THE START OF OUR JOURNEY

•July 27, 2011 • Leave a Comment

As many of you know, in 2008 we sold our home and a lot of our stuff, packed up the rest, and then hit the road gnome roaming  these United States.

TRIP STATS:

Time on Journey – 5 Weeks

Miles – 5,300

States – 20

Friends/family visited – 5 groups (43 people total)

Places we spent at least one night – 17

Photos taken  1328

Historic Places / National Parks Visited – 22

Bottles of wine drank from Jim’s collection –  4

Got Lost – 2 for sure others we may have just turned into a side adventure!

Fights over driving/directions – Countless!

This is a photographic journey of our journey!

AS ALWAYS CLICK ON ANY OF THE PHOTOS TO BRING YOU TO ONE BIG ALBUM OF ALL THE PHOTOS (288 TOTAL).

TRIP FROM SACRAMENTO, CA TO LAS VEGAS, NY

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

LAS VEGAS, NV

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

HOOVER DAM

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

HACKBERRY GENERAL STORE ON ROUTE 66, AZ

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

THE GRAND CANYON!

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

THE PAINTED DESERT

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

 THE PETRIFIED FOREST

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

BUG ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ARIZON AND NEW MEXICO IN A MOUNTAIN RANGE

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

THE ALAMO, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

From 2008_08_30

RURAL SUBURB ON EAST SIDE OF HOUSE – THE DUFFY’S MUSTANG-MOTORCYCLE CREATION!

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN VICKSBURG, MS AND CHATTANOOGA, TN

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

OUTSIDE OF RADFORD, VA

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, VA

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

PHILADELPHIA, PA

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

LONG ISLAND, NY

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

WASHINGTON, DC

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

NORFOLK, VA

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

CHARLESTON, SC

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008
From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

SAVANNAH, GA

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

OUR FINAL DESTINATION – DAYTONA BEACH, FL

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED OUR JOURNEY AS MUCH AS WE DID!

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

AND SKIMBLESHANK SAYS, “GOOD-BYE!”

From Our Cross Country Trip Condensed 2008

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OBSESSIONS!

•July 21, 2011 • 2 Comments
Jim used to be obsessed with the 3-B’s;  BOWLS, BAGS and BULBS.

Yes, I said bulbs.  The man used to have enough to light up New York City.

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But he has now passed the 3-B Obsession to me.  But, fortunately for me, not the same B’s!

