Kathol Repair and Welding - 106 Years In Business!!

I would like to introduce you to my welder, he runs a welding and repair business in Bow Valley, Nebraska which has been in his family for 106 years, which is when his great-grandfather started this welding shop. This is a true blacksmith shop in it's original state as you would have seen it 106 years ago. When his great grandfather started the business the biggest business in the shop was making and repairing wagon wheels. If you should happen to want a wagon wheel repaired yet, Chris is your man, he learned how to repair a wagon wheel from his grandfather and his great-grandfather.

This is the second building that was built to house Kathol Repair, the first one sat just west of this one which would put it in the middle of the street in today's city layout. This building is still over 100 years old.

Meet Chris, he is the main man in this welding shop and the only man. He can repair a manure spreader, a tractor loader, build a junk lamp or a chalkboard stand, or even make a pulley stand. He is a real artist when it comes to steel. His workmanship is superior!!!

During our visit Chris had the double forge lit for us so we could see how it works. It was amazing!

He put a steel rod in the fire and let it get hot so he could show us how you actually work hot steel into something else....

Here he is using the anvil that has been in this building since it was built by his great grandfather.

This vice is the only thing that has been added new in 106 years that blacksmith shop has been there.

This is another tool original to the blacksmith shop, it is used to hand hammer hot metal into round shapes....

If this anvil could talk, just think of the stories it could tell. Just imagine the changes that this one single item has seen in 106 years~!

Here are some more of the original tools used by Chris's ancestors....

The drawers with all the little parts and pieces that have been opened and shut by many generations of blacksmiths.....

Chris getting the steel hot so he can show us how to make a shovel head the old fashion way.

This machine is run by a belt that runs throughout the shop on a line shaft and runs several different machines, this machine is called a trip hammer, it is what you used to hammer a piece of steel flat to make a shovel head.

This is the gate hardware that was hand forged by Chris's great grandfather over 100 years ago.
He moved it and made it permanent so that it can be shared with anyone who visits the blacksmith shop.

Chris with the gate that was built 3 generations ago.

Larry, Chris and Ki, who also happened to be on the tour that day.

The shop is located in Bow Valley, Nebraska which is in the upper north east corner of Nebraska, stop by sometime and check out the blacksmith shop, it is quite interesting if you interested in history and seeing how things use to get done, besides that Chris is very proud of his heritage and loves sharing the story with others.

Cammie(:

The Milkhouse...

For months I have been seeing an ad in the newspaper about a place called "The Milkhouse". My neighbor had been there yet I had not visited the place so Saturday we had to go to Norfolk, Nebraska and decided we were going to find The Milkhouse!

These are the proud owners of The Milkhouse, meet Connie, Bruce and Augie Zimmerman. They have built this place with their own hands and years of salvaging old barn wood, woodwork, and flooring, building it one room at a time. You have to see this place in person to really appreciate all the sweat that has been put into it.

The sign is made out of an old door, you can still see where the hinges were attached...

The front porch all decked out for the season...

Then there is the inside, this place is loaded with Christmas decor!

And more decor...

Snowmen and santas everywhere.....

A Merry Christmas stocking.....

A rusty old star for the top of your tree and more.....

We stayed awhile and it was starting to get dark before we left so we took one more shot as we left. Just says come on in doesn't it. Connie and Bruce have Holiday Hours now thru Christmas. They are as follows:

The Holiday Open House - December 3, 4, and 5, 2009 - 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday - Saturday - 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Now open Sunday's until Christmas - 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

She also has a website @ milkhousenebraska.com

Phone number is: 402-675-7765

From Norfolk, 7 miles N. of 275/121 Spur, 2 1/2 miles West

Be sure a make a visit before the holidays, Connie, Bruce and Augie, who happens to be a puppy of only 8 months old, will make you feel welcome, it's a must stop shop!!

Cammie(:

Here it is... the Holly Jolly Junk Sale... Mission Accomplished

We survived the the sale, it was questionable for a while but we pulled it off successfully. The weather was perfect, it felt like the holidays were in the air, and everyone seemed to have a genuinely good time.

This says it all... Junk and Be Merry!!

Shovels are another one of my weaknesses, just can't pass them up.......

New uses for flower frogs.......

A staple... typewriter keys....

My famous chenille candy canes.. started making these about ten years ago and still going... they are real chenille so they are a favorite.....

This poor old doll buggy has seen its days but it looks great with a few greens and vintage glass ornaments, great centerpiece.....

The American Beauty, this is girls wagon, small diner dish syrup pitchers......

Bottle brush trees... another one of my weaknesses......

One of my long time junking friends... Annette... we met years ago and have that same love of old things, she found me these great cast iron fence toppers once, every time I look at them I think of her.....

Now, I love this package... great use of those old black and white bingo cards and some old wide satin ribbon.......

Old silver... fab in a group.....

Vintage Christmas cards........

A table done all in old things, white china, door knob place card holders, dresser mirror, old bottles and lamp parts,those great old pearly bracelets for napkin ring holders, and vintage wrapping paper.......

Some of our long distance visitors, myself, Sam, Barb and Bev... you may recognize Barb, she was our Day in the Country's long distance visitor..... she made the trip again and brought friends!!!

