Don't Hate Me

Don't hate me.  I am a discredit to the junking world.  I am a fraud.  I did a terrible awful thing this week.  I still can't believe I did it.  I forgot the new Goodwill opened on Thursday.  And, it gets worse!  I was actually IN THE PARKING LOT of the same shopping center and I STILL didn't remember.  *Hanging head in shame*

In my defense, my washing machine quit working.  I have only had it five months, so it is still under warranty.  But, I had to get the repairman out here and he had to order parts and it has been nearly two weeks without my washing machine and I am going CRAZY without it.  Especially in this 105 degree sweaty heat with The Breadman's uniforms fermenting in the basket.  (*Gag*)  So, on Thursday, after the repairman finally getting here (yeah!) to fix the machine, or so I thought, only to tell me he would order the parts and be back in a week.....argh.....I got a little crazed and decided I would march myself down to Lowe's and see if I could just swap it out for a new one.  (It didn't work.)  I was at Lowe's and I had a very one track mind on my washing machine.  So, I totally spaced on the new Goodwill. 

I remembered about it that night and I could not believe I forgot such an important thing.  Dadgumit.  You don't have to read my blog anymore.  I am a failure.

Friday I was there though, don't you worry about that.  I had to get a gander and see how the prices were going to be.  Prices were a bit more than I like to pay, but then again, I am pretty cheap.  :D  I did find a few things.  You knew I would, right?

I don't really even know what this is - it is a wooden apple on a base with four holes.  I put pencils in it, but it just looks awkward.  I wondered it it held flags on a teacher's desk.  But, I don't know why you would need four flags.  Any ideas????  It is vintage with a green felt base.

One of my beloved alabaster watermelon slices.  I haven't found one of these in years.  So, that was a happy find.

On the utilitarian side, a couple of books for the upcoming school year.  We are going to do an in depth study of space travel and moon landings, because why not get deep into something that doesn't exist anymore? :D  Anyway, the books were 50¢ for children's books and $2.00 for hardback books.  When I went to check out, the guy read about five pages of the Space book before he decided to charge me the Children's price.  Why do they make the pricing so weird?  How about 50¢ for paperback and $1.00 for hardback so you always know what is going on?  Pricing like that drives me nuts.  (But, that space book is really not a kid's book at all, so I got a bargain, so why am I complaining?)

I got this set of NABISCO Building Block cartons to resell.  They are from 1995 and are reproductions of the cartons they used in 1924.  When they are all stacked up, they are five feet tall.  They all nest inside each other for storage too.  I can't find any others to see if they are worth selling.  if they are - I will sell them.  If they aren't - I will have clever storage containers in my office for my "stuff".

My find of the day, I hope, is a Pendleton Blanket with a1970's Arkansas Razorback logo in the center.  Pendleton blankets can bring serious cash and vintage Razorback items can do the same.  So, I have high hopes.  I forgot to take a photo of it, but I will throw one in later.

So, my take on Goodwill is this - it is close and it is semi-reasonable, so I will go again.  Oh, who am I kidding - you know I will go all the time, because you just never know......right?

What did you find this week?

Itty Bitty Little Cute Stuff

One thing that I have always had a weakness for and still do is little itty bit cute stuff.  Tiny little things. When I lived in my apartment, I had old 24 hole Coke Crates on my walls full of miniatures.  I had every itty bitty little cute thing that you could imagine.  When we moved into our house, I never put them out because they take up a lot of room.  But, one day I saw them in a shoe box and realized that they really don't take up that much room if you display them in a different way.

So, I tossed them all in a couple of old blue Ball jars and sat them on a shelf.  From time to time, I pick them up and have a little I SPY game.

 I spy two balls of yarn, some SOS Pads, a pig, a scooter, some ABC blocks and a tiny graniteware cup.

 I spy two bowling pins, Gerald Ford, a caboose, a cup and a praying angel.

I SPY  the letter "I", the number "5", a wee birdie,a Christmas tree and a HEART.

Every once is a awhile, like today, I dump them all out and put them all back in again.  Then I have a whole new I SPY Game to play.  I honestly think I like them in these jars more than I did displayed on shelves where they got dusty.  These jars are maxed out.  So, if I find any more itty bitty cute little things, I will have to start a new jar.  Oh, wouldn't that just be awful?  :D

Christmas in July

Happy Christmas in July!

Our little family started celebrating Christmas in July last year as a diversion to all the BS that was going on in our lives.  We need a break.  A fun, silly thing to do that was just ours.  So, Christmas in July was born. 

