,

I love a good craft show. People can be incredibly clever and creative and I like coming home with handmade treasure.

.

.

So when I heard there was a show at Laudholm Farms on the Wells Estuary we took a drive down the coast even though it was overcast, drizzling rain and foggy.

.

.

It was an amazing show and all the craftspeople were under cover, be it tents or barns.

.

.

The problem?

I was expecting to find crafts and what I found was art that usually resides in galleries. There was amazing jewelry, fabulous paintings, unique pottery, intricate woodworking and stunning metalwork. Unfortunately I didn’t plan on spending $1,800 on a pair of silver earrings or $6,000 for some stained glass.

.

.

The artists have a very strict no photography rule so these giant outdoor pieces were the only things I could sneak a shot of.

And while the items we saw were beautiful, the cost of the things I wanted reached $15,000 before we were halfway through.

Needless to say I left empty handed.

.

.

No, I didn’t even consider pickle body lotion.

Our next stop was for a late lunch/early dinner at a local landmark, the Bull and Claw.

.

.

This restaurant has been in operation since 1973 and to be honest I don’t think it’s been redecorated since the 1980’s.

.

.

Plastic tablecloths, plastic duck decoys, artificial flowers … I wasn’t holding much hope.

.

.

But my cranberry margarita was decent and cheap and the menu was large.

.

.

Husband attacked the soup and salad bar with good results.

.

.

And we were pleasantly surprised to find our meals flavorful, well prepared and more than amply sized. Medium rare prime rib and stuffed shrimp with baked potato and broccoli for me, turkey dinner with mashed potato, stuffing and broccoli for the husband.

Our bill was well under a hundred dollars and though the atmosphere was dated and more than a little kitschy, I honestly wouldn’t mind going back.

.