Summer Plunder

I haven't been very faithful about reporting my summer plunder to you.  But this weekend was the local flea market where endless piles of basement boxes were sprawled along the castle walls of our small town.

As always it was a mix of amazing treasure, scary objects and confusing things.  Intertwined with happy people, excited buyers, pushers, barterers, bashful hunters, aggressive crazies and a few haters. 

For awhile I actually stopped going to these because I couldn't hear the old people tragically explaining to me just how much that object had cost them in Deutsch Marks.  It breaks my heart every time. I'm never really sure how to respond because I don't know how to nicely say in German, "I'm terribly sorry about the coming of the Euro but your stuff has been in a basement for years.  Do you actually want to sell it to me or should we just brew coffee and talk about this?"

I'm always happy to find the ones who want to tell me the story behind the object.  I usually understand 80% of what they say, but what I'm hearing over and over is, "give me a little something for this thing that you like because my turn with it is over.  Give it a new home, a new life and new stories.  Here you go, I've been saving it all this time just for you..."  After years and years of treasure hunting experience, I've learned that the people who don't sell much of their merchandise are the people who aren't ready to let go of their stories.  That, or else they happen to be the ones who are offering lots of broken junky garbage.

The weather was gorgeous, so unexpectedly hot that some were stripped down to their undergarments and strangely one man was wearing tassles on his ears. (Probably a better choice than his nipples). 

My "big" find was a solid, heavy printer drawer for 8 euros.  Here's some pics of the event along with the final shot of the treasures I've amassed over the summer.  Like a hibernating bear, I've clearly gorged myself for the upcoming winter. 

Comments

[iHanna]

Oh, thanks for sharing the photos TJ. I love going on a treasure hunt, and to wee what people come home with and what they leave behind for others to find! The type drawer is amazing, and so is the house shelf. I hope you will show pictures of them in use soon!

[lee]

wow what a stash, I am so jealous

[linda]

Wow, those photos look like a fun time...I love running around open air markets and finding goodies! It is sad that many older items seem to be trash these days, even though they are so precious and beautiful. I have found a lot of things in the attic from my mother-in-law and grandma-in-law. I hope to use them well and not let them go to waste!

[Monica]

taking a moment to peek in on your doings now that you have returned from your summer vacation...what great finds! I love flea markets but haven't been to a really good one for ages, but its nice to get a vicarious thrill from your treasures =-)