nowhere left to go but up...

when we first opened marigold mercantile last october, 1200+ sq. ft. seemed like an ample amount of square footage to accommodate all the 'stuff'.  now, a year later, every sq. inch of the floor is full and we're climbing the walls...literally!  we've expanded our new/used clothing to the room that served as my office.  with the help of old planks found in one of our buildings, we were able to add another much needed layer.

just last week the drop leaf harvest table stood alone, but the wheels of expansion were turning.  a pair of double folding slats were added room on each end for display...but wait, there's more.  somewhere buried in all my junk i remembered i had really tall old shutters that would work great for another shelf on top.  sure enough, perfect length and width to make more display area.

a few old hooks on the tobaggan made a great place to accomodate felt Christmas totes.  the shelves are restocked with amish 'crack'.  the locals were getting a little panicky when i was down to 4 bags.  we don't call it 'crack' for nothing!

steam punk weekend...

hey ya'll...don't miss the first annual steam punk festival to be held the weekend of february 15-17 in victor, co.  more details to follow or click here for postings by victor dream team

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victor-DREAM/167845869993837?ref=hl

the above photo is what's left of a tire rim.  the result of my husband hauling an overladen trailer full of steam punk 'fixins' from IN to CO.  its sets proudly in my front yard to remind me to always see the possibilities.

at marigold mercantile, 120 s third, we have an infamous 5' tunnel that is full from floor to ceiling with treasures yet unpacked that are certain to thrill any steam punk lover.  during the festival, we are going to have 'tunnel diving'.  it will work similar to an estate sale... a shopper will be given a number and 10 minutes in the tunnel to fill their vintage striped canvas shopping basket.  we'd love to let more than one in at a time, but with shelving down both sides, there's barely 2' of space between.

the junk posse, 106 n fourth, will also be open during the festsival weekend.  we have expanded all the way to the back of the building with all things rusty, chippy paint, odd and unusual.  you will find everything from metal mining artifacts to vintage fabric to antique books to primitive furniture parts and pieces.  all that's needed are wheels turning inside your head!

the olympia hotel, above the junk posse, offers lodging the old fashioned way, if you're a lover of the 'real deal' from the late 1800's...translation, 1 bathroom...down the hall.  the rooms have been newly renovated in period style and include some of the original hotel furnishings.  maybe we should institute the take a number and 10 minute rule there also!

and when you're hungry, victor has some for the best burgers, pizza and bakeries in the gold camp.  we promise you won't go hungry.

so don't miss the excitement...american pickers, eat your hearts out!

like gramma, like grandkids...

back in IN taking a much needed break.  we're sleeping in the 9 yr olds' bedroom and i had to chuckle when i saw the 'organizer' labels on the dresser.  i thought...oh  no...i've passed on the 'fanatical need to organize' gene to the grandkids! 

when we left IN, the grandkids became recipient of my beloved vintage camper that they now use for a craft trailer.  it gets a little out of control with 'supplies' so every now and then it has to be organized also.  we had a great time yesterday afternoon getting all the bits and pieces gathered up and put back in their appropriate little organizer drawer.

i guess i could've passed on much worse habits to them...and probably have...if the truth be told.  but another thing i know for sure that won't hurt them that they've learned from their grandparents (and parents) is that hard never hurt anyone.  it makes us proud to see their creative energy.

