Back to Normal. Kinda.

Monday was a day of life as normal for most people in my area. Most of the schools were back in session, businesses are all open and life resumes. With some exceptions, of course. Lots of people are still without power. Sadly, it's mostly people out in the very rural areas that are pretty much living in poor conditions in the first place. We have a good friend that runs a rural mail route in such places. He was going to see if he could get a truck load of bottled water and food and take it to deliver to people on his route. Although schools are open, they asked that kids without power not return until they are able to shower. I thought that was pretty sad. Why not let those kids, and their families for that matter, come into the school and use the showers in the locker rooms to clean up. I know three days sans shower was about all I could handle. These people have been living powerless for a week and counting. Maybe someone in the school system will get that idea.

A normal day for The bean and I is staying in the house doing school and housework. Since we had been housebound for a week, I declared it a "Let's get out of here!" Day. I did attempt to make it educational as we went on a lengthy ride and looked at the damage. It is incredible to think that pretty much every single tree in a 100 square mile radius is broken or gone. Dangling power poles like this are one of the many things you see when you are out looking.
Pretty much the typical sight for miles and miles - broken trees, men with chainsaws cutting and stacking wood, tractors and brushogs moving things around.
We were going to drive up this road to look at the damage, but I noticed something laying across the road as we started down the hill.

Screech! A power line!
Snapped in half like a twig. Needless to say, I flipped a "U"-ie and got the heck out of there.

A house you may have seen on TV - no names mentioned. There were a lot more trees across the front before the storm. You can see the tractor moving out the downed trees and a stack of limbs piled in the yard. Everyone was affected, that's for certain. *Edited to add that I don't mention their names anymore due to Google searches and some of the most hateful annonymous comments that I have ever read. I won't be subjected to them anymore. For any new readers - I do live near the family, I graduated from high school with Michele and personally, I think they are a great family. 'Nough said. ;o)

So, if I want to return to normal, what would I do? Why, hit a thrift store, of course! I only found a few small things,but it was fun to get out and made me feel like me again.

I thought this was appropriate after the week we have had. Even though we had it bad, other people had it far, far worse. So, no matter where I roam I an happy to come home. I have a small collection of these old metal trivets with sayings on them in my laundry area.

A 75¢ tiny wooden egg painted to look like Santa. It's very intricate and well painted.

A set of six old doll faces for 75¢. As I counted them out, I noticed that there were really seven in the stack. But, then I saw why they may not have counted the last one.

Yowza! If I get the notion to make a scary possessed doll, I am all set.

An alabaster watermelon slice. This is one of my much sought after items, but I rarely ever find them. I had a good run on them about six years ago, but haven't found one in a very long time. So, I was happy to add this one to my collection for $1.00.
I just barely had room for it on the windowsill with the rest of my slices. They look like stained glass when the afternoon sun streams through the window. The triangle one in the center was brought to me from Acapulco by my parents when I was a kid. That started the whole collection. Watermelon alabaster slices, watermelon potholders and watermelon stickers. I detect a theme here.....

And, lastly, a vintage Valentine item! A sweet Lefton vase with Feb. 14 on it. I actually walked past it a few times before I spotted it. It was full of hideous plastic roses so I almost missed it. I have a lot of vintage-inspired Valentine items, but this is my first actual vintage item. So, I was very happy to have found it for $1.00. That reminds, me, I haven't shown my Valentine decor yet, have I? I am over the moon excited awaiting my swap box from Sarah's Heart to Heart Swap to see what other lovely Valentine creations I can add to my collection.

*Don't forget to sign up for the giveaway. I really appreciate all the sweet comments and seeing all my hidden readers. ;o)