dream weekend, part two

Sometimes I struggle with a subject for my blog, but there has been so much going on around here lately that I am far behind in all of the things I want to share!!!

Back to my weekend with Heather...

We were up bright and early to hit the sales-as a savvy shopper knows you need to hit it first and fast.  A group of mommy bloggers were holding a sale just down the street from me, so that was our first stop.  My friend Tracy http://www.sellabitmum.com/ was part of the group.

Treasures! Books and luggage and old hat pins and dishes. Wonderful finds.  We even had our picture taken, and got blogged about here:  http://www.offcamerwithtrish.com/2010/05/post-signature.html

Then it was off to downtown St. Paul, where a group of artists, who live and work in their studios in the Lowertown Lofts, were holding a sale.

Oh my.  I do believe it is the very best rummage sale I have ever attended.  My blood pressure climbed,and I am pretty sure I had heart palpitations.

It was an artist/crafter's dream.  We picked up rick rack and old rubber stamps and antique books and bottlecaps and linens and shoe trees and bocce balls and ribbon and doodads and baubles and kerfuffle. 

I think we were there for two hours, browsing and shopping, and doing a lot of smiling, and "HEATHER!  Did you see this????"  The prices were amazing, and six bags later we hauled our treasures down in the elevator.  Oh my.

By then we were faint with hunger, having completely forgotten about eating in all of the excitement.  Luckily we were right next to Farmer's Market, so we made a pit stop at my favorite bagel spot.

Veggie on sesame, with extra olives.  Heavenly carbs.

And then it was time to explore the market:  cave aged cheese from Wisconsin,

fresh rhubarb, pots and pots of herbs and flats of plants.  Endless possiblities.  And of course gelato, which I blogged about last Friday.

Then it was time to head to La Patisserie, which needs a whole post in itself.  Tune in later this week for that story.

We headed home, tired and happy, and the sun obliged by peeking out from behind the clouds, and the rain started to evaporate. 

I moved the music to the back yard, we pulled together a tray of goodies-manchego with fig preserves, the gorgeous cave-aged goat cheese and a crispy baguette, fresh pears and apples, and of course very large glasses of wine. 

We sat and talked until the sun set, resolving all of the worlds problems, and then it was jammie time. We cuddled under blankets and watched "Away We Go", and our night was full of pleasant dreams of good food and amazing treasures.

(all photos courtesy of Miss Heather Hanson, you can find more info on her photography on the sidebar of my blog)

LATE BREAKING NEWS:  Carole King and James Taylor-Live at the Troubador Tonight on PBS (channel 2 in the Twin Cities) from 8-9:30 pm. 

Check your local listings !