The Barter Fair and My Favorite Mugs
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
Canada
November 18, 2016 7:35am CST
The story came to me when seeing the new Challenge here on Mylot about showing your favorite mugs. My two favorite mugs that I use daily were both found at a Barter Fair. I believe the MUG challenge was started by @marlina
Long ago when my daughter moved to the boonies north of Kingston Ontario I was invited to participate in a large group of friends who put on a Barter Fair yearly in the fall.
The large group of friends and their friends joined the event held on a large farm. It was a get together to bring your surplus items which could be anything including clothes, household goods, preserves, veggies from your garden, tools, art and anything else you might find that someone else would like to trade for.
No money was allowed, it was trade only, you barter for what ever you might want...
It was great fun, lots of laughs, and ended with a shared pot-luck dinner and the musical ones entertained us all in the barn that night.
The two mugs in the photo came from a local potter who hand made them. I have not used another mug at my house since. I love the feel of the texture of the clay and finish and the colors appeal to me too.
I had to do a fancy photo...with my hoya that won't bloom....
So show us you favorite mug or mugs.... your turn!
15 people like this
16 responses
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
21 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate My little Moka mug is my favorite, it's the one I use every day.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
18 Nov 16
I used to have a handmade mug that I loved but the handle broke off and that as they say, was that.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
Sad story... I like the hand made ones and have a cupboard full, but the two in the photo are my favorite. I get them at craft shows when I see them...Love the heavy ones...
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
A mug is not any good if you don't use them...I guess I'm lucky, these have lived in one piece in my house for years and years...
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
18 Nov 16
So glad that you are participating in that challenge. Love your mugs and the photo setting.
Yes, here is my link:
The photo included here with this post is of one of my favorite mugs. I have a lot of mugs and this one reminds me of Spring which I am already thinking of...
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
23 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate 'More beautiful now'!! She must be really beautiful because that is a stunning picture. I thought it looked as if it was a really old photo, perhaps of your mother when she was young.
Yes, I am a bit clumsy when it comes to breaking things.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
23 Nov 16
Who is that woman in the picture? My daughter standing by a lake near her home - probably 15 or 20 years ago. She is more beautiful now but that is a favorite photo of mine that lives by the hoya (the plant) in the living room. I guess I must not be as clumsy as you!!! 
1 person likes this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
18 Nov 16
Those are great mugs and I would love to go to a barter fair like that. The closest we have here is an event at the local university campus. One day each fall you can bring all your surplus household items to donate.
They set it all up in the open area of one building and the next day anyone can come and help themselves. Then they have all sorts of things going on. Organizations will have display tables, there are baked goods and coffee, etc. to buy. Some of that is for fundraising. They select some of the donations and set up a silent auction. One time they were demonstrating a bicycle flour mill and then selling pancakes made with the flour. So, there will be all sorts of groups demonstrating their activities.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
That sounds like fun and it sounds like a big event. Our Barter Fair was a group of around 50- 75 friends and neighbors. Sadly it ended in divorce, the farm sold and no more barter fair...
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate Oh, that is too bad. Yes, the event is quite big and hopefully people get some things they need out of it. Students always need stuff.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
18 Nov 16
Those are very nice mugs. My favorite is a very plain blue speckled mug with a nice heft to it. I had two of them but one got chipped on the rim. My husband has several favorites that he collects. One shelf in our cabinet is dedicated to his coffee cups. He keeps adding to them.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
21 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate 
Those extra's come in handy! I told hubby he needs to build a 'coffee bar' to match the hutch and side board. He liked the idea that he could display all of his cups. We will see how it goes.
Those extra's come in handy! I told hubby he needs to build a 'coffee bar' to match the hutch and side board. He liked the idea that he could display all of his cups. We will see how it goes.@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
Mine seem to disappear, I had a whole cupboard too. Then i found them in the basement...he decided we had to many in the kitchen... silly man i bring them up every time we have a house full of people...
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
Thank you, I do love the mugs, and I know where to buy more if I need too...
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
21 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate I know we have them here so I think I will keep an eye out and go to one.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
It was great fun, I 'm sorry the farm family moved so the Barter Fair ended.
1 person likes this
@kevinakash (2084)
• Sri Lanka
20 Nov 16
i haven't took part in those kind of fairs. sounds interesting
1 person likes this
@kevinakash (2084)
• Sri Lanka
21 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate hope we too have one. anyway i'm glad that you have one
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
Its just a large group of friends getting together in the fall to have a party and get rid of your odd and sods that you dont' want anymore. A social day and evening..Lots of laughs, good music and good food.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382658)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate As you've probably realised I ended up putting up one of Vince's.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
@JudyEv I did see it, thanks for letting me know...it made me laugh...
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
19 Nov 16
Very happy to hear that you are participating in the challenge.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
19 Nov 16
That is something I'd like to have attended. Those mugs are beautiful.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
Its fun like going to yard sales but just trading...I love my mugs.
2 people like this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
29 Nov 16
I an okay with all mugs...don't really have a favorite. My niece has more of an attachment than me.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
30 Nov 16
The two in the photo are the only ones I use. I have dozens of mugs but these two feel good in my hand.
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
18 Nov 16
how delightful to've a 'barter only' kinda gig :) sounds right 'p my alley. lovely mugs 'n hoya, too. i dunno why yers don't bloom? i'm still babysittin' the neighbors hoya's 'n hope they survive 'til her family picks'em 'p.
perhaps that's what i'm missin'? a favorite mug...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
I really liked the barter fair, it was much more fun than trading money. You only need a favorite mug if you use it every day....
2 people like this
