#30 Visit the Longaberger Headquarters

There was a time when I collected Longaberger baskets. I took every opportunity I could by scraping together a few dollars at a time and saving it and then purchasing this great handwoven piece of art. I still love them but haven't purchased any in a long time. I use all of the baskets I own. They all have something in them. They are useful and beautiful.

When I made my list of 50 things I wanted to do in my life a visit to the Longaberger Headquarters HAD to be on the list. And even though I don't save my dollars for these baskets anymore I was thrilled to be able to visit there today. It was an easy stop off of I 70 even though mapquest took us on a very interesting route. On highway 666 nonetheless. But we eventually made it and joined the hundreds of visitors that were there for Spring Fling '09. Today was part of a two day extravaganza that every Longaberger enthusiast would long to join in on. We had a blast watching the 30 second dash for baskets where 4 lucky people got 30 seconds to grab as many baskets as theey could and get back over the line in time with them. And we loved taking pictures of the giant baskets.

The world's largest REAL basket is in Dresden, Ohio. It is the place where the Longaberger comany was first started. It is a very small quaint town where we had lunch and took a picture of course of the "World's Largest Basket".


Then we were off to the Longaberger Homestead which is where the store is, the bakery, the barn, the outlet and cafe are. Also here is a giant apple basket. This is where the Longaberger family moved their operation to when they could no longer operate the business in the small area of their home. I'm not sure if this one is real, as in really a woven basket. I'm guessing not because it was actually a lot bigger than the one in Dresden and the one in Dresden is the one with the official sign.



Then we went to the actual Longaberger Headquarters. This is the office building. The building itself is a basket. And this one is the largest of them all. It's really a sight to behold. And once again, it can't be real or otherwise it would win as the "Biggest Basket in the World."



We had a ton of fun and now I've got to go because i'm exhausted. We are getting up super early to head to another of my things on my list. I can go months even years without completing a single thing on my list and here I am in a weeks time doing 3! It's crazy I tell ya'....



p.s. look at that blue sky. Isn't it gorgeous? I'm loving, loving Ohio.

p.p.s. Kris, I thought of you so much today. I wish you could have been here with me.