Surprise Garage Sale WIN

I'm behind on bloggying, because I've been wrestling 90 yards of velvet into some curtains every night after work, but this last weekend...

June was gonna be a “Thrift Free” month, because I can’t help myself. I guess it’s not THAT bad,  I could instead have a nasty Starbucks habit, like certain significant others..  So, if I walk out S-Boutique $4-5 later with a dress, teacup, pair of shoes, whatever – it’s not the end of the world, right? Except the Starbucks disappears into Mr Snork’s scary metabolism, and my dress pile (to make something out of) has grown considerably.


Anyway, this Saturday, Mr Snork woke me up at 6:30, for a surprise, which had me in a pretty sour mood.  He's been talking about it since Thursday night and it sounded shady.  There aren’t very many things I am receptive to that early. So, he stuffed me in the vehicle, with my mood improving tea thermos, and went off driving to me muttering “probably somewhere ridiculous”. He was positively giddy, and I was a little worried he secretly signed me up for another 5k. But then, he pulled up and unleashed me onto this driveway.. where sewing stuff was e v e r y w h e r e.   I may have squealed a little.

Mr Snork found what looked like the mother of all crafty sales on CL, and has planned to deliver me there right at 7 am on the dot.  (God forbid someone else walks away with my stuff).  It was a little amazing, and the woman hosting the sale was the most energetic, chatty garage sale haver EVER. At first it was annoying, but then it became contagious. She was selling stuff like the guy a the farmers’ market sells bundt cakes. Loudly, and with conviction. Do I need a sewing machine? How about some ribbon? How about tassels? Do I know how to use tassels? Well, if I did, I would want them for sure. Thread? Oh, I got thread? Take MORE thread! How about a snap maker? Look at this pillow!! On and on and on.

In a stroke of luck (yet again) she had a Giant Curtain Rod. This thing is meant for a place much grander than my two bedroom, it’s like a sideways palm tree, skinned. But, it just so happens, my mother gave me the most ridiculous set of curtains – something like 20 yards of 54” fabric, sewn together into one, 108” by 20 yard piece of velvet football field awesomeness. In the 1500’s, they’d make the royal tents in the field of battle out of this stuff. And it’s been sitting, all 190 lbs of it, in my closet, because the type of rod that would hold them up does NOT sell at Ross for $6.99. (I love Ross rods).

$1 Curtain Rod. I am now knee deep in sewing curtains. And then duvet covers. And table runners. And chair covers. More curtains. Who knows.

$3 Bolt of green raw silk. It’s SO pretty. The pictures really fail here.   $1 bolt of stripey green/purple silk. $1 bolt of quilt interfacing/curtain interlining stuff (Not pictured, but it's giant and brand new, in plastic).

A Trash Bag o’Thread. $1. Mostly new rolls, serger thread even, despite the fact that serger hunt has been unsuccessful, I'm preparing.  Some spray adhesive. Some snap tape for duvet covers. Some more silk (brown, dupioni).

A $1 shelf, already hung by the door, with some teacup hooks to accommodate keys. Mr Snork really took initiative on that, because every morning he hunts the house for my keys, which I leave various places the night before. On one occasion he’s found them in the fridge.   I don't care for the green color, but I guess it goes well with the dolphin theme (to be found nowhere else in my home) untill I strip and stain it. 

Mr Snork also really liked the curtain hold back things. Especially after he was told they came from a sister’s old house in Ohio. 50c. Did you know you can use them to HANG curtains? I saw pictures in a magazine. It’s true.   Mostly over triangle shaped windows, but that might not stop me..

At some point, I looked up to see the Mr holding three bolts of fabric, a giant curtain rod, and various odds and ends, just hanging out, looking at book titles. The garage saler’s neighbor shared that her husband would rather die than be there, and I felt extra lucky. And a little guilty, I don’t know if I could be that good if he decided to, say, take me to 8 auto parts shops in one day. I might snap by #2, and offer we order whatever we need online..

I offered repeatedly that he set the stuff down in a corner, and frolick freely, but he told me later, he was being stalked for the curtain rod and possibly some other loot, and setting it down didn’t seem safe, and he’d hate to see me get violent in a driveway..   Ahhh, love. 

AND, the best part of this sale is that the hostess and I exchanged phone numbers, because, apparently, if ever I need more stuff (like a fabric cutting board), there's a good chance she has it (turns out she did).  Squeal!!!

Friday Goodies.

