Yesterday was the first day of the first weekend of the month, and for me that means Hazen Flea Market Day. There is a huge flea market about 1/2 hour beautiful drive away from us. It's only held the first weekend of every month from May through October. And around here you can't always depend on the weather for May and October (or the other months for that matter). But last month the weather was very nice and warm and Bob went with me. He's just not real patient with me and then tries to talk me out of anything I want. He finds the beef jerky and fudge stand and then he's ready to go home. Yesterday Mom was able to go, which is always the preferred company as we both love the same junk.
It ended up being a very nice day. It started out cloudy and we thought we may get stuck in rain, but it held off. Parking is always the first decision to make. It's a very rural area so there are fields and farms and large lots near by that many of the owners set up on these weekends as parking lots for the flea market and they must make out pretty well. The $2.00 parking lots are sometimes quite a stroll away and as you get closer the lot prices go up to $5.00. We pulled into a $3.00 lot and we were actually very close.
We arrived around 11:15 and it was crowded. By the time we left about 2:00 this is what the parking lot looked like. By 2:00 the booths and stands are starting to shut down for the day and then open back up bright and early on Sunday morning. By Sunday at noon you can get better deals but the good stuff is picked over.
We came prepared with our cash, comfortable shoes, kleenex in case the stinky out house toilet had no toilet paper, and a bottle of water. A lot of people come with wheeled carts to haul their newly purchsed goodies. We don't go quite that far, but I did have a Market Bag that I had knit last year and I slung it on my shoulder to see how that would work out. 
It worked out great. I have a little fabric pocket sewn inside for money, keys and cell phone and then I could carry my other little finds without the bother of a purse and my hands were free. This was the first time I found a use for this bag and it was perfect. Now we did have to take a short little break about halfway into our shopping spree to take a load of larger, heavier items back to the car. Then we sat for a small lunch break.
We were tempted by the funnel cakes and fried dough but tried to be slightly healthier than that so we settled for a hot dog with sauerkraut and lemonade. That was the best we could do at a flea market.
After almost 3 hours of up and down the dirty, muddy aisles, 
here's what I came away with.
Five pretty, old fashioned hankies at $1 each. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with them but I'll make something out of them or incorporate them into one of my crafts.
This Rada pareing knife on top for $4.50. These knives are great. I already had the bigger knife on the bottom with the silver handle, but Bob doesn't like the sandpaper feel of the handle. I guess they had other complaints on this, so they started making them with the smooth black handle. I used it last night to cut up chicken and walnuts for a salad. Perfect. We also already have the Rada ice cream scoop. I highly recommend this product. (Un-paid advertisement).
Here's my exciting find for the day. This 13 piece hot cocoa set including candle stick holders for $12.00 (I already had the candles) It's Royal Court fine china from Japan and the design is "carnation". The only flaw is the sugar bowl is missing a lid. But I figure since it's a cocoa set, I would put marshmallows in the sugar bowl and I don't need a lid. And being pink, I couldn't pass it up. I have no idea where I'm going to set it yet, but I'll find a place. We actually do drink cocoa in the winter so I'll really use it. Won't guests be impressed?
One booth I never miss is the garden booth. I find something there every visit. This month I found a new flag for beside my driveway going into my under deck sitting area.
All my furniture is white and all the flowers are pink, except for my purple cat mint and some lavender. So this little flag with the big pink flower that says "Smile" was just what I was looking for.
I still need two more pink flower baskets and the pink flox are just starting to come up in the garden in front.
Last month I got this garden stake with a little blue gazing ball and a metal butterfly on top.
This is in my garden beside my shed. Mom got one very similar yesterday.
I'll show better pictures of my gardens in a few weeks once the flowers are more in bloom. We have a very late and short growing season here. By the 4th of July everything should be looking pretty good. By the end of August it will start to fade again and the mums go in.
We won't be going to the July flea market. It falls on the 3rd of July and we'll either be welcoming a brand new granddaughter then or having our annual Fourth of July party here. Or both. Either way, we won't have time to fit in a flea market jaunt. It's too soon to plan on August yet. Summers go way to fast, don't they?