This years theme was turquoise, fuchsia and peppermints.   I made a felt banner garland for the tree and cut out some felt ornaments.  Someday I will get industrious and actually pack up a Christmas in July supply box instead of winging it. 

The theme and color selection was courtesy of this cake from Sam's that was our dessert.  It is too hot to bake and the candy making supplies are in short supply this time of year.  So, we had cake.  And, really, what's better than a "birthday" cake when it's not even anyone's birthday!

Santa and the mini BBQ grill are always a part of Christmas in July.  It's summer, baby!

Gifts consist of "stuff we have around the house" which this year consisted of tote bags, books, cookie mix and other miscellaneous items.  My Mom gifted me our family Super Pickle and Super Hot Dog from when I was little.  Christmas in July this year was only me, my mom and The Bean 'cause The Breadman just doesn't "get it".  But, that's okay - we had fun and that's all that counts.

Happy Christmas in July to YOU!

The Blues

I've got the thrifting blues.  I haven't been thrifiting very much lately because it is so damn hot.  I know it is hot everywhere so no one really wants to hear me complain about the heat.  But, this is my blog so here I go.  IT IS HOT AND I HATE IT.  Okay, that is all.  It has been nearly or over 100 every day for weeks on end.  I saw 106 on the car thermometer today.  It is way too hot for garage sales and practically too hot to go anywhere at all.  Right now it is dark and thundering, but did we get even one single drop of rain? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.  Pbthhhh.

Speaking of the blues, here are my finds for today's thrift run.  A lovely vintage blue tablecloth for $2.00 and a Mama and Baby Duck set for $1.50.  Now, these are not the Country Geese of the early 90's.  I remember them from Target a couple of years ago in white, yellow, orange, blue, etc.  I think I remember them being about $20.00 and $12.00 respectively.  So, $1.50 was a good deal.  They will look good in the yard with my lush green grass, massive flower garden and jumbo tomato plants.  Well, a girl can dream, right?

On tap Saturday:  A large Church sale within walking distance of my very own house.  WOO HOO.

And, on Tuesday, a GOODWILL opens right up the street a mere 1.8 miles away.  WOO FREAKING HOO!  I am not really a Goodwill fan, but I am hoping they get good stuff and have even better prices.  Iknow of two Goodwills - one is high priced and one is cheap, so we will see what happens in that respect.

Happy hunting everyone and STAY COOL.

The Big Chicken and The Big Turkey

The giant turkey and chicken are from my hometown, but they recently removed them much to the chagrin of the townspeople.  They had been there my entire life.  But, they moved them to a small town near me, so now I get to see them more often.  I've always wanted to take photos of and with them, but never had the nerve because it was on a very busy highway at a very, very busy intersection.  Now they are in a teeny town and we can get photos any time we want!  Yeah.  I am thinking Christmas Card photo of the family and the chicken.  Why not?  (My dream would be to ride that big chicken!)

Go here  to see another thrify blogger visiting the very same big chicken and big turkey.

Hillbilly Pickin' & Junky Finds

Today, even though it was beastly hot and I got way too late of a start, I headed out for a bit of junkin'.  I had spotted one ad on Craigslist that was less than a mile from my house, "Lots of junk.  Come and brause."  Despite the poor spelling of "browse" I was lured in by the word junk, so that's where I headed first.  I knew the road, however, I never realized that the end of the road went deep off to the right and turned into a dirt road.  I followed my familiar route, then suddenly, I was on the dirt road and seeing things that I didn't even know still existed in this area, let alone that close to my house.  I spotted the YARD SALE sign and an arrow pointing, so I pulled in.  Oh heavens.  what a mess.  Three old very dilapidated trailer homes.  Junk, and I do mean junk. everywhere.  Pit bull pups running here and there and a little boy with a burr haircut and no shirt chasing the dog.   Five old junk cars, missing most their tires and parts.  Old barrels, old farm equipment.  Junk, junk, junk.   I should have left when I saw that.  I really should have left when I looked at The Bean and he had this worried face like, "We are going to die".  Despite both of these things, I continued on in my quest for some good junk.

As we emerged from the car, a young girl came out on the front porch. I asked what was for sale and she rolled her eyes and pointed back behind the trailer where some tables were set up and covered with stuff. Kind of like, Boy are you dumb you can't see the yard sale.  But, actually, that area really didn't look anymore like a yard sale than the rest of the yard.   Just random crap everywhere.