First, my coworkers' parents came from Germany, and "Omi" brought me a teacup she's had in her cupboard in Germany for a while. It's Japanese and super dainty and see through. I've had my thermos tea today from it, and I'm pretty pleased. That's the second time I've sat around at work and had a tea cup dropped onto me. A trans atlantic teacup, even.

Then at lunch I kidnapped Mr Snork and dragged him to an estate sale, conveniently on the way.  Everything was really pretty but expensive.  I fell in love a little with an iron, the kind you put coals into, and it irons..  But everything was priced a la antique shop in Orange County, CA, so I let that dream go.  For $65 that iron needs to be fully functional and I can't expect Jesse to make with BBQ coals every morning before work..

But, I did find and dig through a cup of silver tea spoons - an obsession relation to teacups, but a lot less space consuming, so, yay?  I found two I really liked, and had to talk the hostess into getting them - they were being sold as a 12 piece lot for $68, and she was reluctant to sell separately, but eventually, I got 2 for $10.

I deciphered one hallmark to be Wallace and Sons,  

the spoon with the pretty pine cones.

The other seems to be "IS" in some wings, or feathers, or may be just an "S"?

a "Pat .88", 

and a "sterling" on it.

It looks pretty old, or "haunted" as my little brother says, so naturally, it appeals to me even more.  As does this kind of research, on some obsessive compulsive level.  There is an International Silver Co, but it seems that all their hallmarks spell out the name. 

 ~

PS, after I typed up this blog, I went back searched just the "S" letter, and came up with George Shiebler & Co.  They were dissolved in 1910, which explains the rubbed out hallmark and its general 'haunted-ness'. 

~

PPS, after some more nosing around, I found the pattern.  Discontinued in 1888!  Extra haunted.   I might take it up to NorCal with me next time, to drink tea with and freak out the small anti-antique siblings.   

I think I'll go back tomorrow and check out the other spoons I left behind.  Shhh.  Don't tell the Mr.   It's the most haunted thing I have, after the Russian imperial silver spoons my dad brought me for my birthday.  Monogrammed with "K", conveniently, for my Russian nickname - 'Kuzya'.  Kuzya is a small, very dirty unbehaved housekeeping troll in a popular Soviet time cartoon, but never mind the details.  The spoons are pretty rad. 

Chandeliers and Trickery and How I'm Always Right

So, while I was milling about the courtyard #3 of the Giant Rummage Sale, waiting for Jesse to come join me in rummaging, I spotted the dusty mini chandelier. 

The guy in charge of courtyard #3 kept offering to 'work with me on prices', and I was simply curious if I could get the dusty chandelier for $5, as opposed to $10. Knowing full well Jesse has an aversion to chandeliers, even the free ones.  Turned out I could have it for $5 so I quickly handed him the money, and when the the future Mr SnorkMaiden f i n a l l y got there, I asked him non chalantly what he thought of that cute little chandelier, over there, on the table (in the 'sold' goods section, but he's not very observant like that).

That's when I, the guy in charge of courtyard #3 and innocent shoppers nearby got an earful.  About how:

- Nobody needs a chandelier
- I certainly don't need a chandelier
- I certainly don't need another chandelier (The first one doesn't count btw, my stepmom gave it to us)
- Am I trying to live on the set of Sanford and Son?
- Am I serious?
- A demand to hear a list of three things that can be taken OUT of the house before this one can be brought in (not even fair, I mean, the lamp takes up one square foot..)
- Where in the world would I hang it.
- And, finally, about how he's about to have to staple furniture to the ceiling to have any kind of walking space (dirty lies) so, there won't be any room for chandeliers anyway (wild exaggerations).

At this point I figured everyone has had enough laughs, so I picked up my chandelier indignantly, informed him it was already paid for, and that he'd have to finish his meltdown at home, thanks.  (To his credit, he resigned quietly, and offered to take it to the truck, probably hoping to 'accidentally' drop it a few times en route)

I washed it, and took it apart, and gave the crystals a Dawn bath.  I started to spray paint it green (bad idea) so, I finished it in black.  White/ivory might have also been cool, but I had green and black on hand, so black it was.  It came out exquisite.  It's missing a few crystals, but in all the sparkle-ness, you can't really tell. 

I could not find a setting on my camera that would take a picture of it, the way the Swarovski Chandelier Place down the street has them in their brochures, sigh.  But it's pretty magical.  Jesse apparently worked through his grief while he was wiring it, and while I was off drinking margaritas with Giraffy, he hung it up for me in our hallway.  Yeep!  On top of that, when I got home he conceded that it wasn't the worst $5 purchase I'd ever made.  Ha!

