A Day I'm Not Likely to Forget...

It felt really good to sleep in this morning! I know I always mention how busy we are, I've been working on changing that! I've been trying to cut back and cut things out. So far, it's been working. We've had a little bit more free time here and there, and it's been really nice. Within about a month all of our volleyball leagues will be over for the summer, so that will free up 4 evenings a week. It may seem like a lot, and it is a lot, but it is also excersize. It keeps us from sitting on the couch night after night, and keeps us moving. So in a way, it is kind of a good thing.

This morning after getting up late and moving really slowly, I decided I wanted to take a trip to Millington. I've seen on a Michigan Pyrex Collector's facebook page pictures from a shop there that is loaded with Pyrex, and I've been wanting to go. Today seemed like the perfect day. Until I got out of the shower and saw that the pretty little snow flurries that were dancing around my house had turned into a spring snowstorm and it was starting to stick on the grass.

As I was putting on my shoes, my youngest was in the living room watching tv and I stopped to talk with him for a few minutes. I was also trying to decide if I really wanted to go out in the cold and snow, and possibly have bad roads to deal with. The shops I wanted to go to were a little over an hour north, and I didn't know if the snow was just in my area or if it was all the way up too.

Eventually, I decided to go for it, and about 3 miles from my house, the roads were clear, and it wasn't even snowing! Feeling like I made the right decision, I pressed on. Once I got near Fenton, it started snowing again, and sometimes visibility got really low, then it would open up and be clear and dry. This on again, off again snow vs sun and clear went on for quite a while. Traffic was pretty decent, maybe even more than I've seen before on a Friday at late morning, early afternoon.

Everyone was going along at a good clip, speed limit and up I would say. Then out of nowhere, about 3 cars ahead of me, I see and hear a loud crash and two cars spin off! I was in the middle lane and it seemed like the one in my lane spun backwards toward the cement wall. It hit the wall and slid into the left lane with debris flying everywhere! The other car spun over toward the right wall and the moving traffic was swerving, slamming on brakes and trying to avoid the careening cars, as well as cars coming behind us.

It was very scary!! The worst accident I've ever seen. I managed to get my car through the huge debris field and avoided getting hit by a couple of semi trucks and other cars weaving through, just like I was. One minute we were all going 70+, the next, we were trying to dodge everything!! The stream of cars was moving so fast that I couldn't stop to see if I could help, so as soon as I was clear, I tried calling 911, but after 12 rings and no answer, I hung up-thinking that other people must have been calling as well. Then I saw a police car flying onto the southbound xpressway about a mile past the accident, and I knew help was for sure on the way.

I started praying for the drivers, the police and ambulance drivers, the families of the drivers, and any cars coming up the expressway unaware of what was waiting ahead. My heart is still racing just typing this! I can still hear the crash when I close my eyes! I am thanking God, that I took a couple of extra minutes to talk to my son this morning-because it could have been me! I've been thinking all day about how you really never know when your life will drastically change or even end-it could be life as normal-and then in a blink of an eye, everything changes!

I went on to go to all the shops on my list, but with a heavy heart, praying as I went. On the way home, I stopped at a Target not too far south of the accident to see if they had the 100th Anniversary Pyrex bowls and measuring cups and the cashier warned the lady in front of me to avoid 23/75 north because it was closed due to an accident. Three hours later, the expressway was still closed and traffic was backed up-2 lanes, solid bumper to bumper for 4 miles.

I mentioned how close I was to it, and the cashier said it was being reported as a case of a wrong-way driver and that there was one person in critical condition, and they weren't doing well. I couldn't even imagine how scary that was to see a car coming at you when you are driving 70 mph! She said she heard that people were calling 911 to report the wrong way driver right before the crash, so that is probably why no one answered when I called.

Online news reports are saying that there are two people who are critically injured from this crash. I will keep praying, and hoping for their recovery. So, if you're a praying person, please pray for those injured drivers and their families-their lives changed today in an instant.

Time Well Spent

Yesterday and today were really fun days-definitely time well spent!! Speaking of time well spent...that's where I went on Friday! Thyme Well Spent in Hartland. A very charming tea room that serves on vintage and antique dishes. I went with a group of eleven ladies from my work for a late lunch/girl's day out.

