Pottery & Pie

Saturday I was in the car about to back up to head towards the Super Cheap Thrift, when The Breadman pulled in the driveway with the new dryer. So, instead of a bit of thrift therapy, I had to get out of the car and start unloading it. That, compiled with the cleaning I accomplished this weekend (that resulted in a carload of donations), meant that a trip to the Super Cheap Thrift was definitely on my plate today.

The thrift was packed full of new things, but I recognized a lot of them from my previous donations. I picked up several things thinking, "I have one like these at home. No, wait, I donated it. And this is it! Put it down and walk away!" As usual, I managed to find a few things.

A funny old figurine from JAPAN priced 19¢ on the bottom. I paid 25¢. That's not bad inflation for about 50 years. I thought her face was a cute when I picked her up. Then, when I got her home, I analyzed it a bit. Cute angel girl holding a book with a lamb and they are on a ....sled? Not sure. She's still cute though.

This blue glass dish is marked FireKing and Oven Proof. I can't imagine putting anything like this in the oven though. The pretty blue color caught my eye but the FireKing name sold it. It was only 50¢.

This piece of pottery was $1.00. It is tall - about 10 inches tall and heavy. It has a shiny glaze, which I normally don't find attractive. But, I kept looking at it every time I passed by. I finally picked it up and saw this:

Red Wing! My first piece of Red Wing. I keep all my pottery in one big cabinet, so I try to keep it all pastel and matte finish. But, this one is different, so there goes that idea out the window. But, it was Red Wing and it was a dollar, so it is mine.
This afternoon, I made an Apple Pie. I always thought making a pie was this magical thing that only Grandma's could do. But, then I found out that it really isn't that hard. I'm still amazed when I make a pie that looks like an actual pie! And, even better - it tastes like an apple pie!

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday morning started off with the dryer quitting. *Sigh* A quick trip to Lowe's and my trusty No Interest/No Payments for 12 months coupon and I have a new dryer. Saturday, The Breadman picked it up and, with help from The Bean, they got the new one put together (cord put on the back) and I got the old one out of the house. Thank goodness it did quit, it was absolutely packed with lint in the back and the dryer hose was full too. I fear we might have had a fire eventually if it wouldn't have needed replaced. Our utility room is in an interior room, so the duct work goes up the wall, across the floor of the attic and then outside. It is really wonky and hard to keep cleaned out. The new rule is, every three months we will move the dryer out , clean the back out and clean out the entire dryer duct.

With a new dryer and part of the utility room clean, I decided it was time to clean out the shelving above and get it completely organized. We have a small house, so I have to make use of any and all storage space that I can find. A few weeks ago I bought a label maker at a yard sale and it is my new BFF.

For on top of the dryer - new containers one for Fabric Softner, one for Lint and one for Lottery Money* - That's the spare change I scrounge up in pockets and in the washer. The Breadman asked, "Why are we saving the lint?" We aren't saving it - I just toss it in there and dump it every few days. (I don't have a trash can in there.)

*Arkansas just got the lottery this month. Year after year the citizens voted and it never passed. But, it finally passed this year and TA-DA it is here! Woo-Hoo. Now, I'm not a big gambler, but it is fun every once in awhile. Yesterday as we were going to buy some handy storage containers for my cleaning frenzy, I decided that since I hadn't been to a garage sale all weekend, that I would spend my $10.00 on lottery tickets. I bought five tickets and I won $10.00, so I got two more. Then I won $15.00. So, I kept $10.00 and got one more ticket. Then I won $40.00! So, I kept $30.00 and go two more tickets. Then I won $15.00 and got $10.00 and one more ticket. Then, I think I won $20.00. I kind of lost track of it after awhile. But I know I had $10.00 in my wallet when I got there and I left with $60.00. So, I made fifty bucks in about thirty minutes. Not bad!

I only went to one thrift last week - so they are meager finds.

A dainty 14kt cup with "Forapresent" on it for 50¢. It's something political or official - I'm trying to Google it, but having trouble finding out exactly what it means.

