have bought this one but it was the wrong color–“All Corvettes are Red”! But I really liked that stingray!
Out and About. PJ's Auto World in Clearwater
And in case there just wasn’t enough inventory at this PJs. There was another one a couple of miles away!
Out and About. PJ's Auto World in Clearwater
Lots of cars to choose from, but we’re sticking with our little red Camaro! (for now!)

 

Out and About: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Ever heard of the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville?  Me neither.  KInd of sounds Hawaiian to me.  But no, Kanapaha means something about Native American’s living in palmetto thatched huts along a lake.  When we saw that the Citrus County Corvette and Camaro Car Club was planning a driving excursion there, we said “why not?”  

And that garden was amazing!  It was actually 25 specialty gardens on sixty-two acres of beautiful land bordering a lake.  (Kanapaha Lake–must be where those Native Americans lived in their palmetto huts once upon a time.)

Unusual plants, both native and from around the world, shade meandering paths; flowering vines entwine pergolas and gazebos; concrete mythical creatures hide in quiet corners; a bamboo forest shades a contemplative Buddha. Lovely.

We had two hours to explore and wander through the various gardens. Most of the plants and trees had markers and I was able to identify some of the unknown plants in my own yard, plus decide what plants I needed to add to my own gardens.   (I can’t stop thinking about those brick paths bordered with mondo grass and how good that would look in my shaded areas or how much I want to put in my own bamboo forest and Buddha.)

I took about 150 photos–all beautiful.  But 150 might be just a few to many to post here.  So I’ve just put up some of my favorites and in no particular order. 

Vine

ViewViewPineapple GingerDragon in Children's GardenChildren's GardenOne of many gazebosSucculent gardensucculent GardenPapaya

 PapayaGriffinGazeboChenille PlantBridge and padsPadspadsflowerflowerBirds Nest FernBambooBambooBambooBambooBudda in Bambo GardenBananasBottle Tree

Cars
There’s even a nice view in the parking lot!

The Garden is approximately 75 miles north of Citrus County–about an hour and a half drive.  According to the literature from the Garden, the best time to visit for blooms is from June through September.  They allow dogs as long as they are on a leash and we saw one little adorable Westie.  It would be a lovely spot for a wedding or just for a family photography session.  The admission fee for adults is $7 and there’s a discount for large groups.  A fun and inexpensive day trip.