The main floor is set up in three separate dining areas. Each table is set with a linen tablecloth and linen napkins, real silver, vintage silverware, and vintage/antique stemware for water glasses. It looks very inviting when you first walk in.

 

The tea menu is HUGE!! Every kind of tea you can imagine is on their menu. I ordered a pot of vanilla pear, and it was delicious!! Very mild, and very good! Everyone at my table (there were 4 of us) got a different flavor for their pot. I wish we would have thought to share and try a little of each!! The food menu is drastically smaller than the tea menu, but the food is very well done and delicious! I ordered the chicken salad.

Everyone's first course comes on a red glass plate. It's a tiny loaf of pumpkin bread with a pretty little dollop of butter and a little bit of fruit. It is served with your own little white teapot that sits on a base with a tea light candle to keep the tea warm while you are eating. The second course is either soup or salad. I ordered the salad. It had cranberries and walnuts with a vinaigrette dressing.

I forgot to take a picture of the chicken salad. It was wonderful!! Little pieces of granny Smith apples, with a few pecans, a couple chunks of pineapple and a strawberry cut in half. Very fresh and not loaded down with a ton of mayo-just perfect!!

The whole upstairs is filled with vintage and antique glassware, clothes, hats, jewelry and linens. What a fun place!! I blogged about this place three years ago when my boss took me there for my birthday, and it's just as charming and fun as it was then! Since she still had St. Patrick's Day stuff on some of the tables, she offered us 50% off anything green from the antique shop upstairs.

I found a few hankies that I couldn't live without, and she gave me an extra 20% off! You know I need more hankies-right!?!

I even got a Michigan hanky!!!

 After saying good-bye to everyone, I headed for home, and on the way, I made a little pit-stop at The Bird Cage Antique Shop. I made a quick zip around, but couldn't find anything I couldn't live without. It was really crowded in there. I'm glad more and more people are finding it! It looks like a few dealers have moved out recently, I'm anxious to see what new dealers bring to the shop when they fill in the empty booths!

I made a quick stop at home and both my younger guys decided they wanted to go with me to a couple of stores, so off we went. I bought a few more things that I planned on buying, but that's the way it goes when they tag along. One of their reasons for going, besides getting mom to buy more food, was to get  my opinion on a sectional couch that my oldest wanted to buy. He had priced them out at three different shops, and settled on one and wanted my opinion.

Ultimately it is up to him how he spends his money-he's an adult. It was a nice looking couch and seemed sturdy. I asked a worker if they had it in stock, or if we got the floor model. He assured me they had more in stock. We left, because he needed to think about it for a little while and decide if he really wanted to spend the money.

After pizza and a couple of hours to ponder, he decided he needed that couch, so he and his younger brother, took my car and the youngest's mini van and went to bring it home. They were gone for quite a long time, and when they got home, my youngest was pretty shook up. It seems while they were loading the couch pieces into the vehicles, a police car started slowly circling them. Then it pulled up and the officer asked my youngest for his ID. They both were worried that he might have thought they were stealing the couch because it was taking a long time to get it into the vehicles.

It was actually a case of mistaken identity. The police were looking for a scrawny guy dressed all in black with a scraggly beard. My youngest is 6'5" and could never be described as "scrawny". He has been growing his beard out for several months-much to my dislike. I don't mind a thin, stubbly beard on him, but when it gets long, it is really curly and makes him look much older than his 20 years. I guess his brush with mistaken identity kind of scared him, because once they got the couch in the basement, he went right into the bathroom and let me (since I've been begging him for months to shave it, and threatening to sneak in his room at night to shave it) shave it off.

 Older brothers are great for photo bombing!

 My hands were shaking, I was so excited to shave this off his handsome face!!

 I couldn't believe how light, fluffy and soft it was!

During all the laughs and beard shaving last night, I got a text from my junkin buddy Auntie from Kitschy Vintage, asking if I got her email. She was asking if I'd be interested in going with her to the giant garage sale/flea market at the Monroe County Fairgrounds (today). When I saw free parking and free admission, I was ready to go!!

It was housed in two buildings and was well worth the drive! We only brought one giant shopping bag each and really should have had more, but it was hard to plan because we'd never been to this sale before. Next year, we will be better prepared! We probably could have used a granny cart because we had to stop a couple of times on the way to the car to shift and adjust our bags to make them more comfortable to carry. Auntie even bought a second bag at one of the booths to help distribute the load.

There was LOTS of vintage, and lots of great prices! I picked up a little vintage, turquoise, plastic creamer for Auntie to sell in her Etsy shop for a dime! Some dealers had really high prices and wouldn't negotiate, but for the most part, prices were negotiable.

 So, do you see the purple plates???

 Yep! Lilac Fiesta!! Other great finds--turquoise and white diamonds mug and the best bargain-a true opal Pyrex 401 mixing bowl for $1!!

 I got an even better deal on the quilt top-it's completely hand stitched too!!

 I got two of these rusty baskets and one went to Auntie.

Love, love, love this cast iron mirror!! What a deal too!!

So this weekend has been time well spent indeed!! Hope you are having a great weekend!!

A Happy Ending!!

What is the lowest amount that you lost out on an online auction item? Last week I was bidding on something that I've been trying to get for more than ten years. It was my most elusive piece of P86 Fiesta. It was introduced in 1998 and discontinued in 1999, and there was only one color that I was wanting to find. The problem? I've been watching them sell for around $125-$200, and there is no way that I could ever pay that much money to buy one-ever!

So, for years and years, I've been searching and searching, and I've seen many sell for the big bucks. I was very excited when I saw one in an online auction that was very reasonable. I put my highest bid on it and left it alone. I've been so super busy the past few weeks, that I didn't even take the time to check on it.

I got a notification in the final seconds that I was outbid. I was sad, but knew I gave it my best price bid, so I couldn't feel too bad. I was just hoping to someday run across another one. When I had a minute to check, I found out that I lost it by a mere 13 cents!!! Ugh! Like salt in a wound!! I felt bad that I lost it, but 13 cents?!?!?

Oh well...or was it? I got a second chance offer from the seller! Talk about heart pounding!! The original buyer backed out, and it was mine if I wanted it-for my price-13 cents less than the first buyer's top bid-YIPPEE!!

It arrived today in a ginormous box, with a billion little packing peanuts and tons of bubble wrap-another seller who knows how to ship glass-yay!!! Sellers who know how to safely ship (IMO) glass are becoming few and far between.

Still doing a happy dance!!! I think that is my last piece of  P86-for collecting purposes. I would like to get another medium plum vase to replace one that one of my guys cracked, but as long as I don't put water in it, it's fine. So, I won't really be chomping at the bit to get another one. I really like the heart bowls, but I just cannot start another collection!!!

Not What I Expected!

Today, I wanted to share a little secret, that we just recently found out about. It came from one of my husband's co workers, who lives is Toledo. I've lived in Michigan my whole life (except for a couple of years when I first got married, when my husband was stationed in California while he was in the Navy). I never even knew this place existed! I'm very glad he told Mr. about it. Funny that it came from a guy living in Toledo, and not any of my Michigan friends. Maybe not enough people know about it-so that's why I'm sharing!

What is it you ask? It is a place that will change how you shop for jewelry. It's in Southfield, and it's inside the Advance Office Building. It is very unassuming from the outside. It looks just like an office building-I even thought we might be in the wrong place! It had nothing, that I saw. that would make you think you could buy jewelry there.

When you first walk in, you see a couple of boutiques and in the middle of everything is a security guard desk and wall signs with business names and floor/suite numbers. Kind of like what you'd see if you were in a mall looking for a specific store. There were somewhere between 10 and 15 jewelry shops on the third floor. All the jewelry shops are on the same floor.

It was kind of weird. It almost felt like we were doing something wrong. Some of the places were brightly lit, and looked just like a jewelry store you'd see in the mall. some were just little hole in the wall kind of places. We walked through about half of the stores before we found one that had exactly what I was looking for, and the price was amazing!!!

This whole quest began a couple of years ago, for our 25th wedding anniversary, when Mr. bought me a ring at a local jewelry store. He told me he knew it wasn't what I was wanting, but he was afraid if he didn't buy something, I'd just say I didn't need a ring and I'd never get one. He figured if he bought something, I'd have to take it back and get what I really wanted.

We took it back, and I told the sales person that I wanted a three stone ring, in white gold, with a plain band. They didn't have anything in the store remotely close to what I was looking for. She brought out catalog after catalog of rings for me to look at, but none of them had the simple ring I was wanting. She even ordered a couple of rings in for me to look at that were way to ornate and nothing like what I was telling her I wanted.

Since he bought the initial ring there, we felt trapped into buying a ring from them, even though they couldn't get what we wanted. They finally told us that in order to get what I wanted, I'd have to have it custom made. You know what custom made in the jewelry business means, right? Custom prices!!

I just couldn't get enthused about spending so much money for a custom-made ring when I knew there were places out there that had that type of ring in stock, already made and ready to go. After about six months of going back and forth, I finally just asked for a refund.I could tell that they didn't want to do it, but they also knew they couldn't provide what I wanted.

We've looked on and off for the past couple of years, but not too seriously, because of our experience at our local jewelry store. I didn't want another sales person promising me they could get what I wanted and spend six months with them trying to sell me everything but the ring I wanted.

Our journey came to an end on Friday. I got a beautiful three stone ring, and a band to go with it. I still can't stop looking at it! The sales person in the shop told us that they can keep their prices lower because they don't have the millions of dollars of over-head that many other shops have. They have office space rent vs mall rent, and they don't spend money on advertising or fancy displays.

I wasn't expecting to go ring shopping that day. We actually started off going to Harbor Freight in Flint, so I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a hoodie. So, some of the places seemed to act like we were not going to be able to afford what I was asking for. I guess they were judging us by our cover (clothes). One place was super high, and trying to sell us the moon. One place was reasonable, and could have what I wanted within ten days. Other places didn't have anything similar, but did offer to order something in. The place we bought from, was what you'd expect from a great shopping experience.

So, if you live in Michigan, and are looking for jewelry, not just rings, take the time to make a trip to Southfield to the Advance Building. You won't regret it! By the way, the ring we bought, was about a third of the cost of the "custom" ring at our local store, so yeah, it's worth driving a little bit for prices like that. I could tell you the name of the shop we bought from, but I think it would be better for everyone to wander through the shops just like we did, and get the best piece and the best price for whatever it is you are looking for.

The weather is finally warming up, so hopefully next week there will be some sales, and  I'll be sharing some fun vintage finds!!

Have a great week friends!!

Harbor Freight, Menard's, Antiques, Oh My!

Today was a very full day!! Mr. wanted to go to Harbor Freight, and Menard's. I was all for staying home and vegging out after my long day yesterday, but decided to go when he said he was heading to Westland, because that is very close to Livonia, and that is where a couple of fun antique shops are.

We have been going to the Menard's in Livonia for about a year now, and never bothered to look to see if there was a Harbor Frieght nearby. There is! It's only a few miles away. I decided to go inside Harbor Freight so I could take a look at their parts sorter/storage thing. I found it-in a box,needing to be put together, and Mr immediately slipped a 20% off coupon in my hand-SOLD! I also picked up a collapsible canvas car organizer, for keeping treasures from flying around in the back of my car. I wish I would have gotten two! Another time.

We also visited The Town Peddler Antique and Craft Mall, and Town and Country Antiques. I picked up a newer hat pin at the Town Peddler, but nothing at the other mall. Right in front of Menard's is a brand new Goodwill store. It's a beautiful store-only a couple vintage things-and they were really priced high! They had four Colonial Homestead plates for $49.99...I think that is even higher than Replacements.com.

Lots of Pyrex, Tupperware, and Corningware at Town Peddler! 

We had lunch across the street from Menard's at...yep...Culver's. We both joked and said, "We should move to Livonia!" Two nice antique malls, Harbor Freight (nearby), Menard's and Culvers-what more could we want!?! No, we're not moving-just joking around.

We stopped and got groceries on the way home. It wasn't very crowded for a Saturday, maybe everyone was out enjoying the above freezing for a change temperatures! I always check out the "reduced for quick sale" bakery racks because my guys love their sweets. I picked up some Paczki-like donuts (they were labeled Paczki), that looked like chocolate glazed-so I assumed they were creme filled...wrong! Apple filled-blech! That doesn't even sound good to me! I guess the guys don't care-the box is more than half empty already!

While Mr. went and played his volleyball match, I stayed home and made a new to me recipe for meatloaf (it was yummy), as well as Peanut Butter Cookie Lasagna...it's "resting" in the fridge until tomorrow's dinner. It was very easy to make, and if it tastes as good as it looks, I think I'll be making it again.

I forgot to drizzle the top with peanut butter...it's all inside...I'm sure it will still be tasty!

Tomorrow is the day for vegging out. Church in the morning, relaxing the rest of the day.

My treasures today:

Just need the 404 and the set will be complete!

Not old at all, but I liked the look of it and the bright colors. 

 If and when we ever get around to re-doing the kitchen, I think I like these cabinets. A little bit rustic, with glass for displaying treasures!

Hope you have a great-rest-of-the-weekend!!!

A Trip to Remus...

My Uncle lives in the Canadian Lakes area, on a really nice fishing lake-it's perfect for him, because he eats, breathes, and sleeps fishing. He doesn't do much fishing in the winter, but he does a LOT of volunteering. He has been volunteering at a local thrift store/food pantry for about 7 years or so now called God's Helping Hands. He "works" there two days a week, and he does taxes for free for low-income people two days a week during tax season.

He keeps asking me to come visit the thrift store to see if I can find any treasures-which would help the store and me at the same time. Today was the day. It's a little over 2 hours away, so it's not a trip I can make every week. The store is only open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am-noon. I got there about 10:45 and I was really shocked to see a packed parking lot. It seems like it is out in the middle of nowhere, but people flock to it.

There are 3 paid staff members and what looked to me like about 15-20 volunteers. I was made to feel very welcome, the minute I walked in, and was given a cart to help me load up on treasures. I skipped the clothes and headed right for the housewares.

My uncle sent me emails last week telling me they were over-loaded on dishes and glassware and it would be a perfect time for me to visit. The housewares section was very bare. I was expecting to find over-flowing shelves and things stacked on the floor, from his email description. I brought lots of cash because I was expecting to buy a ton of vintage dinner plates for my friend Bonnie and her barn wedding reception business.

My uncle emailed me and told me that I should get there before 11am so that I would have time to go through everything. I chuckle now when I think about it...I went through the whole place 3 or 4 times in 15 minutes! Once he caught up to me, he had me look at some of the more expensive stuff to see if there was anything I'd be interested in. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything on those shelves that had to come home with me.

I did find a couple of vintage tablecloths for fifty cents each and three salad plates for Bonnie (all that they had) for thirty five cents. I made a little donation with my purchase, and then my uncle gave me the unofficial tour. I was impressed with their whole operation.They have a great little thrift store, with a wide variety of donated items for sale, and their food pantry looked like it was a very well-oiled machine.

Even the check-out area had three check-out stations with three cashiers and three baggers-one for each cashier, so that no one had to wait to check-out. After a little conversation on the process of the store and food pantry, we went into the town of Remus to a little diner for lunch. It was a great homey little place and the food was delicious.

After lunch, we walked next door to a little antique shop. with quirky hand written poster board signs stapled on the siding outside. It was jam-packed with tons of glassware, and a few other antiques. The prices were high, but the owner told us it was a special price day if we saw anything we liked to let him know and we'd get a good price.

We didn't find anything, and I had to laugh as we walked out and were crossing the street to our cars, my uncle said, "how does someone get so much stuff?" and "I'd hate to have to move all of that out of there, or even in for that matter!" Non-junk people, or non-collectors just can't comprehend! (wink)

He wrote out directions for me to their local Habitat for Humanity Store...he doesn't use a GPS, so it didn't even cross his mind that I could just use that for directions. He just learned how to text at lunch when I showed him!! I think he got the hang of it, because I got 4 texts on the way home and another after I got home!

I also stopped at a Goodwill, a Salvation Army and three antique shops. I had read a lot of Yelp reviews on one of the shops before I left home this morning, and for the most part they were all bad. Shoppers complaining about the owners telling them no large purses, backpacks or bags allowed in the store. I never carry a purse when I'm antiquing, I have a little wallet that fits really nicely in my front pocket, so I don't have to worry about my purse swinging and knocking something over, and I have two free hands to pick stuff up with.