This butterfly caught my attention in the jewelry case. It was heavy, well made and signed, so for $1.00, I bought it.
When I found the Rebecca Collins jewelry website, I got really excited, because nearly everything was several hundreds of dollars. Then, I spotted the butterfly. I anxiously scrolled down to see the price........ten bucks. Come on! All those $500 and $800 items and I found the ten dollar one? Apparently, it was mass produced for Neimen Marcus in 2000. Oh well, I still like it. (But, I would have lurved it for $800.00!)

A piece of my beloved matte white pottery for $1.00. (It's Royal Haeger, Sue!) It was high on a shelf by the front door. When I took it down, it had the doorstops and a bunch of screwdrivers in it. I threw $1.00 at them and ran out the door before they realized I took their storage container! I haven't found piece of pottery in months and months. It's funny, because I just boxed it all up for the winter too.

Today, The Breadman left to run an errand and when he got home, the door wouldn't open from the outside. Or the inside! We finally got it open, but I am so glad that we were both in and out so we could get it open. We had a brand new lock set in the garage that someone hadn't gotten around to putting on the door yet *cough*cough.* But, it's on now.

Hoping for a calmer week, some thrifting and lots more organizing. And maybe a few more lottery tickets.....Wish me luck.

Thank You Mother Nature!

Dear Mother Nature,

In a recent blog post I moaned and groaned about the non stop rain you were pelting down on us. I whined and I fussed. And, I wasn't very happy about the impending cold temperatures that are coming this weekend.

But today, you let the sun come out and shine all day long. That allowed me to finally get out of the house and see what you had done.

Yellow.

Orange.

Red.

Thank you Mother Nature for all the rain and even the cold. I understand now it all had a purpose. I promise I won't complain about the rain or the col again. It was all worth it!

*PS. I still don't understand that terrible awful ice storm last year though!*

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!

It's been raining for over a week now. Every single stinking day. We finally left the house yesterday to go pick up some groceries, but other than that, home has been the place to be. We had torrential rain last week which caused flooding at the end of the street. People got stuck in the flood in their cars and houses were flooded. Luckily, we sit up on top of the hill, so our house was fine. I so could not bear my junk getting wet and icky.

In addition to the flooding, the city is putting in all new sewer lines which has finally arrived to our neighborhood. We had a flyer in our mailbox alerting us that they would have to dig up the street, so we would need to go around the back way (about 3/4 of a mile) for a day or possibly two. Today was Day Number Eight. It's not that big of a deal, but it is hard to remember to go this way when I have been going that way for 15 years. One more fun thing - twice a day, they do something to the sewer lines and our entire house shakes and emits a hue fart-like sound. It is really scary and surprises us every time.

So, between the rain, the flooding and the rerouting of traffic, I haven't been thrifting or yard saling. No new treasures to share. No stories to report. Boo hoo for me. :D

I have been able to drag out all the Halloween decorations. Here's another "new to me" kind of display that I made.

I found the crows at The Dollar Tree this year. I bought about ten of them, but I have ideas for them throughout the year. Notice the one on the top shelf is wearing a silver crown. The honeycomb pumpkins all came from the Dollar Tree too. Four in a pack or one buck. Sarah showed these fun Silhouettes on her blog not long ago. I printed all three of them and framed them in some black frames that I had picked up about a month ago at.....you guessed it.....The Dollar Tree. (You gotta love The Dollar Tree!) The Bean had picked out the orange Christmas ornaments after Christmas at Hobby Lobby last year. I couldn't figure out how on earth I was going to incorporate ORANGE into my vintage pink-ish Christmas motif. I remembered them when I was making this display and added them in. I like the pop of color and shine they add.

One last thing - it's not a great photo, but I took it without a flash so the lights would show. I got these Martha Stewart paper globes at Big Lots for $2.00. I didn't know how I would use them, so I threw them in the garage for "someday". I hate light cords running up walls, so I never add lights on my old windows. These globes are great - they have LED lights, so they are pretty bright and they run on two AA Batteries. I have a feeling these will be making their way into much of my future holiday and non-holiday decor.

I'll be back with more Halloween decor and *cross your fingers* some thrifty finds. Rain, rain, GO AWAY!

***More rain forecasted for three more days. Then, it gets sunny......and FREEZING COLD. Where, oh where, did Fall GO?

Not My Usual Decor

Every year at Christmas time, I box up my entire living room except for the furniture pieces. (Actually, I even take some of the furniture out of the room too.) It's a huge job, but I do it because I love my Christmas stuff soooo much. This year I decided to get an early start of it and stat boxing things up this weekend. Don't worry, I'm not putting the tree up.....yet. Ha.

I decided to go all out with my Halloween decorating this year. I usually just put a few things out in a few areas, but this year I am making the entire living room a Halloween Wonderland. I've participated in a number of Halloween Swaps in the past few years and received some lovely handmade items from my partners. I've also been gifted some lovely items from my blog buddies, so I am excited to get it all out and have a look at it again this year.

This is the only area that I completed today. It really isn't my usual sort of decor - but I've seen similar things on different blogs and decided to give it a try. I incorporated all my creepy-ish cabinet photos (doesn't that lady on the left look like a witch?), old clocks, flower frogs, a quickly made bottle of poison and a sign that says, "It's Time for Halloween!" to make a different sort of vignette than I usually do. But, really do like it.

The rest of the room will be full of orange and black glitter-y goodness. Because that is what I truly like! More photos to come...

Saturday's Stuff

Yesterday was another rainy, gloomy day. Hence, no Friday yard sales. Today's forecast called for warmer temperatures (!) and sunny skies (!!), so I decided to check out Craigslist for any local sales. I found a Church Sale that was only about a mile away. This morning it was still cool, but it was finally dry, so we decided to head out.

First stop was the Church Sale - lots and lots of stuff scattered from one end of the parking lot to the other. As I went from table to table, I noticed that things either weren't marked or they were randomly marked with stickers, masking tape, magic marker - a little bit of everything. I decided I better inquire about the prices before I started picking things up. When I did ask, the ladies told me to gather up what I wanted and to just make a "love offering" of what I felt was appropriate and what I could afford. Now, normally, I hate sales where things aren't priced, or they ask for donations. But, I felt I could gather up what I wanted and pay a decent amount that I was comfortable with and not feel cheap for offering too little or like I got taken advantage of since it was "a donation".

So, what did I get? And, what did I pay? Let's see...

Useful things like two giant spools of curling ribbon, several colors of grosgrain ribbon and two packages of 60 sheets of tie dyed paper for crafting.

A hand made knitted doll - her fingers are amazing - tiny and well made.

Three old dolls - probably made from a kit - tiny purses, hats, wee shoes and gloves - very cute.

An older Empire blow mold Trick or Treat pumpkin and a old child's witches broom. I think I had one of those brooms for Halloween when I was a kid.


A giant fishing lure - see my finger? It's HUGH! (I know how to spell HUGE, but I see it all the time - HUGH SALE!) Back to the lure - not sure what on earth it is - a store display? I know one thing, that giant hook is SHARP.

Old Photo album with black pages, old jelly jar, slide rule, small book, milk glass vase, Emu Egg, small feathery bird, two handkerchiefs, lots of old binder clips with a bit o' rust on them and a box of Dennison labels. I normally don't "do" milk glass, but this is a nice vase and I am always needing a vase for my Zinnia's that I cut in the backyard.This old metal dustpan brought back a childhood memory the instant I saw it. I don't think I've ever seen one at a sale before, but when I saw this one, I remembered that my Mom used on like it when I was kid. I'll probably use it when I sweep the porch.
Not pictured are 42 pieces of jewelry still in their original packages - necklaces, earrings, bracelets - nice stuff. Each one had a $9.99 price tag on it. There were probably two hundred packages, and I am slightly kicking myself for not getting them all.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. I walked past a cardboard box many, many times and saw a garish brass light fixture sticking out. But, one more walk past and the sunlight hit inside just right, and I saw a crystal. So, I looked all the way in.

A chandelier! A good one - a very old one too - one with lots of crystals and drops. Someone had rewired it with a new cord and fixture, thus the garish bright brassy top. When I got it home, I discovered that the glass curvy parts that covered the metal parts were all broken, but the crystals, drops, flower shaped glass discs and all the crystal pieces were in great condition. So, I dismantled the entire thing and now I have a HUGH (ha) bag of crystals.

