Duck Duck Goose

On Saturday, September 3rd my city, Kenosha, Wisconsin, will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest game of Duck Duck Goose.

Posters dot the windows in downtown 

Kenosha for the upcoming event.

A university in Oklahoma set a new record on August 23, 2011 with 1,634 people, Kenosha needs 1,635 participants to break the record. Anyone 3 years old and over can participate, and I'm over 3 years old, but  no one wants to go to this event. I have asked my oldest grandson, my daughter, and a few friends, nada, zip not one persons)):  

To participate you need comfortable running shoes, {running 0:} bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on, play Duck Duck Goose for 15 minutes, and stay till the attempt to break the record is over. Should I show my community spirit and participate? I'm still thinking about going by myself.

At the marina, the ducks and geese appear to be getting a

little practice in for this weekends record breaking event. 

A Tale of Two Ships

Two tall ships, the Nina and the Pinta both modeled after Christopher Columbus' ships entered Kenosha harbor around noon on Monday. The ships will be available for tours until their departure on September 12th.

The Nina on the left and the Pinta on the right sails towards Kenosha harbor.

The ship Nina is known as the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built. This ship was completely built by hand no power tools were used. 

The Nina

The ship Pinta was built in Brazil to accompany the Nina on all of her travels.

The  Pinta

The ship Nina is docked, and the crew is ready to greet the crowd.

Both ships tour together for the purpose of educating the public it's like a sailing museum. People can now experience how people traveled and what it took to get to America. 

Thrifty Treasures

 Not one, not two, but three estate sales in my area this weekend.  The first estate sale on Thursday was a family run event. The three ladies had everything neatly lined up on tables in the garage, a cash station all set up with the necessary items, cash box, calculator, newspaper, bags, and the eBay research printed out sitting next to each item. I have to commend these lovely ladies for doing research on their loved ones antiques and collectable items.  A gentleman at the sale was interested in a silverware set and offered the ladies $50.00. The offer was refused because, on eBay it was selling for $65.00.  He gently pointed out that the item did not have any bids, that perhaps they should have printed off prices for completed sales. They still wouldn't lower the asking price. I hope they were able to sell the silverware set. I thought $50.00 was a fair offer, but what do I know.  Everything was priced too high for me, but I decided to take a second look around and to my delight I found four boxes of vintage greetings cards. No eBay research on the cards and they weren't priced. I held my breath when I asked for a price, to my surprise and delight 25¢ for each box, but that will be in a future blog.

Friday's estate sale had a website with photos I like when the people that are running the sale have a website and show pictures. While looking through the pictures, I caught a glimpse of a large pink Pyrex bowl. I was up early and signed in at 7:35 A.M. I was number 14. When the doors open the first 15 people are let in. As I enter the kitchen, I see that number 1 has the pink Pyrex bowls. I  headed for the basement and found a wonderful patio set for my daughters new house only $35.00.

You can never have enough hand towels, wash cloths and everyone need a Santa towel!

It's true the early bird does catches the worm. I arrived for Saturdays sale around 9:45 A.M. and my number was 96. As I patiently waited for my number to be called I saw amazing pieces of furniture being loaded into other peoples trucks, cars and vans. I didn't see anything that I had to have or needed except for  a bag of sewing items that was priced at $1.50 and a 1963 Alfred Hitchcock book.

A quick trip to Goodwill that did not disappoint me. I found a 1969 animal sewing card set. 

I love the graphics of all the animals, my favorite is the red zebra named Zeke.

Can't wait to see what everyone else found thrift shopping.

I am linking up with, Her Library Adventures on Sunday, for:

and Southern Hospitality for:

and  Hey What's For Dinner Mom? for: 

and with Apron Thrift Girl for:

Is There Thrift Shopping Etiquette?

My sweet sister has been holding on to her Goodwill birthday coupon, which gives you 25% off your entire purchase, and today was the day that she decided to use it. After a forty minute drive to our favorite Goodwill, we grabbed carts, and we were off.  My first thrift find was a large amber Vision stock pot by Corning Ware priced at $6.99.

All paperback books are 89¢, and for that price, 

I decided to buy this cupcake book.

I found two vintage German Thomas porcelain mugs for 49¢ each.

I decided to take a second walk around the store to see if I missed anything or if  any new items were placed out on the floor.  I spotted a woman looking at some nesting dolls, she was taking them apart and checking to see if all the dolls were inside, I waited to see if she would put the nesting dolls in her cart or back on the shelf. After a few moments she put them back on the shelf. I waited a few seconds and reached for the nesting dolls. For some reason, I looked at the lady and said "Are you finished with this?" She replied, "No, I'm still thinking about them."  She immediately grabbed the nesting dolls and put them in her cart. When she placed that item back on the shelf, was it fair game or did she still have the right to consider purchasing it? My emotions ran from ticked off all the way to it was the right thing to do. What would you have done in this situation? Is there any thrift shopping etiquette? Let me know I sure would appreciate it.

I found my sister and quickly forgot about the nesting dolls. As we were checking out, my sweet sister reached over and grabbed my items placed them on the counter and paid for them. Remember the 25% birthday coupon, well not only did she get that but she used her Goodwill shoppers card, and because she spent over $20.00 she received an additional 5% off AND Wednesday is senior citizen discount day for an additional 15% off the entire purchase. Score. I had a fabulous day.

Versatile Blogger Award

I love surprises, and that's just what I received on Monday from Ann who writes a fun blog Moonbeams & Fireflies.  


Every morning I look forward to checking my email and reading my favorite blogs, it's like opening up presents, so much fun. On Monday morning, I opened an email from Ann who presented me with The Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you Ann for your kind words and for the award. Hop over and visit Ann's blog, Moonbeams & Fireflies, you'll be glad you did.