I go ga-ga over any kind of antique metal BASKET, BUCKET or BOX these days.
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Yes, I said it and I admit it…I am obsessed!  In the last year I have bought 12 of them.  Okay, that is only 1 a month, so I guess I do not have to apply to neither the Intervention or Obsessed TV shows…yet.
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But is it bad of me, to want more?   Check out my collection and how I use them and then please tell me to stop, buy more for myself, or that you want one for yourself!
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BEFORE I GO ON, PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANY OF THE BELOW ITEMS FOR ME…PART OF HAVING A COLLECTION IS THE EXCITEMENT OF FINDING PART!
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DAWN’S 3-B OBSESSION COLLECTION:
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1)  An antique 8 bottle carry metal basket for old car oil bottles (oil used to come in refillable bottles with screw on metal spouts).
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
As you can see, I use them to put shoes in for closet floor space efficiency!
Bought at nearby Flea Market!
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2)  A vintage 4 slot large bottle milk metal wire carry basket (with individual slots for the bottles).
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
This one is being used as purely decorative piece with new and old milk bottles in it (notice the Dawn Dairy ones?).
Bought at Brimfield Antique Show in July, and the bottles were bought at a driveway sale at the local dry cleaners!
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3)  An antique milk basket without individual slots for the bottles.
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
This is one of my favorite uses for a metal basket…for fruit and veggies!
Bought at Tag Sale  (for you West Coasters that is a garage/yard/sidewalk sale)!
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4)  A vintage farm egg basket (used for putting eggs in from hen houses on farms).
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
Aha…I am outed!  I have another collection…decorative balls and this egg basket holds some of them!  
Bought at nearby Flea Market!
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5)  Another Farm Egg Basket (This one still has some of the rubber/plastic covering on the metal to protect the eggs).
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
And it holds magazines which do not need protection.
Bought at Brimfield Antique Show – July!
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6)  A maple syrup sapping metal bucket…probably not antique but old and cool none the less!
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
Since we have not taken up sugaring, we use ours for paper recycling!
Bought at a Sugaring Shack / Dairy Farm in Brattleboro, VT !
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7)  Some kind of old dairy farm milking  bucket (has a plug on the lower part of the side???).
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
Hanging on the porch with a plant in it!
Bought at Brimfield Antique Show – July!
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8)  An antique metal box with wood handles and holes in the bottom…we think it is an old fruit/veggie box.  
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
We use for plastic and metal reccycling.
Bought at my first Antique Auction filled with other stuff (including an antique toaster and retro napkin holder) for $5.00!!
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9)  A vintage fishing basket (when you catch fish you keep this basket in the water and it as a trap top so the fish can not get out).
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
Hanging up on the upstairs porch…I went against one of my below rules and did not picture what I would do with this before I bought it…but I know something good will come!
Bought at Brimfield Antique Show – July.
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10)  My favorite…a double layer decorative metal basket.
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
It sits in the center of our dinning room table with some of my decorative ball collection.
Bought at Newfane (which is on the National Register of History – the whole town) Town Wide Tag Sale!
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11)  Small egg basket (used to keep eggs in IN the kitchen to hold eggs.)
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
No eggs nor is it in the kitchen, but  it is holding the newest additions to my ball collection…vintage gaming balls!
Bought at Tag Sale.
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12)  An antique locker basket (At one point in time locker rooms had metal shelves cubbies with metal baskets in them for the lockers).
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
Mine does not hold sweaty clothes anymore, but bird seed and nuts for the squirrels!
Bought at Brimfield Antique Show – May.
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Dawn’s Future Basket, Bucket, Box Desires:
1) An old metal fishing bait bucket!
 I will use it for a ice bucket to chill bottles of wine.  I am not sure if I would use it for a basic ice bucket as it had icky bait in it…who would want bait ice in their drink??
2) A Wood and Metal milk crate and I know where I will get it too!
I did not buy it when I saw one (actually they had many) because I could not visualize what I would do with it…but now I know!
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DAWN’S RULES OF COLLECTING:
1)  Limit the amount of items in a collection (Depends on the collection, but with the metal box/basket/bucket one I am thinking no more than 15.  I have 12 now…and there are 2 other kinds I know I want as I write this).
2)  Limit the amount of collections (Right now I have 3 different collections.  The ball one is on going since I will not pay more than 6.00 for each and they are small, but the 2 others have started since I have lived in New England.  You know one…see below for the other.  As of last Friday, I am no longer collecting for the last one)
3)  Limit on price individual items (You know my pricing on the balls, but I will not pay over 20.00 for a metal basket/bucket/box and have only paid that price once…all others were under 15.00)
4)  I need to picture in my mind what I am going to do with said item before I buy it.  (As you will see in the photos below…how I use my collections or display them).
5)  Do not let your collection take over your home, your wallet, or your life!  (That is where the TV show Hoarders would come in.)
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You have seen a lot of my ball collection in the above photos, but below is my other collection.
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
From Dawn’s 3-B Obsession
 I call this my “One Year Collecting Collection.”  It did not start until last July and as of Friday, July 16th I am done!  At a country tag sale last summer I found something similar to the one I took out of my Grandfather’s garage (The Borden’s Cream Cheese Relish one) years and years ago.  I have loved it ever since…now it has companions! And since the kitchen has no drawers, they are all being used to hold every day useful items and food!
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Hope you enjoy seeing my newest OBESSIONS as much as I like getting them and having them!
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WE MOVED FOURTH in JULY!

•July 18, 2011 • Leave a Comment
Here’s our July so far in a nut shell…starting with the Fourth of July Weekend!
And seeing last year I tried a new thing a day…I will tell you about some of our (or just my) firsts this month!
Our Independence Day Celebrations included a lot of road trips to small towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  Saturday was a Small Town Tag Sale day and it was stellar!  Freakin’ cute New England small towns and cheap shit…love it!  Sunday we upped our game some and did a Small Town Antique Store Tour…another successful day!
From Go Fourth July
From Go Fourth July
 At the end of Sunday we drove to yet another small town for an outdoor concert and fireworks display!   The Vermont Symphony Orchestra in a hay-field with fireworks…awesome!
From Go Fourth July

CLICK ON VIDEO BELOW TO VIEW!

