Keeping it Rural in Wisconsin

Rural House Walk Scheduled for September 2012

2011-08-17T23:36:00.006-05:00

The date for the next Rural House Walk has been announced! September 22, 2012 is the date and the details are starting to be worked out. This is an event that happens once every 4 or 5 years and should not be missed. Many of the historic buildings in the village will be open to the public and residents of Rural will share the history of the village with visitors. Look for special events during the day, including wagon rides and food. I'll keep you updated on any details I learn about the event.

Come and see one of the few Yankee Villages in the Midwest! Tour the beautiful homes and businesses on the National Register of Historic Places, the lovely gardens and village graveyard. Enjoy our lovely setting on the banks of the Crystal River!

An Artistic View

2011-06-22T22:44:00.002-05:00

This photo was taken earlier this spring and Photoshopped by Michael Sprincis of Iola. Thanks for sharing, Michael!!

Margaret Ashmun Day and Sundaes on Saturday in Rural

2011-06-17T21:09:00.003-05:00

Margaret Ashmun Day and Sundaes on Saturday will be held on Saturday, June 18, in Rural.

Strawberry sundaes will be sold from noon to 4 p.m. at the Rural Historical Society's museum on Main Street.

At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Connie Haack Hurlbut, a professor at Mid-State Technical College, will talk about Ashmun's legacy.

Ashmun was a Rural resident who in the early 1900s wrote novels, several of which centered around her life in Rural.

The Village of Rural is located about five miles south of Waupaca, off State Highway 22.

(from the Waupaca County Post)

Meda J. Radley

2011-03-07T16:17:00.004-06:00

Long time Rural resident, Meda J. Radley, 94, Waupaca, passed away on Thursday March 3, 2011. Meda was born on July 7, 1916, in Kansas, the daughter of William and Hansena (Olson) Anderson. Meda moved to Rural in January of 1936 to work.

Meda married the late Forrest Radley on Oct. 24, 1936. She was a cook in the school lunch program at Golden Hill School in Rural, where she and a friend pioneered the program there. She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ruth circle, Mission Worker, the Gorgonas Club of Rural, of which she had served as president, Rural Cemetery Association, of which she was secretary for 25 years, and a charter member of the Rural Historical Society.

Meda lived in Rural all her married life except for one year. She enjoyed gardening and maintained a large flowerbed each year to share some of God's beauty with others.

Meda is survived by two sons, Richard (Ellen) Radley, Greenville, Wis.; and Paul (Connie) Radley, Waupaca, Wis.; four grandchildren, Michael (Joni) Radley, Waupaca, Wis.; David (Carolyn) Radley, Appleton, Wis.; Steven Radley, Orlando, Fla.; and Jennifer (Michael) Grant, Waupaca, Wis.; six great-grandchildren, Alana Radley, Aavery Grant, Alyssa Grant, Taylor Radley, Forrest Radley and Connor Radley; three step-great-grandchildren, Ashley Lowe, Jared Creaser and Ashley Creaser; two brothers, Carl Anderson and Glenn Anderson; one sister, Ruth Iversen; very dear friends, Monte and Debra McCormick; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Meda was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hansena Anderson; her husband, Forrest Radley; one brother, William Anderson; and one sister, Violet Handschke.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 12 Noon at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca. Pastor Jennifer DeNetz and Chaplain Wayne Schwanke will officiate. Burial will at the Rural Cemetery in the spring. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 12 Noon. The Holly Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Wishes

2011-03-03T22:52:00.004-06:00

WISHES
by Margaret Ashmun

I wish we had a little house,
With ivy vines along the wall,
A bright brass knocker on the door,
And leaded fanlight in the hall.

I wish I had a wide old hearth,
Where maple knots would roar and blaze,
And we would sit and drink our tea
An read old books on autumn days.

And we would spread a table here,
With homespun cloth and candlelight,
And we should eat from flowered plates
Hot waffles on a Sunday night.

Rural was the home town of author and poet Margaret Ashmun (c1885-1940).

Blacksmith Wanted

2011-03-03T13:42:00.003-06:00

From the Waupaca Spirit, May 8, 1856:

WANTED

A good blacksmith at Rural Village in southwest part of Waupaca County. Also a good shoemaker would find excellent chance in this place. This is decidedly the best opening for a few good Mechanics and Traders in Northern Wisconsin. A first-rate water power and flouring mill will soon be completed and in the centre of a large and excellent farming community with roads centreing from all quarters and a very desirable location for a Town. There is still a few lots for free distribution to actual settlers. For information, address J.H. Jones or L.A. Phelps, Rural, Waupaca Co., Wisconsin.

Edwin Huntoon - from Rural Happenings Feb 2011

2011-02-16T23:27:00.003-06:00

The Rural Historical Society Board was so sorry to learn of the death of Eddie Huntoon, one of our long time members and a true son of Rural. Eddie had a long, productive and eventful life. He contributed a great deal to both the Rural Historical Society and the community. Our deepest sympathy to his wife, Ruby, and their family.

At one time Eddie wrote an article about "The Crystal and Rural". As you may know, water was one of Eddie's greatest interests. In the article he wrote, "Rural has many springs in the area for an easy supply of safe drinking water, (which) was very important in a frontier village. Bathing and laundry in summer was very easy. But the key item was plenty of good, clean, fresh water for the thirsty teams of horses pulling the stage coaches and wagons as they entered Rural. ...Rural...a friendly, safe village, built on a dry, sandy, well-drained area, with some of the best fresh water in the country. The meaning of "Rural" most likely is "avery special place with fresh, clean ground water every day."

A copy of the full article is available at the Rural Historical Society headquarters.

Guess Who's Coming To Rural! KC WILLIS!!

2010-08-09T21:51:00.005-05:00

I'm just so excited!! In a little over a month from now, renowned mixed media and fiber artist, KC Willis, is holding an altered book workshop right here in Rural. Right in my own backyard! YAY!!

The Storyteller-Handmade Fiber Collage Book Class - - September 18-19, 2010

I was lucky enough to be able to attend one of her fabric collage workshops in Colorado and I can't wait to see what she's bringing here to Wisconsin! You can check out all the details on her website HERE.

Sign up now before the class fills up! If you don't live close enough to drive here for each day, the workshop is being held at the beautiful Crystal River Inn, a lovely B&B in our quaint little Yankee Village on the banks of the Crystal River. Just a few miles south of Waupaca off Hwy 22. You can book a room or stay in the Little House on the Prairie with a group of others. Even if you live within driving distance you may want to book a room and stay here regardless. I promise it will be a weekend that will change your life!

And the Winner Is.......

2010-08-03T21:52:00.004-05:00

Kathi, who said:

"I have a great picture of my 4 year old grandaughter, Sophia, riding a dragon on the merry-go-round at the Milwaukee zoo-it would make a great poster!"

Kathi has a wonderful blog - check it out!!! http://fiberdance.blogspot.com/

Congrats, Kathi!! And many thanks to Uprinting for another great giveaway!!

JULY GIVEAWAY!!

2010-07-22T20:39:00.010-05:00

Here's the giveaway from Uprinting for July:

This month Uprinting is offering me and a lucky reader an 18x24 large format poster print
(Limited to US residents; must be 18 years or older)

Just leave a comment on this post by July 31st to be entered. Let me know what you would have printed if you win. Good Luck!

Check out the special rates Uprinting has for wholesale large format poster orders!

The Old Blacksmith Shop

2010-07-16T11:19:00.005-05:00

We've opened another room at Weller's and we've also opened the old blacksmith's shed next door! We have new goodies for you every day! As we clean and organize the shed we also have some freebies to give away from time-to-time. Right now we have some pieces of iron that you can use in your garden or to reinforce concrete. First come....

Here are some of the goodies waiting for you at Weller's:

We just pulled out a few beautiful garden statues, an old pump organ in excellent working condition, desks, wicker and more! Pictures to come!

So...What's New at Wellers?

2010-06-23T23:19:00.007-05:00

Green glass, baby....

Green Satin...

Light Green & Vaseline...

Forest Green...

Tons of it!

Wait until you see all the RUBY RED glass that's coming in soon!

JUNE GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

2010-06-23T23:10:00.002-05:00

Congrats to Teri Springer! She wins the free postcards from uprinting!! I can't wait to see what she does with them!

teri springer said...

I would be making postcards promoting an art show put on by a group that supports various charities with the sale of the art.

Teri will be getting a special code via email from Uprinting.

JUNE GIVEAWAY!!

2010-06-08T11:13:00.009-05:00

I'm back from vacation and the store is open 7 days a week. Summer is starting to swing! I'll be posting pictures as soon as the dust settles. In the meantime, here's a giveaway from my sponsor, UPrinting, to get things started for the month of June.

The giveaway prize is 100 4X6 postcards - standard postcard size - that you design yourself. There are templates on the website to make things easy. Use your own artwork or photos to create something special. 14pt cardstock gloss with 4 color printing on both sides. Free shipping.

Simply add a comment to this post and tell me what you will do with the cards if you win. June 16th is the deadline for entries (UPDATE-THE DEADLINE IS EXTENDED UNTIL MONDAY THE 21st as I won't be on-line until then) and I'll randomly pick one lucky winner. The winner and I will both receive the giveaway prize. I'm going to make my postcards with a picture of one of the old Yankee homes in Rural.

