Antique Hunting

    Yesterday, Wednesday, R and I went antique hunting.  We weren't looking for your average antique, something Gramma would have had in her house.  We were looking for items to display at the Sodhouse Ranch, circa 1880's / 90's.  There weren't many women there at that time either.  The Clark family were the managers and Mrs Clark raised at least three children and cooked for the ranch crew.  She may or may not have had a cook to help her with that job.  Then during the haying time several women would have been hired to cook three meals a day for the men that came to the ranch to for that period.  They all lived in tents on the ranch property and ate meals prepared out of the hay kitchen which, at one time, was the homestead house.  Our goal yesterday, was to find addtional items to furnish that hay kitchen and the bunkhouse.  With a shopping list in hand, we hit the road. 

  First stop:  a junk shop just east of Burns on Hwy 20.   Prizes:  a pair of leather chaps. ( in need of clean up), some harness tack, a coal oil can, and a stirrup.

  Second Stop:   A shop in Canyon City that has mostly decorative items.  They also make horse drawn wagons, surreys, and even stage coaches.    No luck here.'
 
  Third stop:   Jim's Antiques in "downtown" Canyon City.    Prizes:  a nice conversation with Jim, the owner and a line on an old saddle that he has at another location

Fourth Stop:   "A Touch of Europe" in John Day.  Prizes:  A set of blinders for a horse, some knives and forks, a glass hurricane lamp.

Fifth Stop:  "Skeins" in John Day to visit with the owner, Teresa, to catch up on her life and to buy some interesting blue wool roving.

Sixth Stop:   A shop on Hwy 26 just east of Mount Vernon.  Ken, the owner has several barns full of goodies.  What we were looking for and more.  A chair, three spoons, and a dust covered lantern.