Snowman faces......

These old letters came from old Christmas signage from the Globe Clothiers in Hartington, Nebraska.....they used to say Merry Christmas....

Another one of my faithful followers... Meet Jacki...

Pulleys, license plate signs, and wood architecture ornaments......

Chalkboard buckets......

Old red barn doors and iron rests.... who would have thought you could do barns and ironing together!

Angie.... our famous candle lady......

Little boots filled with greens.....

Rings, rings, and more rings......

So there you have it in a nutshell.. Keep watching the blog... we will be doing more sales.... I found a great place to have our future sales.....wait till you see our next venue.... you are gonna love it!!!

Thank you to everyone who supports us, you are all appreciated and loved.... We want to wish everyone Happy Holidays, enjoy them with family and friends, make it special, create memories, and be joyful.... Merry Christmas to all....

Cammie(:

~ Holly Jolly Junk Sale ~

It's that time of the year when we start to get excited about decorating for the holidays, so we are having a gathering of friends to get you in the mood for all your decorating needs. Come join us for the celebration!!

Holly Jolly Junk Sale!!!!

November 14, 2009

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Concord Main Street Cafe'

Building

Concord, Nebraska

Antiques and holiday decor all around, a gathering of seasonal inspiration awaits.....

From Hwy 20, turn south on 116 spur, go 6 miles south, turn east into Concord, go to Lincoln Street, turn right, go two blocks, look for the really good junk!~

If you have any questions you can call Karen @ 402-584-2288 or Cammie @ 402-256-9312

Can't wait to see you all!

Cammie, Karen and Angie

Farewell To Another Old House....

I would like to pay tribute to this old house that has served several families during it's life. The farm house is slated to be burned down, I went and talked to the owner to see if there were any things in this house that could be saved from the fire.

I did try to get the window but someone had broke it trying to get it out.....

All the floor grates were removed and believe me there were a ton of them but this one remained because they couldn't get the screw out of the ceiling. Miles was with me, home from college for the day, and he came along to help me. We knew we had to get this grate.... and we did!

All the upstairs bedrooms had the old linoleum floor cloths on them that had probably been there for at last 75 years. I love the designs that each one has. Has anyone thought of any re purpose for these?

The empty hallway in the upstairs, someone else had been in and taken the mop boards and the railing from the staircase......

Another floor cloth......

Miles helping me remove this massive pocket door between the living and dining area....

Is this something you can use?

Yeah!!!! Mission accomplished!! This door is 6 feet wide and 7 feet tall, now that's a whopper! It now has a new home in the shop as a wall.

The headless man saving the cast iron floor grate......

There were also several porcelain light fixtures, so we rescued them....

And another....

Another floor cloth....

And Another......

And the decorative metal pillars holding up the porch with a great patina....

As more and more people leave the rural areas for the city life, more and more homesteads are being abandoned, purchased by the farmers, and then being erased from history. It is very sad to see these old majestic places being stripped and burned, I guess we call it progress.

Cammie(:

Ten Things You Can Learn About Me.....

I have been awarded the "Honest Scrap" award by Forever Cottage, also known as the "Thrifty Mom" of the Junk Bonanza. Jill shopped the Arc store and decorated an entire table for 8 for under $100. That is simply amazing, if you seen the table you would be even more amazed!


Now I must tell you 10 Random/Honest things about myself, so here goes..

1.) My family is the most important thing to me in my life.

2.) I am a grandma of two of the cutest little boys you will ever see, they have taught me that you love your grandchildren as much as you love your own children.

3.) I have a deep down inside love for old things, even people, we can learn so many things from them.

4.) I traveled to London a year ago, now I have the travel bug and want to see more of the world.

5.) I collect cast iron fence toppers.

6.) I have a computer programming degree and I went to beauty school.

7.) I genuinely love visiting with people and getting to know them.

8.) My other job is at the Post office, I fill in for the Postmaster when he is gone.

9.) I lived with grandparents for 8 years, I contribute my love for old things to their influence in my life.

10.) I have a building stocked full of junk.

Now I am suppose to pass this on to seven people who have inspired me in the junking world, my list is so long that I could never list everyone who inspires me so I will skip this part, that way I won't forget anyone by mistake. All the people who follow my blog are an inspiration to me, all the people I meet each year at different events are the rewards I get for being in this business, so thank you all for your support.

Cammie(:

Scrap Junk!

My son is in the logging business/scrap iron, I have been training him to understand what he SHOULD throw and what he SHOULD NOT throw away. Here are a few things he saved for me!

There are galvanized wind mill blade sections, steel wheels, buckets, a pile of old tractor seats, wooden wagon wheel rings, small gears, decorative cast iron parts from an old cook stove, and much more!

I love these doors, their off of an old 50's Ford, it was a four door car, don't you just love the color of these?

The fenders were even there, I could see these on a wall in a bar....

Here is the hood, could make a really cool headboard in a bedroom.....

Gotta get going and to do some cleaning, scrubbing, and washing before the snow starts flying, oh, I forgot, it already has been flying here in Nebraska, better get busy before it gets to deep!

Cammie(: