This year on my summer bucket list was the Brimfield Antique Fair. It’s the largest most popular antique fair in the country. It’s only open three times a year and over 6,000 vendors come with their goods.
As the days got closer I lost my motivation to go. It was going to be a far drive and I couldn’t find anyone excited to go with me. Normally I don’t mind doing things alone but this was going to be a full day with the fair being 3 hours away. Mark did kindly offer to go but I knew it’s not how he’ll really like to spend a summer day. I talked myself out of it, because I really wasn’t looking for anything specific and I had since heard the one in the fall is better.
We had were having such fun the friends here that I also forgot about the fair for a few days. But towards the end of the week, and the end of the fair I wondered if I was just being lazy. I mean who knows what amazing things I could find there.
Then as luck would have it I found two wonderful antiques here. On a visit into Rathbun Jewelers I noticed a beautiful pocket watch in the estate section. It caught my eye but I usually let things like that sit for a day or two before I buy. If I still want them, then I know it’s not just an impulse buy.
A few days later we were in the store and I had Mr. Rathbun put it on a silver chain for me and now it’s one of my most favorite possessions. It’s a european watch from the 1880’s- and it works! I carefully wind it up and admire the sounds it makes.
Then if that wasn’t sweet enough I found a working 1938 Remington Rand Model 1 Typewriter. Presley and I were in a store in Vermont poking around for possible fairy house items (that’s another blog post). We stopped in Clemetines and saw these typewrites placed around the store. I started asking a few questions about how hard it was to find the ribbon, if they worked etc. She answered all my questions and then invited us to type a note.
Presley having never seen one before needed a little help with the paper but then began typing. Her first note, “i love lenny and momma and dad”... Yeah, we’ll take it! We were in the store about 45 minutes and I just couldn’t leave without it. It was a bit of a quick decision but I love buying local, I didn’t want it shipped and it’s so beautifully charming (the only way to describe it). Presley let me know today that it’s not mine it’s hers. One day it will be, just not yet...