I have always wanted to check Canton out but just never have for some reason. Thanks to the best travel agent and organizer in the world - my daughter - this was the year. The family shrub headed to Canton with empty vehicles and full wallets (that was reversed on the way back - grin). This gives you a clue as to why it was reversed...anything and everything you could want is here, and this is just a part of it. I blatantly stole this from the Canton Chamber of Commerce page to show you why my feet still hurt. :)
How can it not be a fabulous weekend with this as a start - I think God was trying to tell me something.
With that start I was off to pick up the woman my brother was wise enough to marry and make my sister-in-law, Betty. Jezebel, the GPS built into Dora the Explorer, was insistent we take I-35 and not the back roads. Guess who won that battle. We shut her off and followed our instincts. Fun trip, the first one we have made together for some reason, but certainly not the last as far as I am concerned.
We stopped for lunch and then at a little town's little park that was filled with metal artwork. Thank you, Jewett, Texas for the break, it was lovely. I am not an art connoisseur of art, and some of this was pretty symbolic of something that I didn't understand. But wonderful nonetheless. The first piece was a beautiful giant work of art and you kept finding the hidden items. The sign was in front and was an "ahhh" moment.
Some of the details on the bouquet. Mr. Herring, I think I like you!
Someone had a great sense of humor I think.
Sadly one of the statue had been broken. A shame because it was beautiful.
If you happen upon a dancing bear...you dance right? Photo of me by Betty.
One of at least two chandeliers hanging from the trees...and a photo bomber!
One of those I wasn't sure what it was symbolizing, however you could see the talent that went into the piece.
Again, not sure. Betty thought the taller piece looked like a rabbit's profile.
Jim, I don't know about this wife of yours....away from you for only a couple of hours and already hitting on the first cowboy she sees!!
Doesn't look like he minded a whole lot.
More miscellaneous sculptures around the park. Again I don't understand them all - well I do recognize the bottom as a paw print - but I can sure appreciate the work and the talent that went into them.
Back in the corner was a little untended garden, a nice surprise, but a bit of a sad one too. Someone built it with love and now it is neglected...why? What's the story?
Heading on down the road we saw beautiful scenery, and lots and lots of chicken farms. Sanderson Farms had a big presence in the area.
Finally with only one or two hiccups, thanks to Jezebel's reluctance to guide us, and maybe or maybe not a stop at a flea market, we made it to Mill Creek Ranch and checked into our cottage.
Cottage 97
Back of the cottage - the side door was locked and was not to be used for some reason.
The property was so peaceful and had little ponds and shaded areas throughout. No vehicles were allowed down by the cabins, you parked your car and someone drove you and your baggage to your cabin on a golf cart. Sure made a difference in the peacefulness factor.
Views from the back porch. There were lots of trails running through the property but after traipsing around trade days we were not interested in taking any walks. Next time we will pace ourselves.
This was across the cart path in front of the cottage. That danged goose never shut up the whole time we were there...honk, honk, honk, honk, honk. Day and night. By the end of the first night I was searching the web for roast goose recipes!
I only went up the steps to the top of the hill once because when I did that, I saw this...
That was enough for me.
We took a quick look see at the trade days location, but everyone was closed or closing by the time we got there so we walked and looked at what wasn't covered up and then came on back to the cottage.
Everyone brought something for the table, no organizing there, just bring something you like to eat and want to share. Surprisingly it worked out beautifully! We had cheeses, guacamole, boiled shrimp, crackers/pretzels/beet & sweet potato chips, olives (fancy and regular) and pickles, and God only knows what else. Nobody went hungry that's for sure.
We did get to see the sunset before we crawled into our pajamas and chillaxed.
Up and attem the next morning...there were bargains to be had and we had to get our share. Friday was cool and Saturday was forecasted to be h-o-t so we chose to check out the outside vendors first and save the inside shady areas for Saturday. I made my first big purchase almost immediately. It is a cabinet that sat behind the front desk of a hotel. The keys, messages, mail or whatever was put in the slots with the room numbers beside them. There is a basket of additional plates if I choose to restore it to the original idea of teeny slots that would hold a key and a message or two. The room numbers are still on the dividing columns but are getting very faded and hard to read. Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me....thanks Mom!
This is sitting in front of a normal sized fireplace opening if that gives you an idea of the size. The photo on top was taken by my multi-talented daughter and the box was my Dad's humidor for his cigars. This is not its permanent location but will work for now.
When we left Friday morning, we put some chicken on to marinate in a Ziploc bag. We also asked that maintenance come and adjust the bathroom door that was hard to close. A lightbulb went off and we left a couple of bucks and a note asking the maintenance guy to flip the chicken for us so it would marinate on both sides. This note was waiting for us when we got back.
