Manitowoc County Garden Fair 2016

Although most everything in the way of plants and flowers have already been planted in our garden and flower beds, I couldn't resist attending the Manitowoc County Garden Fair to take a peek at any new decorative yard art, craft ideas and, of course, to admire the beautiful flowers and plants.  Do you find it hard to resist purchasing another planter full of bright and cheery flowers for "just one more spot" on your porch?  Do you find that you become inspired with ideas for your own landscape and flower beds when browsing at the variety of items that a fair of this nature can provide?  Do you have a garden fair in your area?

As always the Manitowoc County Garden Fair, which was held on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Washington Park in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was so much fun.  The entire park is full of vendors selling annuals, perennials, garden art, planters and sculptures, jewelry, apparel and accessories such as hats, home goods such as hand woven rugs and handmade pet accessories such as dog and cat collars and leashes for our furry friends and so much more.

Lively entertainment and food vendors selling various snack foods, kettle corn and homemade ice cream allows visitors a chance to spend some time to browse at a leisurely pace or linger to talk with friends and neighbors.  The day was exceptionally warm and humid, so a time out for some homemade raspberry ice cream with my sweet neighbor and some shelter from the scorching sun at a table with an umbrella was a must.

Below are some pictures and highlights of the fair that I thought you might enjoy.

We arrived a little after 10:00 a.m. and there were already crowds of people.  I think they had the same thing in mind.....come early to beat the intense heat and humidity.  I am grateful that most all of the vendors and activities were under the cool shade of the trees in the park. 

Here are some fascinating items from my walk through the garden fair at the park.   Although I couldn't take pictures of everything, I did manage to take enough pictures to give you a general idea of what the fair was like. What item do you find is your favorite?

I love the whimsy of this colorful and playful metal rooster.  I was trying real hard to think of a spot in our backyard for this rooster pictured above, but I couldn't think of an ideal spot.  (Maybe it was the heat.....how else could I pass up this darling little farm animal made from painted metal?)

I am always delighted to see the many creations that artists think of from unique and "unlikely" material.   In the picture (below) of this second rooster, take a closer glimpse of the "bowl" skunk and "bunny" to the left of the rooster.  The bowl was once a feeding bowl for cows from a farm. 

This little piggy went to market.....and the other one came to my home.  Seriously, I would have loved to have either of the two piggies, but I already have two garden statues at home, one of two kissing bunnies and the other a bunny family of mom, dad and baby.  Unfortunately, I had to pass up the piggies, but aren't they a delight?

If you love art made from metal, you can find plenty of it here.

What about an adorable pet collar for your best companion on walks around the block?  This vendor had every theme imaginable.  Serious consideration of a collar for my lovable grand-pet, Tiki, was out of the question.  Tiki is a malamute and huskie mix, so the collar would have been definitely buried under all of the soft, fluffy fur.  (Tiki loves to get sausage treats instead.)

 

And, of course, there were plenty of annuals and perennials to select from various local vendors/greenhouse growers.

Even though brief stops to sit and rest from the heat were necessary, the lively folk music coming from the band shell made it very enjoyable to take a moment, relax and cool off.

I hope you enjoyed the fair.  Watch for the schedule of the fair in early June next year on the following Manitowoc Calendar of Events link if you intend to be in the Manitowoc area and wish to attend: Calendar of Events for Manitowoc-Two Rivers Area

Last, I would just like to mention if you haven't already noticed it that The Little Yellow Corner Store now has its own Facebook page.  So if you like to share some of the posts you have been viewing, feel free to like me on Facebook or use any of the social media buttons that are now on each page of my blog.  Yippeeeee!!!   

A Visit to The Historical Pinecrest Village - Part 3

I hope you have enjoyed reading all about life in the olden days in part one and two of the three part series on the Historical Pinecrest Village.  I want to thank everyone who has been visiting and taking the time to leave such warmhearted comments.  I am grateful to know that there are many others who also appreciate history and enjoy these articles.  This post will be the remaining tour of the village.  So hitch up your horses and wagon to the old hitching post and lets continue our stroll.

If you happen to be visiting The Little Yellow Corner Store for the first time and would like to begin the tour through the village from the start, just click on the following links to view part 1 and 2:  A Visit to the Historical Pinecrest Village - Part 1 and A Visit to the Historical Pinecrest Village - Part 2.

So, after wandering through most of the village, I am certain old-time patrons worked up enough of a thirst to want to stop by and linger a bit at the Old Saloon.   (Unfortunately, at the present time, it is not a working saloon, so cold beer is not available.)  Surprisingly enough, the building (pictured above) which was built in 1866 as a home for the German immigrant, Edward Fritzi, not only houses the saloon on the first floor but also includes the doctor and dentist offices upstairs from the saloon.

Perhaps a visit to the saloon located downstairs from the dentist was necessary before any dental work was done?

Various wagons and farm equipment can be seen on the grounds of Pinecrest Village.  When not in use, some are stored away in the building pictured in the background in the photo below.

Being among an abundance of farmers and their beautiful farms, the local blacksmith and woodworker would have had plenty of business.  The building once served as a granary and farm storage, but was converted to the Blacksmithing and Wagonwork Shop when moved to Pinecrest Village in 1976.  The tools in the shop were donated by the Anton Witt family from Manitowoc Rapids, Wisconsin who owned a blacksmith business in 1909.

On some occasions, a blacksmith at the shop, which is still fully operational, gives demonstrations on how some of the work was done long ago.

Need your high-top shoe repaired?  Come to the Harness and Shoe Shop.  This building was once a meat market in Valders, Wisconsin and was built around 1900.  The shop owner could serve customers with the repair of their shoes or boots and could also serve the numerous hard-working, four-legged, cherished friends known as horses with the needed saddles and harnesses too.

The last attraction on this walk through the village is the Collins Depot.  The Depot was built in 1896 and served passengers until the mid-1930s and carried freight until 1950. 

If you are a big fan of the Little House on the Prairie series like I am, you might think about visiting Pinecrest Village during their July month long Little House on the Prairie celebration for the event, Vintage Baseball on July 30, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   It is a wonderful opportunity to meet Dean Butler who played Almanzo Wilder from the Little House on the Prairie series.  In the past, the village had the pleasure of hosting Alison Arngrim who played Nellie Olson. (Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children age 5-17.  Children under age 5 is free.)

Come visit the past.