After accepting the Versatile Blogger Award, the blogger must:

1.  Thank the person who gave the award and link back to them in your post

2.  Share seven things about yourself

3.  Pass this award along to 10 recently discovered blogs

Seven Things About Me

1. I adore my three children and 5 grandchildren.
2. I hope that someday soon I can return to Poland and visit the village of Stzabin to find out more about my ancestors.
3. I am a HUGH fan of reality shows; Big Brother, Sister Wives, Hell's Kitchen, Storage Wars. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture.
4. I have recently retired from Kenosha Unified School District after twenty three years.
5. I believe that there are angels in heaven and many angels here on earth. I have been the recipient of many kind acts by earth angels (friends).
6. I judge a book by its cover. I like to read, if I like the cover.
7. Goodwill and Saint Vincent DePaul are my favorite stores to shop in. I like items that have a history or a story behind them.

Here are ten blogs that I enjoy reading, I hope you can find time to visit:

• villabarnes
• sunshine of my love
• A Full Cottage
• Dian's Timpanalley
• Not Quite Perfect
• Emily Kate
• The Dragonfly on Iron Gate
• Blueberry Patch
•  A Little Bit of Everything
• My (un)Intentional Life

Happy Birthday Dear Declan

Nine years ago today I was blessed with my first grandchild, Declan.  Time sure does fly it seems like he was a tiny baby just yesterday. We had a family celebration, my three children and their families all came to wish Declan a happy birthday. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the cousin all played together. Sadly my youngest daughters family only stayed a short time. Her three year old son had surgery a week ago, and wasn't supposed to be running around.  

My daughter-in-law, Declan, my son Aaron.

My precious grandchildren.

While the boys were busy playing, my little LuLu found a grasshopper to befriend.

At some point, the children decided to pick 

soybeans that border my son's backyard.

Soybean plant.

My grandchildren just love edamame with garlic salt and olive oil.

While the children played and the adults chatted, 

my son-in-law and son were busy putting together

a basketball hoop for Declan.

Lulu was a willing helper for her dad and uncle.

Declan's basketball hoop was a 

birthday present from his mom and dad.

Happy Birthday Declan!

Thrift Share

This week I discovered that I like ephemera, old newspapers, magazines, books, wrapping paper, and cards. I seem to gravitate to these items at thrift shops, rummage sales, and estate sales.

 On Friday, I attended an estate sale in my neighborhood a new company was in charge of this sale and had a different pricing system than I was use to. Items were marked with an amount or had dots that matched a colored coded price board, and some items weren't marked at all. I hate that.

I headed into the basement found a stool near some boxes full of different kinds of items and began to dig through them.  At the bottom of one box, I found some vintage Royledge self lining paper with edging that folds down over the edge of the shelf to form a border. The nice lady that was attending this area had no idea on pricing and sent me upstairs to the checkout table. I present my items that were not priced and I get; "Oh, these are old." Not a good sign in my opinion. In the end, she charged me fifty cents for each design of shelf lining paper, so two dollars. I wanted to haggle with her, and see if she would take a dollar fifty, but I didn't know if you can do that at estate sales. Can you haggle prices at estate sales?

 Vintage Royledge self liner paper

While digging in the boxes I found twelve Shiny Brite  

Christmas ornaments for four dollars.

This fabric was one dollar each and both had two and a half yards.

The yellow fabric has flocked white flowers that would make 

a beautiful sun dress for my granddaughter next summer.

I really didn't find very much at my two favorite thrift stores, Goodwill and St. Vincent DePaul.  I did spot this enamel coffee pot by Berggren it was missing the lid, but it was priced right and I can use it for watering my plants.  I wonder what the writing on the coffee pot says.

I found a book copyright 1942, The Question Book For Young Folks  by Sylvia Weil and Rosetta C. Goldsmith that is full of some unusual questions. 

One of the questions is: What is a dumbbell?

If teachers asked that question in todays classroom,

you can only imagine the answers that would be given.

How times have changed.

I look forward to seeing everyones thrift finds of the week.

I am linking up with, Her Library Adventures on Sunday, for:

and Apron Thrift Girl for:

and Southern Hospitality for:

and Hey What's For Dinner Mom? for

((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((: ((:

Social Shopping

I am amazed that I now can shop with my friends who live in different cities and states thanks to several social shopping sites. Social shopping uses technology to mimic the shopping experience found at stores.

ThisNext "is a social commerce site where people recommend their favorite products so others can discover what’s best to buy online. It blends two powerful elements of real-world shopping otherwise lost for online consumers: word-of-mouth recommendation from trusted sources and the ability to browse products in the way that naturally leads to discovery."

OpenSky "The free members only site is a cross between Twitter and a permanent sale at your favorite fashion and lifestyle boutique. First, choose which designers, chefs, and celebrities to follow. Then snatch up their weekly picks  with special pricing for members only."

I have just joined these two sites and will start checking the recommendations from the social shopping network.  

Gadgets ~ The Good ~ Bad ~ Ugly ~ Part 2

Are you a creature of habit, when it comes to charging your cell phone? Do you charge your phone in the same place every time? I found this gadget while on vacation, and I decided to purchase it as soon as I saw it. Drinn Mobile Phone Holder by Kikkerland was under ten dollars and appeared to be the solution I have been looking for, and it's made in the USA.

 Driinn Mobile Phone Holder by Kikkerland

The Mobile Phone Holder hangs between the battery charger and the wall socket. The shelf supports the cell phone, ipods, and small digital cameras, with a convenient  place to wrap up the cord.

This is what my Mobile Phone Holder looks like while 

charging my soon to be replaced cell phone.

The jury is out on this gadget I don't hate it, but I haven't grown to love it just yet. 

I know that I will definitely take the Mobile Phone Holder with me on my vacations.