We went down to the tables and started looking around. (Note to self: Do a tick check later.) There were a few good old items there, so I started picking things up. Nothing was priced, so I knew I would have to deal with the girl.  When I finally took my pile to the girl, she declared it was $9.00. I thought it was too much, so I had her tell me what she had charged me for each item since I only had a few things. She finally picked up on item and told me that she had charged me $4.00 for it, but 50¢ each for everything else. Odd. Anyway, I put back the $4.00 item (which was an tchotke not much different that the other things I was holding) and paid my $4.00 and left.

As we were leaving, a tiny little blonde girl ran up to me from inside the trailer. She was so cute and I came thisclose to patting her on her blonde little head. Then I had bad thoughts. Really bad thoughts of head lice and bed bugs. I've never felt better than anyone else, it was weird. It was just so out of the ordinary to wind up in such a non typical typical Arkansas hillbilly trailer park junk sale that I was caught off guard. Wishing I hadn't mentioned ticks because now I am itchy all over.

**Anything I bought there has been disinfected - twice. **

So, enough yakkity yak - here's this weeks junk in review.

A very sweet Japan angel doll.  She was from that sale, but in her original package, which was unopened and now disposed of properly.  A keeper.

A cool Pumpkin man - not old, but vintage looking - $1.00 for a 105 degree yard sale earlier this week.  A keeper.

A big white pottery owl planter from that sale.  For the flea market.  I cannot keep owl crap on the shelves.

Seven dwarfs, who except for their clothes, look identical.  New in their package from that sale.  Cute.  Not sure - keep or flea or ????

Nat old tin globe from that sale.  I love the patina.  I think I am going to keep it.  BUT!  I will not collect globes.  i will not collect globes.   i will not collect globes......

Potter from here and there.  White planter from the Super Cheap Thrift for $1.00, white donkey planter form SCT for 50¢, three small pieces of pottery - my very favorite to find - 50¢ each here and there.

Three aqua blue Frankoma mugs.  Frankoma is so plentiful here that I never buy it.  But, the color of these mugs is popular, so I picked them up for 25¢ each at the Super Cheap Thrift Store.  When I was washing them, The Bean was drying and he asked where the fourth one was - I told him that there were only three.  He insisted that there were four of them.  I told him that he wasn't even with me the day I bought them.  Yes i was he said.  They were on your tea cart that you bought and I moved them.  There were four of them tied together with jute string.  You know what - he was right.  I did see them there, but they were $4.00.  Apparently they didn't sell so they donated them to the SCT.  *This was the sale where my cabinet was already spoken for - The Bean asked - did they donate your cabinet too???*

A sweet old Yellowstone Plate - not your typical souvenir plate.  I will look it up for ebay, but most likely put it in the flea market.

Silk embroidery picture.  For the Flea market - 50¢ at the SCT.

An old apple tin - this might have been a tobacco tin, not sure.  I need to research it a bit before I decide what to do with it.

And, lastly, the biggest stone apple I have ever seen.  It takes up both of my hands to hold it.  It should sell for good $$$$ this Fall or Winter.  (Ebay sales suck right now).

There you have it - my junk for the week and a story to boot. 

What did you get and where did you find it?

Meanies

Oh my friends, it has been such a long week. I have learned that there are hateful, mean people in this world. People that think that the world should be handed to them on a golden platter. People that think they are heads above everyone else in the world. People that will do anything and say anything they want no matter how it makes the other person feel.  People that can stomp their feet and bully others into doing whatever they deem.

MEAN

PEOPLE

SUCK

This isn't anyone in my personal life or anyone I will really ever have to deal with again in the future. But, that doesn't mean that my feeling for this person will change. This doesn't mean that I will EVER forget how this person treated me and my family. EVER.

MEAN

PEOPLE

SUCK

I won't go into the whole story since it is still unfolding, but it is all a bit unsettling.  Like I said, it's not my family or even a friend, so never fear - I will be fine.  My blood is boiling and my blood pressure is through the freakin' roof.  But, I will be fine someday.  I just had to get this off my chest and that is what my blog is for - so here it is.  You can disregard this post.  Somethings you just have to do for your own peace of mind and sanity. 

Lego my Lego

When we were in Kansas, we were lucky enough to be able to visit the Art of the Brick at Mulvane University.  The show is traveling around the world, and just happened to be in Topeka, Kansas of all places.

The artist is Nathan Sawaya and he makes things out of Lego's. Actual life sized art out of regular sized normal Lego's!

The sculptures were amazing to see.

Each one got better as we went from sculpture to sculpture.

This Cello looked like you could sit and play music on it - perfection.

