Yesterday morning, Don said it was time to get out of Dodge. He suggested brunch at the Millbrook Diner in the charming town of Millbrook, NY. It’s across the Hudson River from our little abode and, since it was warmer out and we had a wee bit of spring fever, we decided the drive would be the perfect antidote to the winter blahs.
The Hudson River is completely iced over except for this channel carved out by an icebreaker. Amazing.
I have to say I like the diner’s home fries the best. Ummm-mmmm! But I was so full I had to leave some on my plate.
After our meal, we walked down the street to a couple of our favorite antique shops. These are shops that we used to frequent fairly often when we lived on the same side of the Hudson. I’m glad we’ve rediscovered this little town. The area surrounding it, much like our neck of the woods, has a lot of horse farms, with rolling hills and beautiful older homes.
We found a few treasures yesterday.
I found this souvenir pitcher from the 1939 New York World’s Fair. I think it qualifies as miniature pottery, don’t you? That’s 24 karat gold, by the way. Have to admit, I was thrilled to add something from the World’s Fair to my collection.
I found this 1945 edition of Heidi for $1.00. It’s in great condition, no musty smell at all.
This book plate is just scrumptious. I don’t know if you can read the small print – it says: This bookplate is distributed only to members of the YOUNG FOLKS BOOK CLUB. Sigh. Thank you for this well loved edition of Heidi, Philip Lord Flint.
It has beautiful illustrations by William Sharp throughout:
I love it.
Don was the one who spotted this treasure. It was the ukelele that drew him. Since it was in a glass case, we figured it would be too pricey for us. But, it wasn’t. And it was on sale. It’s from the 1930s.
That grass skirt is made out of broomcorn, the material that is used in whisk brooms. I’ve never seen anything like her before. She simply had to come home with us.
She’s in excellent condition. We just love our Ukelele Girl.
The satin ribbon around her hips is gorgeous. Kudos to Don!
It was a nice getaway day. It’s warmer, sunnier, and the ice in the gutters is melting, along with some of the snow.
By the way, there is another round of spammy emails being sent out under my name. These are, I think, coming from the same people who hacked into my email in December. I’ve read before that they store the list and use it a few times. If you look closely, you’ll see it isn’t coming from my email address. As with any email, you should never click on a link without knowing it’s safe. And, of course, I would never send out that kind of email. I don’t think I was hacked again, as I’ve put safeguards on those email accounts, but nevertheless, I’ve changed my passwords. Again.
There you are.
Happy Tuesday.
Heidi has always been a favorite of mine. After reading it so many times when I was young, I wanted goats. In the mid 1980’s, I did get 2 goats—Heidi and Rosebud. Oh, they were so bad but I loved them anyway. I have a book club copy of Heidi, so not as nice as the one you found.
I think having goats would be very nice indeed, Linda. I wouldn’t have to mow the lawn, right?
Ah, Heidi!! I have such fondness for that book! Growing up in South Dakota, I used to pretend I was Heidi walking in the Alps as I clambered over all the snow mounds on my way to school each morning. Good memories! Glad you and Don were able to get out of the house! :-)
Heidi is such a strong childhood memory for me, too. This book is a welcome addition to our library.
Oh, what treasures you found! Be still my heart…..that Heidi book! $1.00, the book plate…I would love to find a gem like that! Congratulations on all your scores!
I thought it was $9, which I was perfectly willing to pay, but the man at the counter said it was $1! Thrilling!
So glad you were able to go on a little adventure Claudia. I would treasure that Heidi book, oh my. So many little treasures to add to your collections in one day must be some sort of record. Looks like Don has a good eye for fun things. My usual antidote to a week staying home with the little ones I keep is a Saturday morning stop at our favorite thrift store. Every purchase makes me feel like I’ve found a treasure.
We don’t do it very often, but when we have a chunk of time to treasure hunt, we sure are happy!
What fun!
It sounds (and looks) as though you had a lovely time treasure-hunting.