I saw the signs when I walked in, and I had read all the Yelpers reviews, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Based on their reviews, I was expecting very rude and nasty workers. Instead, I was greeted very warmly, and was left alone to wander and look at and touch whatever I wanted-just like any other antique mall or shop I've ever been to.

I bought a couple of things and the husband wrapped while the wife rang me up. I was undecided on a Pyrex fridgie, and wandered over to get it, but when I got back to the counter, I noticed the color was dishwasher damaged. She very nicely pointed that out to me, and he pointed out to me that the lid of the jadeite dish I was buying had a little chip in the corner.

I was impressed with them being honest about the defects, even though I already knew about them, because I had looked the items over thoroughly before I decided to buy. I ended up putting back the dark brown fridgie, because even though it was pretty cheap, it was too DWD for me. I had a pleasant shopping experience there, and I plan to post a positive Yelp review.

It was a long day, but a nice sunshiney, blue sky kind of day (even if it was only between 8 and 20 degrees all day). A great day to be out and about.

Here are my treasures from today's trip.

Yes,the opened tablecloth has a tiny hole...I don't usually do holes...it was fifty cents...it was for charity. Everything pictured, Pyrex divided dish,Pyrex orange fridgie (great shape), two tablecloths and three plates=less than $20.

 There were signs inside that were hand-written too.My favorites were "No Profanity", and "Friend, have you prayed today?"

 This just about made me cry...what a waste of a gorgeous tablecloth!!! Why?!?!?!?

 Yes, that snowbank is almost as tall as my SUV. I'm so done with winter, snow and cold!!

I didn't even know Michigan had a St. Louis! This was only a mile or so off 127. I've driven within a mile of it for many years and never knew it existed.

I forgot to take a picture of the Yelper's hated mall. I would recommend it. They had good prices and a good selection, and I can understand the reason for not allowing big bags, backpacks or giant purses. I may never visit it again, because it's too far away, but if it were closer, I would definately go back.

While I was out, I got a couple of texts from a volleyball friend. Her team is in an all day tournament tomorrow, and one of their players backed out. I've subbed before and actually played on her team all last year. I couldn't play this year because of my surgery early in the season. I offered to play for a couple of hours, I just don't think my knees could hold up all day though. I'll find out early tomorrow morning if she needs me or not. The school where the tournament is, is only about a mile and a half from my house, so no big deal if she calls at the last minute.

On Sunday, we'll be saying good-bye to one of our pastor's who is taking over the head pastor position at a church in Pennsylvania. Busy weekend!!

Hope you have a great weekend!!

I Love Vintage Tablecloths!

 I thinned out my hoard collection of vintage tablecloths a few years ago, and sold quite a few of them in my booth while I had it. Since then, I can't seem to walk away when I find one-especially if it is a great price. My friends and family have given me several too.

I  had them in several places throughout the house-mostly in the sun room, and as the sun is starting to come out more and more, I was worried that they might be fading. So I spent a few hours this afternoon, sorting, folding, and relocating them to non-sunny areas of the house. I'm glad I decided to do it, even if it was a TON of work, because I found a few that have suffered because of the sun.

Now they are safely inside of cabinets that won't see any sun, but can still be enjoyed. I thinned them out again, and took out the ones that I'm not crazy about and will add them to the garage sale pile, for sometime early this summer.

This is the newest member of the hoard collection. I love the bright, vibrant colors!

Here are some Christmas tablecloths.

This is a piece of vintage Christmas material. I had it for sale in my booth, but decided to keep it. Now, I'm thinking I should probably sell it.

These are all newer.

These are all states and countries. Left to right--Alaska, Canada, Florida, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Bermuda and Germany. The Germany cloth was my paternal Grandmother's. I think it's from the 70's.

Embroidered dishtowels--these were all gifts from friends.

The animal shape potholders were less than a dollar for all three.

It was a LOT of work, but I'm so glad I did it-besides, with it so cold outside, it was a perfect day to do this!

Have a GREAT weekend!!!