Last Night

Last night I had texts from New York, Texas and California asking if I was okay in the storms.  People I've never even met in real life - worried about me.  You guys are so sweet.

We had some heavy rain, damaging winds, lots of hail and flooding, but no tornadoes.  Thank goodness.  Scary stuff those tornadoes. 

  The TV is full of news from Moore, OK.  I had to stop watching yesterday afternoon when they reached the school and started pulling out kids.  I didn't want to see them pull out a body, plus it seemed like a very, very personal thing to broadcast on TV.  I just didn't want to see anyone before a family member even got to see them.  

 This morning I felt guilty laying in my warm bed and got up to see what the news was saying now.  Terrible stuff.

These photos were all taken from my front yard in a span of five minutes.  It changed really fast.  T hat first one made the whole neighborhood an eerie green color.  I know before a tornado comes, the skies get green, but this was different than that.  It was pretty, but scary too.  

This photo is all over Facebook today.  Normally, I hate these sort of cheesy signs because you know I DO love my junk.  But, today, it is so true.

Stay safe, my friends.

Day 2: Deja Vu

I went to sleep last night thinking about the sale I went to yesterday.  I woke up in the night thinking about it.  I woke up this morning thinking about it.  So, I got up and went back!  I got there about 10:30, which I know sounds really late, but the lady at the sale had told me that she would start taking things out about 10:00 or so.  

When I got there, I started seeing all kinds of new (old) things, so I knew they were bringing things out.  I started picking things up here and there and putting  them in my tote bag.  When I got one bag full, she said - "Start your pile over here."  So, I did.  There was a younger guy there and he had a pile going too.  He was digging in the jewelry boxes so I waited until he was done with one before I started digging through it.  He made remarks like, "I don't like reselling costume jewelry" and "it's too hard to photograph for online" and "it just gets stolen at the flea market."  I just let him talk because I knew he was slitting his won throat by saying he was a dealer.  Yesterday she had commented about the re-sellers coming early and trying to deal her down on things.  She said that she didn't mind people reselling it, but she really preferred that people appreciated her Mother's things too.  She could tell that I was over the moon about certain things and she loved that.  She said that I was buying all of the things that she thought she would have to throw out and that made her happy.  (Note to self:  Drive by the house on trash day).  I told her that I do resell some things, but mostly just to cover my expenses and to allow me to keep the things I love.  

When the guy was ready to deal on his pile, I hung close to see what she charged him.  I actually had more items than he did, but mine was all tidy and concise in my tote bags and a box.  His stuff was strewn all over the driveway and grass and he was buying these giant four foot tall table lamps with these huge ugly shades.  I mean, they were a monstrosity and I cannot imagine anyone actually wanting them in their house.  She had already told me that she really thought she could get about $60.00-80.00 for the pair, but I didn't say a word.  Of course, she remembered them in her house growing up, in the living room by the TV near the Christmas Tree - you know - she was really sentimental about those hideous lamps.  I suggested that perhaps she should take them to her house and she said she didn't want them.  I tried to get her to keep so many things!  She had about five jewelry boxes sitting out and people were just digging in them.  She said they were full of her jewelry from her teen years.  I said that she should dump them all in one box and take it to her own house.  I mean, how much room would that take up in your house?  Again, she said no.  I did find an 18K gold little bracelet that I handed  back to her.  She did remember that from her childhood and stuck it in her pocket.  

So, I suppose you didn't come hear to listen to me yak about it.  You came for the pictures and the deets, right?

These bowling balls didn't make the "big" picture.   The black one says "Dick" and the green one says "Ester".  I was so tired and hot when I left the sale that I couldn't think of making one more trip to the car so I hired a third grade boy named Sawyer that was shopping to carry one of those balls to the car for me.  He was thrilled with his dollar and I was thrilled with the help.

Okay, here's THE BIG PICTURE:

Lots and lots of goodies.  Again.

A wicker mirror I will paint for the booth, a little china girl holding a basket, an old Max Factor compact, a little glass dog shaker bottle, lipstick holder figure  and a wee pair of mittens.  

Close up of the tiny mittens with baby ducks on them.  If you are thinking those are the tiniest mittens/gloves you have ever seen, well you are WRONG.

