Trash to Treasured

Several years ago I was driving in a rural area and noticed signs for a yard sale. Of course, I followed them until I arrived at the sale. Everything was on tables in the driveway. Loaded on the tables were beautiful knitted items. White, pink, blue, and variegated colored baby blankets caught my eye. So soft and touchable with such tiny stitches, and they were selling for $1.00 each. Why in the world did I not purchase all of them? I picked up a white and blue blanket and some knitting needles. Remember when knitting needles were a hot item on eBay? The maker of these gorgeous items had passed away. Her children were selling the remains of her household. 

As I was walking towards my car, my eyes caught sight of two suitcases. I walked toward the trash cans, took a look at the suitcases, and asked if he was throwing them away. Yes, he was. Can I have them? You can have them both for a buck. I wasn't happy about paying for them, after all he put them in the trash! Now I look at the suitcases and realize what a deal they were. These two suitcases are one of my favorite things. I love the stickers, and I often wonder what the initials CCP stand for.

These suitcases were used as a prop for a photo shoot. The photographer offered to buy them on the spot, and several people have asked to borrow them.

One man's trash is someones treasure.

Thrift Share Monday

I am so excited to link up to Apron Thrift Girl and Thrift Share Monday, for the very first time.  

Found at the Salvation Army this Imperial Milk Glass footed sugar bowl was taped together with the same patterned vase, for $2.04. The vase had a chip out of the base and now is my pen and pencil holder.  All the Salvation Army stores in my area have strange pricing.  I'm going to ask an employee next time I visit the SA. Does your stores price this way?

Goodwill has specials every Sunday, a colored tag is featured for 50% off.  This week was yellow. This Delft Blue hand painted rooster creamer had a yellow ticket of $2.99, half price, I paid $1.49. 

Saint Vincent de Paul thrift store is my favorite place to shop. I was happy to find the dominoes in the original box and with directions.  I sometimes think my kids make up game directions so that I lose.

Fantastic colors caught my eye on this piece of fabric. Kellogg fabric squares 1998. I think it is GREAT!

Cute Viking made in Denmark made me smile.

Garage sales were few and far between but I grabbed this retired, American Girl - Bitty Baby horse rocker for $3.00.

EXCITED!! I just started the blog this week because I wanted to hook up with all the wonderful other thrifers out there.  Beccalina took the time and commented on my post, Thank You for my very first comment - that comment made my heart sing.  Should I tell my friends and family, nope they just don't understand my love for thrifting.  I will keep this to myself and perhaps I will make new blog and thrifter friends.  

Memorial Day ~ We Remember

I Remember ~ I Am Greatful

Memorial Day ~ Poppy Day

First thing this morning I picked up my sweet sister, and headed to Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville, Illinois to plant flowers, flags, and do clean up of the headstones. We visited ten family members graves. Marveled at how long they had been gone and talked about how old we were when they left this world. While I was clipping grass around my Aunt Stella’s headstone, my sister was busy cleaning up our grandfather’s stone.“Wasn’t he the best grandpa?” Asked my sister. I couldn’t answer that because my sister and brother had the pleasure of having grandparents, but both sets of my grandparents were gone before I was born. I missed out on that wonderful experience. 

On the way home we made a quick stop at Ace Hardware, I love that place. At the exit stood a gentleman dressed in his VFW uniform passing out Red Poppies for a donation. Poppies and Memorial Day go hand in hand. When I was young my dad would give me fifty cents so I could get a Poppy. I was thrilled to have that flower on my shirt. Today was no different. I put in more than fifty cents, but I was proud to have that Red Poppy hanging down from my purse strap.

 The idea for selling the Red Poppies came from this poem. 

Thank you to all of the Veterans

Thrifting Makes Me Cheerful

Whenever I need a pick me up, I head for my favorite thrift stores.  I have been a frequent shopper of thrift stores for about eight years. My passion for thrifting started the day I purchased my first vintage apron. That was back in 2003 when vintage aprons were selling for 49¢, now they are priced at $3.99.

When I was young, my Aunt Vic and Aunt Stella lived next door to us, and they wore aprons everyday. I can still remember the vivid colors of the flowers or the fun designs from the 60's that adorned these aprons.  Sweet memories.

Anyway, yesterday after work, I cheerfully made a thrift run.  No aprons but I did see a nice piece of furniture that was way over priced for my pocketbook.  What do you think, would you pay $80.00 for this piece.  I must mention that it smelled musty and needed some repair.

Aunt Vic and Aunt Stella wearing aprons

Would you pay $80.00 for this ?

While I was shopping I noticed a section of swimsuits. I found one that was cute, my size, and priced at $2.99. I had this cute polka dot beauty in my hand and was ready to drop it in my cart when I overheard people next to me saying, "Who would buy a used swimsuit?"  My cute polka dot swimsuit found its way back to the rack swiftly.  What do you think, is it a bad idea to purchase a used swimsuit, can it be sanitized with a good washing?  I have mixed feelings on this one.  I will be shopping for a new swimsuit this weekend at the mall.

Rain Rain Go Away

Childhood songs and nursery rhymes once learned seem to stick in my head. With days and days of gloomy skies and rain I look out the window and sing.......... Rain Rain Go Away. Come again another day. 

Right after that starts a chorus of, Mr. Sun. Sun.  Mr. Golden Sun. Please shine down on me.  

My Home Town

I adore the Andy Griffith Show, and one of my favorite episodes is: A Singer in Town. It aired in April of 1966.  Aunt Bee and Clara write a song about Mayberry titled, My Home Town.  

My home town is Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is conveniently located between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.  Kenosha's population is 99,218.

Kenosha is fortunate to have two songs that we can use to sing our towns praises, and yes, I have had the opportunity to sign them. {I work in an elementary school}

Bucket List

Whew, I did it, my first post on blogger. Creating a blog was a recent addition to my bucket list, put a check marked beside that. For days I have been agonizing over a blog name. I even went to a blog name generating site. Don't you just love technology.