Sneaking in a few sales...

We finally got everything all set for Eric's party on Sunday. Thursday and Friday was fresh fruit and produce shopping day, and since I was up early, and the stores I needed to shop at weren't open until 10...I decided to slip in a few sales before I had to hang it up for the rest of the weekend. It was an absolutely gorgeous day both days-big puffy clouds, bright blue skies, and not too hot.

My parents arrived in the early evening, and we all went to bed early so we'd have plenty of energy for chopping veggies and fruit. Here is what I served at the party;
Cobb Salad-we made it
Fried Chicken-from Wal-mart
Bread Sticks-from Gus'
Greek Pasta Salad-we made it
Tuna Macaroni Salad-we made it--this is Eric's favorite!
Fruit Salad-we made it
Cupcakes-from a local grocery store
Death by Chocolate-we made it


Here is what I got at a few garage sales...

Here are some grad party shots...

Friday Finds...from Downtown Detroit!

Yesterday Auntie and I set off on another treasure seeking adventure. We went to downtown Detroit. Not to the areas that are being renewed...but to a kind of iffy area. There were some really beautiful homes that were taken care of, and right next door, there were homes that were burned out and boarded up.

It was a lot different from any other areas we have been to for estate sales. We live in the suburbs, about an hour west of Detroit. In our neck of the woods, the houses aren't so close together and we don't have whole rows of abandoned and/or burned out houses near us.

We decided that we would check out the neighborhood where the sale was, and if it didn't look safe, we would just keep on driving and head back toward home. It ended up being fine, and we did stop. I'm glad we did!! We got to go into a home that in its younger years, I'm sure, would have been quite a beauty! It had been let go, and needed some work to freshen it up.

It wasn't in such bad shape that it should be torn down. It was just worn down and tired. The plaster walls were cracked all over and needed repairs, the floors needed attention and the kitchen needed updates. Overall, if someone was willing to put in some sweat equity-they will have a beautiful home. I really loved the cove ceilings, the solid wood original doors with crystal knobs. The fireplace was pretty awesome too-with the original woodwork.

I think I have enjoyed going in to these older homes and seeing all the original workmanship, as much as I have enjoyed the treasure hunt-it all makes the experience special. Sometimes I wish the walls could talk-and share their stories of the history of the people who lived there once upon a time. I also wish I would have snapped a few pictures of the inside.

We stopped at a couple of other sales on the way toward home, and our final stop was Knightsbridge Antique Mall in Northville. We both LOVE this place-and since they were having a 15%-50% off sale...we just had to work it into our itinerary.

These are the treasures I came home with:

A set of 3 Glassbake individual casserole dishes for $1 each. They were very filthy, I wasn't sure if they would clean up or not-I'm glad they did! Aren't they cheery?

 A Glassbake covered casserole dish, and a covered refrigerator dish-both in excellent condition-no chips or cracks.

I got these two ornaments at Knightsbridge-Auntie picked one up too.

I just LOVE this measuring cup/chopper-it was from the Detroit house.

The three larger glasses were from a sale in Dearborn Heights-all three for $2. Later that day, I saw one at the antique store for $5 for one!! The pink and green flowered glass is from a sale in Plymouth, and the two Swanky Swigs (YAY!!! I finally found some in my price range!!!) are from Knightsbridge. I also picked up an old umbrella for $1 for a co-worker who wants some for her antique umbrella stand, and some more knitting needles for my mom.

It was a beautiful day too-it got up to 69 degrees-can you believe it? I can remember when Kevin and I were dating and he was home on leave from the Navy (on his birthday-November 12) and it had snowed so much he couldn't get his car up the driveway at my parents house-he had to park on the road and walk up!!!

Checkin things off my summer wish list...

Remember last winter when I posted my treasure seeking wish list? Then again in the spring, I added another wish list... Well...I did pick up a few things from my lists, but now I've added some things to my lists!

These are the items I can check off my list:

A polka dot bowl set! Although, now I've started the hunt for a different set with different dots!

