It's true.  I don't collect antiques, but there are two very good reasons why.  I can't afford them, and I have no place to put them.  However, I love going along with Melanie to hunt for them.  I like the earthy, almost spiritual feeling of a building filled with items carrying their own special history.

It makes me a good friend to have along because I'll put my all into helping you find exactly what you're looking for.  I find it very rewarding - kind of like being a good hound dog.  I once had a little cracked Hull vase from my grandma Rose, and whenever we were in an antique store and the proprietor would ask me what I collected, I'd say "Hull" with a certain sense of gravity.  I lost my little Hull vase somewhere along the line. 

Melanie took me with her to the Pottery Place in Red Wing, Minnesota, along the Mississippi river recently.  I couldn't have been happier.  I can't get enough of old architecture.  I don't know much about it, but it makes me feel good.  And the community of Red Wing feels magical to me.  There's just something about a river town.

 We came across this fancy player piano at the Pottery Place and it still works.  Besides playing a lively tune, it also included percussion and bells.  We got a big kick out of it.  On this trip, we were hunting for Hamm's Beer memorabilia. 

We saw the above Hamm's Bear Bank at a place called Pottery Place Antiques at 2000 Old West Main Street.