Back in the Saddle

After a vacation, I always experience a bit of a re-entry into the real world.  An adjustment period to the monotony of life and the everyday mundane.  I think I must be getting over it because I'm finally getting back to blogging and posting about my vacation.  We were gone 11 days.  Our first major stop on our way to Washington D.C. was Newell, WV to see the Homer Laughlin factory and go to the Fiesta outlet store.  This place is absolutely amazing.  I have a nice collection of Fiesta from the 30's and 40's that belonged to my husband's grandmother.  I thought my collection could use some additions and had heard the prices were great at the seconds warehouse. 

If you're a Fiesta nut like me you'd have gone bonkers.  Picture someone in this warehouse, running around in circles with arms waving wildly in the air and mumbling nonsense words.  That was me upon entering this building.  Notice, no one else is around.  I think I scared them all away. 

Pile after pile of almost perfect dishes.  Most blemishes were hardly noticeable and much better than mine from the depression era.  I wondered if they just didn't care so much that each piece be perfect back then or if they were just conserving every little bit.

 

 

Like I said, the prices were phenomenal!

They also have an outlet store that sells the top grade too.  The completely perfect pieces.  They are still greatly reduced in price to department store prices.  I didn't buy any in the store because the prices were so amazing in the seconds warehouse.

 

These were PALLETS of seconds ready for the TENT SALE that was going to be 2 days after we passed through.  There were more pallets to the right of this photo as well.  I really want to back for the tent sale.  As you can see they are quite nostalgic at the Homer Laughlin factory.  They are still housed in the original building.  It was so cool to see it knowing my dishes that were my husband's great grandmother's and grandmother's were made right there back in the day.

This was the saddest sight.  The Fiesta graveyard I call it.  It's where pieces that don't make the seconds cut get broken and piled up.  I honestly don't know if they recycle the crushed stoneware or what happens.  It would be a mosaic makers dream--all of the colors.

Well, if you didn't already know it, I've got a thing for dinnerware.  I'll try to post some more highlights from our trip soon.  We're knee deep in a softball tournament next week and volleyball camp and track and church camps, not to mention the endless watering that is going on with our 100+ degree heat we're having.  Our garden is producing some beauties though and I hope to show you those soon as well.  I hope you're summer is going great!