Would you like to follow me through the 80 million chandelier pictures, that depict 1/10th of its sparkle-ness?   Of course, you do.  Meet my hallway:

And a close up? 

And a different light setting, in case you haven't really fallen over just yet: (Note the sparkly-ness)

It's even pretty when it's not lit up: 

Ok, last one. 

I have a 4g memory card full of these, if anybody needs a myriad chandelier pictures, btw.  I'm also on the market for a cooler camera that can capture sparkling better.  Don't tell Jesse.

Seen Out and About

At a weird “estate sale”,.. (ones where stuff looks old and ratty and in someone's driveway, yet priced at thousands).. this spectacular $1900 couch.



Had it been $30, I’d have dragged it home, where Jesse would have to build a loft to support any more “pieces” . Luckily, it was $1870 over our budget.
It is my personal opinion, that if you sell $2000 couches, you should put them in a setting other than your ratty driveway, but the guy seemed pretty excited about his couch. It was "an investment piece", and "would probably sell for $9,000 in an intique shop down the street. You never know, it IS Orange County, I guess. I just don't know how many people cruise around yard sales with $1900 in pocket.



Still, I am guessing stripped to dark walnut and upholstered in something less .. blue and flowery, it would be awesome.
- Ceramic parrots? Swinging on my porch? Bright colors and everything? Yes, please! I had talked the guy down to 5$ a parrot, but he wanted me to buy all, and I really thought that 4th was hideous.
It would be cool to paint them ivory, and have black stars/flowers/swirls painted all over. But Jesse seemed to think they would then lose their “parrotness”. Parrots fail.
It’s probably for the best, our 2nd floor deck isn’t nearly big enough to accommodate 4 big hanging parrots, without knocking into them incessantly. Jesse suggested taking the 4th one and using it as target, like those clay pigeons, but I don't have the heart to blow up something brightly painted, even if it is hideous.
- I did find some awesome Paul Frank shoelaces, and ALMOST got a pair of flippers. Then Jesse informed me I can get flippers in a myriad of colours that aren’t orange and blue, so I skipped away with visions of glittery purple pink flippers. Watch out, SoCal beaches.
- A book on survival. I’m pretty sure I can survive just fine anywhere, but I’ve seen Jesse pick through his “white only” chicken meat at Flame Broiler. I’m fairly certain eating tree bark is not a concept he’s on board with, so he needs all the help he can get.
- An old book on the psychology of male/female conversation..having. I intend to read it, and analyze everything Jesse says thoroughly for a couple weeks, until he either has a breakdown, or the fun runs out.
- A first edition of Tom Sawyer. It’s beautiful, old, and has few coloured pictures. I have been meaning to pick up a copy at Barnes and Noble, as soon as Jesse has finished Huckberry Finn. I’m convinced it’s imperative he reads all happy childhood classics to make up the giant black void he must be suffering (he hides it really well).
Other things worthy of note:
Clay fish. After the parrot fiasco, I was certain I need to get them, paint them ivory and black, write “here, fishy fishy” and hang on a bathroom wall.



They sold before I went back to them, but above is my nostalgic concept drawing.. Drat.

Various chairs.

This ceramic life size statue/lamp.


I mean, if you were going to go completely over the top, why not do it with crystal ball grapes, lights, and a lady wearing all types of bright foldy ceramic clothing? $449.



- Black leather gloves. $2 They are super thin. I'm thinking, cat skin? I shall cut off the fingers, and wear them with sundresses that my tattooed forearm otherwise prevents wearing at work. I've rectified it in the past on super hot days by Ace bandages and a cut off tube sock (striped yellow and green, even) and I am thinking this might be an upgrade. Hopefully, He Who Signs the Paychecks will agree, or I'll have to find other uses. They'll likely still have to do with sundresses and excersizing individuality. Ha.

Total weekend shopping cost – about ~$7, plus gas. AND, I wore my weight vest everywhere, so I imagine I burned 80,000 calories hopping in and out of the truck. WIN!

SoCal Weekends

I get off work at 6. Meh. By the time time I get home it’s too late to even call my mom in Chicago. And it’s dark. It seems like I only have a couple hours a day for anything, so I love weekends.

In SoCal, weekends are pretty much always perfect. It’s usually warm and sunny in the midday, and cool on mornings and evenings. It rains rarely, and when it does, it reminds me of Chicago, and makes me happy. It also pushes on the dust in the desert and I think about all the good dirtbiking that can be done. We haven’t gone dirtbiking since our bi-annual Moab, Utah trip, so I’m itching to go.

