Weekend Adventures

Last Friday, I took off on an adventure to Saline, Michigan. My main destination was Baker's Nook. A friend from work makes amazing candy and chocolate covered cherries at Christmas time, and I wanted to try my hand at the chocolate covered cherries. I could have ordered the molds online, but would have had to pay shipping, and wouldn't have had a reason to explore a new area.

I stopped at a few thrift stores and an antique store on the way to Baker's Nook-which by the way, is an amazing shop!!! Not only do they sell everything you can imagine for baking and candy making, they are also a bakery (I think just wedding cakes and specialty cakes), so as soon as I stepped out of the car, I was enveloped in a dreamy baking cake smell-YUM!!!

I took my time and wandered around the shop for a while, not wanting to miss anything. The workers were really friendly and very helpful. I will definitely be going back!! Actually, I need to go back, because the chocolate covered cherry molds I bought are too small. I picked the small size, thinking the large would be too much chocolate.The small size isn't big enough for the chocolate, cherry and fondant-oops!

I found a few things at the Saline Goodwill store that I couldn't live without and a few more things at a big resale store called Nu 2 U. Both places are places I plan to return to some day when I'm back in the area. I enjoyed visiting both places.

I stopped at Treasure Mart in Ann Arbor on the way home. It was PACKED with people!! I've never seen so many people in there at one time! They had a bunch of Pyrex, Jadeite and even a few pieces of Fiesta, but nothing that I didn't already have.

On Thursday of this week, when I arrived at work, I saw a giant pink gift bag on my desk. Inside was a really sweet thank you note and 4 vintage dish towels and a vintage Arizona state tablecloth. It was a thank you present from some friends from church that I helped with setting up an estate sale for their dad.

On Friday, I set out for Novi with my youngest son. Our destination was One World Market-a Japanese grocery store. My oldest son got a rice cooker at Christmas and he and my youngest have been making sushi like crazy, so we wanted to see what kind of sushi making supplies they had. We went up and down every aisle and ended up buying some nori (seaweed sheets), chopsticks, wasabi powder and a couple of tiny trays of fresh sushi.

After that we went to one of our favorite fast food places-Culver's in Wixom. For two purposes, one to get a great burger and two, to see how far along construction is coming on the new Menard's.

We made a quick trip to Knightsbridge while we were in the area. There was only one other couple in the whole store while we were there. I got a kick out of watching my youngest wander around and every once in a while I heard, "that's so cool!" when he found something that was new to him or interesting. Out of both of my boys, I'd say he's the one who has the junkin gene-it's just not fully developed yet, but one day-I bet he'll be scrounging estate sales on a regular basis.

This morning I went to an estate sale in my own town. It was by my favorite estate sale company, and the online pictures showed some things that piqued my interest. I've been going to their sales for years.They are always very well organized and the prices are very fair.

I was thinking with the single digit temperatures and snowy roads that there wouldn't be very many people crazy enough to go to the sale. Boy, was I wrong! I got number 28. They said on their website that they were only allowing 15 people at a time in the house since it was so small. so after I got my number, I went back to my car to sit in the warmth until the first wave went in.

After a while, I wandered into the garage since it was open separately from the house.It was too packed to see much, so I went to the front door to wait. There was NO ONE in line. I stood there for a while and another couple came up behind me.They were number 26. Shortly thereafter, the door opened and the guy said he could take two. I asked him what number he was on and he didn't have a chance to answer, because the #26 people said they were going in and went on in.

After they were in, people started coming from their cars. Their numbers started at 17 and went  up. They were not happy and tried to get in, but the guy manning the door wouldn't let them in. They asked him what number they were on, and he told them he wasn't going by numbers any more just whoever was in line. Some people left because they were so angry. So when he opened the door again I was first in line, but I felt bad because a lot of people were there before me and had lower numbers, so I asked him if he was going by numbers again or if it was first in line.

He took one look at the group of freezing, irritated people and decided to go by numbers again, Good choice! He looked new to me, I have not seen him at any of their estate sales before. I tried to explain to the upset people in line that this company is usually very organized and very fair, but I think it fell on deaf ears.

Someone was there early handing out street numbers, but this company doesn't honor street numbers-they use their own numbers. Some of the car sitters got street numbers, but didn't know they wouldn't be honored. They sat in their cars until just a minute before the door opened, and when they got the the line, they were very angry to learn their number didn't count. They grumbled in the line for a while, and weren't interested when I explained about street numbers. They got so upset they just walked away, and said they'd never shop a sale from this company again.

Eventually I made it in, but all the things I'd seen in the online pictures was already snatched up. It was an interesting house. Very narrow and steep stairways, and very small rooms. The basement ceiling was so low, I had to duck! The furnace was so huge, three adults could have held hands in a circle and probably wouldn't have been able to reach all the way around it.

I did find a few things, that I could have lived without, but they were really cheap, and I can always find a use or place for them, so I bought them and came home. I'm almost thawed out-two hours later,

Here are some pics of the last couple of weeks of adventures...

 I got this at Nu2U-we are going to use it for our TEAM ZOE shirts for this year's spina bifida walk. 

 A refrigerated reach-in at One World Market. Notice the quail eggs on the right?

 The vintage tablecloth has flattened and bent silverware hooks sewn onto it. It was used as a curtain. At least they didn't make any holes in the tablecloth!! I got the tablecloth and hooks for less than the price of what the tablecloth is worth! The scrapbook punch is for my mom for her stained glass projects. 

 A Thirty One storage basket. I know they cost more than $2 when you buy them from their website.

 I bought this at Knightsbridge...and found out my wish list spreadsheet wasn't totally up to date-I already have this size. It's in better shape than this pic shows-my phone is having focusing issues.

 The base to this looks to have never been used.

 Purple, pink and gray-vintage tablecloth in great shape!

 A stack of vintage dish towels from the thank you gift. 

Vintage Arizona tablecloth. I think I'm going to keep my eyes open and try to collect one for each state. I'm sure it will take a long, long time because I am really cheap, and these tend to go for a lot!

I'm home for the rest of the day-although the sunshine and blue skies is tempting me to head out for some fun...

What a difference a day makes!

I headed out this morning just as the sun was peeking out from the east. It was an amazing sunrise! All I had was my phone, so the pictures are awful-but I think you can see the gorgeous colors-even if it is blurry. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day-big change from yesterday's gloomy, soggy mess!

A little colder today too.

My trip today was to the south. Almost as many miles south as what I went north yesterday! The blue skies and bright sunshine in December were like a refreshing glass of iced tea in July-I Loved it!! I ended up going to two estate sales-run by the same company-nine miles apart! One was great, the other-eh-not so much.

I got to the first sale which had "(hoarder)" in the description about 10 minutes before it opened. It was very rural and there were about 40 people in line in front of me (no numbers). It was a ranch style house (not too big either) and I couldn't believe they let everyone in! There were probably about 15 or so people behind me too!

Everyone in front of me literally ran to the basement. I stopped and checked on a yellow vintage Fiesta vase in the living room-$85-wayyy too much for me, then I went to my favorite part of any estate sale...the KITCHEN! I found all kinds of treasures! The best one--a recipe box! With all kinds of hand written recipes! Why wouldn't her family want this? How sad! I'd give anything to have either of my grandmother's recipe boxes!! Even if the recipes were all nasty-I'd just like to have their handwriting.

Last year I came across a site that would screen print your loved one's recipe on a kitchen towel or apron, so you'd always have their recipe in their handwriting. I asked my mom for one of my grandma's recipes, but she didn't have time to look for it-I should ask her again...I hope she didn't throw them out-she isn't a saver-she's a tosser.

I found a really cool breadbox in the basement. Later, as I was checking out, a woman was asking the son of the guy running the sale about a breadbox, and did somebody take it upstairs for her because it was gone. He looked to be about 11 or 12 and had no clue as to what she was talking about. He said he thought his dad took it up.

 I bought it, but it didn't have her name on it, and she didn't pick it up from the spot where it was in the basement. I saw her looking at it (the same time I was looking at it) and heard her say she wanted it, so I left and explored the rest of the basement. When I made my second pass-it was still there and she was long gone-so I picked it up. I made a second pass through the whole house, then out to the garage to check out.

