I have collected quadruple plate dishes for years. I can’t give you a definition except silver plate is always shiny and quadruple plate is almost blackish and dull – I like it better.
So I found two pieces – one blackish and one that’s been polished up and I had to buy both to see the difference. Look up quadruple plate – I did and found out it has 4 times the silver as silver plate. Huh? I need to look into this more – each piece generally has a number and the words quadruple plate. From the late 1800s to early 1900s.
And this hinged wooden box that I thought could hold kindling by the fireplace – or dog food or potatoes and onions or waste paper – so many possible uses!
And this old dog bowl that says Man is dogs best friend
I thought Dottie and Sarah acted bored in their barn pen and outside so I shut some gates so they could go out to the pasture which I just mowed. Then there’s another door that the big goats use and another fenced area south of the barn. I got brave and opened those two areas for Dottie and Sarah and lo and behold the chicks thought it looked fun, too! Good heavens, did I have a time getting everybody back to their sleeping quarters just now.
I did work at the long arm today – this is the Iowa Shop Hop panel which will be my outside quilt till fall. I quilted it simply and did not bother to bind – just stitch close to the edge and use a pinking rotary blade. One season outside is probably all this quilt will last anyway but I love to see it hanging by the door. I noticed the bicycle which reminded me that RAGBRAI will be starting next week.
Last week this box arrived in horrible condition – torn, crushed and retaped! This is what was inside – glass and none was broken which doesn’t even seem possible after looking at the box.
Malynda Reed, a blog reader, recently purchased a seasonal cottage – a furnished Chautauqua cottage – and these were some things that she thought I’d enjoy and I do! Thank you, Malynda! She says it’s a thank you for being her weatherman in Ohio because whatever I say the weather is doing here, she knows she gets it next!
Questions TO Readers
Sheryl wants to know what to read next – this is a loaded question, isn’t it? She just finished Theo of Golden.
Joann Bengston from Lindstrom, MN – do you know Jim and Amy Green who live in Lindstrom?
Elaine Earl – thank you for saying I wasn’t too old to care for more animals. 😊
Margie Fisher – I loved your quilt shop story! And for the rest of you – Margie and 6 other quilters from CA were here at the farm in 2003 on their way to Thimbleberries in MN. I sent fresh eggs and pumpkins with them to give to Lynette. Did they really fly into Mpls, drive south to Iowa to see us and then back to Minnesota, north and west of Mpls again? Thank you!
Donna Maglinger – have we celebrated your mom with birthday greetings?
Moe and Kailey Baly – I love that you wrote the card in red and blue ink and how fun to get your walk in as you shop!
That’s it for me! Good Night!
I never heard of quadruple plates either. What a lovely collection you have, Mary. Love the blanket, too. Most of our antique malls seem to be very expensive around here, but it’s fun to go & just browse. We were fortunate to get a couple of nice showers here Saturday afternoon. We could still use more rain, everything is so dry.
Oh my goodness…you hit the mother load! What GREAT finds. Love, Love, Love the the crocheted chicken.
I had never heard of quadruple plate dishes. My dad and grandfather were both auctioneer so I’ve been to a many auction and have never seen those dishes. Just go to show that you are never to old to learn anything.
Oh you will get a hoot out of this….but I wrote this message last night….late and forgot to send it. LOL
Thanks for the book suggestions. I just finished The Book Club for Troubled Women. I enjoyed it. Am now reading, Camera Girl about Jacqueline Kennedy.
Liked all your found treasures. I hadn’t heard of that type of dishes either. You were a lucky recipient of things from Malynda for sure.
The Iowa quilt is gorgeous. I saw the Michigan quilt from last year was quite beautiful also although I didn’t buy it.
My husband and I are visiting Indianapolis seeing our daughter and son-in-law. Been very hot but working in the garden anyway.
Have a great weekend, everyone! 🌻
Sunflower – do your kids know how lucky they are to have your help in their yards and gardens???
Oh, Mary, they are very appreciative! At my daughters we made and sold flower bouquets for the cat shelter Lauren volunteers for. We made over $100 in bouquet sales. I just love gardening and am lucky they let me help. Both of my kids have green thumbs. 🌻
Sunflower – haha! How could they NOT have green thumbs?
What a fun read today! And the items sent to you in that beat up box are amazing! Thank you for sharing your outside life with us AND your inside jobs! I cannot imagine dusting all your collections. I’m afraid they would live in a very dusty home if they were mine.
How you keep everything straight including birthdays, illnesses, etc is such a mystery to me but thank you for always thinking of others. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Elaine – oh, you silly girl! Who has time to dust?
Hello, I agree that I have learned so many things on this blog about ‘nothing’. Interesting. I’m not an antique collector. The antique things I have are from my grandparents. They are precious to me but who knows about the next generation!
Canton, sd has several antique stores. But, I have not been in them and do not know prices at all.
I love all the pictures of the antiques you have found Mary.
