Turning a Blog Friend into a Real, In-the-Flesh Friend

How many times have you read a blog and thought that the person behind that blog might be a great friend to hang out with?  This happens to me a lot ... I guess it's because I tend to follow blogs where the blogger seems to have a similar style and attitude to my own.  Most of these folks, however, live in faraway parts of this country or other countries, so a get-together could be practically impossible. 

Sometimes, the stars align and I find someone I know I will love right here in my own backyard.  This was the case with Linda of Haven on Hanover.  I have followed her escapades for a long time, as she renovated her turn-of-the-century home in Richmond ... all the while thinking that she and I would probably get along great.  Yesterday (FINALLY!) we meshed our schedules and met for an afternoon of lunch, junk hunting, and getting to know one another better.

The photos in this post are all of the wonderful items I brought home yesterday.  I literally felt like I was on a treasure hunt ... there were so many great things.  This 3-gallon crock is in perfect condition!

I collect almost everything related to Fredericksburg.  Farmer's Creamery was a dairy that operated in downtown Fredericksburg until the 1970s.  This crate, with plywood side panels, must be one of their 'newer' styles.  I have an older one in our family room that holds magazines and my knitting.

Linda and I hit it off immediately, and we had a fabulous time together.  In person, her home is beyond anything that she can possibly show on the blog ... and I was secretly trying to figure out a way to sneak her dogs out the door and into my car without her noticing.  (She probably would have only pretended to stop me from stealing Harvey.)  On second thought, I doubt my cats would appreciate it if I had succeeded in taking Harvey.  I can just go to Richmond and visit him.

I can rarely resist a great garden book.  This one had great photos of over-the-top gardens all around the country. 

Here is an example ... an estate in Long Island, NY, where the house looks like a reproduction of Mount Vernon.

We started our day with some shopping at Class and Trash and Through the Garden Gate.  Each of us found wonderful treasures, and the back of her van was pretty full by the time we stopped to have lunch.  (Speaking of lunch, Linda lives right around the corner from Joe's Inn, one of my favorite Richmond restaurants ... it's fate, I tell you.)
 
 

This was my favorite buy of the day ... one of those things that make you squeal and clutch your treasure to your chest, and run for the cashier before anyone sees you?  This is a hand-drawn memorial to a couple from Strafford, NH, from 1836.  Look at the detail in this drawing!!!  and the CAT!!  I will have it reframed with archival materials to preserve it better.

Both of us decided that this was a very successful 'blind date' and that we intend to spend quite a bit of time in each other's company in the future. 

Dorothy doesn't want me to see her checking out the chandelier.  I don't have an exact place for this yet, but I knew that I would kick myself if I left it behind. 

Alice approves of my treasures.

Let's get back to my original question ... is there a blog that you really enjoy and do you think you would like to meet the blogger?  If that person is local, what are you waiting for???

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I'm linking this post to the following:
Vintage Thingy Thursday
Junkin' Finds Friday