Marian and I had come back earlier than the other three, but when they got on the Mill Creek tram to come back, Ann the bus driver asked them if they were the "chicken ladies". Turned out that Doug called up to the office and told them that there was a note to flip the chicken and what should he do? Whoever answered at the office told him to look in the oven or the fridge and flip the chicken. After that we were the official Chicken Ladies and on our last trolley ride we gave Ann, whose birthday was the next day, a little white chicken that we had all signed and written FLIP down his front...she hurried into the office just a giggling "look what the chicken ladies gave me...Flip the Chicken".
Anyway, back to Trade Days...after I bought the hotel chest I was seriously depleted in cash (note...take plenty of cash most places do NOT take credit cards). In fact, Trish paid for it and I headed for an ATM machine. DENIED. WTH???? Denied? I don't think so! Tried it again, DENIED. Another woman walked up and with no trouble got money. I tried again and DENIED. Called the bank and had a lovely chat with someone there and she suggested I try another machine. Which I did after waiting for four other people to get money out with no problem. DENIED. Now I am mad, embarrassed, broke, etc. So, she goes off to check something and I stand back while others happily get cash out of the machine. She came back on and said I don't even show you having tried to make a withdrawal. So I check the card out to see if the magnetic strip is scratched or something...then I saw it. One word in the corner that differentiates my card from my mothers. I was using her card to get money out of my account. Didn't work :) Mine however worked beautifully on the first try. DUH!
Lunch was a yummy chicken salad sandwich - not sure if they flip their chicken salad or not - and luckily found a place to sit. This was the problem.
Everyone wanted a place to sit down and eat and 75% of the people had strollers, wagons, shopping carts, or something to haul stuff in - as we did.
Yummy dinner of grilled chicken, rice and fruit salad and it was soon lights out. We had shopping to do the next day. Once again I cautioned Betty that we could only buy small stuff. I did ok on small stuff on Saturday until I got to Ray and Tommy's booth.
See....it is all small. And the cookbook you don't see is small too, heavy but small enough to pack in the car.
A purple leash holder for Marti's purple leash ("perpul" is her favorite color), a decorative glass bottle, a Snoopy bank for my son, some gift bags begging to be embellished, a Japanese knock off of a Hall teapot which looks identical to the Hall I have, two perfume bottles, soap for a friend, a charm for a card, and four little dogs to add to the Marti collection. Small....
Well then we met Ray and Tommy and this jumped at me. One of those I have to have it finds. So I figured I could find bungee cords somewhere to tie Betty to the top of the car and I made an offer. Mine.
No shelves in it, just open space. It did not come on the stand.
So they have some tables that Trish was looking at, and Betty was looking at some wind chimes, and I was through I thought. Tommy, the brat of the two, was just talking and said something like "I can't believe nobody has even asked about this piece, I think it is really pretty." I offered him a ridiculous price for it and now I had to find a place in Dora the Explorer for it too hoping Betty would be able to hang onto her luggage on top too. Luckily it folds flat.
That's Marti int he top picture checking it out. She hasn't been two feet from me since I got home other than necessary quick trips outside.
We tried the shaded buildings and it was stifling in there, so we went back to the outside booths and skipped from shady spot to shady spot. At one of the shady spots we found this beautiful truck (nope not rusty but still gorgeous).
It was occupied, and we had to stop and admire both the truck and the occupant, Lola, who was sporting bows behind each ear. Quite the stylish young lady.
I asked if I could take a picture for a friend who used to own a Great Pyranees. I was informed that it was not a Great Pyranees...BS, I do know a Great Pyr when I see one...but let him think what he wants. His explanation is it is a Giant Hairy Texas Mexican Chihuahua. I told Lola to smile for Ed and she did!
Some booths were more colorful than others. We got a shot of the four of us, Marian had already headed home, in front of Junkalicious.
Then when we do finally get back to the cottage that danged goose is still honking and honking and honking. I tell you, it drove me to drink!!
We did find out why it was so loud....get ready to put your "awwwww" on.
AWWWWWWWW
All good things must end and our time at Canton did just that. Once again Jezebel was insistent that we take the interstates, so off she went. We really didn't need her other than for time and how many more miles to go. But I am used to her being on so I kept trying and kept getting "in 1/4 mile make a legal U-turn". I admit I called her a name, and she got insulted and went totally black on me. My whole control screen went blank. She was one PO'd puppy!! Tried restarting, nope, tried reseating the card, nope...she was in her room pouting and wasn't coming out. We did stop for lunch and she forgave us and behaved the rest of the way pretty much. Saw several places I would have loved to shoot but not a convenient shot so passed them up. This is the only one I really got...Betty's neck brace can be removed in a couple of weeks :) What's a little whiplash among family anyway?
A lovely lovely time with lovely people and one more item off my bucket list. If I go back I will be a little more informed on when to go, how long to stay, etc. and it won't take me two days to recuperate.
Betty, I enjoyed the company to and from. Where we going next????
Wherever you go, take the back roads, they are prettier, less crowded, and they will whisper to you if you listen.
