A Bad Idea Turned Good

Today out of the blue I said to hubby, " you want to got to the flea market with me?" Hubs, "No." But not using good judgement, I talked him into the trip. What was I thinking? It was hot as blue blazes today and would be even hotter at the flea market because it is set up on black asphalt. The purpose of the trip was to find something pretty to hang on Hubby's shed. Of course, I didn't tell him that. I am not crazy yet. (Although I did drag him to the thrift store again this weekend and that wasn't good judgement.)  When we got there I headed straight for the guy with all the old iron pieces for the yard. He has been out there peddling his goods for years. Every weekend he has something a little different. This time he had trailer bed full of small iron items, like plaques of pigs, roosters and devil heads..yes I said devil heads. I thought at first they were like those greek sun faces, but nope, these guys had horns. I think they are old.. Hubby, "that junk ain't old." Me, "yep I guess they are, I saw one of the Planter's Peanut man. Remember him?" A peanut wearing a top hat. Anyway, nothing I coudn't live without, not worth arguing with hubby about. I did see a iron work scroll panel that would be perfect for the side of his shed. The guy wouldn't come down a penny under $40 but that wasn't a bad price but Hubs wasn't convinced. Finally I did talk hubs into getting it. Do you know how hard it is to talk your husband into buying something to pretty up his shed is? He wasn't the happiest in the world but off he went to the car to bring up to load the panel. While he was gone, I saw it.. WOW.. I thought, this thing must be at least $500. She was a beauty, so chic. Reluctantly I asked the guy, "How much for this", while rubbing it like it was a pet or something. The guys granddaugther says to him, "you have to load it up to take home." The guy, "you can take it home for $175 right now." WHAT?? Of course I met hubs at his car door when he pulled up to tell him about the deal. He stared at me for a minute and said, "give the man a check." Are you kidding me? I was having trouble getting him to buy a scroll. Maybe it was a ploy to keep me from hanging something pretty on the shed. But I think it was him just being kind to me. He really is ..

I have wanted an arbor for years. I knew just where I would put it if I ever got one. I recently spied one in the garden center near my home with a hefty price tag on it.. sigh... But today, there she was, in all her glory of chippy paint (probably lead) and a nice patina to boot. I love it more than the one at the garden center.

I think she is a real beauty, rust, missing finials and all. 

The guy selling it to me was like "you can paint it and make it real purty". Are you kidding, I love the paint on it. 

I would really love to know where it came from. I think the next time I get out to the flea market, I will ask him.

She is not sitting where she will end up and I think one panel is on backwards, but we wanted to see how she would look like in the yard. I have to admit, it is so much prettier in my yard than it was at the flea market.  What a great hubby to have! 

Joining the big party