The giveaway is limited to US residents only who are at least 18 years old - GOOD LUCK!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

2010-05-09T23:27:00.004-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to my dear, sweet Mom! I love you sooooooo much!!

And The Winner Is.....

2010-05-02T22:48:00.003-05:00

BEVIE! Congrats! You won the hang tags from Uprinting!!!

I will forward your info and Uprinting will send you a link to your prize. I hope you will let me see the finished product!

Win 250 Hang Tags From Uprinting!!

2010-04-23T22:51:00.004-05:00

Uprinting has something new to giveaway to me and one of my readers! 250 2x3.5 hang tags. Just think of what you could do with these - price tags, gift tags, merchandise tags...

All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post and I will pick a winner on Friday, April 30th. Easy-Peasy!

250 - 2x3.5 hang tags
14pt cardstock gloss
3/16 hole drilling
hole location: top-center; top-left; top-right
1 Business Day Turnaround

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Enter by noon on Friday, April 30th!

HAPPY EASTER!!

2010-04-03T12:20:00.004-05:00

March Giveaway Winner!

2010-04-03T12:17:00.001-05:00

The March giveaway winner is Britt B! Congrats! Please send me your email address so I can get the prize link to you!

500 FREE BUSINESS CARDS!! FREE SHIPPING!!

2010-03-22T23:25:00.001-05:00

The biz card giveaway below is open until the end of March! Leave a comment to win~!~

Who Doesn't Like Jewelry - or Cash!?!?

2010-03-09T23:20:00.004-06:00

I found an easy-peasy giveaway today and I wanted to share it with my readers. This one is for cash from LuShae Jewelry. Every month they draw for $200 and a grand prize of $5000 every year. (Next yearly draw is October.) Click HERE for the details.

Business Card Giveaway! Free shipping!

2010-03-09T00:25:00.005-06:00

My March giveaway comes from Uprinting again! Here's the scoop...

500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner (and me, too!)

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (slim card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Check out the great Business Cards Online and the Promotional Printing that Uprinting has to offer.

How to enter:
After checking out the Uprinting website by clicking on one of the links above, leave me a comment about Uprinting. For 2 additional entries be a follower or become a follower of my blog. For 2 more entries become a Weller Store fan on Facebook. Leave separate comments for each.

Giveaway closes on Wednesday, March 31st at midnight Central Time.

POSTER GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

2010-03-01T14:25:00.002-06:00

Andee said:

dejablu503 said...

I would create a special poster for my daughter's boy friend who refused to walk away when she was diagnosed with MS. In fact if it were not for him she would not be able to afford medical care. He is quite a guy!

Andee

Congratulations, Andee! You can design a great poster with your prize from onlineposterprinting.com! Please send me your email address so they can send you a link to your prize.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!!

POSTER GIVEAWAY!!

2010-02-23T21:06:00.005-06:00

One of my readers will have a chance to win a free poster from OnlinePosterPrinting.com (they're giving me one, too!)

Just think of all the things you could do with a nice, high-quality poster! Showcase your favorite photo, band, or your own artwork - Make one for a special event or school activity - the possibilities are endless! Check them out HERE.

Here's the scoop:

Enter to win by leaving me a comment telling me what you will do with your poster. For additional entries follow my blog (one entry)and become a FB fan of the Weller Store (one entry). Send separate comments letting me know you follow me and/or are a fan of the Weller Store.

The winner will receive:

8x24 Poster Print for One (1) Winner

Paper Stock: High Gloss or Semi Gloss

Specifications: 1 Business Day Turnaround

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Deadline to enter the giveaway is Sunday, February 28th. Be sure to give me your email address if it is not attached to your profile so I can notify you if you win!

Digital Photo Enlargement

Digital Photos on Posters

So...What Have You Been Up To?

2010-02-20T18:44:00.005-06:00

Rather than hibernate completely this winter (again) I decided to get out of the house at least a couple of times every week. So far, I've been able to get out and do something worthwhile three or more times every week and I'm having a lot of fun.

Since we moved my MIL into an assisted living facility a little over a year ago, I've noticed that several of the residents always seemed lonely and just didn't know what to do with themselves. I thought I might try to make a difference by spending more time over there during the week. Every Tuesday I get some other women in the area to meet me there and we help residents play Yahtzee. Everyone knows how to roll the dice and we don't play "for keeps" (at least most of us don't play Killer Yahtzee!) so we laugh a lot and talk a lot and , of course, we have coffee/tea and something home baked while we're at it. On Saturdays we play BINGO. Everyone wins two prizes (fruit or candy) and, of course, we have an ice cream treat afterward.

My favorite activity is when I can help some of the residents create something beautiful. We started out with some simple magazine collages. Here are some pictures of the latest project we did just prior to Valentine's Day.

I think they did a GREAT job! Most importantly, we had FUN. Two of the ladies had so much fun that they worked together until 9:30 PM - which is pretty late for them to be so bright-eyed. I think we'll make some necklaces next!

Edna and Melba - up late and working on a free-form collage.

If you're looking for something worthwhile and rewarding to do, check out your local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Volunteering to do ANYTHING at all there will be most appreciated! Bake cookies with the ladies, read to someone who is blind or nearly so, help residents with jig saw puzzles or simple word search puzzles, take a walk with someone, bring your pet to visit - the possibilities are endless. You won't be sorry you did!

A Cure For The Winter Doldrums - Take A Workshop Or Two

2010-01-25T15:40:00.005-06:00

You may remember that I've mentioned the artist KC Willis and the workshops she teaches. I attended one last October and I'd love to go back to Colorado for another. When I heard she was putting a marketing workshop together on-line, I jumped at the chance to join in and I'm so glad I did! This is one of those workshops that is open-ended and you can sign up for it at any time. In fact, if you're interested, she has agreed to extend her special introductory price until February 1st. In addition to the workshop videos there are a lot of interesting discussions taking place on the site. If you're an artist who wants to market your art, you won't regret it.

If you're not at the point of marketing your art and you want to learn some new techniques, you may want to take a look at the other workshops she has to offer. Here's what KC has to say about them:

This has been an amazing year at KC Willis Studio. Wow. 170 students from 8 countries currently enrolled at the on-line workshop where I teach the basics of my techniques and inspire you to new creative heights. You have never seen anything like Collage Camp.

After Collage Camp there's Mixed Media Mania where you take what you learned at Collage Camp and in these workshops I teach Altars and Shrines, Altered Books and Works on Paper. Fun stuff.

And for those of you already making art and wanting to know how you take it to the next level and get yourself a regional or national audience, next week starts the super exciting Marketing Mindset. Check out the Main Page and take advantage of the Intro Price which will only last until January 8th.

And if video workshops aren't your thing...how about KC Willis Live! (assuming I've had my coffee.) Come take a multi-day class with me in my very sweet Victorian studio house in Longmont, Colorado. Check it out at www.studioretreats.ning.com.

POST CARD WINNER!!!

2010-01-03T01:01:00.002-06:00

Congrats to Stephanie who wrote:

What a very generous giveaway! I would use these to promote my new art business. I've been wanting to be an artist for a very long time. I plan to make my mark in 2010. Good luck to you in the new year.

Stephanie will be contacted by Uprinting shortly with a code to receive her 100 Post Cards!

New Year Post Card Giveaway!!

2009-12-23T00:08:00.002-06:00

Post Card Giveaway!

I have a very generous sponsor, UPrinting, who is offering yet another giveaway to me and my readers! Here's the scoop...

100 Postcards for One Lucky Winner (I get some, too!)
Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides
Shipping: Winner pays shipping. Offer not available to residents outside of the US.

I can think of a lot of ways to use mine! Invitations, thank you cards, note cards... maybe I'll make some sale announcements for the Weller Store! With these cards you use your own design so I can use pictures of the merchandise and add my logo as well!

How can you enter?

* Leave a comment on this post describing how you would use the post cards if you win
* Follow this blog publicly (see the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so (if you already follow, that counts too! Just leave a comment)
* Tell some friends about the giveaway and ask them to stop by and enter. You can blog about it (leave a link!), or send out an email. Just let me know what you did!

Please leave separate comments for each!

The winner will be drawn on January 1st, 2010.

POSTER WINNER!!!

2009-12-06T00:05:00.002-06:00

Karin from Countryfolk Keepsakes said...

Cool!! Please toss my name into the hat. Gee! Its a toss up between my sweet Darla or a pretty pic of autumn here in central New York. Thanks for entering me. :> )
~Karin

Congratulations!!

You will receive a code for your free poster via email in the next few days - have fun!!

Thanks to all who entered!!

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! POSTER GIVEAWAY!!

2009-11-30T15:42:00.005-06:00

It's a great time for my sponsor to reward my readers and myself with a photo enlargement poster print from Onlineposterprinting.com. It's the best place to make 18x24" Poster Prints from your digital photos! Easy peasy!

Giveaway prize: (1) 18x24 poster print from onlineposterprinting.com for one lucky reader

Size: 18x24 Poster: Paper: High Gloss; Semi Gloss

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents

How to enter: Comment on this blog by midnight on December 5th - let me know what you will do with the poster if you win. What kind of picture will you use?

