Field Trip - A Breath of Fresh Air

Yesterday was the first nice day we've had in almost six months. It's difficult to keep your spirits up through a long winter. It was a good opportunity to roll down the windows and drive across the northern Illinois landscape.

My errand for the day was to drive out to DeKalb and renew license plates for our daughter. We'll leave the discussion of the rude state employee for another day. The weather was too beautiful to focus on anything so negative as the Devil of the DMV.

There were some barns I wanted to photograph on my way home so I returned on Route 38 and I thought you might like to stop at Josie's Antiques with me. Her heart-shaped sign is out on the highway and you'll see her "open" flag flying in the breeze.

It's one lane and it's quite a distance so if there's another car coming, someone has to pull off at the edge of the cornfield.



And she's trimmed the pine trees because they used to "tickle" the car when you drove through.

When you get out of your car you'll be greeted by her Collie. I swear, Collie's make the best farm dogs. I sure miss my Bonnie.



There are several buildings filled with wonderful things. I always like to start in the main building because Josie bakes delicious chocolate cookies every morning and puts them in a glass jar on the counter. She'll offer you one, or you can help yourself.



If you stop in winter she's got the big stove fired up.



This is what I'd call the original pottery barn.



My imagination runs wild when I see things like this long harvest table. I can picture delicious dinners and wonderful friends gathered around. In the past hearty meals would have been served to farmhands who sat together at noontime, bowing heads and saying grace.



This toy typewriter reminds me of the vintage Underwood I bought the other day. Remind me to show it to you later.



This Crown range was made in Chicago. I'd love to have one of these in my kitchen. The refurbished vintage stoves are a fortune!



I'm thinking about going back for these old laundry tubs. I think they'd be great out on the deck this summer, filled with ice and cold bottles of beer and soda.



If you duck over to my photoblog for a minute you can see inside Josie's historic 1839 barn. Yes....that adds up to 169 years old!

Such a beautiful day needs to be shared and I'm glad you could come along with me.

As I turned out of Josie's I saw something that boggled my mind, and believe me it takes alot to boggle me! More about that tomorrow.