A vintage poinsettia tablecloth. I actually got 3 this summer, all for right around $1 each!

Chartreuse Fiesta bulb candle holders.

Chartreuse Fiesta Millennium II vase.

Chartreuse Fiesta 15" Pizza Tray.

Vintage Fiesta relish tray with inserts.

 #4 and #1 in a series of 7 vintage Fiesta mixing bowls.

 #403 out of a series of 4 pink Pyrex mixing bowls.They weren't originally on my list, but I'm glad they are now!

#401 out of a series of 4 aqua or turquoise Pyrex mixing bowls.

Plum Fiesta small fluted vase.

Bright vintage tablecloths-there are more than these now, I just don't have a newer photo.

Vintage Christmas ornaments.

I think I did pretty well this summer! I took a HUGE chunk out of my summer wish list, and I had an absolute blast doing it! 

I think I am already starting to go through withdrawals from the lack of garage sales and estate sales, and I am sooo not ready to pay antique shop prices! I've gotten used to the great bargain prices I've found this summer.

Now, I need to search for the rest of the Fiesta mixing bowls (I'd like them in the new design too, but in all different colors),pink and aqua Pyrex bowls, as well as the polka dot bowls to complete all of the sets.

How did you do this summer hunting for the treasures on your wish list?

Ribbett...ribbett...ribbett

Today was pretty much a frog of a day as far as sales go. Everything else, was pretty awesome-great weather (mid 70's, low humidity, beautiful blue skies, big puffy clouds), hanging out with Eric-that was the best part! The sales...eh-not so much. Everything we bought we got at 3 sales.

On paper, it looked like it was a gold mine of estate sales and garage sales offering plenty antiques and vintage goodies. My heart did a little pitter patter when one ad actually listed "vintage collectibles". When we got there...there was enough stuff to fit on one small card table-spread out on 3 long 6' tables and it was more like 80's stuff with a 70's couch-bleh!

Eric was thrilled that there was a barn sale offering antiques and barn related items. Unfortunately, at that sale they had some really nice stuff, but it was priced wayy higher than any of our dozens of local antique stores.

We did a marathon route and went to 16 sales today. Started at the farthest place out and working our way back home. We were never more than 20 miles from home at any given time-mostly within 10 miles. The first one was an estate sale in a real rural area that offered "105 years of accumulation".

It was pretty creepy. The dealers were set up outside in front of the garage. We were the only shoppers for the first 10 minutes-the only ones in the house that was full to the brim with all kinds of stuff! It seemed like a first day and not the second day that it was. Things were 25% off today going to 50% off tomorrow. I saw some really cool old windows and shutters that I am pondering a return trip for the 50% off price.

One sale looked like the house just had enough and threw up in the yard-literally! There was so much junk-starting about 40 feet from the house and the end of the driveway running all the way up to the house and throughout the garage. It was overwhelming and a mess of very high priced junk.

 There was more stuff to the left that went out another 10 or so feet.

The main thing I was searching for...swanky swigs. Did I find any? Not one! Why is it, once I make up my mind that I'd like to get something-I never see it again, but when I'm not interested...they are EVERYWHERE?!?! Have you ever had that happen? What are you looking for and can't find? Maybe we should trade lists...I'll look for your treasures and you could look for swanky swigs for me! :)

This is what we came home with today...

 An old lawn darts (jarts) set.

 A fall tablecloth.

An old tablecloth-probably the most stained one I've gotten so far-I'm counting on the Biz!

A flattened bottle-I plan to use it as a spoon rest by the stove.

A blue pitcher-fifty cents.

An old jar with bunnies and ducks.

Some old ornaments, and one not so old ornament, fifty cents for the box.

At the sale where I bought the fall tablecloth, it was a young couple and they were holding an estate sale in their own home-selling everything in the lower level-including all the dishes and furniture-kids movies, toys, etc. I keep thinking about that sale, it was kind of sad...they said they were "downsizing".