Antique Shop Finds

Like me, my daughter Lisa is a teacher.  It's been two weeks since school let out for summer, and we are both finally beginning to quit worrying about school things, relax, and decompress for summer.

And like me, Lisa likes to go antiquing. She shops for glassware while I shop for horsey things. Yesterday she invited me to go with her to some shops that are about an hour away and thus not ones we visit too frequently. We made a day of it, stopping by four shops, having lunch together, and gabbing as we drove through rural Indiana.

The trip proved fruitful for me! (Sadly, not so much for her.)

I found two books from the Timber Trail Riders series (I now have the complete set; it is one I read in my childhood.)

 And two books that I may use as prizes for next year's Happy Trails show.

 A 1946 copy of Strawberry Roan, a book I have heard of but never read.

 A beautifully shaded alabaster Old Timer with lovely pinking on its ears and nose.

One blinker is missing as is its hat, but I talked the dealer down from $30 to $20, so I feel I got a good deal.

A QH Yearling with the USA marking.

And a 1978 Collectors Manual. (I used to be that girl, staring at my models and dreaming of horses!)

 I spent hours poring over these manuals and circling the pieces I most wanted.

 They were tucked into every Breyer box until a few years ago.

 Probably a cost cutting measure to quit making them, but I miss having that little catalog to look at!

I had one more find, and it has proven to be more than I expected when I first spied it and decided to buy it. It's getting its own blog entry!

Some Abby Time

Despite the busy-ness of preparing and hosting Happy Trails, I did get out to the barn to see my girl Saturday and Sunday.

It doesn't matter how far out in the pastures she is, Abby always comes when I call her.

 She is looking good.

Hokey, Trouble, Abby, (Diablo, barely seen behind Abby), Sultana, and Snickerdoodle.

The pastures are in excellent shape as we have had enough rain to keep the grass growing. And, Tim does an excellent managing them - there are six or seven that he rotates the horses through so that they get fresh grass in the pasture they are in while the others grow and recover.

Happy Trails is over and I am wrapping up boxing up my things in my classroom, so by the end of the week I should go full on into summer mode and begin enjoying retirement. Longer periods of time with Abby factors into my plans!

Specialties Division - Photos

The entries in the Specialties classes were every bit as competitive as those in the Molds Division. Judging was very difficult as a result. (I got a photo of every class except the woodgrains.)

 The Copenhagen/Wedgwood class.

 Flockies.

 Chalkies and Pearlies.

 Another view of the Chalkies/Pearlies class.

 Models with eyewhites.

 Models with stickers.

 Test runs.

 Music boxes, lamps, and nightlights.

 Oddities (unfinished pieces, shrinkies, etc.)

 Callbacks for Champion and Reserve.

Specialties Champion was the woodgrain PAF and the Reserve Champion was the test plastic QH Yearling.

Grand Champion of Show was the Indian Pony in the presentation box. Reserve was the Proud Arab Foal in woodgrain.

I had so much fun hosting this show even though it was a lot of work and tired me out. Judging by the number of people who came as well as the quality of the models that were shown, I would say that there is definitely a place for the old fashioned, non pressure, fun show.

So, my plan is to hold it again next year!

Molds Division - Photos

Happy Trails had two divisions - Breyer Vintage Molds and Breyer Vintage Specialties. There were jaw dropping entries in each.  (Sorry for the poor quality of the photos - I was trying to snap quickly after judging each class so they are not the best.)

 The Foals Class had a test run in it.

 FAMs and FASs. That matte Appaloosa Fleck had gorgeous shading!

 PASs and PAMs. The dapple grey mares were stunning!

 Running Mares and Stallions.

Just look at these entries! Two no-muscle Clydesdales, a chalky, an old dapple grey, and two special run mares. At this point in the show, I realized that, while it might be just a small fun show, the entries were top notch.

Yvonne Rott was so proud to win the Clydesdale class - and she should have been! Her piece was lovely!

 Two glossy dapple black Belgians, a red roan, and a Congress SR were in the Belgian/Shire class.

The Thoroughbred Mare/Pacer/Racehorse/Man o'War class had a chalky Man o'War, two with eyewhites and battleship grey hooves, a woodgrain, a glossy Traveller, and a glossy Pacer.

 Grazing Mares - a favorite mold of mine!

 Two Yellow Mounts with forearm spot, one of which was chalky, and a buckskin Adios.

 Both these Saddlebred Weanlings are chalkies.

 A chalky Morgan with unpainted white markings and the grey plastic showing, another chalky with eyewhites, and an early bald faced version with sticker.

This Fighting Stallion class was incredibly tough to judge! Two chalkies, a wedgwood, a woodgrain, and two charcoals with eyewhites! The Appaloosa had spots up his neck!

 I would have gladly owned any of these pieces in the Semi-Rearing Mustang class.

The lone entry in the QH Yearling class was not a chalky, but the white areas sure were so bright, it looked brand new.

 Another test run in the Lady Phase/Stud Spider class but all four pieces were excellent entries.

How do you place a class with two Indian Ponies in their original presentation boxes, a very white piece in early pinto with warpaint, a lovely buckskin, and one with no spots?

 Two four-eyed Mistys (one glossy) and a woodgrain Shetland Pony,

 Lovely POAs and a Galiceno Pony.

 She may have been the lone CWP in her class, but she was chalky and she had her box!

 A test run and a chalky were in the Paso Fino class.

There was a green plastic chalky Donkey, a beautiful bay Balking Mule, and some neat variations in this class.

 The Western Horse and Pony class included a horse and rider set.

 That Appaloosa Western Prancing Horse is one of my favorite Breyers ever.

 A Fury Prancer.

 The Dogs/Cats class had a beautiful carmel Boxer in it.

 The Farm Animal class contained an early SR pig and a woodgrain bull.

 The Wildlife class only had one entry, but it was nice.

For the division champion and reserve, I just did first place call backs which meant there were thirty-five pieces spread out over the two rings.

It was really, really hard to pin the Champion and Reserve of the Molds Division!

 Reserve Champion was the chalky Fighting Stallion.

And Champion was the alabaster Indian Pony in the presentation box.

Next up - the Specialties Division. (Be ready for more outstanding entries!)