We are heading for a hot week! The whole country was red with a heat warning! Ugh! I wish I could think of some cool salads to eat when it is hot! Have a good evening and Sunday! Stay cool!
Joy – the next generation doesn’t like antiques so what will happen to all my great stuff? I so hope somebody wants it – all the old chairs that I collected years ago were examples of what they burned according to my mom. Wish I could slip over to Canton
Mary it’s about 13 miles from me…..they have a great place to eat….Sioux valley grill which is open Wednesday thru Friday for lunch. Heehee I’ll bet that is 2 1/2 hrs from you on highway 18. There is a nice quilt store in canton also…..you need more fabric, right? Oh it would be fun! I’m even feeling well enough to think about doing that kind of stuff! 😂😂
Mary, your collections are always so interesting. I love the Iowa panel for your doorway.
I’m glad the cat and the geese get along. My granddaughter’s cat likes to harass my dog. Too much of an age difference. Dog Buster is about 12 and cat is 5. Sometimes I just have to separate them.
My recommendation of a good book this year was The Wedding People by Alison Espach from 2024. Both very humorous and wise.
Thank you! I wrote it down. I am starting a list!
Wow! So many intriguing book titles. – wrote down at least ten titles. So many books, so little time. Mary, I have a pitcher that is quadruple plate. The things I learn on this blog. Loved the Iowa panel, too. Thanks for sharing from whence it came.
Stay hydrated all. Heat can take it’s toll.
Mary, I was inspired by your 48 star flag to search for mine. Found five 48 star flags and one 49 star flag which apparently is rare because it was only used for one year. Now what should I do with them instead of packing them away again? I remember walking with my dad in the 4th of July parades to get them.
Barb – stick them in a canning jar and enjoy them! Or a vase, can, crock jar, in the edge of a book, put in a window sill or side table and think how lucky you are to have a 49 star flag!
Thanks for the great suggestions. Now I’m on the hunt for the perfect container.
Barb – and don’t get too caught up in the perfect container – it’s really the flags you’re looking at, right?
I wondered, too, what to read as a follow-up to Theo of Golden. I finally chose The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife and it was a good fit for me.
We had some excitement in my neighborhood right as I was in Denver picking up my grandchildren the other day. Apparently, lightening struck twice–once between my house and my neighbor’s house (thankfully, no damage and I didn’t even lose power) and once in another neighbor’s tree just within sight of my back deck. That one took out that neighbor’s plate glass picture window when a branch split off and hit the house. I guess the boom was enough to rattle a few cages and bring the neighbors out. And it wasn’t even raining at the time! Thankfully, everyone is safe.
Diane – OMG! Lightning strike and you got lucky.
I just finished reading The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. I enjoyed it very much! She’s also the author of The Help.
Lisa – the Calamity Club was Connie’s recommendation next. Now I’m reading All the Little Houses by May Cobb
As always, I love seeing what you found at the thrift store. I never heard of quadruple before. I’m going to look for it the next time I go thrifting. I was looking in the background of your thrift store pictures and wondering if you came home with that basket of quilt blocks to the left of your storage box find. Looks like a wonderful place to shop.
High temperatures predicted here for next week. At least it’s not the flooding that is reported in Mississippi and Kentucky. Heat I can handle.
Connie – I think you probably saw my log cabin blocks – but I’ll check that out
Ragbra has started. I was on the rd yesterday and encountered several groups in their green tees.
Enjoyed hearing and seeing about your day yesterday. Such happy animals that get along. I used to really care about all that old silver and had some but gave it all away. Slowly I am weeding out old dishes too. I have one daughter who takes most anything including quilts!
I loaded my car with recycle this morning. After that dump at recycle center, I will load my car with stuff for New Hope that I have been piling in the garage. I stayed home from a retreat this upcoming week to get some of this stuff done. Sadly sewing has taken a backseat. Supposed to be hot this week so I will gladly stay inside and sew.
Fran – RAGBRAI starts July 18-25. Maybe you saw groups gathering but the ride has not officially started.
Mary, I stand corrected! They must be practicing? Could have been another local race too. Thanks for the info.
Fran – you know it just had to get it a bit hotter, right? I don’t know how they do it!
Good morning. A gorgeous morning here in Eastern Iowa. My new favorite book is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby VanPelt.Loved it. I found it hard to put down. Then I watched the movie of it on Netflix and started to reread the book. Went to the National Mississippi River museum here in Dubuque last week with grandkids and seen a remarkable octopus reminding me of the book. Cool. I found some Barbie fat quarter in my stash and using the Yellow Brick Road pattern to make for youngest granddaughter a quilt for Christmas. Have a great weekend.
Francine – loves the Bright Creatures book and movie, too!
I loved the book too! I was so excited to see it is a movie. I don’t have Netflix but I am staying at my son’s for a couple of days next week to dog/house sit. I am going to watch the movie.
I’m telling everyone I know to read Grandma Gatewood’s Walk, by Ben Montgomery. Just read it for my book club, and it is wonderful.