The old watering can was the first thing I picked up when we got there. The "Cream City" can was sitting in between two PODS that they were using for storage. When I went to pay, I asked the lady if the can was for sale. She said she really didn't know, but surely it must be since it was there. I decided I better see what my "Love Offering" was going to be before I got the milk can or anything else. I decided I would offer $20.00 and see what they countered with - but the lady said, "Oh, my goodness, that is more than generous!" Then I said, "Can I grab the milk can too?" And she said, "I thought you were including that already."
When I went to grab the milk can I spotted this funny concrete poodle too. I offered more money, but she wouldn't hear of it. I'm not really a Poodle kind of gal, but I think she will look just dandy sitting by my retro pink glider.

So, how did I do for $20.00?

I Am Soooo Ready For Next Week

I believe I mentioned that I had plans to work The Breadman like a Pack Mule this week since he was on vacation. Hmmm.....Let's see how that is going, okay?

Sunday, he returns from Dallas from seeing the Arkansas Razorbacks play in the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. He unpacks, fills the laundry basket with dirty clothes, hands me my broken digital camera (that he dropped from the second story balcony), sits on the couch and falls asleep. Day One: Down the tubes.

*Two sweet hankies, one from Alaska - each 50¢. Cute vintage-y girl - 25¢.

Monday: I get up early to do my usual chores so that we have the rest of the day to get crackin' on my Honey-Do list. About noon I walk out into the driveway and open the garage door to start unloading it to make several trips to the Salvation Army with donations. About noon o' five - The Breadman rubs his stomach and announces, "My stomach hurts." Ten minutes later, vommitting ensues. Ten minutes after that, he is in bed for the rest of the day. Day two: Down the tubes (Although I did get a lot of sorting and cleaning done - just no help).

*Set of kitschy plates - must research. Cucumbers and mushrooms - 25¢.

Tuesday: The Breadman arises, feeling better, but it is cold and rainy - no day to work in the garage or the shed. We do make it to The Super Cheap Thrift to donate what I culled out on Monday. (Meager finds sprinkled throughout post.) With promises of a meal at TGIFriday's, I lure the boys into town and a stop at Hobby Lobby where I buy a completely fantastic Halloween decoration that I am crazy about. He continue on to TGIFriday's where I present my FREE Jack Daniels Chicken Sandwich coupon for becoming Woody's Friend on Facebook. Not only is it happily accepted, but the manager comes over to specially THANK ME for using the coupon. The Bean can't find anything that appeals to him on the menu, so the waitress and the cook prepare him Fettucini Alfredo with Blackened Chicken which is not even on the menu and he devours it. Great service at TGIF's! Day Two: No work done at home, but fun out in the real world.

Crudite plate - radishes, carrot sticks and caulifloer - 25¢.

Wednesday: We meet my Mom and Grandmother to help my Grandmother purchase a new refrigerator. She is an exasperating woman and produces a full on migraine - for me, my Mom and The Bean. Day three: No work done at home, stressful day out in the real world.

*Green Olives and Cherry Tomato Plate - 25¢.

Thursday: I work really hard in the garage, despite another rainy day. I get a lot of organizing and culling out done. The Bean has a stomach ache, so he reads most of the day, trying not to vomit. Apparently, today is National "Sit in your chair, listen to the sports radio station and fall half asleep most of the day" Day. Applicable only to Breadmen. Who knew? Day Four: I got a lot of work done. Anger is a great motivator, eh?

Friday: Who knows? 100 percent chance of heavy rain all day.

Saturday: Hurrah! The first sunny bee-u-tiful day in the entire week forecast. Yea! We can work in the shed, or do something fun as a family. No! Wait! There's another Razorback Game. Oye. An all day affair.

Week is GONE. Bah humbug!

*Yes, yes, I know. He works hard, it's his vacation, he deserves time off, he was sick on Monday, he needed to rest, he is a good provider, blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda. Whatever.

P.S. If you are related to me and you are reading this: Do not tell The Breadman about this post, please. Thank you kindly!

Moi?

