Saturday in Dubuque

We went to visit my in-laws in Dubuque this Saturday and stopped at the favorite shops on the way. Of course, first stop is Gatherings, where we ooohed and aaahed at all the lovelies. She has this most gorgeous sugar bucket with old blue paint and a big bread board with old blue paint that made me very sad at the state of my finances that we couldn't have them right now. What did I buy? Bread boards, because you can really never have too many.... Next was the Whiffle Tree, run by about the nicest people on the planet. There I found some beautiful dough bowls. When Grace was little, she used to sit in the big armchairs by the counter and chat with the owners as I shopped. Last stop was Plaza Mall in Dyersville, where I thought I'd go home empty handed, but new dealers in the back room! That is where I found the good finish things.

In Dubuque, we took a drive around some of the old fancy schmancy neighborhoods. Usually, we just go to his parents, a post war working class neighborhood. His mom and dad built their ranch home in the 50s and got in the local paper for having such a modern and forward looking home. It is all blonde woodwork, and very 1950s. All the family antiques went to us, everyone else in the family said "Elaine and Jim like that crap, give it to them." Sometimes it is good to be the only antiquers on board. As for the fancy neighborhoods, OH MY GOD! These houses are huge, gorgeous, they have grounds, not lawns! My husband said "Well, this is where the doctors live". I said "You do realize you are a doctor and our 1400 square foot ranch home would fit in these peoples garage." He told me I should have married a specialist. I reminded him that he was actually a stock boy at K-Mart when I married him, just knew he had potential.

I put the goods in the shop, even though I am leaving and won't be shipping stuff until next week, hoping the customers understand. Clarinda should be fun, we are looking forward to meeting our houseguests and seeing family, will be back with photos next week!!