Seeing your photos reminds me of how much I miss the little villages and rolling landscape I grew up with. Who said the world is round? Here the landscape is completely flat, punctuated only by oil derricks and truck stops. Please keep posting more of your lovely photos!
I will, Barbara. I’ll have to post more of this little town and the surrounding area when everything is green and beautiful.
Oh, joy, to when everything is green and beautiful. We will arrive there sooner than later, I believe.
What treasures! That Ukelele Girl must be one of a kind. I don’t think I have ever seen anything like that!! Great find. The book is beautiful as is the little pitcher. Such fun. A day out at this time of year is another treasure, too. The same little trip taken mid-summer, though wonderful, is still not as appreciated as one taken now. We hit 54* yesterday and it was glorious. You could see the happiness on everyone’s faces … just not to be wearing heavy coats, scarves, hats and gloves was freeing in itself! Have a great day!!
There was a moment, in the afternoon, when my jacket felt too warm and we jokingly said to each other, “It’s too hot!”
Incredible picture of the Hudson and the little town is simply delightful. What great treasures! The ukulele girl is priceless. And the Heidi book brings back memories. Growing up, my friend must have had a similar edition because the picture looks familiar. I just love those old books. The illustrations are little works of art.
I love the illustrations in this edition, Karen. I was so happy to see them scattered throughout the book.
Sounds like a fun day! And what great treasures! I really enjoy going into antique stores/malls….you never know what you are going to find…like the ukelele gal. She’s unique…and quite stylish! ;)
She’s pretty darned cool, Donnamae! I really love her and I can see her from my blogging chair.
Happy Tuesday, Claudia. So glad to read you were able to have an outing. I can’t begin to imagine how you all bear such cold weather. We have had a cold winter here, but it doesn’t come near comparing.
Love your new treasures. The Heidi edition is gorgeous, and it made my heart go pitter-pat.♥
Your mention of home fries made me sigh. They just don’t make good home fries anywhere around here. I miss the great bagel shops and delis in south Florida. I was at the NC State Farmer’s Market Restaurant recently, and I foolishly order home fries. I had tried them before, but hoped they might be better. I told the waiter, with a smile, that they needed to learn how to make good home fries.
Oh, I know. Sometimes what is listed on the menu as ‘home fries’ just isn’t! I hope you find some somewhere near you, Beverly!
Hi Claudia,
Glad you got to go on a nice day trip! Love the edition of Heidi! I have a degree in children’s literature and I like to collect vintage children’s books when I can.
Your email may not have been hacked. Your email address may have been spoofed. It’s a technique that email spammers use. They spoof or fake your email address and then send it from their servers. Check the Sent folder in your email. If it has sent emails from the spammer, then your account has been hacked. If it doesn’t have any sent emails from them, your email address has been spoofed. Changing your passwords is a good precaution either way. In another life, I am also a technical writer. :)
Cheryl
Thanks, Cheryl! I think you’re right. It’s been spoofed. No sent emails from them in my Sent folder. I figured that might be the case, but it’s good to hear your thoughts on this. I figured changing passwords would be a good idea, no matter what! xo
So glad you got to get out for a day trip. Your Heidi book is in remarkable shape.
Don’t know if your ukele girl is or not, but they used to have those where you could pull out a straw and test a cake. I really don’t remember what they were called, but regardless, she is gorgeous. That ribbon detail is amazing.
Have a great day.
Judy
I wonder…. that might be exactly what that is for, Judy. I’ll have to look into it. Seems a shame to slowly de-skirt her, though!
So glad you enjoyed your day in Millbrook, NY…spent many days shopping there and eating at the Millbrook Diner with my Mom and Daughter, Fritzie. You really did make a day of it.
We did – and we needed it! Nice to know that a reader has enjoyed the diner as much as we have, Suzanne!
Ukelele girl is a clothesbrush, a cute dressing table accessory.