For extra entries: 1) follow my blog 2) link to this giveaway on your blog. (Please make separate comments for each!)

As for me, I have this wonderful picture of Sitting Bull that would look great over the fireplace!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/u-printing-los-angeles

Everything You Need To Know About Marketing Your Work

2009-11-09T22:54:00.004-06:00

I think it's safe to say there aren't many artists whose goal in life isn't to do what they love every day and actually make a living at it. It's also a good bet that there aren't many artists who have a clue how to achieve that goal - or even know where to begin the process and make part of that journey.

When it comes to having work shown and sold in prestigious galleries, hung in museums and sought after by collectors; a name that is respected and recognized across the country; steady sales in both Internet and brick-and-mortar retail establishments; as well as work published in books and TV spots, most of us just sit and dream about it.

KC Willis, however, is one of those rare artists who has been-there-and-done-that and marketed the coffee cups and greeting cards besides. Literally. So, when she decided to put it all out there and share her experience and knowledge of marketing art, I jumped right in and signed on for the on-line workshop "Marketing Mindset: Navigating the Art Market". I had recently taken a workshop with KC at her gallery/studio in Colorado and found her to be an excellent and talented teacher - it didn't take much time for me to decide to do this one, too.

Here's how KC describes her offering at Marketing Mindset:

I am putting together an on-line workshop that you can participate in at any time, whenever you want. I will cover every subject imaginable as it pertains to marketing your work to the public. And it will be delivered in such a way that there is info there for the novice, those working and selling some already and those in the full throes of their art career, but who still want to take it up a notch into wholesale or licensing. There will be lots of videos by subject matter so you can pick and choose which ones you want to see based on the subjects that matter to you.

How about...
• Creating a cohesive, signature look
• Working in series
• Consignment vs. wholesale
• Pricing your work
• The differences between approaching a gallery, a shop, an on-line retailer or a catalog
• Using Social Networks
• PR-how to get written about in newspapers and magazines
• Marketing your work without leaving home
• The Pros and Cons of having an Artist's Rep.
• Researching your market
• Licensing your work and your name.
• Blogs vs. Websites
• Selling on-line
• Keeping motivated
• Becoming fearless
• And soooooo much more.

You will get unlimited access to the videos, discussion boards where I will answer your questions (along with other artists at the workshop) and scheduled live chats. And anyone who has participated in my on-line workshops or my in-person classes can tell you that I am as much about inspiration and motivation as I am technique. I will encourage you and change your attitude about all things marketing.

A one-day art marketing workshop can be as much as $300 easily. For the time being access to my class (which will be a lot more than a one day thing) is $144. When the videos go live in December the class will be $244. If you get even one good idea that changes the way you think or do things...this class will pay for itself. It's even tax deductible. Not knowing where to go next has stopped many an artist in their tracks. You will also have the opportunity to work with me one-on-one through private phone consultations at an additional fee. Your own private art coach.

I have no doubt that it will be well worth the investment for me. Check it out and see what you think. http://marketingmindset.ning.com/

Giveaway Winner!

2009-11-03T15:23:00.001-06:00

Congrats to Anne - winner of the brochures from UPrinting!

Anne~fiona and twig said...

Well, I suppose I'd use them for advertising my shop. How generous!

UPrinting Brochure Giveaway!

2009-10-28T22:41:00.004-05:00

My blog sponsor is going crazy with giveaways! They are giving me and one of my lucky followers 100 brochures!

100 8.5 x11" Brochure / Flyers on 100lb gloss text paper ; 4 color printing on both sides
Folding Choices: Half fold; Trifold/Letterfold; Z-fold; Accordion (4 panels) Roll Fold (4 Panels)
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents.

How can you enter?

* Leave a comment on this post describing how you would use the brochures if you win - I already know what I'm going to do with mine!
* Follow this blog publicly (see the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so (if you already follow, that counts too! Just leave a comment)
* Tell some friends about the giveaway and ask them to stop by and enter. You can blog about it (leave a link!), or send out an email. Just let me know what you did!

Please leave separate comments for each!

Winner will be drawn on November 2nd. Good luck!

***check out UPrinting Reviews on Yelp.com ( http://www.yelp.com/biz/u-printing-los-angeles )

Banner Giveaway Winner!

2009-10-28T22:31:00.001-05:00

Congrats to Raggedy Angel who said...

Oh that sound s like a nice prize and they have so many nice things. My Daughters School would like to have it I am sure....she would probably like it for herself!
I am loving your pictures! Thanks for coming to see me! Beth

I have your email address, Beth. UPrinting should be contacting you soon with a special code for your banner! I'd love to see what you do with it!

Eileen

Postcard Giveaway Winner!!

2009-10-28T22:25:00.002-05:00

Congrats to Margi who said...

How very kewl. I would use them in my quilt and knit swaps to send with a note about the swap on them.

Send me an e with your email address, Margi, and I'll forward it to UPrinting. You will get a code for your postcards shortly.

Thanks to all who entered!

Eileen

Post Card Giveaway!

2009-10-22T10:38:00.004-05:00

I have a very generous sponsor, UPrinting, who is offering yet another giveaway to me and my readers! Here's the scoop...

100 Postcards for One Lucky Winner (I get some, too!)
Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US (Canadian residents pay shipping and taxes. Offer not available to residents outside of the US and Canada)

I can think of a lot of ways to use mine! Invitations, thank you cards, note cards... maybe I'll make some sale announcements for the Weller Store! With these cards you use your own design so I can use pictures of the merchandise and add my logo as well!

How can you enter?

* Leave a comment on this post describing how you would use the post cards if you win
* Follow this blog publicly (see the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so (if you already follow, that counts too! Just leave a comment)
* Tell some friends about the giveaway and ask them to stop by and enter. You can blog about it (leave a link!), or send out an email. Just let me know what you did!

Please leave separate comments for each!

The winner will be drawn on October 28th.

PS - you also have until the 28th to enter the banner giveaway in one of the posts below!

...and the winner is.....

2009-10-22T10:29:00.003-05:00

ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie said...

I would use them as price tags!! :)

Amy

Congratulations, Amy! You win the free biz cards from UPrinting.com!! I have your email address and will forward it to the company - you should receive your coupon code from them soon. I'd love to see what you design for your cards!

Thanks for following!

Eileen

I'm Getting a Mammogram Today - Have You Had One This Year?

2009-10-20T10:07:00.002-05:00

The best thing you can do for yourself is to get a mammogram - it can save your life!! Don't put it off, it's too important!

Add to your stash! Fab Fall Fabric Giveaway!

2009-10-20T09:43:00.004-05:00

If you're like me, you can always use more fabric to inspire you and stimulate all those pent up creative juices. 27 great Fall fabrics fat quarters are on the line here so don't miss it! (A Fat Quarter Bundle of Red Rooster's Pumpkins & Spice Fabrics by Whimsicals!) Get to the Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe before Halloween to qualify - and be sure to tell Brenda I sent you!!

Good Luck!

KC Willis - Longmont, Colorado

2009-10-18T23:39:00.016-05:00

Longmont is one of those great little cities with a decidedly small town flavor. Folks are friendly and it's not one of those places where people walk down the sidewalk elbow-to-elbow among strangers who never dare make eye contact with anyone.

Tucked away in the midst of the historic district of town and just off the busy Main Street is a little rose and pink Victorian house which is now the studio home of artist KC Willis, her dog, Fiona, and The Lipstick Ranch Gallery. The minute one walks through the front door and into the sun parlor there is a feeling of being surrounded by something very special. It is as though the house wraps its arms around visitors, making them feel warm and welcome.

KC's walls are filled with her own wonderful creations as well as the works of several other artists. Her Western women fabric collages are especially beautiful and intriguing with quotes written in the artist's hand that spring as much from her own life experience as from her closeness to the subjects of her art. To be sure, there are cowboys, Indian chiefs, outlaws, feminist icons, angels and fallen angels among the artwork displayed, but it is the Western women who steal the show away from them all.

The photos are, in their own right, very powerful and alluring images as one can imagine the amount of talent and gumption a woman had to have in order to succeed (and even survive) in what was definitely a tough man's world. It is, however, the heart and soul Willis provides to these women through her use of fabric and her insightful quotes that gives the art its life. It's not difficult to look at these women and believe that they are actually speaking the words she assigned to them on the canvas.

Earlier this month Lipstick Ranch became much more than a studio and gallery. It was transformed into a magical place where artists could gather to learn, share, and laugh. The first KC Willis studio retreat workshop came together and just clicked under her capable guidance. Her abilities as a story-teller kept her students engaged, inspired and laughing. The only drawback was that it was eventually time for the participants to pack up and go home again when the weekend ended.

Lipstick Ranch has a robust schedule of workshops for 2010 that includes workshops led by KC Willis herself as well as by other talented and acclaimed visiting artists including JoAnna Pierotti, Lesley Venable, Rebecca Crowell and Sarah Fishburn.

If you're looking for a great workshop at KC's yet this year, Sarah Fishburn's Ragtags Studio Central: Artist Books and the Elements of Design will be held in KC'S studio December 5th and 6th, 2009. For more information, check out the visiting artist's page

WIP and completed works from the first studio retreat workshop:

For more workshop pictures:

http://kcwillis.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-mine-magical.html

http://rebeccaforvintageliving.blogspot.com/2009/10/kc-willis-studio-retreat-in-longmont-co.html

A Quick Giveaway!!