From July 2011 Videos
From Go Fourth July

The actual day of Independence celebration was more close to home with a parade on Main street, yard work, a dip in a local swimming hole and a BBQ at home.  Good times!

From Go Fourth July
From Go Fourth July

CLICK ON VIDEO BELOW TO VIEW!

From July 2011 Videos
From Go Fourth July

And now a couple of FIRSTS…and oh what fun they were!

My First Antique Auction and now I am hooked!

From Antique Auctioning 101
From Antique Auctioning 101

CLICK ON VIDEO BELOW TO VIEW!

From July 2011 Videos
From Antique Auctioning 101

Introducing “THE GREAT FLYING HENDERBALZ!” Yes, I tried my hand, legs, arms and guts at the Trapeze and it was so much fun!

From The Flying HenderBalz!

CLICK ON VIDEO BELOW TO VIEW!

From July 2011 Videos
From The Flying HenderBalz!

Another trip to the Brimfield Antique July’s Show Flea Market Extravaganza!

From Brimfield Antique Show Part 2
From Brimfield Antique Show Part 2
From Brimfield Antique Show Part 2

WE FINISHED OFF AT THE GREEN RIVER MUSIC AND HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL!  

From Movies

From Movies
From Green River Music & Hot Air Balloon Festival
From Green River Music & Hot Air Balloon Festival
From Green River Music & Hot Air Balloon Festival
From Movies
From Green River Music & Hot Air Balloon Festival
From Movies
From Green River Music & Hot Air Balloon Festival

Looking back, I did more new things than I thought; Antique Auction, the Trapeze, Hot Air Ballooning and even a two-day music festival is a first for me! There is one more thing I want to do before the end of “Do a New Thing Month” July! Come back another blog post to see if we (it is a couple thing) did do it!

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THE AGE OLD QUESTION: IS IT OUT WEST or BACK WEST???

•July 6, 2011 • 2 Comments

Hello people…it is OUT WEST for sure!

This country was settled on the East Coast and then people  migrated “out west” over time…said the person that was born and spent her childhood on the East Coast!

Why are we talking about this?

Because Jim and I spent the middle of June on the West Coast and here are the photos to prove it!

First, Eugene, Oregon for the High School Graduation and Family Extravaganza Weekend!

From Turner’s Grad Weeknd Extravaganza
From Turner’s Grad Weeknd Extravaganza
From Carlene’s Awesome Decorating Skills – The Cowboy Cabin
From Turner’s Grad Weeknd Extravaganza
From Turner’s Grad Weeknd Extravaganza

Then the “Sigh” Road Trip down the West Coast!

From Down the West Coast with The Fam!
From Down the West Coast with The Fam!
From Down the West Coast with The Fam!
From Down the West Coast with The Fam!
From Down the West Coast with The Fam!
From Down the West Coast with The Fam!
From Down the West Coast with The Fam!

Some Quality and Silly Time with Our Sobrinos (Nieces and Nephews in Spanish)!

From Time with Our Sobrinos in Sac-Town
From Time with Our Sobrinos in Sac-Town
From Time with Our Sobrinos in Sac-Town
From Time with Our Sobrinos in Sac-Town
From Time with Our Sobrinos in Sac-Town

The Hendersons!

From Time with the SF Bay Family!
From Time with the SF Bay Family!
From Time with the SF Bay Family!
From Time with the SF Bay Family!

Off to San Fran Cisco!

From Hanging in SF!
From Hanging in SF!

Finishing up our trip to The City with a trip to the Conservatory of Flowers!

From The SF Conservatory of Flowers
From The SF Conservatory of Flowers
From The SF Conservatory of Flowers
From The SF Conservatory of Flowers
From The SF Conservatory of Flowers

Great to see family and friends…as usually not enough time but enough to take tons ‘o Photos!

Hope you enjoyed them as much as we enjoyed taking them!

Thanks to those who we crashed with and to those who could make it to see us!

We wish we had the time and energy to visit each and every one of you!
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MOVE OVER RUNNING OF THE BULLS…

•June 29, 2011 • 1 Comment

HERE COMES THE STROLLING OF THE HEIFERS!

Pamplona has nothing on Brattleboro, people!

Enjoy the fun, crazy, and silly parade that Vermont and so many more love!

It is all about the cow!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And the Silly, like The Dairy Fairy you see below!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And Cows!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And cute little other farm animals!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And Creativity!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

Okay, and cute big farm animals!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And dancing!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And even fake cows!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And free spirits!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And did I mention…cows???

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And even this thing…A Highlander!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And even more cows!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And wait…Even the Governor was there!

From Strolling of the Heifers 2011
From Strolling of the Heifers 2011

And that is all I have to show about that!
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1 COUPLE, 2 WEDDINGS AND A FEW COUNTRIES!

•June 27, 2011 • 1 Comment

One of our favorite Honduran experiences was attending a wedding in a small town in Honduras, but we never got to tell you about it!

We now have attended the second wedding for this couple, this time in Connecticut! Since their marriage is now public knowledge, we can finally share our story of their story!

Meet Matt, a young Engineer working on community projects in small villages and towns in Honduras.

From 2009_02_25 Yoro – Corral Falso

Meet Wendy, a young worker for the small town of San Jose, Honduras.

From 2011_05_29

Together they met. It was a match made…in a Dump. Literally…one of the times they worked together was at the nearby landfill!

From 2008_12_03 Masica

They courted, they fell in love, they got married…and we were invited!

On November 11th, 2009 we dressed our best and off we went!

From The Hondo Wedding Photos
From The Hondo Wedding Photos

And even though we thought we were 20 minutes late for the 3pm wedding, we were actually around 2.5 hours early!  In the time we had we helped out and took photos, lots of photos!

From The Hondo Wedding Photos
From The Hondo Wedding Photos
From The Hondo Wedding Photos
From The Hondo Wedding Photos

And then the cows came home, and the roosters too! And lots and lots of Wendy’s friends and family, but none of Matt’s family. Their day will come…oh…all of them will get their Matt and Wendy Wedding too!

From The Hondo Wedding Photos
From The Hondo Wedding Photos

The Main Act…Wedding #1!

Wendy and her father!

From Matt & Wendi Wedding

Matt and Wendy are Married!

From Matt & Wendi Wedding

The first…and only dance!

From Matt & Wendi Wedding

The HenderBalz and the Newlyweds!

From Matt & Wendi Wedding

And happily ever after! Well…if you consider Wendy and Matt living in different countries for their first year together happily ever after? But lo and behold…in January of 2011 Wendy made her way north on a freezing cold night! After she thawed out, they started to plan…another Wedding! This time with Matt’s Family and Friends in a small town in Connecticut, USA!

Again we dressed in our best and headed off to celebrate…LOVE!

From Matt & Wendy’s Wedding #2

Matt teaches Wendy the Wedding Chicken Dance!

From Matt & Wendy’s Wedding #2

Then they both teach everyone how to Punta Dance!

From Matt & Wendy’s Wedding #2

Kiss Before the Cake?

From Matt & Wendy’s Wedding #2

And again The HenderBalz with the Still Newlyweds!

From Matt & Wendy’s Wedding #2

Thanks to Matt and Wendy for letting us share their weddingS with the world!  And by the way, I said a “few” countries because Matt is now in Bolivia doing research for his Master’s Degree while Wendy visits family members around the US!

And in true HenderBalz fashion…we had some fun Conneticut Wedding Side Trip Fun!

Of course we found the Connecticut Wine Trail!

From Side trip to CT, USA!
From Side trip to CT, USA!

And after that…we found Mark Twain…His House that is!

From Side trip to CT, USA!
From Side trip to CT, USA!
From Side trip to CT, USA!

Always on the look out for something fun…to photo…even if we are the subjects!
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STILL LIFE…PHOTO STYLE

•June 9, 2011 • 1 Comment

Although our life is not very still…here are some still shots from our recent past travels and such from June 2009 to June 2010!

Click on photos to be directed to the whole album.

Pico Bonito National Park (Near La Ceiba, Honduras) – June 2009

From Our Non-Mayer Vacation Day

 So many photos of MY BOYS…but this one will have to represent them all!  Jonathan!

From The Boys

Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature Reserve, Copan, Honduras – August, 2009

From Bird Peeps of Honduras

Suchitoto, El Salvador – Oct. 2009

From Suchitoto

I particularly like the below one for what is says “We are free of violence for women in this house.”

From Suchitoto
From Suchitoto

San Salvador, El Salvador – Oct. 2009

From San Salvador

Our Coconut Selling Guides!  Alegria, El Salvador – Oct. 2009

From Alegria

Steep in Civil Way History, but Forgotten About.  Perquin, El Salvador – Oct. 2009

From Perquin

Mountain Town Marcala, Honduras – Oct. 2009

From Marcala

On our way to a Wedding.  San Jose, Honduras – Nov. 2009

From The Hondo Wedding Photos
From New Central America Photos

The ants go marching, Tela, Honduruas – 2009

From New Central America Photos

Chelsea Area of Manhattan, NYC – January 2010

From New York City!

Coney Island, NYC – February 2010

From Coney Island

Plymouth, CA – March 2010

From Anniversary in the Sierra Foothills
From Drive through the CA Foothill Country Side

Springtime in Brattleboro, VT – May 2010

From Walks in Brattleboro
From Roadtrip to Middlebury and Woodstock, VT
From Farmer’s Marketing Opening/May Day – Brattleboro

My favorite Vermont Cow…Bright!  Summer 2010

From 2010_05_29

Can’t stop lovin’ the Vermont Flowers – June 2010

Okay that is it…for now!  There is still June 2010 to June 2011!  Hope you enjoyed these!

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LIFE’S A TRIP…ONE PHOTO AT A TIME!

•June 3, 2011 • 4 Comments

And we take a lot of them…trips…and photos…that is.

When one lives in the “outer limits” of these United States, trips are what happens to see friends, family and for entertainment.

On the other meaning of that statement…yes…Life’s a Trip…with its great ups and freakin’ downs…it definitely is a Trip.

I was reviewing our online photo albums…and here is some photos from our past travels. These are some of our favorite photos from between August 2008 and June 2009.  I will do another post with photos from July 2009 to who knows when!

IF YOU CLICK ON THE PHOTOS IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ALBUM!

In the South – September 2008

From US RoadTrip – 2

In Philly – September 2008

From US RoadTrip – 3

Native American Smithsonian Museum – September 2008

From US RoadTrip – r4

El Naranjo, Honduras – October 2008

From Online Edits

Tela Honduras, October 2008

From Trip to Tela y Punto Izopo

Utila Honduras, October 2008

From Utila, Honduras

Caye Caulker, Belize – New Years 2009

From Caye Caulker Rocking NYE Weekend 2008-2009

Turkey Buzzard at a Dump in Corazol, Belize – December 2008

From 2008_12_26 Corozal

Rio Dulce, Guatemala, January 2009

From Online Edits

Roatan, Honduras – 2009

From Roatan with the Js – Dec. 2008
From 2008_12_18 Roatan

San Blas Islands, Panama – March 2009

From Panama – San Blas Islands – March 2009

Bocas del Toro, Panama – March 2009

From Panama – Bocas del Toro – Snorkel Day – March 2009

Gualala, Honduras – May 2009

From Gualala – Our Favorite Little Town

Lago de Yojoa, D&D Brewery and Hotel, Honduras – May 2009

From D & D Brewery

Granada, Nicaragua – June 2009

From Churches of Granada, Nic – June 09
From 2009_06_01 – Granada
From 2009_06_02 – Granada

Ometepe, Nicaragua – June 2009

From 2009_06_05 – Ometepe

Montezuma, Costa Rica – June 2009

From Quad Ride – Montezuma, CR – June 09

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua – June 2009

From 2009_06_12 – San Juan Del Sur

Leon, Nicaragua – June 2009

From Churches of Leon – Nicaragua – June 09

Esteli, Nicaragua – June 2009

From The Artwork of Estili – Nic Trip – June 09
From 2009_06_20 – Esteli

This Gnomad Adventure we have been on since August 2008 brought us both back to a love of photography we both had in high school and college.

We feel so lucky to have seen and experienced so many wonderful, interesting and beautiful things and we hope you like our photos.

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TAKING NEW YORK CITY BY STORM AND BY SUN!

•May 23, 2011 • 7 Comments

We came, we saw and we took the Wall Street Bull by its balls and shook Manhattan up…even when it rained! Meeting up with my sister and
god-son in NYC meant…lots and lots of walking, sight-seeing and talking! We left no corner, sight or stranger unturned!

As always, click on the photos if you want to see the whole album!

