A Good Day Thrifting.....and a few other things

 November is here, along with the time change and shorter days.  I love it.  I am in the minority on that, I think.  To me, it is such a cozy time.  I love to drive up and see the amber glow of  lights on in my house.

We do a lot of fires in cooler months, and we each have our own blanket to snuggle up with to watch TV.   It is my favorite time of year.
We had a very busy weekend.  It was Carl's funeral on Saturday.  It was beautiful.  Standing room only, and most came back to the house afterwards. I had told Sue that I would leave the chapel a bit early, and get back to their house to begin setting up the food and beverages.  I organized the ladies in our neighborhood to make salads.  Her retired teachers friends were all bringing desserts.  The kids had gotten the sandwiches and several others brought chips and dips. I had asked Jane and one other neighbor if they would like to help me.  When we got up to quietly exit the chapel as it neared the end, Greg and I were shocked by what we saw next.  ALL of our immediate neighbors joined us.  They ALL got up and came  to the house. Husbands and wives, along with several of their grown children, came to help. We got to work immediately, setting out the food, covering the tables with cloths, setting out plates and cutlery, setting up the beverage bar.  Each person, busy, as we all worked together to help our Carl and Sue.  When the family arrived, it was our hope that they could visit with their family members, and friends who came in support of them, and not have to worry about anything else.  The day went perfectly,  and so many times throughout the day, I had to pause a moment in amazement at what our neighbors were willing to do for friends.  From the first plate set out, to the last dish washed, we worked together, taking out trash, picking up plates, putting up umbrellas, etc, to ensure our friends could have this day be just the way they wanted it.  I am still in awe of it, when I picture the teamwork that went into that day.  I know Carl would have gotten a kick out of that!
Our next door neighbors (Christopher's parents) asked us to go see  Sarah Brightman with them at The Honda Center that night.   I was so tired from helping all day with the funeral, but I was urged to do something spontaneous. ( I am not the spontaneous type. )  So we freshened up a bit, and off we went.  WOW.  What a show!!  What a voice!  What a theatrical and beautiful experience it was! Our seats were fantastic, dead center to the stage.  If you aren't familiar with Sarah Brightman, as I was not, look her up.  Amazing talent!   We got home late, but with the time change, got that extra hour of sleep.  My plan for Sunday was to do NOTHING!   Instead, we swapped out two large pieces of furniture that took the better part of the day.  Erika had asked if she could have the desk that was hers as a child, for Noah.  It had been in my sewing room for the past ten years, and was chock full of my stuff!  Books, patterns, tools, you name it, it was in there.  In order to make room for the desk, we would  have to swap out the armoire.  It too, was full of things that had to be removed before any of the moving could be done.  Erika did all of the emptying of the desk and armoire, and then Greg and I helped with the moving of them.  Noah now has a terrific desk to do his homework at.  And a place to put his books, and a bulletin board for his sight words and awards and photos.  It worked out perfectly, and he was thrilled.

We will have to either stain that chair, or get another one to match.  I have no idea whatever happened to the one that came with it.  We got this when Erika was 12.  She is 30 now.  It has held up great, and should last Noah a long, long time.
The armoire is now in my sewing room.

This was one time in our family room with a big TV in it.  Thus, the funny cut out shape in the back.  Erika had her TV in it too.  I am going to cut out the rest of the back that is in that space so that you will see the wall behind it.  It holds all of my quilting books, as well as my knitting and crochet books and patterns.  The quilts on top were made by my Great Grandmother.  Nana's mother.  And yes, I knew her.  She too, lived to her late nineties, just like Nana.  Underneath the needle of the black, heavy cast iron antique machine, I have a square from one of the quilts of Grandma's that was too damaged to salvage.  I have a little wooden bench sitting on the shelf and put a table topper quilt over it.  There is an electrical outlet on the shelf, so I plugged a little lamp in and set it on the bench too.  

The bottom of the armoire has two deep shelves for storage.  I have managed to fill them up. 

We did lots of purging, and wound up filling the back of my Yukon with unwanted items to donate.  This morning I took those things to The Salvation Army to drop off.  I always have to pop inside to see if there might be anything I can't live without. On Monday, all clothing items are one dollar, so it was crowded the moment they opened.  I have bought wool blazers to wash and felt for wool projects.  I have bought dresses and blouses and coats, for the buttons alone.  Have you priced buttons lately?  I use them on all of my earwarmers, and other things.  So to buy a garment with lots of nice buttons for salvaging the buttons alone, is a great deal.  But I have also found many things that I have kept for myself too.  Today I found this beautiful aqua sweater.  It looked like Eileen Fischer to me, but there was not tag in it anywhere.  It was in perfect condition though, and for the color alone, I bought it.

It does not show the true color here on the line.  I washed it in cold water, on delicate, and then laid it flat to dry.  As I was folding some other laundry, this vintage napkin had the exact same shade of aqua in it.  I tied it around the neck just for fun.

My Mom wore sweaters like this in the 60's.  They have a little zipper in the back at the neckline.  I love these.  I am thinking of cutting it up the middle though, and making a cardi.

I also found this mock turtleneck.  In a deep pumpkin color.  I have a couple of things that will go really nicely with this.  A quilted reversible vest that is animal print on one side, and brown on the other.

And a leather jacket in a rich caramel color.  I wear this jacket a lot, and love both the color and comfort of it!

I have been on the lookout for red and green sweaters for a Christmas project that I am doing.  This one will do nicely.  I love the cables on it.

I only need eleven more!

I am a big fan of the Nick and Nora line of sleepwear that Target carries.  Particularly, their Christmas flannels.  Recently I found a cotton set with cherries and birds, I don't think it had ever been worn.  Today I found this.  Just the top though.

I love the print, with the old school skis and winter cabins and pines.

I couldn't pass up this Rudolph.

 

I think just about every home had one in the 80's.  Made with a mens sock, and fabric holly leaves.  I loved his charming features on the face.  Heart mouth, and Scandinavian ribbon for bridle and reins.

Nor could I pass up this vintage Santa!

I spent seven dollars.  It was a good day!  Today would have been my Daddy's birthday.  Happy Birthday Dad.

XO  Kris