Last weekend we went up to Laguna Beach, see if any dumpstering can be done (a.k.a garage saling), but failed, since we got a really late start. We stopped at a few places, but nothing exciting.

Except may be this dress

But not really


Too small. I don't know how cute it is for an almost 30 year old to run around in a tiny Strawberry Shortcake dress. Probably a lot less cute than it is in my head, and, even then, I'm not picturing a 10.

One chick having a sale told us about the ‘crazy people that showed up at 6:30 for her 7am sale’. I nodded sympathetically, and heard Jesse snickering. In our defence, we’ve never shown up early, but have been known to hit an estate sale at 8am on the dot. But only a couple times. The lady also had an antique chair I entertained wanting..but decided I’ll hold out for something truly spectacular. My step mom has a round one, with mangos and flowers carved in the back. Something like that, to feed my chair fetish. I doubt Jesse will let me drag yet another chair home anyway, so there was also that.

Mask. Cute. $5. Meh.


We went to a work wedding Saturday night. I don't really like weddings - specifically, I don't like the long, drawn out ones where people start to get restless. Anyone see the Friends episode where Chandler kept calling their upcoming wedding a 'party' and almost got univinted? Jesse and I left early to get to watch Rogers-Emelianenko fight, so we never got to cake cutting, but it was lovely. The bride sang, and my *other date* was hot:



We also ventured to San Clemente. There are a couple shops I like to visit. One of them had a beautiful motorcycle. It was $1200, and the owner kept going lower with it. It was red, shiny, and pretty. I really, really wanted it, until Jesse reminded me it was everything wrong. Too new. Too big. Too wide. Too much power. Sigh. I almost pictured us riding around Laguna Beach. Well, me riding, and Jesse on the back. He wasn’t about this idea at all. Men.

The other shop is an Assitance League shop, and they've expanded, they used to be a lot more of a thrift shop, and now they’re leaning towards an antique/collectible shop. So, a lot more china and lamps. We were looking for a cabinet to go below our TV and hold cables, cable boxes, Wii, Dvd’s. I liked a glass door cabinet full of teacups, but it wasn’t for sale. Then Jesse eyeballed this one:



Initially, I only saw the back of it and it looked uneventful. It had heaps stacked on top and we had to pull it out. Then I saw the front. Water lillies? Birds?! Yes, please. It had an un-thrift store price of $140, so I talked the guy into $100 and I have the usual view of Jesse loading something in the back of the truck for my catalogues. Ha.

It’s really well made (Jesse tells me) and oh, so pretty. It holds everything beautifully, and its low profile makes it fit perfectly in the living room. Win.

Up at Dana point, Right above Capo Beach is a little park right on the cliff. There are benches, and for our entertainment, there were 3 people practicing rope walking.



Pretty awesome. I’ll add this to the List. Right now I can’t balance on large fallen tree trunks, but I am pretty hopeful. We hung out in the park, and on the cliffs, wondered how much trouble you’d get in if you mud slid your way down to the Pacific Coast Highway. There are some precariously positioned houses on the hill, one rain away from losing a backyard or a balcony. My aunt Diane lives down in Capo Beach below. It’s amazing that you can hear the waves so far up the hill almost as clear as you can at her house.



I thought briefly about going down to the beach and actually going in the water, but I remembered that it’s inevitably windy at water’s edge, and the water is pretty cold. One of these days, though, I’ll rock my 4mm wetsuit and go pretend surfing. (Where I pretend I know how to surf, get my ass handed to me a few times, swallow some sand, filter some water, entertain some fish, and go home wrecked, but feeling accomplished.)

And, the 'piece' looks fabulous in the living room. Jesse drilled a hole through the back, the wires are to be hidden there, all the boxes fit, DVD's, games. I'm so pleased!

Seen Today - Random Prettyness and Price Ridiculous-ness

Jesse and I walked through an estate sale a few blocks away from my work, by the Newport Bay.



I've seen this particular company running sales before, and I'm not a fan. They have ridiculous prices for most part, and they bring in their own stuff from a gallery, or whatever they run, as well as random things from sales they've had in the past. The prices seem to stay constant, so I don't know how they ultimately get rid of stuff. It's fun to frolick about and stare at, anyway. We left our wallets behind, pre-emptively.

They ARE pretty thorough though. Used Plunger for $3 anyone?



