A Few Things

After being away from my blog for over a week and a big adventure to the ER with a very mean, and large kidney stone - I'm back again.  I had time to ponder a few things recently.

I've enjoyed the blog parties and memes and all the fun, but I'm feeling pressure, probably mostly from myself, to conform my posts to the blog parties, make another blog post, get in on the parties - whoa - slow down there Nellie.  I think for now I will post what I see when I'm out and about, and give myself a break from what has come to feel  like competition.  It is great for some people - it isn't great for me right now.  I will, however, keep visiting and commenting on all the wonderful blog parties and memes - I  love to see what everyone is up to.

Friday I had a nice, easy, slower day (just got back from the hospital late Thursday night).  I slept in, had a lovely breakfast by myself and did a few rounds on the crocheted tablecloth I'm working on for our round table.  I read a little, had some cinnamon tea and picked out a few ideas for handmade christmas gifts - and no, I'm not going to share those ideas, because "somebodies" read my blog and I want these to be a surprise.  It was a lovely day, and in the afternoon I baked a little apple pie - the pie pan is about 7" - just the right size.   Don grilled dinner and then we had pie later with  a dollop of good vanilla ice cream, and a cup of tea.

The weekend before this all happened we had some great fun shopping at thrift stores and one giant yard sale.  It is run by people who do something with dogs, but I wasn't able to find out what they do with the dogs, but it seems they are very helpful people.  They certainly have great contributors to their yard sale - and they price things to sell.  We thought we were getting there just about closing time, but we went anyway - people were coming and going so we went in.  It was 4:55.  I heard another customer ask one of the workers what time they closed - and she laughingly said - "4 o'clock".  The ladies were all so pleasant and never complained that they were staying for over an hour after closing time.

 I loaded my shopping cart (now that's a good idea, a shopping cart at an indoor yard sale) and after making two trips through all the rooms, I was ready for check out.  Four big boxes - and the average price of an item was 35 cents - whoopeee I love good yard sales.

More lovelies from the indoor yard sale.  The  background is a spring tablecloth (2.00) and the napkins and napkin rings were 25 cents each.  I love the belt with buckle napkin rings - perfect for a summer barbecue.

There was a set of Corelle Pansy dishes - do I want those?

16 dinner plates and 12 sandwich plates - do I want those - they are so pretty, perfect for springtime.

And a platter - YES, I do want those - all those pieces for $10.00 total - load those into that cart, move over other dishes, here come the pansies.  I have green edged Corelle cereal bowls, like the platter edge, that will go with this set, so I have enough for big family gatherings in the spring.  Aren't they the prettiest things?  

I've been looking for an empty silverware chest for some time - and not found one.  I emailed a craigslist ad a couple weeks ago and never heard back. I left my cell phone number, hoping she would call, and after two weeks figured it was a lost cause.  Just as we were leaving the big yard sale, she called. 

We were half way between our house and her house - how lucky can we be - and so we drove up to her house - the chest is marvelous.  Two  drawers and the lift up lid - in perfect condition and all she was asking was 15.00 - which I gladly paid.

Bottom Drawer

My silver serving pieces have been overflowing the part of the drawer they've been sharing with the other flatware - so this is the perfect solution.

Top Drawer

Top lift-up lid - oh my there is still space in each area - 

 I might even have to buy a few more serving pieces, just to fill the chest up.

Then Saturday we stopped at Value Village and Goodwill - I had something in mind, but can't remember now what it was - so we strolled through all the lovely things in both stores

and came out with some very nice dishes - of course dishes - you didn't think I could pass up dishes did you?  I knew you didn't.

Blue checked dishes - be still my heart - they were so lovely - I found 4 plates - 8 flat soup bowls and 3 cups and saucers.  They are not old, but they are lovely.  I've looked them up on ebay and they come in lavender checks and green checks - oh my - the temptation.  So far I've managed to resist.

  It was a good weekend, and good memories to keep in my mind while the mean old kidney stone was messing up my week.  All is fine now - It is all over and I can get back to doing things I like, like blogging - this has been fun.  Thanks for stopping by.  And thanks to those who emailed and wondered where I had been.  I really appreciate each of you who visit my blog.