I had as a child — well still do — that edition of Heidi; love the illustrations.
My mother’s family is from the Hudson valley and I went to boarding school in Tarrytown, so icebreakers were a big part of my early years.
The cherry on the cupcake today was spotting Beverley Nichols on your bookshelf. Love him, never encounter anyone else who even knows who he was.
Too nice for a clothesbrush, don’t you think? At least for this girl!
I love Beverley Nichols. I discovered him several years ago via some website and fell in love with his words. We have to make more people aware of him, Margaret!
Definitely a clothesbrush; probably belonged to someone who thought it too cute to use.
I discovered Nichols when I was about 13 and have always loved him although apparently he wasn’t always a pure delight in person. Well, who is?
Thanks so much for the info on the clothesbrush! Things were so much prettier then, weren’t they?
Okay, I’m one you made aware! I feel embarrassed that I don’t know of him because I researched him after reading these comments and he was such a prolific writer! I read about one book of his being in continuous print from the ’30s; amazing. You can buy a lot of his stuff on Amazon. Thanks for making me smarter! I will be glad to make his acquaintance, starting with a gardening book.
He is a delightful writer, Vicki. You’ll like him.
What fun..the warmer weather was awesome..beautiful edition of Heidi..I also loved it as a child..nice little pitcher addition..and pretty straw lady..no matter what her purpose was..We also got out and did lots of browsing..Drove to Altoona Pa where they have most any store that I want to shop in and I went to Hobby Lobby for the first time..Wow..so much stuff I didn’t have time to look at it all..I found another Louse Penny in a discount store..”How the Light Gets In”..hardcover & new for $3.99..I haven’t started them yet as I am determined to find them all before I start..So nice to hear that you two had a good day out too..
How the Light Gets In is one of her more recent books. Great price, Nancy! Yes, find them all and read them in order. I really believe that’s the best way to read this series.
What a nice day you had and some treasures to boot..Sorry you were hacked again..I’ve been told that one has to change ones email after that happens..What a pain..They’ll just get you again eventually no matter what you do…Love the Hula girl..Hope you are having a good d ay..
I wasn’t hacked again, Missy. But the hackers used my name again. So, it’s just as annoying! I changed my passwords last time and I did it this time, just in case. But one of my readers tells me I’ve been spoofed, rather than hacked. They use my name, but none of the emails has been sent from my address.
I love your Ukelele girl and your Heidi book is priceless, great illustrations. I need to add to my vintage book collection, it is so pitifully small. Millbrook looks like a lovely place to dine and explore and to see the Hudson river frozen over would be an incredible sight!
It really shows just how frigid the temperatures have been here, Diane! We are desperately in need of Spring!
Isn’t Vassar and Bard there? I can remember when a young cousin of mine was looking to maybe go to Bard many years ago (she ultimately wound up going to school at Cornell). I seem to recall in my brain recesses that Millbrook is a VERY wealthy town, no?
Lovely photos; I so enjoy seeing your Hudson River environs. Thanks for the tour! Oh, how I’d love to see your part of the world; it’s so beautiful and different from mine. It’s good you could get out for some ‘air.’ It’s interesting to see a frozen river. Incredible to think that swift water could be stilled.