I liked -

The Fishy Crystal Vase, and a Green 24K Gold Flower Teapot:



Jesse really liked the Book Painting:



There was also a Weird Chair, for some unthinkable price, like, $395:



The tag ventured to talk about the comfortable-ness, but I sat in it (my chair fixation and all), and it was most definately not at all. All lies.



Other uneventfull-ness included bedding with super elaborate description of the obvious - beige, and stuff they brought in I had seen at their other sales, paintings, teacups, etc. Yawn. Estate sale FAIL.

Seen today – Eddie Bauer high chair

It was outside the Salvation Army on Harbor St in Costa Mesa, and it was pretty. It was $17, dark wood, and a little removable seat cover.
The plastic tray is missing, but it matters not. Plastic trays are ugly anyway. This probably throws a wrench into the whole, feeding a child business one might engage in around a highchair, but to me, it just makes it prettier.



I didn't get it, but I want it, and I hope someone else does soon before I break down and sneak it into our garage. "To stain, paint, and re-sell". I've seen my boyfriend fall for some pretty ridiculous stuff, but I didn't wanna push my luck. I have an unreasonable obsession with high chairs. Downright psychotic, when you consider I have no children and am not pregnant. But every time I see one, I want one. To use as plant stand? A side table?

Some people collect and display dolls and teddy bears on them, which probably works. But I think dolls are creepy, and I’m fresh out of teddy bears. Plus, Jesse had indicated that stuffed animals won’t do great things for his psyche, so I am limited to my box of beanie babies to do with what I will in the spare bedroom/office. I’ve thought about beanie babies on a high chair, but it looks weird. Like they were meant to be eaten and then weren’t.

It's not ALL high chairs, it's just the pretty ones. The one below didn't appeal to me at all.



It might be a biological clock thing, or, more likely, just a weird subset of a more serious, chairs-in-general fixation I have. I love the mid century Danish pair. Especially because the cushion covers are simple rectangles, I can have multiple sets in different colours and patterns. (it’s on the List of Conceived Ideas with Delayed Execution. Current backlog: about 20 projects) I even have one in the bathroom, as a towel stand. Or, in case you wanted to have a conversation with whoever’s in the shower. These things happen.

There is also an Antique Needlepoint Chair, an Ugly But Comfortable Desk Chair, and a Danish Sewing Machine stool. This last one is has an upholstered lid that opens to store sewing stuff. I was enthralled. It even came with parts of a sewing machine, that were absolutely of no use to me, but interesting regardless.

So, clearly, I have a chair issue, and a highchair is a really really pretty little chair. With long legs. And a tray, sometimes. The only thing possibly more appealing than a highchair is a properly built and adequately pretty rocking chair; but if a high chair and a rocking chair were slipping off a cliff and I had to save one, it’d be a rough day.

I got to drag home a couple one day, when Jesse was feeling generous. Yes, a couple. I’m just as horrified admitting it in public, as I was adamant about getting them. One as a plant stand? Right now it holds flower vases and keys in lieu of an entry table, and one, as usual, “to resell”. I think the white wooden highchair was the absolute all time victory of the “I’ll resell it” argument, and a testament that men are, indeed, weak creatures.

"Key Holder #1" and "Re-Sell Project #2":



I have yet to touch up the paint on it, or to get ready to part with it, so it stands, somewhat creepy-like next to my sewing machine. A crown jewel in the Collection of Things I Really (Truly) Could Do Without. Occasionally I toy with stacking books on it, a vase, or something else that would turn down the creep factor, and fail. By itself, however, it is spectacular. It’s got a little carved design and some faded pastel blue paint on the back.



The little tray is also wooden and white. It has a little leather strap for holding tiny things in. I would make a really crappy EBay seller, because I don’t think I’d ship the item. Ever. I think for now, I will settle for trying to wiggle my girlfriend’s 3 year old into it. And telling guests it’s something I’m storing for a friend. In my living room. So I don’t forget. Really.

On the bright side, if ever I found myself knee deep in pregnant,the house may be full of pointy edges, sharp corners, and small swallowable objects, but there are also two high chairs. Ready to go. And beanie babies.

Pacifica, the Fog, and Debbie's Attic

Jesse and I occasionally spend weekends up in Northern California. We both have family up there, and Jesse used to live in Brentwood (village, middle of nowhere).

This weekend it was my father's birthday, and I had spent both Thursday and Friday wrapped up in so much sicklyness, that I wanted a nice relaxing weekend out.

We stay with my father, they live over the hill from Rockaway Beach in Pacifica. I like it there, it gives us a nice break from constant SoCal sunshine, and right now, the heat.

