AFTER SHOOTING 101 PHOTOS in about two hours on Saturday at the Rice County Steam & Gas Engines Flea Market, I was trying to determine how to showcase the best shots here.
So I jotted a list of subtitles and noticed a common denominator in many of the images. That would be the letter “c.” Perfect. A photo essay focusing on items beginning with the third letter of the alphabet. Hey, whatever works…
CAP CLAD CHILDREN and Dad CLASP hands. I just love this photo. And, yes, the weather was COLD with temps in the 50s and a WINDCHILL.
Among all the tools and miscellaneous junk, I spotted this CLOWN light plate switch COVER. Makes me wish I had a kid’s room to decorate.
Sam from COATES, snugged in his COAT, reads CARTOONS in the back of his dad’s flea market truck. The 10-year-old COLLECTS knives and lighters.
Lovely CAKE CARRIERS and COLORFUL CUPS for the COLLECTOR.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is an actual ear of CORN. It is not. This is a CORN CANDLE CRAFTED from beexwax by Bob Draheim of Busy Bee Honey Farm, CANNON Falls. He made a mold from a real ear of CORN. How COOL is that?
I suppose when you purchase CHAINS, the easiest way to CART them around, if you don’t buy the yellow CART in the background or don’t own the red CHEVY Suburban, would be to toss the links across your back and shoulders.
My husband, who works as an automotive machinist at the NAPA store in Northfield, COVETED this $30 NAPA CALENDAR gripped by the vendor after the wind tore it from her hands.
An unusual flea market find: a COAL price list. Who knew there were so many types of COAL?
Hungry shoppers, including one in a COWBOY hat, line up for CHOW (aka burgers and brats) from the Northfield Knights of COLUMBUS food wagon.
CLOTHING, including this t-shirt sporting the Rice County Steam & Gas Engines motto, were on sale in the CLUB’S office.
FYI: Click here to view a previous flea market post and check back for two more posts. One will feature my flea market purchases.
The flea market runs until 5 p.m. today. Maybe. Significant rain is falling in the area, perhaps enough to fold up the flea market. You may want to contact a club officer before traveling to this event today.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Hi Audrey,
Every morning the first e-mail I open is yours. Every one of them has
been so interesting and so is this one. You are really clever in showing
your pictures and comments about them. Keep them coming!!!!
DeLores
DeLores, thank you for your most kind words. I appreciate so your support and enthusiasm for my writing and photography.
I love attending the flea market through your eyes (and photos). It’s been raining all day here in Rochester, too cold and wet to be out for too long, anyway I thought of my son Brice immediately when I saw the picture of the little boy….He really could have been my son at that same age, Brice also collected lighters and knives….still does 🙂 Brice was the one that always tagged along with me to flea markets. That corn candle looks amazingly real, very cool if you ask me.
How sweet that your Brice would tag along and take an interest in flea markets. I totally agree with you on the candle. I was just amazed that he could make a mold from an ear of corn to shape these candles. I still don’t know that I entirely understand the process.
That’s so good that all of these have the letter ‘c’ in common otherwise I’d have never picked the thread. I could have sworn that corn was to bite into. Who would have thought it was a candle! xx
Yes, totally agree that the corn candle looks as realistic as an authentic ear of corn.
Loving the cake carriers:) Great Captures!
I was so tempted to buy that beautiful green one, but knew I really did not need it.
I would have had a hard time walking away – use it for keepsakes, fill it with silk flowers to display, jewelry, etc.
You always have such good ideas for repurposing. If I bought everything I liked, I would have a house stuffed with stuff. As it was, I bought several items which I didn’t really “need.”
Love it – house stuffed with stuff – ha!
I can not pick a favorite picture but I am drawn to the “people pictures”–especially the ones with kids. Great post!!!!
People pix are always a bit more tricky to take as I typically desire unposed photos. But that’s not always possible, to sneak up unnoticed.
I had no idea they had something there in the spring. We put in our garden Saturday so wouldn’t have made it anyway. Funny I was just thinking about going to this and the Carver County one again this summer. Maybe by then the temps will be slightly warmer 🙂
Liked the Waconia calendar. That’s just down the road from me. The different coals reminded me of the different crude oils, Brent, WTI (West Texas Intermediate), etc.
This flea market has been going on every Memorial Day weekend for a long time, although I’ve only attended in recent years. We went early enough to miss most of the rain. At least you had a good reason for not being there.