I think my sister and I outshine the NYE Ball!

From NYC City in the Springtime!

Bro and Sis In-Law hang under cool walk way!

From NYC City in the Springtime!

Cool Sign in the even cooler Chelsea Market!

From NYC City in the Springtime!

Who knew there were so many mostly naked famous men in Times Square?   Larry the Cable guy took up space along side The Naked Cowboy for an afternoon.  We also saw Ben Stiller, Edie Falco and Jennifer Jason Leigh in the On Broadway show, The House of Blue Leaves, from 5th row matinée seats!  A dark comedy on a dark rainy day is a great way to spend your NYC time!  And ending our star seeing streak, we saw Jim Belushi coming out the back door of  a theater!

Austin checking out the Time Square Sights!

From NYC City in the Springtime!

Larry the Cable Guy not looking as good as The Naked Cowboy in Times Square!

From NYC City in the Springtime!

So many flowers blooming in the great little parks scattered all over Manhattan!

From NYC City in the Springtime!

We were in NYC for the announcement of Bin Laden’s Death.  No we were not some of the people who were in the streets celebrating.  But, in honor of 9/11 we did go to Ground Zero, probably hours before Obama was there (we knew this by the large amount of black suits and media).

Part of a huge sculpture monument built into the wall of a nearby building.

From NYC City in the Springtime!

Gifts left to those lost in 9/11 at the momument. 

From NYC City in the Springtime!

The construction on the new World Trade Center.

From NYC City in the Springtime!

We waited and boated our way to both Liberty and Ellis Islands on a wonderful sunny day. The Statue, the history, the water, the skyline and the bridges…you can’t get more New York City than that!  Throw in a funny 19-year-old and a picture-taking crazy Uncle you got yourself some good times!

The 4th of July, Baby!

From Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Little Italy, NYC

Manhattan, I am going to eat you up!

From Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Little Italy, NYC

Tickle Tickle Tickle!

From Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Little Italy, NYC

Good times under the skirt of Lady Liberty!

From Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Little Italy, NYC

Then there was Pizza and Cannolis in Little Italy. Jim had to have a good New York Pizza and in search of it we went. We landed at Lombardi’s, according to our waiter, America’s First pizzeria! When you have a super friendly sister who chats up the waiter, what do you get? A photo in the kitchen in front of the original coal brick oven!

Carlene and I taking over the kitchen at Lombardi’s!

From Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Little Italy, NYC

Little Italy is blooming with a different kind of flower!

From Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Little Italy, NYC

Austin eats his first chocolate covered cannoli!

From Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Little Italy, NYC

And to end up the family portion of this week-long family trip to New York City, we saw even more family!  Around 6 cousins and an 87-year-old Great Aunt. We had a nice lunch at the house that Aunt Anne was not only born in, but has also lived there her entire life.  After lunch the Cousins went to the Bronx Zoo…where we fit in quite well!

Aunt Anne and Uncle Harry on the left and my  Great Grandma And Grandpa Nestler on the right.

From Family Day in The Bronx!

Now in Modern times with the rest of the clan!

From Family Day in The Bronx!

 The Bronx Zoo!

From Family Day in The Bronx!
From Family Day in The Bronx!
From Family Day in The Bronx!
From Family Day in The Bronx!

I apologize to my family for the following video!  

Sad to see my sister and nephew leave, it was a great week with them!  We had some time to hit Dumbo in Brooklyn with some friends before heading northward.  A great hood we had never been to before, very urban simple with loud highway/bridge/subway train noise but also right on the water with wonderful views and parks!

The bridges!

From Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC

Dad and son in the sunset!  

From Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC

The HenderBalz in the Wind!

From Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC

And to finish off our 7 day spree, we landed in Montclair, NJ to hang with the more friends in their new New Jersey digs! Quiet, breezy, easy Montclair! So close to New York City yet so far away. We had a nice dinner, we caught up, and has us some super fun 3-year-old fun time!

Yehaw!  Ride ’em Little Cowboy!

From Morning with the Norths!

Uh…Ride ’em Big Cowgirl?

From Morning with the Norths!

And after all that, we needed 3 days to recoup! No walking, eating, drinking or talking for 3 whole days! Yeah, right!
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HUGE ANTIQUE SHOW / FLEA MARKET EXTRAVAGANZA!