These are, in fact, the tiniest gloves ever.  One has a squirrel on it and the other has a bunny eating an apple on it.  I guess they are for dolls, but I don't know.  (Excuse my "I used a can of chalk paint the other day and had to use a SOS Pad on my hands to get if off" manicure.  I still have chalk  paint on my feet....)

A turkey planter for my collection (and to replace the one The Breadman broke last year) and an old slinky.  

She hadn't found the Christmas after all, but she did bring out these three boxes for me to see.  That other guy heard "vintage Christmas" and swarmed in for a look, so I took them.  Those red ornaments in the middle are about eight inches long.  There are two tree toppers in that box too.  The wooden tray will get a coat of paint and a decal or something added to it.  A wooden toy from the Smokey Mountains, a little plate from Santaland, two old Little Golden Books, an old birthday invitation from 1962 and that wee teeny pair of gloves.  

A set of three old metal nut bowls with cool graphics, tiny Salt and Pepper shakers on a tiny cutting board, a red and while crocheted potholder and YES a watermelon potholder (I had to rescue it), part of an old chopper, an old metal napkin holder (I've seen these used as frames), a glass egg cup and a wrought iron frame.  

An old doll cradle full of plastic child's dishes that look like pressed glass and milk glass.  

Four more old confectionery tins.  She came running out of the house and thrust these in my hands - "You bought the other ones yesterday!" she said.

I was hesitant to look in the jewelry because so often is it picked through or high priced.  But, when I spotted all those flower pins - SWOON!  She said jewelry was 25¢ or 50¢ each, so I grabbed all the pins.  One of those charm bracelets is a vintage Disney with character charms, the other has little telephone of all types throughout the years stopping at a Princess phone.  The necklace has a little vial of Mustard Seeds on it.

A matte white pottery swan.  I have a strong aversion to swan items, so it is booth bound.  But, I just couldn't leave any piece of vintage pottery!  

There were tons of books, but I am trying SO HARD not to buy any books.  But, old children's books and cookbooks are good sellers and fun to look at, so I grabbed all I could find.  The box of History flashcards is packed with a thousand cards.  

American History up to 1898.  Really old book that I had to get.  I love old books.  A fish wall pocket, more cook books and a wheeled plant stand with mod graphics.  I looked at it yesterday and a couple time today and she said, "Just put it in your pile already."  Ok.  

Six old pie pans.  Some have names on them, others are blank.  I want to make one of those tiered dishes or  put them on wooden candlesticks to make different height levels for display.

More dolls.  I had picked the toy box clean of dolls yesterday, but it was reloaded today. I think those old plastic faced dolls are neat.  Can't really figure out he one with the green hair though.  

I've never seen one like this before, so I think she is extra special.  That little naked doll has the funniest face - I swear he looks like an adult in the face.  

So, today was fun.  She's having another sale within the month, so I will most likely be driving past that house a couple times a day just to make sure that it's not that day!  She still has storage sheds and the attic to sort.  The good stuff is usually in the attic!  Ack!

Note to self:  Must win Powerball tonight to make make enough money to buy it all.  

It was a "Magpie Ethel" Kind of Day

Every week, I see Laurie's post over at Magpie Ethel and wonder how on earth she finds so much fabulous stuff every,single.weekend.  I have longed to have my very own "Magpie Ethel" Day.  Guess what?  TODAY WAS THE DAY!

First stop of the day - the one and only Church Sale that is ever in my town - always the weekend before school gets out for the summer.  Prices are still 5¢, 10¢, etc.  I can always find some good tings there.  Today, someone had donated a plethora of vintage Easter items.  Vintage Easter rates right up there with vintage Christmas and is actually harder for me to find.  After the Church Sale, I went to three more yard sales then I stopped at one more sale which would provide to be one great sale for me.  Lots of vintage being pulled out by the box load from the house and sheds.  The lady having the sale didn't really know what all she had - it was her Mother's house and she was cleaning it out.  Nothing was priced, so I gathered up an armload to get a feel for pricing.  She quoted a fair and inexpensive price, so I started my "pile".  As I shopped, we visited more and realized that our paths had crossed in the past.  She also realized that I knew what things were and that I appreciated them.  So, she started giving me even better prices.  :)  

After I loaded up the car, I went home to change since it had gotten into the 80's and was super humid.  I picked up the boys and bribed them with a trip for pizza if I could just stop at another (neighborhood) sale.  I left off the "neighborhood" part.  Ha.  I found a bit more there and then we went for our pizza.  Dirty and sweaty.    