2009-10-13T20:18:00.004-05:00

What would you do with 250 business cards? Use them to spread the news about your new business venture? Help you network your blog at an upcoming conference? Introduce people to your church or local charity?

It doesn't matter how you would use them - now you have the chance to win them for FREE!

UPrinting is a great sponsor! They are offering my readers a chance to win 250 Business cards! (They are also giving the same to me!) Pretty neat, huh?

You may still sign up for the October giveaway in one of the posts below, too!

Giveaway Prize:
250 business cards for One Lucky Winner (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA - Canadian residents must pay postage - other countries not eligible)
Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

How can you enter?

* Leave a comment on this post describing how you would use the business cards if you win
* Follow this blog publicly (see the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so (if you already follow, that counts too! Just leave a comment)
* Tell some friends about the giveaway and ask them to stop by and enter. You can blog about it (leave a link!), or send out an email. Just let me know what you did!

Please leave separate comments for each!

The winner will be selected on October 22nd

Fall Color in Waupaca County

2009-10-04T17:30:00.004-05:00

Enjoy some beautiful Fall color!

Hey! There's still time to sign up for the banner giveaway - put your photo and message on vinyl for all to see! Check a couple of posts below for details!

KC Willis' Studio Retreats Feature Visiting Artists in 2010

2009-09-24T23:04:00.005-05:00

KC Willis has some of my fave artists on staff for 2010! Lesley Venable of Flatwoods Folk Art fame will be teaching an altered book class, Bound Reliquaries, which will be held in KC's Colorado Studio February 4 - 6, 2010.

The class is limited to only 10 people so sign up early! After the first 5 sign up there will be a drawing and one of those lucky artists will receive the class at 50% off the already bargain class price. Additionally, when the next 5 sign up another drawing will be held and one of those lucky artists will receive the same 50% discount! A dream of a deal!

I'll be heading on out to KC's in a couple of weeks and I just can't wait!

October Giveaway - Vinyl Banner!

2009-09-23T22:36:00.007-05:00

First, a word from our sponsor...

UPrinting is offering my readers a chance to win one of their 24X36" 15 mil vinyl banners! They are top quality banners with heavy metal grommets that make them easy to hang for any event. UPrinting banners feature photo quality printing on durable vinyl material with archival ink that will ensure that these banners will last for years to come! These banners have been used for weddings, parties, graduations, advertisements, rallies, political campaigns, backdrops and more. Free shipping in the US.

How to win...

1. First check out UPrinting and then leave a comment on this post telling me how you would use the banner if you won.

2. For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway with a link to this post. Leave a separate comment with the URL to your blog post.

3. For an additional entry, follow me publicly and let me know you're a follower in a separate comment on this post.

The winner will be chosen randomly on October 28th and will have until October 30th to contact me so they can receive a coupon code for the free banner and shipping (in the US) from UPrinting.

Good Luck!

Never Forget

2009-09-11T08:38:00.001-05:00

How to Remove Tarnish from Silver – The Easy Way!

2009-09-08T11:54:00.003-05:00

We just got in some nice old silverware at Weller's - some of it matches and some of it is a very eclectic mix of patterns. I'm starting to get the urge to bend, cut and drill on them! Check them out in the Junque Shoppe next time you're in Rural!

While there is something really lovable about the patina that silver takes on with age, eating with tarnished flatware is not something I’m fond of doing. And, though I also love the look of silver when it shines, I’m not very enthusiastic about getting out the silver polish. Ugh!

I recently read somewhere that you could actually soak the tarnish away so I decided to give it a try with some silver that has been in the family for awhile and will soon become my daughter’s. It’s now her favorite color (shiny) and ready to pack in its case.

All it takes is an old brownie pan or similarly wide but shallow old piece of bake ware. I used an old, beat up one that was aluminum. Line the bottom with a piece of aluminum foil and lay out the silverware on the foil. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over everything and then fill up the pan with boiling water.

The baking soda will react with the foil and you’ll see some gentle bubbling for a few minutes. Let the pan sit until it cools and “voila!” your silver is ready to rinse, dry and use. It’s that simple. Easy-Peasey!

Ta Da! August Giveaway Winner!

2009-09-01T23:59:00.003-05:00

The winner for this month's giveaway is libbyquilter at Paper Napkin Poetry! Congrats!! Please send me your address and I will get your package out to you soon. Can't wait to see what you do with these goodies - I hope you will share some photos of your work!

This was so much fun! I think I'll do some of these more often! Stay tuned!

Eileen

Treat Yourself to Some Art Time!

2009-08-30T08:44:00.005-05:00

There are still openings in a few of the 2009 workshops at KC Willis' Studio Retreats in Longmont, Colorado! If your calendar for this year is full, I invite you to take a look at the 2010 workshop schedule and plan to register for one of those before they fill up. In addition to the workshops led by KC, she has some awesome artists like Joanna Pierotti and Sarah Fishburn coming in to share their techniques. Right now KC is offering a special on workshops paid in full up front. You will get 20% off and, until September 5th, your paid workshop will get you one night of your lodging free.

Giveaway Update!

2009-08-29T17:06:00.004-05:00

Only 9 more followers and I get to add another prize for another winner! I'm thinking that perhaps the lovely butterfly cup and saucer below would make someone happy. If there are two prizes, the first person whose name is drawn will be able to choose between them.

Your friends are welcome to follow and enter so pass it on and good luck!

New Arrivals at The Weller Store!

2009-08-28T22:24:00.007-05:00

Not a day goes by when something "new" doesn't come through the door at Weller's! Very often some nice items get priced and reach the shelves only to quickly fly out with a happy customer within the next few days. The oldies but goodies shown below were photographed late this afternoon and are still available. If you can't get to the store and would like some information about an item, please contact me by email or call the number listed on the website for me.

The old wooden pulley on the left is new to the Junque Shoppe this week. We also just got in a pulley that has been decorated with greenery.

This delicate tea cup and saucer is both lovely and unique. The butterfly wing shaped handles are precious! (The linens and doilies you see in the photos are also for sale.)

Were you born in 1973? 1968? We have calendar towels for those years and more. I especially love the shade of blue in this towel.

Here is a lovely service for 12+ in absolutely perfect condition! There are 12 full place settings plus additional cups and saucers. The set also has many serving pieces. (I saw at least two creamers in the box.) A complete matching beverage service with large pitcher and three sizes of tumblers is also included.
Retro frogs for the bath! This wooden wall decor would look great in a 1950s or 1960s setting.

A sweet little vintage piece for mother.

The owner of this picture carefully removed it from a tattered vintage scrapbook and gave it a wonderful home in this lovely old frame.

A vintage embroidered pillow is still very vibrant and colorful.

We've taken in a few pieces of vintage clothing recently. This handmade slip ties at the waist and is in excellent shape.
I love the lace on these bloomers! The lace fibers have taken on an aged patina over the years while most of the rest of the garment remains white. It's so lovely!

Hey! Don't forget to enter the giveaway on the post below! There are only a few days left before the drawing! Remember, if there are 40 or more blog followers, I will add a second drawing from among the entries!

AUGUST GIVEAWAY!!

2009-08-20T10:33:00.006-05:00

In previous posts this month I gave you a peek at some of the things in this giveaway. We're always getting new things in at The Weller Store so you never know what else I might add to the package but, as of now, there will be lots of ephemera, vintage photos, linen cutter pieces and more! If my list of followers swells to over 40 I will add another prize for a second winner from Weller's large selection of vintage glassware!

Here's what you need to do to be entered:

1) Visit the Weller Store website and pick a favorite item from the (partial) catalogue. Comment about it on this post. 1 entry. After doing this you may then,

2) Be a listed follower of this blog - or click on the follower icon on the left and become a public follower. Comment about it on this post. 2 additional entries.

3) Become a fan of The Weller Store on Facebook - click HERE. Comment about it on this post. 2 additional entries.

A winner will be chosen at random from all the entries on September 1st. The winner (or winners) will have 48 hours to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen. Be sure to give me some way to contact you when you post, if your info is not already filled in.

Good luck!

Cutters for the Giveaway!

2009-08-19T00:43:00.003-05:00

What are cutters? Cutters are those vintage linens with problems that still have life in them. You know, those pretty little embroidered baskets and flowers that are too wonderful to throw away - even though there is a big hole in the runner or a bad stain in the tablecloth.

So, what do you do with all those hours of hand stitching that Aunt Lizzie labored over so lovingly? Put them in a box or a drawer somewhere and let your kids worry about what to do with them when you're gone?

They're cutters, silly, so you cut them up and make magic with them!

Embellish the pocket of a plain blouse or skirt with some lovely blooms, use pieces of the design in collage work, add some color to your journals or altered books, add buttons, bobs or bits and mount it in a frame, or make some fabric brooches - the possibilities are endless.

A nice old chenille bedspread can easily become a pillow, a stuffed bear or a pair of girly pajamas.

