Collecting at the Cabin

We have closed up the cabin for the season, but I had a few pictures I still wanted to share.

When we were up for a quick visit over Labor Day we met some friends for lunch. We used to live next door to Tom and Kate when our girls were just 1 year old. Now they are all married and we each have 4 grandchildren!! They still live in Minnesota, but have place in Wisconsin about an hour or so from us. We met them for lunch at a really nice place on a lake {that narrows it down!} I didn't take any pictures, and I don't remember the name. I guess that is one good reason to take pictures of the outside of restaurants. I felt kind of silly the first time I did that, but now I can see that comes in very handy.

After our lunch they suggested that we go tour a nearby winery. They hadn't been there before either and it sounded fun to us. It is new and the people that built it wanted it to look European. They do grow grapes there and make their own wine, but they import the grapes for the wine. I think the ones they grow are for jelly. I didn't think northern Wisconsin had the climate for wine!!
Bob and Kate and Tom.
And the obligatory cask shot. It was fun to visit and try their wines. They were good and of course we bought a couple of bottles. But it was more fun to catch up with good friends. We'll see them in the spring, unless they decide to make a winter trip to Texas. HINT
The rest of the picture are of some of my shopping at the cabin. There are a few "antique" shops around and it is fun if you are actually looking for something. Our cabin is fairly well furnished, but I have nothing for the walls. So the hunt began.

Of course these aren't for the walls, but the color scheme at the cabin is black and red so these had to come home with me. I love the holder - I remember these from back in the day.
This next collection began with a church plate of my grandma's church. I thought it would be fun to see if I could find some more in black and red for the downstairs bedroom. They aren't real easy to find, but I did find several this visit at one shop.
And aren't these fun BBQ trays? Of course they are in black and red and I think they are very vintage. I have 3 so far, but I just found 2 more on E*ay. Fun!

I do like the old metal trays, I have several black tole trays at home and I just couldn't resist this one of Wisconsin. My sister collects them, and I am going to try hard not to also, but I can see where it would be fun to have ones of the states that we have lived in.
Another plate collection in the upstairs bedroom of states. Only 3 so far ~ I just want 2 more I think. Kansas and Texas.
And last but not least, I found the little red and black truck at a shop that had lots of goodies. Someone made this truck and it is so cute with my little bear board books in it. You can glimpse my little red chair collection {I have a couple more...and vintage picnic basket on the TV cabinet.} Hmm maybe I'd better stop. When I see it all together here in one post it looks like I might have a problem! It has been fun though and I think it is making the cabin just a little more interesting.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!
{Click on any picture to enlarge it}