Every once in a awhile, some lovely "stranger" will contact me and ask for my address. Each one wears they are not a stalker and say they want to send me something. Usually they say they saw something while they were thrifting and thought of me. I always think it is sweet that someone somewhere thought of me when they don't even really know me. I have been the recipient of watermelon potholders, watermelon stickers, cupcake picks, Shiny Brite ornaments and a variety of other items that I have mentioned liking or loving or coveting.

Flash forward (or would that be Flash Backward....)to last Friday - A sweet girl from Kansas City emailed me to say that she had something for me that made her think of me and would I mind if she sent it to me. Now, Amy has never left a comment (That I know of. Amy?) and has never emailed me before, so I wondered what she had found that made her think of me. And, more importantly, why did it make her think of me?

Today, a box arrived on my door step and the answer became all too clear.

A book! A book called "Shara Tiara!" OH MY GOD! Now, my name is not common, I never see it anywhere or hear of another Shara ( have met a few online but never in person). It certainly isn't a name you except to see on the cover of a BOOK! "Shara Tiara." Squeeeeeeeal!

"Shara Tiara was no ordinary Princess." On no, she wasn't. You go, Girl!

Amy works for Hallmark and this is a new Hallmark book. She knew about it and had been waiting for it to be ready for sale to send it to me. I am beyond stunned to see my name on a book and to have received such a sweet thoughtful gift! In all years, I had never realized that Shara rhymed with Tiara either. Doh!

She also sent The Bean a huge pile of Hallmark Sound Cards. He loves the Greeting Card department. When he was little he would have me read all the cards to him. And, I do mean all the cards. I was beyond happy when he learned to read and he could read them all himself. Now he is obsessed with the Sound Cards - I usually leave him in the card aisle at Walgreen's while I shop. I always know where he is because I can hear all the different cards talking and singing. (I'm fairly sure that the Walgreen's employees hate us.)

So, thank you Sweet Amy for such a thoughtful, thoughtful, wonderful gift. It really made my day. Heck, it made my year!

Weekend Loot

Yesterday I said that I had a car full of things from garage sales. After I unpacked it all, there wasn't exactly a carload. There were the two new bowling balls, four pumpkins, a gallon of cider, a Walgeen's purchase, Redbox movies and some garden tomatoes in the car too. Today, it's all in the house, sorted and photographed. Last step - the old bloggity blog. So, here goes.

These two gumdrop trees were sitting on a table at one sale. I commented on the "cute gumdrop trees" and the ladies said that they had no idea that they were - so please take them. Okey dokey. They were very nice ladies - I will be talking about them again later.

For 50¢ - A big paper mache egg candy box complete with old green grass inside. This was my only purchase at one biiiiig sale that looked really good from the steet, but not so good up close. But, when I saw that big egg, I knew that was the reason I stopped.

I saw one of my beloved picnic baskets sitting by a table at a sale as I was driving by. Screeech! This was at the Gumdrop Tree ladies house. I asked, "How much for the picnic basket?" "Uhmmm...how about...uhm....a quarter?" "A quarter," I said "Would you take a dime?" Then we all laughed and they said it had been that kind of day. Everyone wanted something for less. I even offered to pay more than a quarter for it, but they would have nothing of it.

Four funny vintage-y Halloween masks for 25¢ each and a funny black cat candle for 25¢. Anyone recognize any of those masks?

Christmas, Christmas, oh my loverly vintage Christmas. So, all this stuff was on the table above the picnic basket at the Gumdrop Tree ladies house. Nothing was marked. I had my eye on the loverly blue ornaments, but they weren't priced. "How much for the Christmas-y things?" I asked. "Uhm...well....How about you take all of it and put in that picnic basket and give us 50¢." Okey Dokey. That's when I actually looked and saw there was more than the blue ornaments. A glittery reindeer, a silvered plastic reindeer, an old tin, PINK Christmas lights, an angel chime, a vintage card box and other silly sweet fun vintage items. ALL FOR A QUARTER!

Love, love, LOVE those glass grape clusters in gorgeous blue and silver. They all still have thier paper JAPAN stickers on them.

Things I am keeping (besides the above): Plastic flower "frog" arranger, vintage chenille stem insects, a tea strainer (I have quite a collection of different tea strainers. I don't even drink tea. Why do I collect these?) and a very sweet old eraser with a Blue jay on it.

