Fabric shopping in Excelsior Missouri, and a few quilts thrown in

Last Saturday we had a blacksmith meeting in Excelsior, Missouri.  It's a Mennonite community. Nancy, another blacksmith's wife, and I had nothing to do but go shopping. 

Excelsior Fabrics is in a new beautiful building since I had been there last. They have a rather unique way of displaying their fabric. Their prices are awesome. Name brand fabrics under $6 a yard. You can buy quilting batting by the roll, a VERY big roll too. I think she said the price was around $69 and you can make 9 big quilts from one roll. What a bargain!

I took a picture of this barbed wire fabric for my friend Margie.

At Pleasant Valley Quilts,  I saw more black fabrics for Margie too. She is wanting to make a red and black bow tie quilt.  I just wanted to show her some options.

Look at the quilting in this block. It was quilted with a deep red thread. Perfectly spaced stitches.

I never looked at the prices of these quilts. I was too busy just admiring their beauty.

At Martin Goods and Gifts, I found these adorable baby bonnets for my great niece Eden who is to arrive in May.

For baby Connor, I found Farmall plastic dishes.

I couldn't leave without buying some fabric for myself . I also found a pretty handkerchief. It will be made into a bag for one lucky blogger. I bet no one can guess who it will be.

Our shopping lasted until noon. We then headed back to the meeting, where lunch was just being served. Mrs. Martin served ham and beans with several pans of made from scratch corn bread.

She also made 2 peach cobblers and one peach pie which was being served warm with Central Dairy vanilla ice cream. Besides the cobblers there were about 48 cream filled donuts covered in powdered sugar. What was a girl to do, but try both desserts!

The afternoon was completed with a trip to Weaver's Market. Fresh spices, grapefruits by the case,      and a big bag of jello powder filled my basket.

It was fun to spend the day in Mennonite country!

Excelsior Mo, High Point Mo, Russellville Mo, Osage Bluff Mo

Today we went road tripping. One of our stops included Martin Harness shop in Excelsior. Here the farrier was putting new shoes on a customer's horse. Being Mennonite, I asked if I could take his picture. He said, "sure, I don't care". He told me he had been shoeing horses for about 12 years. The buggy this horse had pulled to the shop, was waiting outside. I think the ladies that bought it were across the street shopping.

We traveled about  2 miles down the road and came to this retaining wall of sweet potato plants. They were so pretty.

Across the street we stopped at Country Road surplus. The blacksmith found this great tote, brand new for $8.00. It's better than a rubbermaid container!

We then proceeded to High Point Mo. for a pick up. More on that in a minute.

We tried to stop at a Mennonite house that serves daily luncheons. Daily except on Wednesday! Today was Wednesday. So we headed down Rt C to Russellville, where we enjoyed a fine meal of golden piping hot fried chicken, served with real mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cole slaw and ice tea for $6 a plate at Steve's.

Arriving at  home we unloaded our new all solid oak dining room table. I can't wait for all the kids to come home. We will all fit around one table now. Those Mennonites build some beautiful oak furniture.

If only I had time to make a quilted table runner?