I'll be tucking some nice pieces of cutters into the giveaway package. See the next post for details on how to enter the giveaway. If enough people enter, I may even add another prize for another winner!

More Giveaway Goodies!

2009-08-12T21:52:00.005-05:00

Since we have a very good supply of ephemera at Wellers, I thought I would add some to the giveaway pot. Here is just a small sample of the vintage milk caps we have. I'm going to pick out some nice ones for the giveaway package!

What's New This Week at Weller's??

2009-08-11T16:54:00.003-05:00

All kinds of goodies!

My favorite new item is this gorgeous caned sewing rocker! It seemed appropriate to place it next to the beautifully carved cabinet of the American treadle sewing machine.

Another lovely piece received this past week at the Weller Store is this decorated decanter from France.

One of the most interesting items we have at the moment is this hand made radio circa 1920s. The top of the cabinet lifts up to reveal the inner workings of the radio and it's tubes. A great conversation piece or addition to an antique radio collection!

Perfectly Pink!

2009-08-10T19:51:00.005-05:00

Pink Swirl by Fire King is soooooo pretty! You gals with the "princess gene" are loving this set, aren't you? Just in on consignment this week is a partial set of these lovelies, including sugar bowls (2) and creamers (3).

UPDATE! All that remains of the Pink Swirl are two creamers and one sugar bowl (no lid!)

One of the sugar bowls even has a lid!

There are other sets of Fire King Swirl, like Anniversary with the gold rims, at Wellers but none so feminine and girly as the pink. It has a finish that looks a touch of the lustre glaze.

If I didn't already have a gazillion pieces of glassware and dinnerware I'd take these beauties home myself!

Be sure to follow this blog so you don't miss out on the August giveaway! Stay tuned for details!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

2009-08-10T19:44:00.003-05:00

Claudia and Marta are two of my favorite customers. They came in with their mother the other day and tried on some of the vintage hats. Born to model! Don't they look great!? These delightful young ladies come by Wellers often for ice cream or just to browse and have fun.

P.S. Don't forget the giveaway!

2009-08-04T08:12:00.001-05:00

Some "Instant Ancestors", like the ones in the post below, will be included in the giveaway this month!

Instant Ancestors

2009-08-03T20:40:00.008-05:00

I love old photos! The hairstyles, the clothing, the backgrounds, the ornate folders and frames - all of it!

When I come upon photos that have been abandoned by the family after an old one passes because they didn't know who was in the pictures, it makes me a bit sad that they were forgotten. After all, they were someone's mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, cousin, etc. They had lives. They had stories. Everyone has a story.

Who were these people? Where did they come from? What did they do with their lives? What were their dreams? What made them laugh? Why did they cry? Who missed them when they were gone?
.
Whenever someone comes into Wellers and "adopts" and ancestor it makes me so happy! After who-knows-how-many years in a trunk or an attic, they finally have a home. Someone will finally care for the photos that represent the lives of these long-forgotten people who dressed up in their best clothes and stood to have their portraits taken. It must have been a big event in their life, unlike today when we take pictures non-stop with our phones.

What a joy it is to see these photographic images become works of art as part of a collage or the cover of a journal. What fun it is to see them turned into comical images with clever captions or speech bubbles. How nice to know they will be framed and used in a home or a business as part of a vintage decor.

Was this the baby's nurse or the nurse's baby? We can only imagine.

A young man's confirmation photo.

A lovely portrait from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Giveaway in August!

2009-07-31T22:11:00.001-05:00

Weller's is having a great giveaway in August! There will be more than one package to choose from and there may be more than one winner. It all depends on how many followers there are at the time of the drawing!

Stay tuned for more details!

What Happened to the Ting!?!

2009-07-24T18:39:00.006-05:00

Sadly, Ting is no longer being bottled in New London. We got the word that the current bottler will no longer be making Ting Soda. To commemorate the sad occasion Bob Weller (AKA The Mayor) treated some special customers to the very last bottle of Ting.

The good news is that someone purchased the recipe for Ting and is exploring the possibility of resurrecting it. Since bottles are scarce, it may be in the form of soda fountain style Ting sometime in the future. Stay tuned - we'll let you know if The Weller Store will have Ting in the future. We're keeping our fingers crossed!

Catalpa Shade

2009-07-22T22:46:00.005-05:00

There are several of these lovely catalpa trees in Rural. Most of them, like the one here in front of the Weller Store, are volunteers from seeds carried by birds and other critters.

The leaves of the catalpa are huge and they open to full size quickly in the spring so they make wonderful shade trees.

The catalpa also has some delicate blossoms - like miniature orchids - that are replaced later in the year by long seed pods.

This tree sits on the lot line between Weller's and the house next door. I park my car on the neighbor's side of the tree in front of what used to be the blacksmith shop. My car stays relatively cool there on a hot, sunny, summer day, though I do occasionally have to wipe a little bird puckie from the windshield or hood of the car. Seems the birds are pretty happy in the shade of the catalpa as well.

'Bout Time!

2009-07-20T22:10:00.007-05:00

Where does the time go? Summer is half over already and I'm getting behind on posting pictures.

Here are some visitors who always have a lot of fun at Wellers! Diane Rait and her granddaughter, Kailey, like to spend time shopping together in the store. They have a ball looking at all the vintage items and they always bring home something wonderful.

Here they are trying on hats and they both look gorgeous!

Kailey finally decided on the 1920s cloche pictured in one of the previous posts. (As you can see, she really looked great in all of the hats.)

2009-07-15T18:46:00.000-05:00

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Expanded Exhibit at the Rural Historical Society Museum

2009-07-06T19:21:00.006-05:00

The Rural Historical Society Museum continues to be open to the public every Wednesday and Sunday from 1 to 3 PM. Docents are available to speak with visitors and answer questions. The Museum shows and tells of the settlement and development of the Village of Rural.

At this time the Museum features an exhibit on Margaret Ashmun, her life and her work. Miss Ashmun is probably the most published author ever to come from the Waupaca area. She has over 24 novels and textbooks to her credit. She was born in the Village of Rural and she used the area as a setting for a number of her novels. Early in her career she was a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The entire Village of Rural is on the National Register of Historic Places and is often cited as one of the few examples of an early Yankee village in the Midwest. One may view photos and learn the history at the Museum and then walk the village streets and see many of the original houses and the bridges over the Crystal River. Guided tours are occasionally possible on request by calling 715-258-0973. Rural is located south of Waupaca just off highway 22 - about 4 miles from highway 10. The Museum is on Main Street.

(Helen Robinson)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

2009-07-03T18:58:00.003-05:00

I'm Big on Bob!

2009-06-26T01:36:00.007-05:00

Banana Bob, that is!

I recently acquired some lovely Banana Bob jewelry findings and have packaged up quite a few for the store. This line of jewelry was sold in high-end shops during the 1980s and the company has since gone out of business. I was very lucky to find a treasure trove of Banana Bob and other findings.

This is just a tiny sampling...

Also some excellent cameos and other little lovelies like beads, connectors, drops, cabs, settings and more. Here are a couple that I haven't packaged yet...

Over the years I've accumulated an extensive stash of vintage findings. Some from as far back as the '30s and '40s. I've been making room for all kids of jewelry goodies at Wellers so drop in and take a peek!

Stay cool!

Colorado Studio Retreat Alert!!

2009-06-24T23:42:00.004-05:00

This looks like a really GREAT retreat! Everyone who has taken KC Willis' on-line workshops has just raved about them! Check out the details here - KC Willis Studio Retreats.

Visit KC Willis Studio Retreats

Missin' My Pop

2009-06-21T17:29:00.007-05:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

I was so blessed to have my father in my life and I miss him a lot since he's left this Earth for his home in Heaven.

His resting place in Windber, PA

What a cute kid he was!

From a 1955 family portrait

Pop and me in Dublin, Ireland

Lakes of Killarney 1971

Me and my Pop having a few laughs - Chicago, IL

Mom took this photo of Pop in NYC when they were on their honeymoon in 1948. (He was 22 years old - same age my daughter is now.)

Weller Wednesday

2009-06-17T18:34:00.009-05:00

Here are some of the visitors we welcomed at Wellers this past week...

Gloria Mihna from Medina came cruising through Rural in her beautiful 1959 Chevrolet Impala! You can pack a lot of great things in a convertible on a nice day.

Isabelle, Jolene and Tony - New London, WI and Shelby - Strum, WI

Janele, Mark & Jimmy Etten - Chetek

Judy Stuebs (Rural) brought her mother, Evelyn Anthes, and her cousin, Nancy Zupan to the Weller Store for some fun shopping.

Kathy and John Lancour from Albertville, WI are taking a little mid-week vacation at the Crystal River Inn in Rural. They spotted the 3-legged apple ladder out front and had to check it out.

Nancy Zupan and cousin, Judy Stuebs had so much fun down in the Junque Shoppe!

These two couples enjoyed browsing the store together one day this past week.

Sharon Heschke (Larsen, WI) and Sharlene Boutwell (Neenah, WI)

Susan Burns poses in front of the store after loading her purchases in her vehicle.

