the lost is found...

i had seen this sign in a 1904 photo mounted in front of the olympia hotel, but figured it was long gone.  just recently i was told that it was currently hanging in one of the casinos in cripple creek, so of course, i immediately had to go take a look and sure enough, there it was right when i walked in the front doors of the brass ass casino.  i would love to know how and when it was sold to the casino, but it will probably always remain a mystery.  i'm happy just to have a picture of it and plan on having it blown up and framed.

a group of great city volunteers have diligently been scraping, caulking and painting building facades all around town.  i feel so forunate to have been beneficiary of their efforts!

little by little, the historic mining town of victor, colorado is coming to life again.  new stores are opening, artists are being attracted...and all this while maintaining the historical integrity of years gone by.  if you're looking for a vacation destination that is like stepping back in time, where the mountain air is clear and clean, sunny days and cool nights...consider a trip to victor!

mom and me...

here we are at our favorite bar b q spot in colorado springs, rudy's.  what a difference two weeks can make.  now the roads are closed and area evacuated due to wild fires.  mom came to help me with preparations for new store opening and as usual, worked me right under the table.  we had a great opening day as highways were still open.  we decided to take a little break after the weekend to rest up while we could after hiway 24 was shut down.  we've had good time shopping, gambling (just a little) and trying out different restaurants in cripple creek.  tomorrow it's time to take her back to the airport.  thankfully roads are still open to it, we'll just have to take the long way around.  i've had to promise her this is the last business venture.  i really think i can keep the promise...this one about did me in!

window washing...

just 9 days away from the opening of the junk posse.  my sis is washing windows that haven't been cleaned in nearly 10 years.  it will be a race to the finish line to be ready, but i think we'll make it

tommy junkers strike again...

another fine piece of junk was waiting at the door of marigold mercantile this morning.  i didn't have to wonder about where it came from for too long though.  the 'donor' stopped in to see if i truly wanted it and of course i gave him a resounding yes!  it even came complete with a hole in the bottom for drainage, making it a perfect planting vessel.  it will join a host of other rusty buckets and tubs over at the junk posse that are waiting to be planted with flowers.  they will thrive in the big west facing windows and welcome junk lovers one and all!

the count down is on...

after weeks of deliberating what to do about the walls in the junk posse, i decided the old wallpaper had to come off, it was just too filthy to clean up.  at first i was planning on just repainting the walls, but as i was tearing off paper and discovering the different beautiful prints from over 100 years, a new plan formed in my head.  i was really lovin' how it looked with just random patches of the differnt papers showing!  and it will be much less time consuming not to have to completely remove it all. 

as i looked down the 75' length of the building and all the paper to tear off, another plan formed in my head.  let's just call it the 'tom sawyer' plan.  i sent out invitations to a long list of people to come to my stripper party.  not feeling so confident as to whether that would draw much interest at my age, i included promises of pizza, beverage and a huge chocolate caked baked by our local bakery.

instructions also included to bring a scraper, wear grubbies...and to keep them on at all times!

victor colorado new events...

stores in victor will be staying open late the 3rd of every month, 5-8 pm.  there will be special events, promotions, refreshments.  come stroll the streets of historic downtown victor colorado, meet up with old friends and make new friends while enjoying the cool mountain air!  sponsored by southird.

“FIND VICTOR“. No, not the man, the City. If you think you know Victor, think again. Discover or re-discover the historic mining camp through our “FIND VICTOR” PHOTO HUNT. Pick up your page(s) of photos at any Victor business. Many categories are available. Find and identify each photo, return the completed form to any Victor business and receive a free gift. You will be entered into a drawing held after Labor Day (for the summer) and after memorial Day (for the winter) for additional free gifts. COME, STAY, DISCOVER VICTOR!

you just might be a junkie if...

...you come to work and someone has left you an old metal handle on your door knob.  the fact that i chase pickups down that are hauling off scrap metal, wooden pallets and other interesting junk has obviously given rise to such anonymous gifts.  so, to whomever felt led to bestow this priceless treasure on my doorstep, i thank you from the bottom of my junk pickin' heart!

buckets and boots...

today was gardening day at The Junk Posse. 

with tons of old buckets left behind in the antique store, i loaded them up with poseys.  then when i had several left i started looking for different things to plant in.  that's when i remembered a bushel basket full of old miner's boots.  they are all unique, but i really liked this pair with the turned up toes.  ouch, i hate to think about the poor guy who had to wear them.  they've obviously been very wet from being in the damp underground mining environment in the past.  i got so carried away, i planted one for all the retail business owners in victor.  so look for the red petunia boots in the business windows of victor and stop in and say hi!

these buckets were planted a couple weeks ago, but got left outside during a may snow storm.  they seem to be coming back fine and hopefully will be blooming again before our first hotel guests arrive for summer vacations.

Matthew 6: 28 "Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin."  I want to be more like a lily.  I toil, I spin...quite regularly. 

(ri-ti(e)r-ment)...

this one is for my hubby. he says he reads my blog...we'll see.  i found this little 'sayings' book about retirement and bought it for him.  six more weeks and he's officially retired.  i love the definitions pictured.  they both work for me!

just another day in junk paradise...

here's my good friend karen after she successfully tied a huge wire chicken coop to the top of my vehicle.  how could anyone part with such a great piece?  it's a 3 tier chicken coop and the price was incredibly cheap cheap!  we had a great time junking in the town of florence co.  somehow i always end up in the alleys and backrooms of business looking through the really 'good' stuff.  today was no exception and with a van full of treasures we headed home and arrived safely before the sun set over the mountains.

sometimes it's hard to decide just which 'find' is the best, but today, hands down, this was it.  an old tin sign unearthed by a guy who was searching in a bottle dump.  obviously, 8 miles from victor.  he gave me a good deal on it, never knowing i'd have paid 3 times the price to have this great relic from days gone by.  i'm guessing it came from phantom canyon road, but it really doesn't matter, i was thrilled just to have come across it. 

more pictures to post later...after everything is unpacked!