News from the Trail
Rob is continuing his hike of the Appalachian Trail, currently nearing Daleville, VA. He is seeing some beautiful sights and meeting some kind and interesting folks including a fellow hiker who gave a fire breathing show as well as several very talented musicians and singers.
There is also plenty of wildlife along the trail. Rob has always had a keen love of animals. On one of his videos, you can see him hiking alongside and following behind a graceful little doe. She stayed with him for some time as he quietly talked to her. They said goodbye and a bit further up the trail she met up with her family who were equally casual about Rob’s presence.
As he was passing through the Grayson Highlands, he was greeted by several of the wild ponies who make the area their home. They are beautiful critters! They aren’t shy and he was able to pet a couple of them. And this is great: at night the hikers are encouraged to sleep in a corral to avoid having equine company! The ponies run free and the hikers are corralled!
Wild Ponies at Grayson Highlands
Here’s the link if you’d like to hike along with him! (3) Shaker Hikes - YouTube
Antique Shaker Boxes
I was recently following a live online auction which included a few original Shaker- made boxes dating to the 19th century. They were beautifully preserved with appropriate patina and signs of use and wear. The materials used were pine for the tops and bottoms, maple bands and copper tacks (Rob uses these materials as well). I knew the boxes would be highly collectible and valuable, but I was shocked when a small red one sold for $3500.00! This was immediately followed by a mustard painted beauty that fetched a whopping $10,000.00!! Can you imagine finding a couple of those in a dusty old barn?
Did You Know…..
The Shakers used milk paint on their boxes and furniture. Milk paint is still available today! The Shakers would have used actual milk to mix their pigment colors with, today it is sold as a powder (milk protein, pigment, and lime) and mixed with water. It is very environmentally friendly, has virtually no odor and it’s color quality is beautifully rich. Rob uses milk paint on his colored boxes so that historical accuracy is achieved in this step of the process as well. Milk paint does have a short shelf life and must be used within a few hours of mixing. On paint days all meals and walks are arranged according to when the paint was mixed!
Rob applying a coat of milk paint
Vibrant Milk Paint Colors of LeHay's Shaker Boxes
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