Home of the Fog Fest:


Their house is filled with artwork and neat things, there's a forest of eucalyptus right outside, children pick rosemary and mint in the garden outside, it reminds me a little of a Ukrainian village. It's not over populated, there are hills clean of houses, and you can walk to get anything you need. Sometimes we go into San Fransisco, and to the Russian Orthodox church on Geary St, or to the kids' ballet perfomance, or to shop for Russian grocieries.

This time we just relaxed and wandered around town. On Saturday, we hit Debbie’s. Debbie's Attic is an antique/thrift/junk shop that has become affectionatelly dubbed Debbie's Dumpster and we visit it when we're there, along with couple other shops on the street where everyone knows my family. From Debbie's Dumpster came the word 'dumpstering', which is what kids called any activity that didn't involve buying nice new shiny stuff at Ikea, ie yard sales, antique/junk shops, etc.

This time we weren't just looking, Debbie's still (hopefully) had the Giant Frame I want to frame my TV in on the Bright Yellow Wall. We were there with purpose, especially since I had called ahead to check measurements, negotiate price ($75) and sent Linda (stepmom) to measure it and take pictures. While I was sniffing around the frame for chips, cracks, and any unpleasant odors associated with other people's dead skin, the price got dropped even further, so we finally loaded it in the truck.

Aaron Brothers wanted $550-720 for a frame, Debbie wanted $50.


The Next Coolest Thing to a Giant Frame:
For 10c, it is all mine, and I am planning my choice of fabric. Sadly, PatternReview.com had no record of 9777, so I'll be a pioneer of sorts.

An Awesome Chandelier That I Would Totally Buy If it Wasn't $350. (And if Jesse let me) (and if I had room for one)
It's not Jesse's day though, cause my stepmom gifted us a chandelier before we left. HA. It needs crystals and parts, and for me to figure out how it is assembled. It'll be a whole project!

There's also a dress form I've been stalking there. I'm making progress, it was not for sale the the previous two times I asked, but now they've taken my phone number "in case they want to get rid of it". Yes, I know, they promptly threw out my number, but it's progress regardless. I will call weekly to check up.

We drove around to the only Starbucks, the other little shops and even a yard sale, where there was a 24 x 48 (standard canvas size!) painting/frame - I'm always more interested in frames to frame stuff I paint/copy/paint. Anyway. It was $1. How do you walk away from that?

The One Dollar Frame That Couln't Be Left Behind:
The painting is kinda cute too. For now, it is gracing our garage.

We all also walked to Rockaway Beach and hung about Rockaway Antiques and the beach at sunset. I wanted nothing to do with the walking part of the hill walking, but it was a good way to work off the plate of cheese I had eated for lunch. (Sliced Mozzarella, Thinly sliced lemons, Olive oil, Mint leaves. Be careful)

I really do love living in CA:





We had dinner and tea outside with the chimenea running, and I briefly contemplated going out into the forest to stalk deer. I settled for a chimenea/paper ball competition where Jesse taught children obnoxious behaviour and Trash Talking 101. It was ugly. But it reminded me of my graceless winning by cheating at Scrabble (obnoxious gloating thrown in always, free of charge) and why he's perfect for me.



We were froggy about getting an early start next day and almost succeeded, at 4pm.

A yard sale in the middle of nowhere? I think I will! Turn Around!!!


I did really well this weekend not adding to my Collection of Random Things I Could Really Do Without, and here it all went wrong. Who knew? They had tractors parked in the front yard! Tractors!

They also had a pair of incredibly dusty, mid century modern tables. I asked how much they were, AS A JOKE. Anyway...

...$8 How could you not?


(The wood logs are in case I'm ever stranded and need a stool, a table, or a campfire. These things happen!)
Yes.. yes, I'm very ashamed of myself. We ALMOST made it home with no "pieces". I think Jesse and I have a $10 threshhold problem. Seriously, you could probably sell me an extra appendix, as long as its under 10 bucks. I need therapy.
But, BUT! I really do not intend to keep these. Mostly because I don't like the way they look (except that they match perfectly my chairs) But also because (Jesse tells me) there's really no room for end tables of this sort anywhere in our place

I just got super excited about breaking out the strippers, stains, varnishes, etc, and playing with these to refinish them. I figured at $4 dollars a piece I could afford to play with them, and it looks like I can throw them up on Craigslist or Ebay thereafter. I hear some crazy people do their whole houses in this pointy-legged Danish theme.