Today's Joy: Quality Time at the Flea Market.
Reader, my favorite thing to do with Mom is hit the monthly flea market. There's nothing quite like bonding over a bargain. We went early this morning and made a beeline for the plant vendors. They had the most beautiful begonias, ranunculus and clematis! I had to snap a few shots to share (see below)! Today's finds included fab hanging baskets of geraniums for $12, wee pots of gerbera daisies (my favorite summer flower) for $2.50 and a Duchess English bone china cup & saucer set featuring Cattleya Orchids for $5.

If you haven't been to a flea market, you gotta do it--they're a hoot! For those in the IL area, check out the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles. It's a long-standing area tradition. If you happen to get there this June, check out the hippy-ish guy under the livestock pavilion. He has the best deal on 800-1200 thread count sheets--2 for $25. He's also got groovy scarves: 3 for $10 (and they're labeled exactly that). Sweet-talk him & he might strum you a tune on his acoustic guitar...

Photos: Pink Flower; Yellow Ranunculus Bud; Clematis; Begonias; Purple Something-or-other; Yellow Ranunculus; Clematis, Kane County Flea Market, May, 2010.

Today's Joy: Flea-Marketing.  Reader, I haven't been to a flea market since November of 2008 and I was definitely overdue.  So, this morning, I picked up Mom and all her die-hard flea-marketing gear and we braved the chilling rain to see what's shaking down at the Kane County Flea Market.  We had a great time, as always.  If you haven't seen one, they're an adventure!  You never know what kind of zany-ness & treasures will be lurking amongst all the junk.  Here are a few of my favorite flea market finds & oddities from past years.