They call me the “Antique Diva”. Sometimes I think the name applies to my age and not just my love for antiques. Occasionally I get the opportunity to travel with my sister to see what kind of trouble we can get into. This summer’s road trip through upstate New York was no exception. Our first stop was an outdoor auction at an adorable antique store we frequent, the Bernard’s Bay Country Store in Bernhard’s Bay, NY. The auction featured many items at very good prices in addition to the items in the store which are unique and in my opinion, very fairly priced. As an antique diva I usually shop for myself, however, this time there was a nice variety of old tools and I was able to pick up an early 1900′s plane for my husband. It was hard to resist this piece and its lovely patina. For $5.00 it was an easy decision. As I’ve mentioned before, antiques don’t have to be expensive to be great finds. Besides, you can always sell an item later if you decide you don’t want it. If you ever visit the Bernard’s Bay Country Store you must try their cashew brittle – it melts in your mouth!
We then continued on to Sylvan Beach, a town situated where the Erie Canal meets Lake Oneida. The beach area is like a step back in time, with a quaint albeit tiny, amusement park, surrounded by cottages for rent.
After a night of rest and relaxation, we set out to visit our favorite antique stores in Bouckville, NY. It was a beautiful day, and to top it off, we had a root beer float – talk about a blast from the past! Bouckville is known for its antique stores, and at one of our favorites, I found a circa 1840′s child’s rocker with original hand painting still intact. I have a love for children’s chairs of all sorts, so this was quite a happy find for me, and is also a good thing to have for future grandchildren to enjoy. I have always been on the look-out for a special child’s chair or rocker, since I have fond memories of sitting in one as a child, but unfortunately, it was given away at some point. I do still have a family heirloom highchair though. Sometimes antiquing is all about finding those lost memories and bringing them back to life.
— The Antique Diva is a lifelong collector of antiques and anything else that catches her eye. ‘Antique’ refers to her hobby, not her age! She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three cats.
Bouckville, NY antique shops
