THRIFT STORE GOODIES!

I went to two thrift stores this week! Here are my goodies:

I'll start with my "prize of the week" - an awesome Christmas stocking for $1.00!

I found a nice roll of vintage wrapping paper, and a silky soft red/black scarf (which I'll use for a tablecloth). I've been looking for a scrapbook or photo album to put all my mother's 1951 shower/wedding cards in. I chose this floral fabric-covered one.

This cute little girl with a polka dot scarf is a Fenton (red sticker included) mug and the mini creamer/syrup is a no-name. The selection of blingy earrings, at 50 cents each, will be added to my craft stash.

Three 8-1/2 x 11 pieces of (what I believe are) real felt, from the old $.17 price tags.

Two boxes of vintage red bulbs and two old tart tins that had been painted as decorations.

Three small glass jars, and a set of 2-1/2" tall spice (?) cans - Meister, made in Brazil.

I was pleased to find an HRM turkey cutter, along with a holly one. A fun bag of pink, silver, and cream bead strands will be put to good use, I'm sure!

I was also happy to find this interesting vintage planter, made in Japan, to add to my collection!

Last is a group of vintage Christmas money holders and one card. In the post below this one I've shown them individually so you can use them if you wish.

CHRISTMAS MONEY HOLDERS

Here are close-ups of the vintage money holders from the previous post (the last one is a card). Feel free to use them!

SURPRISE! I'M BACK!

Hello friends! After three months of "holiday", I'm back to my blog. So many (frustrating) things have happened this year that, when I gave up Rednesdays, I just kind of faded away from blogging.

Frustration #1: My agorophobic almost-21 daughter uses my computer most of the time (hers gave up the ghost early Spring), so I don't get to just pop on whenever I feel like it. (I took advantage of the fact that she's sleeping right now!)

Frustration #2: My camera broke and I can't afford a new one. I hate this! I feel so helpless without a camera to shoot pics of all the thrifty things I find, and my beautiful flowers, etc. (Don't have a smartphone, either).

Frustration #3: We're in a serious financial bind and may have to move to a town with cheaper tax rates. (Oh, I hope not! I love my house and yard!) My two Asperger girls would be devastated if we had to relocate.

Frustration #4: I had a fender-bender in July with my red pick-up - brakes went. Found out that front and back brakes are all shot to pieces, rusted, etc. Can't afford to fix truck. (Using father-in-law's Tahoe temporarily) Mister's car is very near being on its' last leg, too. We have another small Ford pick-up that he's trying to get working; it's been sitting for six years.

Frustration #5: Because of #4, I had to give up babysitting Jade, whom I've watched for four years. The monetary amount was token, which didn't even cover the cost of gas to pick her up from school in the afternoons,  but it was still money. But, now that I don't watch her anymore, I'm glad that I don't. It's kind of like a small weight lifted off of me.

Frustration #6: My now-11th grade daughter wants to quit school. She's in special ed and they're saying she can do the same amount of work that a "normal" student can. (Duh! What do they think special ed is for anyway?) She says that school has traumatized her and lowered her self-esteem. So Mister and I have a special meeting with the school this coming Tuesday, the 10th.

Okay, are those enough depressing thoughts for you! LOL! Yeah, they kinda shook me up a bit. I still think positive, too, though - I'm not ready to call the funny farm yet! If I didn't have God I'd be flat on my face. I love the New Living Translation's wording of 2 Corinthians 4:9:

"We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.

We get knocked down, but are not destroyed."

Also, 2 Timothy 1:12 tells me,

 "For this reason I also suffer these things;

nevertheless, I am not ashamed,

for I know Whom I have believed

and am persuaded that He is able to keep

what I've committed to Him until that Day."

 

So, it's all good in the 'hood, and I'm glad to be back here! Don't know how often I'll post, but I'll be here!

REDNESDAY

Hi everyone! Do any of you follow the old-time list of what chore to do on which day of the week? I certainly don't! I just can't imagine doing ALL the laundry on one day!

I got out to the thrift store on Saturday and purchased a few little goodies ~

I was excited to find this Texan cookie tin in good condition - nice price, huh?

A cute little vintage card (feel free to use it) ~

 And, a non-red doily thingy!

Here's a pic that I got from Top Gear UK. It's the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Forget the car! I LOVE the house behind it!!

 On Africam, to go along with the Olympics, we made up our own "Africam Olympics". There are three cameras at three different locations in South Africa so each night we count which one has the most critters appearing!

How's about a (partial) family photo to end this post with! Monday was Mister's brother Stephen's birthday, so we went down the street for cake and ice cream. From left to right: Stephen, Joyce (the mom), Mark, my Katherine, Mister (Lee), and Henry (the dad). I'm not in it cuz I took the photo!

A FEW OF MY EASTER DECORATIONS

Hello! Happy Easter!

This is a vintage card of mine that I changed the wording on. I love the spray of tulips and the blend of pretty colors. Feel free to use it.


Jade (2nd grader I babysit) likes to rearrange these bunnies - this time it looks like they're in church!


Some more vintage cards - they look better if you close-up on them.


This tiny "teapot" decoration is only about 2" tall (or short). The colors blend so well with the candy tin.


The design goes all the way around, too!


These "wascally wabbits" would not photograph well for me, no matter what I tried. But, they're so darn cute that I included them anyway. Got them, in the basket, at a thrift store.


'nother shot ~


Some of you may remember this banner I made last year. It says "A happy Easter", with a ducky holding each letter. This is the word Easter.


No, this isn't the I Dream of Jeannie bottle! Although it resembles it a bit. A pretty purple cottage postcard for my purple bathroom. A scan, for your use, is below.



A cloth bunny basket to decorate the tank!


I hope you all have a blessed Easter tomorrow!