I just put Grandma Gatewood’s Walk on my wish list. Thanks for the suggestion. The description reminded me of Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts. You might enjoy it. It is about an older woman who wants to see the Pacific Ocean so she leaves her home in Maine and takes her dog and rides a horse across the country. It is a true story from the 1950’s. It is an amazing story.
Sheryl – the minute I read the description it reminded me of The Ride of Her Life which I’d put in my top 20 books
I read that one too! Loved it! I am originally from Maine so I could relate!
Mary, I truly love your Iowa Shop Hop fabric panel! I wish they would make it again, I sure would purchase it! Wish Minnesota’s group would do one so one like that, it is the essence of Iowa for sure! Guess I have not seen what the Iowa fabrics look like , will have to ask Heidi Keisand from Hen and Chicks Studio! I have a kit from 2023 or 2024 that I will have to get cut out and get that made! I went on the Tracy area Garden and Quilt show on Wednesday. Such lovely, lovely gardens! And the Quilts too! I bet they had their largest crowd ever. They serve pie and ice cream too which is included in the price of the ticket to attend. The church women make pies as a fund raiser. So many choices, all taste wonderful. Better than Betty’s Pies up on the North Shore by Two Harbors, MN, for sure. Today we are going to a celebration hosted by our friends Ken and Mavis Schultz, over at Garvin, it is their 60th Anniversary, can’t wait to see everyone. Have a great weekend. And, Mary, very interesting to learn about the quadruple plate, have never seen nor heard of it and the items you received from a blog reader are also lovely as well. Did you go to a usual thrift shop for your treasures, or a nene one? That is one activity I must get in this summer, Thrift-Shop shopping. Have a great weekend.
Cynthia – these antiques were purchased at the antique mall in Stewartville just south of Rochester. I went there after my appt at Mayo. It’s very large and prices are reasonable – there are absolutely no antique malls in North Iowa. Yes, the Iowa Shop Hop panel is typical Iowa, isn’t it? I got it at Larson’s Mercantile in Clear Lake – you could order one from them
I go to the Stewartville antique shop every time I’m in Rochester to visit my parents! It goes on and on and on and on as you wander back through it! I’m always a little concerned I’m going to get lost back there!
Diane – and HOT! Oh, those little back rooms with low ceilings are claustrophobic to me but I always seem to find things there especially in Randy Collin’s booth. He used to have Collin’s Feed Store just north of the clinic with antiques in the back. Sold the store and just has this booth.
I always visited Collin’s Feed to look at the antiques, too! I loved how they arranged the whole place by color—thought that was rather unique. Glad to hear they have a booth in Stewartville!
Diane – one time on my way home I went through Kasson – it was garage sale weekend and sure enough I stopped at one and it was Randy’s house!
I love your Iowa Shop Hop fabric; it covers your state nicely. Wisconsin shop hop fabric was about our State Fair and I couldn’t resist the panel and some of the extra fabrics, I love State Fairs! I need to get mine done and hung outside on our porch. How did I not know you had geese??? we raised some when I was a kid and I recall them being particularly mean to us kids. I’m reading a book called Winterdance, by Gary Paulson. It’s his account of training and running the Iditarod race. His love of his dogs, particularly cookie and the wilds of Alaska.
I checked and the library has Wintersong. I just reserved a book that I’ll pick up this morning so I put Wintersong on my wish list. Thank you for the suggestion.
I have never heard of quadruple plates. What a very interesting collection! I learn so much on this blog. I love your Iowa quilt on your porch and all your finds especially the wooden box and the crocheted chicken. I could definitely find a use for the box. I went to a quilt shop today looking for backing for my grandson’s quilt. I’m looking for 108″ fabric. Couldn’t find what I want. The search is on!
Have a great weekend!
I have often used cotton flat bed sheets for backing There are so many colors and prints to choose from.
Mary I love every one of your ‘finds’!!!!! I especially love that red blanket!
Sheryl, read Whistler by Ann Patchett!!!!! It is wonderful. Our book club is going to read Theo of Golden this year. My friend Beverly says it is the best book she’s ever read…..besides the Bible!
I also liked God of the Woods.
Carol – I must not have been in the right frame of mind when I read Theo because I didn’t care for it – boring until the end. Maybe I should read it again
Thank you, Carol! I have Whistler on my hold list on the library’s on-line site. It estimates a 6 month wait. I just now looked to see if the library has the book and they do so I reserved it. I prefer reading on my Kindle but the library has a large print! I’ll get it this morning. I read the description of God of the Woods and the description says it’s a thriller so I’ll pass. I have to be careful what I read or watch on TV. Thank you for the suggestions.
I read God of the Woods and loved it! I think I read it in a day. Thriller might be a little dramatic. I would describe it as more of a multi-layered mystery with a lot of interesting family dynamics woven in.
Have you read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer? It’s filled with indigenous wisdom.
Or The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer? This one seems like it would be a really good one to read after Theo.
I’ll add the books to my list. I have a lot of good recommendations! Thanks!