•May 14, 2011 • 8 Comments

Can you please say out loud to yourself in that sing-songy way that is so popular now, “Awwwwwesoome!”

The Brimfield Antique Show (aka by yours truly, The World’s Largest Antique Flea Market) is beyond anything you may have ever seen before in your life, uh…regarding antique shows or flea markets, that is!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

One hundred acres of treasures, junk, ethnic oddities, old stuff, clean tchotchkes, dirty trinkets, large knickknacks, tiny collectibles, colorful baubles, a boatload of kitsch, and an endless pit of great ideas to do with them all. There is stuff there you never heard of before and never knew you needed so badly!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!
From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!
From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a show alright! Hitting all corners of the world from Japanese Floating balls for fishing nets, to antique Tibetan beads, to French Furniture, to egg baskets from some farm just down the road! It is not to be missed. This, people, is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World! Like the Grand Canyon, you must see it at least once in your life.

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!
From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

We spent 7 hours there and did not even see half of the show…which may have saved out wallets a big dent. Fortunately, we did not do much damage. Oh, let me re-phrase that, I did not do much damage. Jim did not buy anything.  All day long he was looking for that perfect painting, and he did not find one he couldn’t live without. He apparently has a different “can not live without” level than I! But his interests do lean toward more pricier pieces. Me? I find happiness in a $10.00 metal rooster!

For more info and guidelines for your own trip to this only 3 times a year show…please continue to read on!

DAWN’S SUGGESTED WORLD’S LARGEST ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW RULES TO LIVE BY:

1) First and foremost, get there early. I am talking daybreak people, yes, daybreak! Our 8am arrival was not nearly early enough. You do not want to miss out on any of these:

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

2) Wear a hat and lots of sunblock…my current sunburn begs you to do so!

3) Wear very comfy shoes and clothes…if that does not work bring along some prescription strength pain killers to keep your body moving!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

4) If you really plan to buy, bring a wheeled basket thingy, a wagon, a cart or a forklift…whatever is your style is, it is surely widely accepted.

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

5) Bring Water…so you do not have to leave the particular row and tent you are in to go in search for it!

6) Feed yourself…Antiquing is a rigorous sport people. A little known fact by newbies! Fortunately there are plenty of food carts, stands, and buildings to find nourishment to re-energize yourself.

7) Decide on items you really want to look for and scan each tent from the outside…if they do not have what you may be interested in…move on. Other wise you will end up like Jim and I and only see half the show. Browsing is for non-collectors and newbies people!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

8) Try to negotiate…dealers price things higher most of the time anyway. The best way to do so is ask, “What is the best price you can do on this?” I also went up with a couple of things and asked for a price just a couple to few dollars lower for everything…usually it worked. But unfortunately there are some uppity non-bargainers vendors . Hello, you store right now is on a grass field either in or not in a tent…bargain you uptight antiquey fool you!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

9) If you see something you really like and the price is just a bit high…buy it and right away. Or take the booth name and number, or even a cell phone number if you are really really considering it as by the time you realize you can not live without it….it may be gone and you do not to hike 40 acres back and you HAVE to live without it. Note: This means a notepad and pen nearby at all times! That old water bucket for $20.00 called my name through the whole show…but I decided I can live without it!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

10) It probably is a good idea to have a limit on what you would spend. And maybe even more important, have a limit on how much you would spend on each item if you have particular things in mind. I collect decorative balls. I found this one porcelain one I loved…but it was $285!! Who knew they were used in a parlor game in the Victorian times. My limit on a decorative ball is 6.00….so no antique carpet balls for me!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

11) Bring a camera. Two reasons: 1) There are so many awesome photo opps, like the tent with dolls made out of old refrigerators and tin cans. And 2) You found something you like, and you want to remind yourself what it looked like exactly so you try to find it cheaper on Ebay or at yard sales this summer.

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

12) Make sure you cell phone has full power, so you can find your buddies when you or they wander off. And speaking of that…put the phone in a place you WILL hear it!
And so you can call your friend/spouse/antiquing buddy that just wandered off to tell them, they must come back NOW because they just HAVE to see this:

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

Oh..and…

13) Bring another suitcase if you traveling from afar!

From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza!

We are available for guided tours for the July and September Shows…with special rates for those staying at Gnomad Lodge for the event. Payment can be made in Dawn’s new collection obsession, antique gaming balls!

 
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