I've been feeling guilty ever since I bought it.She doesn't know who bought it, but I'm sure when she went to check out she was disappointed she didn't get it. I thought she changed her mind because it was still there-that is why I grabbed it. I'm wondering if I should have gone back and offered it to her. What do you think? I know when I've been at other sales and I've set something down and walked away -someone else has picked it up and bought it...it's just kind of the nature of an estate sale-right? What would you have done? She seemed like she was from the area, should I call the estate sale company and tell them I'd be willing to give it to her? My boys say no. They said she walked away-therefore it was fair game-the nature of an estate sale...what do you think??

I wouldn't have classified this sale as a hoarder sale-yeah, the woman had a lot of stuff, but no where near the level of hoarder. My grandma had way more stuff (before her house fire) than this lady had. I would probably classify it as a saver's sale.

Pictured above: 9 vintage Pyrex pieces, 2 small vintage Fiesta bowls, 2 large newer Fiesta baking bowls, 9 vintage dish towels, 1 vintage tablecloth, 2 vintage aprons, 6 vintage crocheted hot pads, a vintage-never used- giant yellow Tupperware bowl, a drink shaker, a fired-on turquoise small vase, a vintage glass and an ice bowl, and a vintage syrup pitcher. These are from all the places I stopped, not just the estate sale.

Since it was in the same town as one of my all time favorite antiquing areas, I planned my route so I could stop at a couple of antique stores. I was very sad and very disappointed to find out that the shop I got a lot of my newer Fiesta at has closed!! It was empty! It was called "The Place" and I never walked away empty handed when I visited this store-I am so bummed it is gone!!

I walked down a little further and went into a huge antique mall, but even that had changed. It was very empty-not like it was a year ago when I shopped there! I'm wondering if it too will go out of business. Two days in a row of seeing shops that have been around for a long time closed, is really sad. I wonder if they just decided it was easier to sell on Ebay and not have the over-head of a shop...

As I was making my way back home, I had to stop at a candle/antique shop (another favorite) and I found some great deals! They looked to be well stocked, and there was a steady stream of shoppers, so I am hoping it will still be there next year!

I also stopped at Treasure Mart in Ann Arbor. I like Treasure Mart a LOT, but parking is always an issue, and it is hit or miss as to whether or not I find anything I can't live without-about 50/50. Today, there was a spot in the tiny lot behind the store (score!), and I found 2 of the larger (newer) Fiesta baking bowls (another score!)! I wouldn't have seen them if one of the workers hadn't grabbed a pitcher I was looking at before she realized I was looking at it, for the front display window. I wandered over to look at her display and got very excited when I saw the bowls!!

Shhhh! Don't tell Kevin!!! More bowls have made their way into our house! ;) They are already washed and sitting on a shelf in the sun room-he will never know! ;)

See how nice they look with the two smaller prep bowls I got at the Fiesta tent sale!?!?

Tomorrow I'm staying home to run the vacuum and dust-in laws are coming Friday. No cooking though-decided to order pizza instead-whew!! Kevin's brother is bringing a green bean casserole-even though we are getting pizza-guess he loves green bean casserole! I'd be willing to bet he won't show up anyway-he has bailed more times than he's shown up in the last 5 or 6 years.

The boys are done house-sitting and are back home...along with a week's worth of dirty laundry, and back to eating everything in site! It's quiet right now-they both had to work at 3 ;-). I'm glad they are home, I missed them, but the quiet is nice too.

What are your plans for New Year's Eve? We usually keep it very low-key. Pajamas, snacks and movies! Hope you have a nice night, whatever you decide to do!

How Many Trips to the Car Can We Make??

It killed me to have to run to the car to drop stuff off today! I was sooo unprepared! I was afraid I'd miss out on other great deals while I was gone!

Our local high school was having its annual garage sale/flea market and I've been going since they started-but it was NEVER like this before!!! Most years I either spend only a couple bucks or nothing at all. Some years it has been all kid stuff and baby stuff. Not this year! YAY! This year, they advertised 70 vendors. I'm not sure there really was 70, but I do know that this year is the biggest its ever been!

