chock-a-blog

Two weeks ago my friend Ana and I spent the weekend in Bisbee at the Shady Dell (trailer park). This, of course, was a joy in itself. But also joyful was a funny little packed-to-the-rooftop musty-smelling thrift store out on Bisbee Road on the way to the Farmer's Market. I rejoiced in finding Jack a pair of OshKosh jeans for twenty-five cents. A quarter for a pair of jeans! Also found this cool ceramic skull ($1.00) just in time for Halloween.

I'm thinking of sticking it in a planter and growing a vine out of it after the holidays are over. Reminds me of Mandy's Darth Maul mug with the cactus growing out of it.

Though I had a great time in Bisbee with Ana, I was a bit disappointed to have missed our church's third annual rummage sale. I previewed some of the goodies and lamented the fact that I couldn't go to the sale. But I did go to church the Sunday after the sale. The youth group leader---who organized the sale---told us they'd raised more money in this one sale alone than they did in all their fundraising efforts last year. There were still a few items left: things that didn't sell at the sale proper, and things that didn't fit in the Salvation Army truck that came to haul away the leftovers. She invited parishioners to take what they wanted and leave a donation if they wished.

SCORE

big time

first I picked up this hippy ergonomic desk chair. I've always wanted one. I plan to strip this, paint it, and recover it, possibly in Dia de los Muertos fabric, if I can find it. If I ever actually do this, I'll post results.

Then I pondered this purchase. I already have a bike. I bought it full price 15 years ago. It's a Bianchi hybrid, and it served me well. But as I've matured, I've always wanted the classic 3-speed. This fit the bill. Would DH kill me if I brought home another bike? Would I ever ride it? Would it languish on the back patio with the family's other bikes?

who cares?

so I gave a $20 donation and came home with this 3-speed. That delightful Cirque de Soleil dragon was already in the basket.

Never heard of Skeppshult? Neither had I. I looked it up on the Internet: Skeppshult. See? That's me some day. Funky urban dweller coasting a cobblestone path to my little apartment above a corner flowershop, where I write critically-acclaimed short stories, drink endless espressi, and cook exquisite meals for my husband and son. See how happy I am?

Maybe 20 bucks can't buy happiness, but it can buy you a $1595 Skeppshult bike. And a dream.

thrifting: getting good again

The Sunday before Halloween I scored this vintage Fisher Price Barn at Saver's for $2.99. When I was a kid I had this barn, and played with it all the time. At that age I was convinced my dad could fix anything, and I can't remember if it was the Fisher Price Barn or the Weebles Cottage that he fixed up for me, numerous times, beyond any reasonable expectation. Jack's interpretation of how the barn should look on the inside. Retro sticker, clue to the life of the previous owner. I should also mention that I recently found another similar Fisher Price vintage barn at Goodwill, but they had it priced at $19.99! At Goodwill! Crazy. That same thrifting day at Saver's I bought this repro Kewpie for $7.99, which is, for me, quite a lot to dish out for one item. Again, I had a similar one when I was younger, but mine wore yellow/peach flowered coveralls. I remember once learning that Kewpie is a boy, and trying to reconcile that with my own conception of Kewpie as a girl. Clea...