Proverbs 22:6..."train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it"

"green friday"...

to heck with "Black Friday" shopping...how about "Green Friday" Shopping...in the Gold Camp of course!  our stores and eateries offer a small town shopping/dining flavor unlike the big city hustle and bustle.

at Marigold Mercantile you will find new and used clothing and winterwear for the entire family.  we have one of a kind hand made and repurposed items to truly make it a "Green" Christmas.  our prices are competitive with many major retailers and we offer personalized service with a smile.

so save time, money and big city hassle...shop local...shop unique...shop Victor, CO!

high altitude humor...

we have alot of empty old buildings in victor, and some of our local yocal's put together this humorous window display.  i think it's off the chart cool!  i love all forms of quirky art and this puts a smile on my face everytime i walk by it.  the reflection shows some of the great buildings remaining in this old mining town.  and by the way, a couple of them are for sale.  so if you're adventurous and have a mind for restoring old buildings...make the trip up the mountain to check them out.  i would say "it doesn't hurt to look"...but our track record might indicate something different.  we look...we buy!

bringing the outside inside...

what could make a better wall than old garage doors removed from the lower backside of building?  it was a bit of a challenge getting them up a century year old rickety wooden fire escape, but just as i was figuring out that i couldn't hold up my end of the deal, an unsuspecting fella' came walking down the alley and lent a helping hand. 

they didn't quite go all the way to the wall, so we had to splice in with a rusty piece of metal, also salvaged from the back.  so we now have doors to nowhere.  but they will be perfect to junk up with rusty spikes and relics from the gold camp!

en plein air...

what could be better on a sunny, crisp and cool day in victor, co than taking a little break in our old bouncer lawn chairs.  we could've sold them 10 times over, but some things are just downright sacred.  these belonged to my grandma and grandpa and were on their front porch as far back as i can remember.  seems like i even have a picture of one of them holding me as a toddler in them.  be sure to take note of the wagon in between them and the old sign in the window as you view the  next picture.

the wagon with buckets of flowers and old boots was the item of interest to one of the VCTA artists in this years en plein air competition.  although it didn't win a prize with the judges, it certainly won 1st prize with me and is now hanging in my office!  if you've never attended this great art show, put it on your schedule for next labor day.  artists from all over the country come and paint within a certain radius of our old city hall.  victor has some of the most beautiful, original turn of the century archetecture of any old mining town you could find on the map.

here we go again...

i guess we have what you'd call itchy feet.  before we have one project completed, we're out looking for another to start.  however...we are always excited by a new adventure.  after looking at these two houses longingly for the past two years as we passed by them, the opportunity to purchase them came around and we jumped on it. 

the big log cabin on the right was built in 1896 as a boarding house.  the floors make you feel a little sea sick...some settling problems to take care.  but, as always, we're undaunted!

the smaller house on the right has been renovated inside, just a few minor changes to make.  oh, did i say small changes?  that always strikes fear in my hubby's heart! 

they set high on the hill with a fantastic view over the city of victor, co.  and we can see ourselves in rocking chairs on the front porch in years to come.  if we don't slow down, it may come sooner than later.  but what a way to go!

keeping the kids busy...

what to do when the grandkids are getting restless?  send them out on an adventure!   here they are climbing up squaw mountain in search of rusty treasures for gramma.  the view is spectacular!  i'm determined to make the climb myself before snow sets in.

they both seem quite pleased with a couple of things they found...and gramma was very pleased!

gold rush days...

one of the highlights of gold rush days in the historic gold mining town of victor co is when an old bowling alley opens up one day a year.  God bless the owners, who endure an onslaught of kids (my two grandkids included) who spend as much time as they can experiencing bowling like it used to be.  here is grandson number 1 pin setting.  this was his 3rd year to help with the task, so he's feeling like a pro.

here is grand daughter number 1 hoping for a strike.  with lanes that are close to 100 years old, warped and rutted, any chance of strike is strictly by luck!

getting ready for the parade.  our theme was a spin on the 'big rock candy mountain'.  we called our float 'big rock candy miners'.  a very creative local gal made the mountain and all the candy.  her cardboard creations can be seen all over town.

family, friends and co worker's kids wait on the float for parade to begin.  they even have a replica ore cart full of candy ready to toss out to anxiously awaiting kids along the parade route.

and the cherry on top of the mountain and the parade was to win first prize.  here are the kids holding their shared winnings of a $5 bill each.  lucky me, they all came straight to marigold mercantile to spend it!