The Gramlings - Kiel, WI - explore the Junque Shoppe at Wellers

Tim Lemke spent some time in the store with nephews Jacob and Mason Johnson. Tim just brought us his very nice (and extensive) collection of vintage straight razors - come on in to see them if you're in town! Tim's collection includes razors, strops, sharpeners, boxes and a Cudahy packing Company grocer's knife and all are available for sale now at Wellers.
Send me an email at: info@wellerstore.com if you're not local and would like some information about the items in this collection.

A smiling Waupaca girl stands in front of the wonderful vintage blackboard she found in the collectible toy room we opened recently.

Random Items At Wellers

2009-06-11T00:46:00.003-05:00

I thought it would be fun to take some random merchandise photos so you can see the wide range of items we have in the Weller Store.

This is just one of the vintage needlecases (with needles) that lives down in the Junque Shoppe At Wellers. We try to keep a variety of old papers and ephemera on hand.

One of our consignors, Barb Akers, just brought in this very beautiful lamp over the weekend. SOLD!

It's really hard for me not to keep all the pretty linens at home! This is my current favorite in the store.

In addition to the printed flour sacks, we also have the plain ones as well as some sugar, rice, and feed sacks. A few large, heavy printed feed sacks came in after this photo was taken.

We have several of these wonderful old electric fans. I just love this small one! Looks like something out of a 1940s movie detective's office.

More ephemera in the form of dairy caps. We have quite a large selection down in the Junque Shoppe. We also have pint, quart and half-gallon milk bottles.

There are bowls and crocks galore - this one is my personal favorite.

We like crates here! Apple crates, egg crates, soda crates, fruit crates. Don't you just love the graphics on the labels?

Another denizen of the Junque Shoppe! I saw this and thought "planter!" What do you see? The great thing about items in the Junque Shoppe is that you can let your imagination go wild. SOLD

Hats Are Back!

2009-06-08T10:46:00.006-05:00

Is it just me or are women starting to wear more hats again? I've been noticing more and more hats lately - especially in church on Sundays.

When I was a little girl, I often wished I was big enough to wear hats to church like my mom did. Oh, sure, I had my new Easter outfit every year, complete with hat and matching handbag, but it just wasn't the same as those sexy little hats with feathers and nets or the wide brimmed hats with ribbons and flowers. I remember being fascinated by the process of making hats, too. My mother and her friends would gather together some afternoons with all their millinery forms and flowers and make the most beautiful hats. If I was lucky there were scraps that I could glue together for my dolly.

As you might imagine, I have a weakness for lovely hats and can't help myself when I come across some nice vintage specimens. Expect Wellers to always have at least a small selection of vintage millinery and accessories on hand.

What's New At Wellers?

2009-06-06T23:07:00.007-05:00

Oh, lots of vintage and primitive items have come into the store in the past week! Here is just a sampling...

Splish, splash! Can you imagine taking a bath in one of these? No wonder they only took one bath a week (year?) back in the good old days!

Aren't these just beautiful pulley wheels? They would look smashing with a little oil finish!

We have also received a nice apple ladder, primitive tree planter, potato planters, nail keg, wooden barrels, crocks, a large selection of zinc canning lids, and so much more!

Plenty of Visitors This Week!

2009-06-04T21:00:00.009-05:00

We're having lots of fun at Wellers these days! Here's a look at some of the folks who stopped by this week. (I left some of their names back at the store so I'll pop back in and add them tomorrow!)

Local resident Colleen Wright is getting to be one of our favorite regulars! She brought her twin, Charlene, with her and they had a blast looking through the collectible toys.

Emma Ayres came all the way from Arlington Heights, IL and she brought her people along for the ride and some yummy ice cream cones!

Louise and Tom Stephani of New London with the tractor and loader Tom found among the vintage tin toys.

Click above to enter the Madsen giveaway!

Calling All Collage Artists!

2009-06-02T11:47:00.003-05:00

K C Willis has a great collage camp registration going on at: http://collagecamp.ning.com/

Check out her blog here - http://kcwillis.blogspot.com/

I just love her artwork!

I'll be back with more photos from Rural later today!

Have a GREAT day!

TGIF? Not for me!

2009-05-29T19:39:00.004-05:00

Well, maybe for some people it's TGIF. Me? I'm looking forward to another busy weekend at Wellers. The weather promises to be beautiful - warm enough for some river travelers to be passing through town.

Here are a couple of photos that I haven't posted for you yet this week. I've had the camera along with me most days but I either forget to use it or am to busy to think about it.

We had a bit of rain earlier in the week but that didn't keep people from stopping by. In fact, it was a good place to duck in out of the rain (no pun intended).

Fran and June (below) were camping with a group of people from northern Illinois and they decided to get out of the rain for awhile and come it to browse. June ended up finding some really cool things for her 1950s kitchen.

Dale and Joan Jirschele from Wisconsin Rapids are spending some time in Rural at the lovely Crystal River Inn. Dale picked up a nice chess set from Mexico and Joan was happy to find a hand crafted wren house to replace her old one at home. They have yet to explore the Red Mill and they promised to be back at the store on Saturday.

The Mayor just loaded up his truck with Ting bottles and is headed for the bottling company tomorrow. We should have plenty of delicious Ting on hand very soon!

Rust You Can Trust

2009-05-28T22:08:00.004-05:00

(A couple of people have asked about this rusty fleur de lis - so sorry, it's now sold and no longer available!)

If Rust Could Talk

There is something about rust and peeling paint and honest every-day wear that fascinates me. I find myself wondering who owned the item. What was it used for? Where did it come from? How did it get the way it is today? Was it a well-loved tool or kitchen gadget? I have one of my grandmother’s old paring knives that has been sharpened down to less than half its size with the handle worn smooth as silk. I can still picture her sitting in her apron with a pan full of potatoes in her lap; her hands quickly and deftly paring them with her favorite knife.

Aside from the personal stories and pictures these old things bring to mind, I love the varied colors and textures of a well-used or rusted object. Those that contain iron or steel will, over time, begin to decay as the mixture of moisture and oxygen attack the surface. A discarded piece of metal or a long unused tool will take on random patterns and patina from this natural process.

Using rust in collage or assemblage art lends an interesting historical or industrial air to the piece. But who wants to sit around watching a piece of metal rust when the creative muse is beckoning? Sometimes we just have to help the process along and there are a number of ways to accomplish that task.

If you live in places like Houston, where the sea breezes are loaded with moisture from the salt water, you’re probably spending a lot of time getting things NOT to rust. You’re probably also thinking that people with a real lust for rust are a bit loopy. If you live in a rust-starved area of the country, however, read on for some trusty rust recipes. (Remember to read package directions, protect your skin and clothing, and work outside where there is plenty of ventilation!)

The Natural Method on Steroids

If you have no time to wait for Mother Nature to do the trick, you can hurry the process along by adding your metal pieces to a solution of two parts bleach to one part vinegar in a non-metal bowl or pan. Let the solution do its thing overnight – longer if you crave more rust. No rinsing is necessary; just place the oxidized objects on newspaper to dry. Bleach and contact with rust will ruin clothes and other porous surfaces. Which brings me to another way to rust.

The Contact Method

Natural, non-metal surfaces can be rusted by contact with metals that have already been rusted. Synthetics will also take on some rust but not as well as the naturals. Simply wet the item (paper, fabric, ribbon, etc.) with vinegar and put them alongside the rusted metal. Placing the wetted items in a plastic bag out in the sun will help speed up the process.

Fabric treated with rust will continue to decay over time. Neutralize the fabric with a mist of baking soda and water to slow down the process.

Rust Solutions for Wood, Plastic and Other Non-metals

I recently played with some Modern Options Sophisticated Finishes paint to rust a ceramic angel and a wooden box. Simply paint with their primer and follow with the rust solution. You’ll have a very robust faux rust in less than a day.

You can also try out coarse garnet gel, coarse pumice gel, or a rusty-colored embossing powder to simulate the look of rust

Trusty Rusty Tin

Modern Options also has a green patina solution that will rust up tin lickety-split. Give the solution a place to hold onto by roughing up the tin with some sandpaper. Use an old brush to paint the patina and work it around with a bit of pressure. The results are as fast as a squirrel on crack. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

Of course, if you don’t want to experiment with solutions or wait for Mother Nature, you can always find some nice rusty goodies in the Junque Shoppe at Wellers. We would even be happy to ship you some. See the website for contact information: www.wellerstore.com

Everything From Clothespins To Quilts

2009-05-27T11:06:00.005-05:00

We try to offer something for everyone at Wellers and we're getting better at it all the time. We're pleased that the Junque Shoppe at Wellers has tickled so many people who have that lust for rust and all things old. It's fun to hear how out customers will use or repurpose their purchases.

Kay Peters from Stratton Lake looked through the stash of vintage clothespins to find just the right shapes for her granddaughters. She remembered painting faces on them and making dolls when she was a girl and she wanted to share that experience with them. How sweet!

You can tell by the look on her face that Kay is having fun down in the Junque Shoppe.

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Judi Niesen admires the Amish quilt she purchased yesterday.

Thanks to Kay and Judi and all those who stopped in to shop or say "hello"!

The Morning After

2009-05-26T10:55:00.005-05:00

I opened up Wellers early yesterday so that Alice and Mike Reich could load up the beautiful mahogany Duncan Phyfe dining room set and vintage vanity set they purchased over the weekend. This nice young couple will certainly be giving these special pieces a very good home in Minnesota.

