A trip to Jacob's Cave and The Iron Forge Grill

Friday morning bright and early (well bright anyway) we headed for Jacob's Cave Flea Market, near Versailles, Missouri. We stopped in Eldon for a bite of breakfast.

After arriving and unloading our 4 wheeler, we paid the $5 to enter. It was a cool morning, lows in the 50's high only 64.

It is always so much fun, in the treasures you find.

This nail apron brought back memories of some of my best childhood friends, the 5 Nentwig girls. This wasn't from their Dad's business, but one of his cousins I believe.

This real estate brochure box would make a great neighborhood library. However it wouldn't fit in the 4 wheeler trunk.

This huge cardboard whiskey bottle made me think of my David, nephew-in-law. It too wouldn't fit in the trunk.

You know I'm always on the hunt for vintage sewing machines. These however, are way too far gone!

A turtle made from shovels and a post hole digger. You just never know what you will find!

This looks like a fun teeter totter. 

This brought back memories for the hubby. The tub, was like one they used when he was small. The long tube is a well bucket. 

After about 5 hours of looking we decided we had seen enough. It was time to find some dinner. After loading up the 4 wheeler we headed towards Versailles. We decided to go to Pioneer Restaurant (at least we think that it is still the name of it).

As we parked we saw this next door. We walked up to the door and it didn't open until 5. It was only 4 o'clock so we kept with the plan and went in next door. It was 4 o'clock straight up. We were the only ones in the restaurant. The buffet table was in front of us steaming away. The smells were so inviting. 

At $10.95 for all you can eat, that was our choice. The blacksmith immediately asked the waitress how the place next door got it's name. She right away called Dale over, who we would later find out was the owner of both the Pioneer and the Iron Forge Grill.

Dale Bentch told us his great grandfather was a blacksmith. The shop he once operated out of, is now under water at Lake of the Ozarks. He invited us to tour the restaurant after our meal. 

So let me tell you what was on the buffet this day. Fried fish, fried chicken, ham, smoked pulled pork (the best), beef lasagna, chicken and white sauce lasagna, cole slaw, macaroni salad, lettuce salad with all the trimming, pickled beets, mashed potatoes, peppery cheese grits, green beans, corn, homemade hot rolls, and probably some that we can't remember. Now for the desserts . . . warm apple cobbler, warm blueberry cobbler, carrot cake, brownies, three kinds of soft serve ice cream plus another cake that I'm not sure what it was. 

We stuffed ourselves but were still able to walk to the Iron Forge grill, through the back hall. After all both restaurants are served from the same kitchen. 

Dale is a wood worker, he and his brother did all the timber framing in the restaurant. We live in a timber frame home, so this appealed to us on that level too, plus the blacksmith shop part.

Bernie tells Dale a little about the anvil he has on display. It was a Hay Budden, about 100 pounds.

 The back corner displays very well.

 I'd love to take this bag home with me!

Dale proudly posed for a photo. His nephew, Kriston Bentch works with him in the restaurant business. He was busy popping in and out of our conversation. We hope to go back and have an evening meal there soon. You can find Iron Forge Grill on facebook. 

Thank you Dale for the personal tour! 

Let me show you some of our finds from the flea market. The skillet on the left has no name, but it is marked with what is known as a gate mark. These typically are about 115 years old! The square skillet is a Wagner. Wagners are my favorite brand.

The Amish from Windsor were selling beautiful baked goods. We quickly devoured the 4 snicker-doodle cookies we purchased. I bought myself a raisin pie and was not disappointed at all! Just like my mother in law's. Like she says, you have to cook the raisins first!

 Two freshly made arrowheads purchased for grandson Alex, the rock collector.

My $3 purchase of disposable rubber gloves and a magnifying mirror to put needles in my vintage Singer sewing machines.

Bernie found this vest for a quarter and told me I had to buy it because it had my name on it. I couldn't pass it up.

Even if it had this on the back. Stay tuned, I've already decided I will make a quilt block and applique it over the big patch.

Bernie found a regulator and a fuel filter for his two dollars.

This might have been the best buy of the day. It's a brand new Carhartt vest for $5.  I have been searching for one of these for over a year now for the blacksmith.

It was a great day!

Life is good.