Two, Four, Six Eight, Isn't My Family Great?

Last Christmas I mentioned my blog in my annual Christmas letter to family. Since then, many of my family in Kansas has been reading it and seeing my thrifty finds. Earlier this Spring my Aunt emailed to say that she along with my cousin had pulled some items out of their garage sale thinking I might like them. I was going to pick up the goodies at a Family Reunion this summer, but I couldn't attend due to DH's schedule. Long story short, (TOO LATE!), the box arrived on my doorstep today.

I had to chuckle at the address label. I haven't seen that name in 17 years!
Some handmade items that my Aunts and family members had made.
Oooooooo.....a pile of wonderful vintage hankies from every holiday and some lovely old doilies. And, a box of vintage birthday candles!
Shiny Brite ornaments both big and small, bells, a celluloid reindeer and Santa. Love that pink Shiny Brite in the back with the duckie on it.
A Gurley candle. A huge Gurley candle. Perfect for my Santa collection!
And, oh my heavens, I love this guy. He goes with my big Rubber faced Santa that I covet. LOVE HIM!
The Bean was the recipient of an army of Pez and a slew of keychains.

The Bean says thank you and I do too!

Here's my one and only thrifty find of the week. And, I really don't even know what it is or what I will do with it. It's an old wooden painted box with a cool patina, with 109 hand cut wooden blocks in it. Each block measures 1"x1". It looked like Folk Art to me and I thought it was neat. It was priced $4.00, so I was second thinking it, but my lady friend at the thrift said $2.00, but then she ended up only wanting $3.00 for the box, an old blank autograph book, four books for Schoolin' and a nice heavy Denim Jacket for The Bean. So, it was a Deal. A Deal I have no idea what to do with - but it's mine!And, I made an ebay purchase. I do not buy on ebay, because I simply do not need anything enough to warrant buying it and having it shipped to me. If I see it in person and it's affordable, then I buy it. Otherwise, I just don't need it. A few weeks ago I was at a yard sale and I saw a child's Tom Thumb Typewriter. The man wanted $20.00 for it and I didn't want to shell out that much money, so I didn't buy it. But, I kept thinking about it and wishing I had bought it. It was so darn cute! I also wondered if I had lost a goldmine by leaving it, so I looked it up on ebay.
I found this Tom Thumb for - are you ready? $5.00! And, it had the cover, which the one I saw at the garage sale did not. Some of them sell for quit a bit more, but this auction was in the wrong category and not a very visible auction. I was still surprised I got it for the minimum bid!

I did have to pay shipping, but it was a total of $15.00 for the typewriter and the shipping, which is still less than the original $20.00 one and this one is in a lot better condition. It's a cutie! Now, what to do with it?

We went to the County Fair today and looked at the quilts, baskets, chickens, bunnies, goats, cows, jellies, pickles, pies and cakes. I was walking along when I spotted an old green tin picnic basket (with what I think might have been bakelite handles) sitting on a window ledge. My main WANT when thrifting. Well, the thrifter in me got excited and bolted over to look at it. But, alas, it was being used by the Fair Staff to hold their paperwork. "We've been using that forever" they told me. Uh,yea. So close........