Hey! There's that card box again. Wasn't it in the previous photo too? Why yes, yes it was. Wanna know why? 'Cause there was stuff in it. Treasures, I tell you. Treasures!

See? Treasures! Teeny tiny mercury ball on a gold gilded pinecone tiny felt bells, a wee Holly leaf, a teeny plastic Poinsettia, lots of garrish pink holly berries and what's that in the center?

Happy, happy, joy, joy. Too adorable. Everything in the box including little Mister "Too stinking cute for his own good makes me too stinking happy for my own good" was a part of the 25¢ Christmas score. Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Everything here is headed to Etsy. Brass owl, lipstick holder, Japanese themed wall pocket, a squirrel Scherenschnitte and two sets of handmade bookends.

More for Etsy: An old book, a piece of pottery, two turkeys, two different Daily Prayer/Blessing card sets, a glass globe with roses, a vintage retro plastic tray and a set of old celluloid-ish dolls. I actually found eight sets of those dolls. The book under it is a really nice old, old Encyclopedia. I see old encyclopedias all the time, usually a book is missing and they are priced 25¢ each or so. This is the first to one of my new collections. (I know, I know, I don't need another collection.) I decided to start buying only the "S" book from old encyclopedias. "S" is my first and last initial, so it is fitting. (I won't break up complete sets, but if a set is missing a book and the "S" is there - it's mine!)

So, there you have it - my weekend in JUNK.

The Breadman is on vacation this week and I plan on working him like a pack mule. We'll be cleaning out the shed, the garage, the bedroom, installing new ceiling fans (I do the electrical work, but I can't reach the ceiling) and lots of other household chores. I more excited about this vacatinon than I ever am about going somewhere. Finally, we will get some work DONE!

Obligatory Pumpkin Photos

It's officially October, so it must be time to go to Apple Town.

Once upon a time, the apples were picked in the orchard behind Apple Town. They were brought in on tractors in big wooden boxes, washed and bagged right here. Now, they don't even grow apples. They just bring them in trucks. (The junker in me is loving those old wooden stools, the chippy aqua tables and the shabby red floors.)

You can buy bags of "freshly picked" red apples.

Or Golden Delicious apples. They are insanely expensive. You can buy the same apples at the grocery store. But, I'm a local and I know that. The touristy folk that come, don't. We don't buy apples. We do buy Apple Cider though. Yum-O.

October means pumpkins, so they bring in a truckload of pumpkins too. I love this orange photo. It goes well with my blue photo earlier this week. (I'm working on a rainbow.)

al+10-03-09+010.JPG" border=0> They have pumpkins of all sizes. Small, Medium, Large, Honkin' and Holey Mackaroley. (I have no idea what that blue gibberish is or where it came from....)

These big warty ones were my favorites. But, not at $12.50 a pumpkin. No thanks.

Instead, we visited the Self-Serve Pumpkin Stand up the road. Small are $1.00, Medium $2.00, Large $3.00, etc. We bought four pumpkins for $6.00. I know all the deals. 'Cause I'm a local. We scored ahuge warty one for $3.00. Take THAT Apple Town!

Now, we all know the real reason I went to Apple Town today.

I turned here at the corner.

Only to be greeted by this sign at the end of the driveway. I bought two bowling balls and four vintage Halloween Masks.

And, I went here. I bought some books. Four encyclopedias from 1910 chock full of color plates.

I bought a lot of cool vintage things today, all destined for my Etsy Shop. But, that might not happen for awhile. Explanation: I use a different cheaper Digital Camera for my Etsy Shop photos because the higher quality ones are too large. The Breadman in in Dallas tonight at the new Cowboy Stadium. I let him take my other camera so he could take a few photos. He has never taken a digital photo so I gave him a couple of lessons. I kid you not, he was in Dallas about ten minutes when he dropped the camera and broke it. Seriously.

Come back next time for complete run down of my CARLOAD of stuff including a 25¢ picnic basket, a slew of vintage Christmas for 25¢ total, some pottery, the world's longest tablecloth for $1.00, a vintage German Egg and, and, and, and.......