Are you ready to see the whole Enchilada?

Are you sure?????

 Boom!

 Vintage Easter including two old sawdust stuffed bunnies, some plastic springy toys, a spun cotton bird nd two big chenille chicks.

Two German paper mache eggs, a pompom bunny, chalkware bunny head and squeaky chick.

 Old Starex metal bottle opener, sweet crocheted dress potholder, two silver baby forks and a baby spoon. That teddy bear is an old baby powder bottle.  The lady said her Mom used it on her as a baby, then she used it to powder her dolls bottoms.  "Don't you want to keep it" I asked.  "Nope."

 Donkey Party Game, old metal Chinese Checker game, Cribbage board, tiny Hearts card game, Car Bingo card (more on that later), Bingo Game and Flash Cards.

Old wooden toy tools, Pipe Cleaner Art kit, a Japan Angel, plastic elephant, a new silver tree and some plastic poinsettias.  The poinsettias were inside a big glass ball that I had plans for, but when I picked up the box to carry it, the glass ball crushed.  

Kewpie Doll, Tupperware cookie cutter set, lime green wicker purse, neat old basket purse and a non-working West Germany cuckoo clock of sorts.

Big old tin and an assortment of old dolls.  Don't say they are creepy - they are sweet!

 Lots of old Little Golden Books and other vintage books.

 Pottery!  Woot!  Love them all.  Plus an old street map book of Los Angeles from the 1960's/

Love this little fat pottery pot most of all.

 Pefumes from Paris - la la la - Jadeite ashtray full of a dozen pearl necklaces with old rhinestone clasps.  The necklaces were in one of those old tins you can see in the back.   There are some pretty ones in there.

Three old confectionery tins, a china cat, a box of over 100 old clothespins, an old red transistor radio and a bunch of old cookbooks.

 Like a LOT of old cookbooks.  I love looking at these old books and reading the old recipes.

Four vintage chalkware fish in perfect condition.  They usually have broken fins when I find them.

Here's that Find-a Car Bingo.  You look for different colors and models of cars while you are riding in the car.  I need a two tone Studebaker to win!

Two of my favorites - the tiny Hearts game and German wooden guy.

Always happy to find some of these eggs.  

 They are NOT creepy!

Crocheted potholder dress, two pieces of needlework and a tablecloth.

 A dandelion tablecloth to be exact.  Achoo!

What a day!

And, guess what, guess what, guess what?  

She's bringing out even MORE tomorrow and has promised to keep the Christmas back for ME.

*Thud*

Hope I live through another exciting day!

The Weekend in Junk: Auction Edition

On Wednesday afternoon, the local sales paper comes out with all the Yard Sales and Auctions listed in it.  I always read the yard sales and glance at the auctions.  Many auctions start at like 5:00 on a Monday - most auctions I have been to last all.day.long.  So, how late would these go I wonder?  I spotted an auction in the next tiny town over - my tiny town choice for yard sales, home of the Super Cheap Thrift and my very own Flea Market.  I really wanted to go, but no one else wanted to go with me for fear that I would buy a TON and they would have to load it.  It's happened before, so it was an actual fear on their part.  I wasn't in the mood to go alone, so I decided to hit some yard sales instead.

Sale #1 - I bought NOTHING.  Sale #2 - I bought NOTHING.  Sale #3 - I bought NOTHING.  Sale #4; - I got excited when I saw the HALF OFF sign.  Then I saw prices of $65.00, $50.00, $25.00.  I bought NOTHING.  Sale #5:  I bought a huge unabridged Dictionary - it's about eight inches thick for $1.00.  It was honestly almost out of pure desperation that I bought it because I had the dreaded empty hand syndrome.  Plus, believe it or not, that is my third unabridged dictionary.  And, as we all know, three makes a collection and I REFUSE to collect unabridged dictionaries.  So, they must GO!  

After all that discouragement  I decided to hit the Super Cheap Thrift and then do a drive by of the auction.  The SCT only netted me a handful of ugly brown frames to paint, so I was ready for some JUNK at the auction.  By the time I got there, most of the larger items had sold with only a few exceptions.  On the ground there were tarps with piles of bedding, household items and other miscellaneous items.  One tarp in particular had a lot of baskets and bags full of yarn.  I'm in the market for a bunch of cheap yard for a project in have in mind.  I was sorely disappointed when someone told me that everything on the tarp had already been sold.  Bummer.  

On one tarp they had dozens of beautiful vintage handmade quilts in an array of patterns.  They would lay out about six then auction off for "choice".  The first bid went for $85.00 and I was surprised at the choices people made for $85.00.  Then they would re-auction for "choice" again and it ended at $60.00.  They would get their pick and then they would go again.  There was a state bird quilt that went for $50.00 and a really neat feedsack quilt that was just random pieces sewn togeterh with no real pattern - I liked it because it was quirky.  I didn't buy any quilts, because I was dealing with limited funds.  Plus if I like a quilt enough to buy it, I probably won't ever sell it.  

On another tarp there were dozens of handmade crocheted blankets.  Those people were paying upwards of $35-40 each for them too.  Crazy money, I thought.  A big box of doilies like I used to be able to score at auction for a few dollars went for $27.50.  These people were spending like no tomorrow.  I bid on a lot of things outside, but never won any of them.  

I ran into one of the other vendors from the Flea Market and she asked if I had been in the house to see the "rest of the things".  Whaaaat?  MORE STUFF?  Turns out, there were four huge curio cabinets with hundreds and hundreds of hummingbird collectibles in them.  The auctioneer did "choice" auctions again and items started selling for $15.00 each.  Then it went down bit by bit more into my comfort level - $1.00-2.00. 

I bought this hand carved hummingbird for $2.00.

And this carved hummingbird for $1.00.  My Cherokee name is "Walela" which means "Hummingbird."  As a general rule, I don't care for many of the Hummingbird collectibles, but these were hand made and sweet.  My Mom buys me sweet hummingbird things since she gave me my name.

After the hummingbirds had sold, we moved into the kitchen were they opened a cabinet drawer and you bid choice again.  I bought a set of twenty two pieces of pressed glass bowls for $2.00 and a tiny carved peach pit for $1.00.  I couldn't reach the peach pit, so I kept asking the auctioneer to hand it to me - "The carved Peach Pit" I would say.  "The What?" he would say.  "The carved Peach Pit" I would repeat.  "The what?" he would say again.  And, so I would repeat it and he would say "The what?' over and over again.  Finally he said, "Lady, I don't know what in the hell you are talking about.  Come on up here and get it."  When I picked it up he said, "Well, what in the hell is that?"  

  

As you can see, it is a tiny peach pit carved into the shape of a basket. 

The next are was a china hutch full of vintage items, including dishes, souvenirs, a drawer full of junk and cards and stuff, and some flower vases.  The auctioneer started off at choice again and sold a few things.  

I bought this pressed glass serving bowl and twenty two matching bowls for a total of $2.00.  I never buy glass and I'm sure it's not worth much, but I got carried away in the auction.  When everyone has taken their choice, they auctioned off the remaining items as one lot and I got it all for $2.00.  I ended up sorting it out at home and donating a lot of it.  I did end up with about twenty smallish items to take to the booth for a couple bucks each.  So, that paid for my day.

 I bought this "MOM" cup from the top of the cupboards for $1.00.

And the matching "POP" cup for $1.00.

Last stop was a bedroom to auction off the contents of the closet.  There were a lot of plastic containers   - some were empty, but some where full of old office supplies and craft supplies.  Hidden among the random stuff, I spotted this basket.  