As we were walking in, Kevin asked me why I didn't bring my cart, and I told him because I never really find anything here, but it always has potential, so I keep going. Boy do  I wish I had brought the cart! I'm sure Kevin does too, because he made a few trips to the car for me as well.

We filled the car! Here is a shot of what I got. Most of it will go in the booth, but I will keep a couple of things-any ideas on what I'll keep?

I bought the Fiesta the Egg Nog set, the hankies, runner and hankie box all at one booth. I went back 4 times because they were still unloading stuff. When I first walked up, all they had on their table was the Fiesta. I got the vintage Pyrex and the canister set at the one right next door, and the glass rolling pin and sifter was right across from that!

I've been wanting a wicker chaise forever! Auntie always sees me drooling over them when I see them, but I am never willing to pay the $100+ dollars that I see them for. This one was only $10! The hard part will be finding cushions for it! Now to just get the sun room done so we can use the chaise!

The blue Pyrex and the Meadow Green casseroles were in a box that said "Make Offers". I held one up and the lady said "How about a quarter each?" The fish decal is for Eric for the back of his new (old) truck. It was a quarter too.

The steel chair was my other big splurge. I walked away from it on my first trip around. I kept thinking about it and then I saw a giant white granny cart and thought I had remembered Auntie saying she wanted one-so I called her to see if she wanted me to buy it for her (she's out of town-otherwise, I'm sure she'd be with me!) and I asked about the chair too and she said it was a great price. So, I hemmed and hawed and thought about it, and thankfully it was still there when I went back!

It was a fun morning. Probably more for me than for Kevin. Now we are back to work on trim in the sun room, then cleaning up all the tools and mopping the floor and setting up our chairs! Hopefully in the next month we will have the built ins done and I can share some pictures!

I'm linking up to Blue Eyed Owl for Thrift Score Thursday! Stop by for a visit, and add your latest thrift score!

How is your weekend going? Did you find any great deals? I'm on my way to check out your blogs to see what you found! Can't wait to see!!!

This is turning out to be a busy weekend!

This morning, my friend Chicken's Auntie (or just Auntie) and I took off for the long awaited, highly anticipated Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festival at the Midland Fairgrounds. It's about an hour and a half drive, so it's not a trip we'd make every weekend, but twice a summer isn't a problem!

I was disappointed to see that they had raised the admission from $4 to $6. That is pushing it for me I think. If it goes up any higher, combined with gas prices...I probably won"t keep going every year.

There were still hundreds of vendors-maybe even the 1000 vendors that they promised, but most of them were dealers, with dealer prices. Not the great prices we have found in the past. A lot of items were just ridiculously high. I did manage to find a few things...but no where near as much as last year. There was Pyrex just about everywhere today and not much Fiesta

It got up to 86 steamy, hot, sweltering degrees in Midland today and we spent 99% of the day under the beating sun. We went into the buildings, but they were actually worse because there wasn't any breeze. It's been so long since we've had really warm weather here in Michigan, that I actually forgot how miserable you can get when you're dripping with sweat and totally worn out from walking for4 hours straight! It was 91 when we got home-ugh!

After a long cool shower and some clean, non-sweaty clothes, Kevin and I went out for our Anniversary dinner! 23 years ago today, we were two 20 year olds who thought we knew it all, and after all this time...we still don't know it all! With all of the exercise today, the warm sun, and a wonderful dinner...I'm feeling a little sleepy!

 Tomorrow is another treasure seeking day! Greenmead Summer Flea Market! They hold one at the beginning of summer, and one at the end. Last year was our first year and it was so much fun! Kevin and Eric went too, and Kevin loaded up on enamelware. He plans to stay home tomorrow-probably poolside. I'll try to take more pictures tomorrow, I didn't do such a good job of it today!

Here is what I got today...

Yeah, more kettle corn. I know, I just got some last Sunday, but shortly after I took the pic last week, one of the boys took off with the bag, and that was all she wrote-it was gone! I got a bunch of little swanky swigs, a stack of vintage kitchen towels, an ivory Fiesta grill plate and a tiny amethyst pitcher. I just missed out on a gorgeous white wicker chair that was only $18!!