This one was of a man still building himself out of Lego's.

Actual sized Lego person next to The Bean.

Do you see this?  It was nearly impossible to see it in the gallery, but once I snapped a photo, you could see it was a portrait.

It's easier to see when it's small or you are farther away from it.

Giant pencil.

These masks were huge.  Most of the sculptures had the number of bricks in them, but these didn't.  Many hundreds of thousands, I would imagine.

This one was called "My Boy" and it choked me up.  You just forgot they were Lego's after awhile.

I can't remember what this one was called - but it was so interesting.

Which one is real?  Which one is Lego's.  ha.

Giant hand.

Man holding up his own face.

I don't know how this guy was staying on there - he was only attached by a couple Lego's.

The show is currently in Paris, France.....Melbourne, Australia...and...Topeka.  So, if you are close to any of those places - go see this Exhibit.  It is wonderful!

Garden Tomatoes

This morning I picked the first of the garden tomatoes. 

A whole bowl full of fresh sun ripened tomatoes!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.  I can almost taste those Turkey Bacon and Tomato sandwiches.  Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Now I just need to find a teeny tiny loaf of bread.  *Sigh*

Come ooooooooooon BIG Tomatoes.  Hurry UP already!

Have you had an acutal juicy red garden fresh tomato yet?

This Week's Finds

This morning, I had grand plans to get up early and go to the Super Cheap Thrift.  The Breadman was off today due to the holiday week schedule, so I thought I could go by myself and look around at my speed without having to hurry or worry about anyone else.  But, imagine my surprise when I woke up at 10:00 am!  I never sleep that late, but I was sawing some major logs.  I supposed I needed that sleep or I wouldn't have done it.  Oh well.

Later in the day we were headed to my Grandmother's house to do some more organizing for the Estate Sale (no, we haven't had it yet - August 5th is THE BIG DAY), when we passed by one of those huge fireworks tents full of stuff with YARD SALE signs in front of it.  Screeeeeech! 

The tent was chock full, but I only bought smalls except for an eight foot folding table for $2.00 which was not photo worthy, but certainly usable.   I also bought the uber adorable His and Hers drawers pot holders, crocheted sachet, doily, tiny Lensey truck, piece of pink slag glass and the Etiquette book all for a dollar.  I will have to blog about the Etiquette book in another post - it is from 1938 and is quite comical.  "When should a child be allowed to sit at the dining table?"  "When it can behave properly, when it can hold it's fork and when it can drink from a cup without leaving a greasy moon on the glass."  It!

I also bought this very large metal sign for 50¢.  I may hang it out on the shed or the fence, or I might use it as a magnet board in my office.  It's quite wordy and I haven't really figured out what it means entirely.

I mentioned yesterday that I had thrifted Popsicles, seashells and tea this week.  I kind of went off my usual thrifting theme and bought some different things.  Ready to see? 

First up:  Popsicle.

Popsicle STICKS, that is.  Now, I know we have all seen Cub Scout projects made from Popsicle's sticks, but this is really well made and pretty cool.  I think old tramp art is pretty neat.

Lots of work went into this lamp.  I plan on selling it either at the Flea Market or on ebay. 

Next:  Seashells

Now, I have never seen seashsell flowers.  But, on Tuesday morning, I read Magpie Ethel's Collection Challenge and she posted about seashell flowers.  Fast forward about four hours and I spot this at the Salvation Army.

It's a pretty big shell filled with an arrangement of shell flowers, shell rosebuds and other shell flowers.  It's big and somewhat gaudy, but I find myself a bit smitten with it.  The plan is to sell it on ebay, so I must follow through.  It does not fit into my "stuff", so I must let it go.  Right?

Lastly:  Tea

A tea cart.  I bought this at the sale with the Hoosier Cabinet last night.  The trays pop off and snap back on to the sides after it is folded up, so it really doesn't take up much room.

I don't have room for this either, and I rarely ever have the Queen over for tea anymore, so I guess this must be sold too.  But, I couldn't pass it up for the price. 

Every time I go to my Grandmother's house, I know that  there is not one more thing that I would even consider taking home.  But, it seems I always end up taking one more thing. 

Today I spotted this bedraggled old bulldog out in the shed.  I remember him at her photography studio over the years.  He is pretty chippy and worn, but I think I can clean him up.  He has red jewel eyes and those are sort of freaky, I must admit. 

I saw a huge yard sale being set up this today for tomorrow, but it is supposed to be 105 degrees tomorrow.  I think I might just sleep in until 10:00 again!