First we visited Coronado Heights. This is a hill named after Francisco Vasquez de Coronado for his visit to Kansas in 1541 looking for gold. This is the castle at the top. It was built in the 30’s along with a freestanding fireplace and picnic tables around the summit.
The views from the top are spectacular. You can see for miles in all directions over the farm/ranch land that surround it. This picture is looking south from one of the picnic tables. The day was partly cloudy and breezy which made it an excellent day for a visit in July. We’d both been here before but not since we were kids.
Then we went a little farther north and visited
Mushroom Rock State Park. This first picture is what it looks like as we drive up. If you can make it out in the center of the picture the top of one of the ‘mushroom’ rocks is visible. In the distance you can see what the area around the park looks like.
These pictures are of my husband and I with some of the large rocks that the place is named for. Who would have thought to find rocks like this in Kansas?
My husband took these pictures by setting the timer on the camera and then running to be with me by/on the rocks. (That was fun to watch!)
It’s has been wet so far this summer so it was very green. This made for a very pleasant visit. It can get pretty dry over the summer.
And then we drove to Salina to check out a few of the antique stores there. We’re not big into antiquing, but enjoy it once in awhile.
I found this box in one of the stores. I think it was a jewelry box, but it may have been a sewing box. I have decided it is a tatting project box. It is to sit next to my chair to hold shuttles and notions in the drawers and current threads and projects in the top. I’ve been looking for something of this nature for quite some time, so I couldn’t very well leave it there, could I?
And then, in a store across the street I actually found two shuttles. One of the owners mentioned that shuttles are usually snapped up almost as soon as they put them out. So I got lucky!
The white one has no markings on it that I could tell. The store owner had no information about either of them, other than they were tatting shuttles. She was quite surprised that I tatted and commented about it being a “lost art.” She didn’t even know how shuttles were used or what it signified if the ends were close together. Both shuttles have some thread on them, and they definitely “click”!
The black one has a trademark name on it. Can you make it out? I had a lot of trouble taking a picture where the name is readable.
The name on the black one is “Gloria” with ‘trade’ on one side and ‘mark’ on the other. I don’t think I’ve heard of that before. Anyone know when or where it was made?
They were both in the same display box, so were for sale by the same seller. The white one has definitely been used quite a bit – it’s just a little warped where the finger and thumb would be positioned. The black one also looks used but not to that extent. What a find!
All around it was a great day. We had fun hiking around two wonderful sites on a beautiful day and then found some treasures to take home with us. We finished off the day at home with our feet up, sipping on root beer floats.
I could do with a few more days as nice as this one!
On the 4th of July my husband and I went on a little day trip, just the two of us. We left all the housework and home projects behind and headed off to have a day of fun.
What a wonderful day trip! I have never heard of either Coronado Heights or Mushroom Rock State Park until today. It would be more than a day trip for us, but I think I could talk Dave in to it!
Great finds in the shop! I love the jewelry box… it would definitely be used for tatting in my house! Maybe some Spinning Wheel glass mats would fit in those drawers! ; )
Your day-trip looks great – thanks for sharing info and pictures. (Sounds like we share the self-timed photo shoot comedy!) I love your finds – you really did luck out.
Oh, that sounds like a wonderful day! Those are some really big rocks! That is kinda cute picturing your hubby running to go stand by you before the timer went off on the camera (even though I don't know you guys), LOL!
Congrats on your shuttle purchase! It is always fun to find some! I love finding shuttles in antique stores and various places, it's always a "treasure hunt" when I walk into an antique store. 🙂
Loved all your pictures. It looked like such a beautiful day! I would enjoy visiting this park.
Great find in the antique store. You will enjoy just filling up your new storage box with your supplies.
Nice shuttles too. I found a black one marked with Gloria also in an antique store.
Thanks for sharing!
They're not very far apart, Diane, even if for you it would be quite a trip to get there. And the idea of the mats for inside the drawers of the box sounds like a good idea.
Yes, Cindy, but it does make for some great pictures, doesn't it?
I'm pretty excited about the Gloria shuttle, Carol, and it is definitely usable! This area has some pretty interesting things to see – once you get to them!
Yes, TattingChic, it is fun to watch as the hubby doesn't move that fast very often anymore! The 'treasure hunt' was the icing of the cake for the day, and for once I got lucky!