Tim and I got up early Saturday morning to go to an estate sale in Appalachia, specifically Derby. Derby is one of the old coal camps over there. I intended to take my camera with me because I joked with Tim that I was going to take a picture of the gas prices. It was $2.97 in Wise!! I think the highest it got here at one time was $3.65 so I hope it continues to fall. Unfortunately I forgot my camera and we forgot the cell phone too. Well, wouldn't you know we saw something that I honestly can't imagine seeing again in my lifetime. Ugh! I was so disappointed I didn't have my camera or at least the cell phone. We took the "old" road between Norton and Appalachia and beside the road in a wide spot was a bear! It was in a straight stretch so we were able to stop and roll down the window and watch her. How did we know it was a her? After a minute of watching her dig around in the gravel beside the road we saw a little paw under the guard rail and then two bear cubs came out from the woods!! It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Luckily there wasn't any traffic so we were able to watch them for about three minures or so. The cubs stayed underneath their mama the whole time. We blew the horn to scare them before we drove off and the cubs scurried back to the woods. Outside of a zoo I can't imagine I would be fortunate enough to see a mama bear and her cubs ever again. I am bummed I wasn't able to take a picture but so thankful that God allowed us to see them.
So, on to the estate sale we drove. We had driven up to another coal camp, Stonega a year and a half ago when we went to another estate sale in Appalachia so I was excited to drive up to Derby. It didn't disappoint. There were lots of company houses which had been refurbished. It's so interesting seeing a community like that and imagining what it would have been like to have lived there back in the day when coal companies owned the homes and everyone worked for the companies. We got to the estate sale by 8:30 a.m. and luckily they let us go in even though it wasn't supposed to start until nine. Neither one of us even noticed what the old house looked like on the outside. Guess we were excited to see the inside. ;)
This was the second day of the sale so I figured it would be a bit picked over. I guess it was but I couldn't hardly tell because there was still a lot of stuff. Even though I keep telling myself I am not going to buy anymore ironstone except old ironstone from England with markings I could resist a set of dishes. I'm sure they would be classified as "ironstone" but they had no markings. There was only one coffee cup so I guess that is what was used through the years and the others had probably been broken. I think I can get some use out of the dessert plates and bowls. We also picked up some small dessert bowls that were seperate and three jars with little stars around the rim that would have had jam but could be used as juice glasses now. I plan to use them as little vases for the 4th of July or any patriotic holiday or event.
We bought this tool box for $1.50. I'm not sure where I'll put this but it was kinda cool looking and I've seen a lot of people around the blogosphere buy them.
We found a box of old Christmas ornaments. I couldn't make up my mind whether to spend $15 on them or not. I had set a self imposed limit of $25 to spend and this box put us up to $40. I carried them around and kept thinking about it. I think Tim put it best when he said, "Either obsess about spending the money or obsess about not buying them." He knows me so well. I bought them.
After three walk throughs we were ready to go. Yes, three. We like to look and I always love looking at the homes. This home had wide wood moldings, large windows, plaster walls and high ceilings. I love to look at older homes.
After we left the estate sale we drove by Asaka and through Rhoda, two other old coal camps. Seriously, they are the coolest things ever. We could tell a couple of the large homes would have been the homes of the bosses. Then we had to get back to reality and go to Walmart to pick up a few things. We headed home and tried to stay in all day because the temperature hit 99 degrees. Seth came over and watched the Reds game with us and ate a burger.
I talked to Sarah on the phone as I unwrapped my treasures. There was some severe weather, especially wind Friday night in Virginia and other states but fortunately it missed us. There were over three million people without power including Dan and Sarah in Falls Church. Luckily their power came back on Saturday afternoon. Many people will be out up to a week. I can't imagine being wthout air conditioning and ceiling fans in this stifling heat. I am so thankful for these "luxuries." It really makes me think of how other folks live, not just people in other countries but some people here in this country don't have air conditioning. Makes me feel a bit spoiled in a way.
We don't have any plans for the 4th of July. Tim will be off work so I guess it will seem like a Saturday to us. Sarah is coming home Friday and leaving Sunday morning. Dan has class in Roanoke. Luckily Roger's annual "4th of July" cookout is on Saturday so we'll drive over to Kingsport for it. Gary Dee and Colma will be in for the weekend as well as Peggy and Gary. Pound Heritage days will be going on. John Patrick and Elijah both have Little League tournaments in Lee County so I'm not sure what our weekend plans will be besides Roger's cookout. Guess we'll play it by ear. ;)
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