Now, you know how I love and appreciate an old handmade basket.  This one was in perfect condition and a nice smaller size.  I had a feeling it would go high, but I had hopes that I could win it.  By this time of the day, it was mostly a bunch of us women buying box lots, so there wasn't much competition.  The auctioneer ended up putting the basket with a plastic tub full of stuff and I won it all for $4.00.  As I was standing there, thrilled to death with my new basket, about five ladies rushed up to me and said, "Look in your tub - we're dying to see!"  I didn't know what they were talking about, but when I opened it, it was full to the brim with jewelry store boxes.  One lady said, "What if they are full?  May I?"  and with that, she started opening the boxes.  They were all empty, but it was fun watching them get excited before they opened each one.  I was just happy to get that basket. :)

Auctions are fun.  I love seeing what people will buy and what they will spend for things.  They sold an older Rainbow Vacuum for $450.00!  That one shocked me.  Another lady bought these cheap made in China birds that you put on glass so they look like they are flying through the glass.  My Mom bought me a set of six a few years ago from a catalog.  This lady was completely smitten with these birds.  The bidding was choice for $11.00 and she bought those birds - ten of them at $11.00 EACH.  Holy smokes lady!  I know they couldn't have cost more that a couple bucks each.  

I know I will be looking for more auctions this summer.  This one wasn't that great for buying, but it was fun just the same.  I even ended up knowing the family that was having the auction.  I wish I would have known about all that stuff before the auction.  I would have loved to gotten my hands on all those beautiful quilts.

Have you ever been to an Estate Auction?

Mother's Day 2013

Happy Mother's day to all you Mom's out there.  

This year I am especially happy to still have my Mumsie with me in this world.  I'm not sure what I would do without her.   I am also happy to be the Mother of my son.  He is a fine, fine boy and he makes me proud every day.  We watched The Guilt Trip tonight.  The end really got to me.  The Mom says you marry who you were meant to marry because without them, you would never have your child.  And, your child is really all that matters in this world.  *sniff*

In honor of Mother's Day, I bring you the Annual Mother's Day display:

 All my "Mother" items, my china babies (because you have to have a BABY to become a MOTHER) and some flowers to round it all out.  

A "Maw", "Mother" and two "Mom" cups about sum it all up.  

 I just bought that cup in the middle last week.  Just in time!  Whew!  

Another "Mother" cup, another "Maw" cup and another baby.  Are you sensing a theme here? :)

I love this sweet little set of "Mother's Encyclopedia's."  They contain all sorts of useful, albeit dated, information on becoming a Mother and taking care of baby.

I love these little babies.  I found a pair at Goodwill a few years ago.  

 My one and only much coveted "Mother" pin.  

There is the other baby I found at Goodwill.  Those flowers are made out of old nut cups.  

This plaque with the crown is one of my favorites.

My most recent find and a "Mother" hankie.  

This "Mom" cup came from an auction today.  I also found it's "Pop" counterpart.  Those babies are salt and pepper shakers.  They belonged to my Great grandmother.  We found them in my Grandmother;'s house and it was one of the few things I took.  Such, sweet babies!

No Mother's Day collection would be complete without a book written by The Bean in first grade.  

Complete with coupons that I never redeemed!

A nicely written Letter to Mother from Linda Sue that I picked up at a yard sale.

And another vintage Mother's Day poem from a child.

A couple of years ago, I bought a  huge scrapbook filled with old greeting cards.  There were over 150 cards from one daughter to her Mother.  The handwriting went from childlike handwriting in pencil to ink pen cursive with a husband's name attached. They were from every single holiday and every one of them says Merry Christmas Mother, or Happy Easter Mother or Happy Valentine's Day Mother.  She went the extra effort to always buy a Mother card.  I laughed at some of them - under Mother, she had written in ink pen (And Dad) like he was some sort of an afterthought.  

These are all of the Mother's day cards.  They all have satin linings or velvet ribbons of metallic sheen - something to make each one extra special.  

This one is my favorite.  Cute little bellboys!

All of them signed Love, Georgie.  

I love it that Georgie's Mom saved all of the cards she sent.  I have all of the cards The Bean has given me and I know my Mom has all the cards I have given her too. They might not be fancy or pressed into a scrapbook. but they are special to us all the same.

Today is also the Breadman's birthday, so you know who will get all of the attention today.  It's only the second time that his birthday and Mother's Day have fallen on the same date. So, I guess I can live with it!

Happy Mother's Day to YOU!