So many treasures! The Heidi book is wonderful. Congrats on the good find! And I remember Mother telling me that to find ceramics Made in Japan is significant and special. She was reverent about it. Would that be prior to World War II? She had some figurines which actually said, “Made in Occupied Japan” if I recall. I should look up what that means. Well, I then had to look it up, Claudia…your posts prompt me to learn more! Web info says: “A term used for Japanese export from 1945 to 1952. ‘Occupied Japan’ (OJ) is a term used for the time period from 1945 (after World War II) through April 25, 1952; it was during this time that the Allies ‘occupied’ Japan. As Japan needed to rebuild their economy after the war, part of the agreement to allow them to export goods out of their country was that they had to mark 50% of all items with ‘Occupied Japan’ or ‘Made in Occupied Japan.’ During the last 2 years, 90% of the items exported were kitchenware, which is why we have a proliferation of china, dishes, vases, etc. Many of the figurines were cheaply made, and looked it. But the Japanese had a wonderful talent for mimicry – you will find pieces that you would swear are Dresden and when you turn them upside down, you will find ‘Made in Occupied Japan.’ The collectibility of OJ is that it covered a specific 6-7 year period in our history. There are many fakes out there now…one test for porcelain: the mark was always put UNDER the glaze. If you have a suspicious piece, try nail polish remover. If the markings come off – it was a fake. Bisque pieces are most highly prized and much harder to identify for authenticity. Warning: Do NOT ever wrap any bisque item in newspaper or colored wrapping. The bisque will absorb the print and is nearly impossible to remove. It will ruin the piece.” (This is when I so love the internet for the valuable info other people share!)
You have some wonderful collectibles and mementoes in your home, Claudia. You inspire me to continue to declutter so that I can organize with all of my own little things lovingly collected over a long period of time. Moving and remodeling is the worst, when you have your loved things stored away and are instead living in a workshop/warehouse atmosphere. I have things stored away that I haven’t seen in 15-25 years; it’s THAT bad (we’ve moved, a lot; also cross-country like you). You actually forget what you have and it certainly prevents having a good inventory list for homeowners’ insurance! Out of the blue, I’ll think of an object…oh, yeah, I remember that…where is it? By summer, though, this house of ours WILL be settled. I’m a woman on a mission: I want a house like yours, Claudia!
Bard and Vassar are right across the river in Poughkeepsie. Millbrook is further east – and yes, some of it is very wealthy… but not all.
I have several pieces that were Made in Occupied Japan and many that are Made in Japan. All are collectible, but since the MOJ pieces are from a narrower time frame, they are more desirable. I also have two bisque figurines – quite large, that were my great-grandmother’s. A matching set – a man and a lady. But they’re out in the shed. This spring we’re going to sort through some of the boxes in the shed and dump the things that are damaged or that we never use. Hopefully, I’ll find some more treasures.
Wow, you have some very good treasures. Will be fun to sort thru the shed; I think you need to rescue the bisques and bring them inside!!
Hi Claudia. Sounds like a fun day and a great way to get rid of cabin fever! Doris
It was – we really needed to get out of town, Doris!
Hi Claudia, I see you have a Beverly Nichols book. I have 5 of them and they are such treasures, he was so funny. I read them about once a year and I never tire of them.
I love his writing, Carol. I plan to gather more of them in the near future – they are the kind of book I love to have on my shelves.
Claudia, are you familiar with the blog “Big Old Houses” written by John Foreman? He lives in Millbrook, writes about the history of this area, the Hudson Valley, NYC, famous families, the history of this area and the tycoons who settled it, etc. His blog is absolutely fascinating and I devour each new post. Please check him out-you’ll immediately go to the first post and read every one. Let us all know what you think of John and his blog. I also devour each of your new posts!
Oops-said “the history of this area” twice. Sorry.
Your post had me scurrying to my bookcase to look for my book from the Heidi series. It’s Heidi’s Children, printed in 1939, and had belonged to my mom. I haven’t read it in decades, but I will definitely add it to my pile. A is for reminding me! I’m glad you and Don had a fun outing. Why didn’t you take the home fries home? I love ukulele girl!
Looks like a fun day out, Claudia. My best to Heidi.
Amalia
xo
You got some great treasures. I love the jugs but the Heidi book is just fantastic. I still have my copies from when I was a little girl. Not quite as old as the one you’ve just bought!!
Glad you sent me to this post, I missed it yesterday. Love the little pitcher and yes it is perfect for the mini collection!! Heidi, what a great book and only $1…score! So that’s where you got the great doll brush, I knew I was missing something. Sounds like a really fun day for you and Don.
hugs,
Linda