They loaded up some of the chairs on their first visit so the rest fit perfectly in the back of a pick-up truck and in their car. They loaded it up like pros in no time at all.

Thanks Alice & Mike!

While the Reichs were loading up their furniture, Michael Herminath from New London stopped in to browse. An avid outdoorsman, Michael found himself a great little vintage rod and he was happy to pose for a picture.

You can visit Michael's Chain Reaction Products on the web.

I can't wait to see who pops in to the store today!

Remembering With A Grateful Heart

2009-05-25T19:04:00.008-05:00

Today we remember with thanksgiving all of the brave men and women who served in the armed forces and gave up their lives so that we can enjoy the freedom we have in this great country today. I especially remember my dad - George F. Mulcahy and his brothers Gene and Joe - who served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

You will never be forgotten!

Busy Weekend

2009-05-25T09:45:00.004-05:00

There was not much time for picture taking on Saturday and on Sunday I left the camera at home. Today I promise to at least bring it along and get a few more shots of our visitors!

Beth and Bruce Lasecki came all the way from Hortonville for a drive through Rural and a stop at the Weller Store this weekend.

The next best thing to a pick-up truck! Janice Hass just puts the top down to get her goodies home from Wellers. Bob Weller (AKA The Mayor) had no trouble helping her get her treasure into the back seat of her little sports car.

Many thanks to all who popped in to say hello and wish us well this weekend!

Memorial Weekend at Wellers

2009-05-23T21:46:00.004-05:00

Opening weekend started out GREAT! The best thing about it was seeing familiar faces from last season and catching up with them again. It was also good to meet new people and get to know them.

For once I remembered to bring the camera along to the store with me and I got some pictures of some of the first people in the door after we opened officially for the season. I also managed to get a shot of the first group to come in off the river this yesr.

Grace Buck headed straight for the linens (that's one of my favorites, too!)

Not far behind Grace was Diane Rait. She was also drawn to the linens and both ladies went home with some nice vintage flour sacks and an apron made from flour sack material. Aprons seem to be making a big comeback.

Peggy Manson came back in for an embroidered comforter she spotted one evening when the wiring was being worked on. She also found several other nice items while she was at it.

The first to stop in after completing half the river trip was a group from Green Lake. Jason Koepke, Lesley Kenney, Andy Koepke, Mariel Manslowski, Laurie Koepke, Kendall Koepke and Katie Bardenwerper said the water was great.

At this point the camera was forgotten in all the hustle and bustle of the day. Stay tuned for more photos in the coming days (IF I remember to drag the camera along with me, that is!)

Many thanks to these folks and all the others who made opening day a big success! I also appreciate all of the pre-season customers who stopped in to shop while we were getting ready to open last week. I appreciate each and every one of you!

And So The Season Begins...

2009-05-22T10:40:00.003-05:00

The Weller Store is officially open for the season today! All the hard work paid off and I must say it's looking pretty good. The Junque Shoppe at Wellers is now open and "The Mayor" is already clearing out yet another room for collectible toys. Pre-season visitors to the store loved the Junque Shoppe and had fun sifting through all the ephemera and do-dads. One woman really had a lust for rust and she left with a whole trunkload of goodies. It may be a challenge to keep the room well stocked if things continue to fly out of there.

Look for the opening of the Collectible Toys room soon. In the meantime we have a huge new assortment of glassware, including some nice depression glass pieces. I especially love the light blue Bubble and Fire King items. We even have a few "Porta-Walls" from an old Packard and some more vintage tools for the guys. We brought in even more vintage jewelry and some lovely old hats for the ladies.

Taliesin - Spring Green

2009-05-12T23:19:00.009-05:00

Yow! It's been awhile since I've posted! Much of my time lately has been spent at the Weller Store getting ready to re-open for the season. We've added a new and very fun room - The Junque Shoppe at Wellers - and "The Mayor" has been clearing out yet another room so we can expand even further. Weller's season officially begins the Friday of Memorial Weekend when we will be open 7 days-a-week. In the meantime, you can give us a call if you'd like a preview. We're always happy to open the store especially for you at any time. See the website for contact information. www.wellerstore.com

There are still a lot of pictures from Stephanie's visit to share with you. Here are several from Spring Green in Dodge County - featuring Taliesin, the home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright as well as some of his other creations in the area. The home was not yet open for the season so we were unable to reserve space on a tour. :-(

You can take a peek at the Taliesin Estate HERE.

A Visit to the Red Mill

2009-04-23T15:37:00.004-05:00

Last week I had a visit from some dear friends - Stephanie, Dan and Adele from Ann Arbor. They spent most of the week with me and we had so much fun!

Stephanie had a camera along that she bought just for this trip so we have some great pictures to share. These were from our trip to the Red Mill - just a few miles from Rural and Waupaca. Behind the mill, where the Crystal River winds it's way through some very picturesque scenery, is one of only two covered bridges in Wisconsin. A walk across the river on the bridge takes you to a lovely little wedding chapel.

You can see more pictures of the Red Mill in various seasons by clicking on this link: RED MILL On the map at the bottom of the page #1 is the Red Mill and #2 is the Weller Store in Rural.

Dan & Adele goofing around by the Crystal River - It's really hard to get a picture of them together without "bunny ears"!
A sign that spring is really here! (That, and all the fat robins hopping around eating earthworms!)

Ta Da!! Florida Giveaway Winner Revealed!

2009-04-20T23:19:00.004-05:00

Congrats to Jeanne Selep! She'll be serving tangerine marmalade from Florida on her scones very soon! You can find her blog full of WONDERFUL photography here: http://jeanneselep.blogspot.com/

Thanks to everyone who commented on my posts! This was so much fun that I plan to give out some more blog candy soon! Add me to your Google Reader so you don't miss it!

Vintage Ad for Land in Florida

2009-04-20T13:55:00.003-05:00

This is an ad that was in a 1950's Workbasket - in the 1940's my grandfather bought land in that area for $100 an acre!

Those old Workbaskets have some great old ads and pictures.

Florida Flea Market - Last Chance for Florida Giveaway Entry

2009-04-16T15:40:00.012-05:00

One of the highlights of my stay in Florida was the access to garage sales and flea markets. Up here in Wisconsin the weather is just getting nice enough for such things. There's a really gianormous flea market between Milwaukee and Racine on Highway 41 called the 7 Mile Fair - you really should plan to stop in if you're in that area some weekend.
Back in Florida, I located a flea market not far from where I stayed in Ocala. It was advertised as a "Super" flea market but there wasn't too much to it. (Maybe they, too, are somewhat seasonal?) The following week I saw an ad for a flea market about an hour to the north of Ocala on Highway 301 in Waldo. Somewhere between Gainesville and Starke. My sister-in-law and I headed up there to check it out on the weekend and it was so much fun that I went back the following weekend and I made sure I had the camera along with me.

The flea market in Waldo was so much bigger than the one in Ocala, even with a portion of the stalls empty. It was bustling with shoppers and brimming with all kinds of goodies. The fresh fruit and vegetables were beautiful and priced just right. I couldn't resist loading up on a few bags to bring home to Mom. Yum!

Vendors were assembled both indoors and outdoors with their wares. Some of them looked like thay had been in the same spot for years. Indeed, the old guy with the architectural goodies looked like he could have lived there among the maze of stuff he had on display.

I was surprised to see vendors from many states other than Florida. There were, of course, some from the southern states but also from farther north like Minnesota, New York and even Wisconsin.

On my first trip to Waldo I met a vendor named Cindy Cross who had all kinds of lovely old photographs, ephemera, rusty hardware, skeleton keys, etc. I only picked up a few things knowing that I would have to carry whatever I purchased back with me on the plane. After I got back to mom's I thought I should go back and pick up more the following weekend and ship my treasures home by mail. Unfortunately, Cindy was nowhere to be seen when I returned. If you happen to stop by this flea market sometime, look for Cindy's stall. She also sells some nice western boots.

I was able to find some excellent vintage post cards a great old typewriter, buttons, coins and other assorted bargains and ship them back to the Weller Store. Now it's time to get ready to open the store in May! I'm excited about all the new things we'll have to offer this year!

Don't forget to leave a comment for the giveaway! (You may leave a comment on each Florida post.) Drawing will be held sometime during the evening of Monday, April 20th. Add my blog to your Google Reader so you won't miss the announcement of the winner. Good Luck!

EASTER BLESSINGS!

2009-04-11T19:03:00.003-05:00

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

TGIF! And another chance to win the giveaway!

2009-04-10T06:17:00.007-05:00

Friday is finally here! I'll be heading down to the big city to pick up my college student for a nice, long Easter weekend. Before I go, here are a few more shots from Central Florida...

OK - so these are orchids - and they're indoors. They were growing by the swimming pool and I couldn't resist taking several pictures of them. Technically, they're growing in Florida, so commenting on this blog gets you another chance to win the giveaway!

Finally! Fabulous Florida Fotos!

2009-04-09T18:48:00.010-05:00

After a long and unsuccessful search for the missing camera cable and a couple of snafus at the photo shop, I finally have the pictures on a CD and can upload them to the blog.

