The Free Stuff

First, let me announce......commence the trumpets..... Do-do-do-DO....I have finished decorating.  I have been working on it for nearly two weeks.  I do love playing with my pretties and making new arrangements, but after awhile, I get cranky and crabby.  So, this year, I did it in small increments over a longer time and finally finished today.  I would have been finished a lot earlier, but the darn tree kept shorting out and blowing fuses.  I'd get one set of lights going and *pop* another would go out.  Finally, on Tuesday, I had all I could handle, opened the front door and heaved it to the curb.  As I drove off in search of a new tree, I saw something sparkling on the old tree and stopped to investigate.  It was our "First Christmas Together" ornament, so I am glad that I saw it.  When The Breadman saw the tree at the curb, he said, "Well, you made it a day longer than I thought you would."  Meaning, he knew I would toss it and get a new one.  Which is weird, because that is so not like me!

My woodland Santas.

So, I mentioned that I found an Estate Sale last weekend where everything was FREE.  The pickings were slim and a family ahead of me was grabbing things left and right, so I really didn't get that much.  But, I was happy with what I did get and thanked the man giving it away.  I do wish I would have found the sale when things were actually being SOLD, because the things that I did get make me wonder what I missed.  Lots of vintage goodness, I am afraid.

I did get a vintage Sorry game, a vintage Scrabble game, a big tin full of vintage Beistle and honeycomb Halloween decorations, a pair of vintage red garden shears, a signed Italian restaurant menu from 1970, some vintage Christmas cards, a logic puzzle, a plaque with a copper toadstool on it, a wood burned eagle plaque and a handmade penis.  Oh, you caught that last one, did you?  Just seeing if you are paying attention!  I really did get all that - including the last, ahem, item.  I pulled it out of the tin full of vintage Halloween stuff and my eyes about popped out of my head.  I'd put a photo on here, but there might be little eyes peering somewhere over your shoulder. 

On to the photoworthy items:

 An Acme Brick from 1976.   You won't believe what I am going to tell you, but I sort of have a collection of bricks.  So, this will go in that collection.  Yes, I collect bricks.  Whoda thunk it?

A bulldog from a letter jacket or maybe a uniform jacket. 

 An old metal Bus Stop sign from ????  I don't know. 

A cigar box full of bottle caps.

 This is something I have always wanted to find when out thrifting - a gum wrapper chain.  Why I wanted one, I do not know.  I just think they are neat.  This one is about 7 feet long.  There was also a shoebox full of vintage gum wrappers, so I can make my own (I took a few links off and it's surprisingly easy to make).

This vintage felt Christmas Card holder stole my heart when I spotted it under a table in a box.  There are Mercury Glass beads, jungle bells, a spun head Santa and other little treats on the pockets. 

 How can you not love this face!   The whole thing is nearly as tall as I am so I don't know if I can display it or not.  It is really enduring, though.   

Two weeks ago, I scored a bag of goodies at a sale for 59¢.  Last weekend I got all this stuff for free.  So, this weekend, I'm sure I will find a sale that will pay me cash to take things.  I'm sure that will work out...right?  (The fact that I am still finding an occasional yard sale this time of year is a feat within itself.)