This also means the blog giveaway has officially begun. Just comment on one (or all) of the Florida posts and I will randomly choose a winner. The prize package includes some vintage Florida post cards, a couple of ads from the 1950s for a free Florida vacation book and Rainbow Lakes Estates in Ocala, and a jar of YUMMY tangerine marmalade. Be sure to give me some way to reach you if you win.

Today's selection of photos include palm trees, oranges and flowers! I went a bit crazy with the flower pictures - it was so wonderful to see spring after leaving gargantuan piles of snow behind in Wisconsin. There's still no sign of color around here except for a few green sprouts making their way into the light. We should see some crocus blooms soon I should think.
The azaleas were just about finished blooming when I arrived. Still, they were a delight to me!
Of course, when a Northern gal is down in Florida it would be a shame to come home with no proof that she saw any orange groves. So here you go...

The only amaryllis plants we see way up here are in pots - it was lovely to see tons of them all over town just popping right out the ground.

Just in Time for the Easter festivities

2009-04-07T22:49:00.003-05:00

Ms Cora Bond and Ms Willie L. Dutton arrived yesterday and just in time to help us celebrate Easter on Sunday! Cora and Willie came from Suze Persechino's blog giveaway and they are just as cute as can be!! You can see them on her blog here: http://junquedrawerchick.blogspot.com/2009/03/march-giveawaymeet-ms-cora-and-ms.html

Thanks Suze! They are so wonderful!!

My giveaway - I'm convinced that I lost my camera cable somewhere between here and NYC so I'm going to have a CD made tomorrow. I've been dying to post the Florida photos and start the giveaway. In the meantime, I found a vintage ad for property in Florida that I will add to the goodies. So, c'mon back!

My First BLOG GIVEAWAY!!

2009-04-03T19:35:00.003-05:00

I'm finally back home from Florida and there are still lots of dirty little piles of snow about. But I'm not going to let that stop me from seeing signs of spring! There are green shoots of plants popping out of the ground all over the garden and there seem to be more birds flitting around. Those are good enough signs for me!

Now, for the giveaway...

I have a few small items from Florida to give away on my blog this month. The package will contain some vintage post cards from Florida and a jar of some yummy tangerine marmalade. All you have to do is leave a comment on one of the posts with pictures from Florida. You can comment on each post for extra chances to win. Be sure to leave me some way to contact you if you are the winner - send me an e if you do not want to leave your email address out on the comment.

So...... just as soon as I find the cable for my camera so I can download the photos, I'll start posting them on the blog. I know it's here somewhere....

Stay tuned....

Oh, by the way...

2009-03-28T13:31:00.007-05:00

Here are a few other shots I took in NYC. While walking down Broadway near Washington Square, I came across a nice piece of urban mosaic on this lamp post. I had heard that there were some folks filling in sidewalk cracks with mosaic work but I never did stumble across any of those. ('scuse the pun!)

Many of the older buildings still have the old water towers on top - seems a little incongruous among all the shiny new structures.

Lincoln Center around dusk. There was a lot of reconstruction going on around LC and Julliard. Looks like they were just about to be wrapping it all up when I was there, though all the plywood walls and barricades were still in place.

The next post will have some photos from sunny Florida! Watch for my Florida giveaway!!

The Rest of the Story from NYC

2009-03-22T11:39:00.016-05:00

As promised, here are some more photos from my brief stay in the Big Apple. Starting with Central Park.

This is, of course, only a wee small corner of the more than 250 acres of green in the middle of Manhattan known as Central Park.

Even in the latter days of Winter, when the trees are still bare and the grass is a dormant shade of brown, it is a beautiful place for a stroll.

There are even some brave, blanketed souls who opt for a ride in one of the famous carriages.

The architectural detail that is evident in the park's structures is also a treat for the eye. It seems that everywhere one looks in New York something interesting pops out in the most unusual place. Stay tuned for one of those interesting sights in my next blog!

HAPPY ST PADDY'S DAY!!

2009-03-17T11:47:00.005-05:00

My Grandad used to say, "There are only two kinds of people in the world - those that are Irish and those that wish to be Irish". Whichever ye be I wish ye a Happy St Paddy's Day!

Eibhlin

Attractive Opposites

2009-03-16T10:32:00.022-05:00

The opposite of rural is urban and New York City is about as urban as it gets. While I love the beauty of our setting in the Village of Rural and most all of Wisconsin, I have to admit there is a different kind of beauty in the cities.

A couple of weeks ago I spent some time in Manhattan with my daughter while on the way to stay with my mother in Florida while she has surgery. (My daughter, the journalism student, is an editorial intern at Popular Science magazine until the end of this month.) While she was at work I did some walking and, when I remembered to take my camera along with me, took some photos.

The tiny apartment my daughter shares with a roommate is one and one-half blocks from the Hudson River - where the US Airways passenger plane ditched recently. Judging by the proximity of the bridge to the pier, I imagine it first hit the water very close to where I was standing.

The Hudson looks enormous when compared to our clear and sparkling little Crystal River!

Near the pier, along the East side of the Hudson are the remnants of the New York Central Railroad 69th Street Transfer Bridge. An interesting site now on the National Register of Historic Places - as are many of the buildings in Rural.

The park that runs between the trails and the river is a nice spot to sit and enjoy the view of the boats on the water, even though the sound of the rushing traffic above is a clear reminder that this is still the big city.

Once out of the park and up on street level again, the glistening giants of some of the Trump buildings inspire a bit of a different kind of awe. The clean, sleek lines of the more modern towers in the city certainly give off an aura of power and prosperity, however, they are not nearly as interesting to me as some of the older, more ornate examples of big city architecture.

Churches, in particular, are a treasure trove of the most intricate and beautiful architectural detail. It is awesome to think of the time and talent that went into the planning and execution of these marvelous structures.

Some residential buildings also have very attractive architectural elements. This building on Central Park (above), I was told by another photographer, is the home of celebrities like Madonna and Paul Simon.

Central Park itself has quite a number of fascinating details in the formation of the walls and overpasses that adorn various parts of the area. Stay tuned for more photos....

Can Spring Be Far Away?

2009-02-27T11:59:00.006-06:00

If there are flowers blooming in Texas, can spring be far away from Wisconsin?

My friend, Chris, sent some pictures of the beautiful flowers in her yard down in Texas. So, as she says, there is hope for us all!

The potted geraniums have been blooming through the winter

Purple Lantana

The first Gardenia

Red Buds in bloom

Thanks, Chris, for this little glimpse of hope and spring!

The Radley House

2009-02-18T00:25:00.022-06:00

The Radley House
Village of Rural, Wisconsin

The widow's walk. Back in New England, homes along the seacoast had an open or enclosed porch up on the roof of the house where one could look out to sea. It was called a widow's walk because often a woman would watch for her man who was lost at sea and would never return. Here in the Midwest these are more often called cupolas, though Belvedere may be used from time to time.

Eaves shelter the building on each side, decorated by double brackets.

The addition at the back of the house - off the kitchen - is being extensively reconstructed.

The Carriage House was built long after the main house. You can see the difference in the construction of the windows and the lack of eaves as well as in the shape of the doorways.

The Radley House is currently being carefully restored by it's owners. Even though restoration was not completed it was featured in the Rural House Walk for the first time in 2008.

A Powerful Valentine

2009-02-03T14:15:00.011-06:00

Heart of Fire

Sherry Jackson - 1951 - 2007

As I was sitting here percolating ideas for this year's Valentine greetings my thoughts went to my dear friend, Sherry Jackson. During the last months of her courageous battle with stage IV breast cancer, Sherry turned to art to express her feelings. One of the results of her creative expression was a series of ATCs (artist trading cards) that she called "Heart of Fire".

Her design can be found on note cards, prints, clothing and even cute little Teddy Bears on CafePress. As Sherry would have liked, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these items goes to support breast cancer research in her memory.

So this year I'm going to send Heart of Fire cards and Teddy Bears for Valentine's Day. Helping to find a cure for this terrible cancer seems like a real sweetheart of an idea. I hope you will join me!!

http://www.cafepress.com/HeartOfFire

Below Zero But Still Beautiful!

2009-01-30T16:53:00.012-06:00

I went out to take some pictures a few days ago and the wind chill was so bad that I kept having to get out of it in between shots. I was bundled up with hat, scarf, mittens, boots and a heavy coat but the chill easily penetrated everything. Just above my boots my legs felt as though they were burning from the cold and, indeed, they were very rosy when I was finished photographing.

Still, it was a gorgeous day and I couldn't keep from capturing some winter scenes for these pages.

The Crystal River looks so much different now than in the summer with bare trees and banks of snow and ice framing it. There is a lot of open water near the portage where the river runs down a small drop and is diverted for the mill race. If not for that, I'm sure there would be a thick coating of ice from one bank to the other.

The first three pictures were taken from on top of the bridge by the portage on old state highway
22 - now the corner of Main Street and Cleghorn Road across from The Weller Store.

The last picture is a tease. I couldn't resist taking several shots of the Radley House that day. It is so much easier to get photos of this wonderful house when the trees are bare. It is encircled by black walnut trees that partially obscure the building from view during the other seasons.

I will publish more photos of this house and some of the architectural details in a future blog.

Stay warm and stay tuned...