Saturday, August 29, 2009

Update on Kelsey, my Golden Retriever

Look at this sweet old girl! Isn't she the cutest? 4 weeks ago she was stumbling around the backyard and couldn't see straight due to her stroke but now she is doing very well! She can even run after the tennis ball again! Do you see how her head is cocked in the picture? That's about the only symptom she still has from the stroke but the vet says even that will go away. :) I am so thankful that God answered my prayers and saw fit to heal her. Kelsey will be 14 in November.





Now that I've been working, it's been harder than ever to keep up with posting. My goal is to post to the blog at least once a week. Just so you know what keeps me busy during the week I thought maybe you'd like a tour of the thrift store I am now managing.





It's a small store so this won't take long....




Well...that about does it.



You can see that's its mostly clothing but we do get some nice housewares in, and occasionally some nice vintage items. All the profits from this shop go to support our local food pantry located in the same bldg. I had a couple with a baby come in today who said they had $4 and nothing else. They were put out of their home and unable to take their belongings (??? I don't ask questions...I'm just there to try and help...) So we were able to set them up with a few items for the kitchen (they just moved into a small trailer that someone loaned them...), bedroom and bath, some food and some fuel for the truck. God has been SOOOO good to me and my family that I can only try to do the same for others.



My two teenagers came to help me at the shop last week. I heard hysterical laughter coming from the "sorting" room where they were working and this is what I found:



The both of them in a very large pair of mens shorts that had been donated....My kids can find entertainment ANYWHERE!


On a side note....here are a few goodies picked up for a buck each at GW and a recent G-sale. Aren't the bunnies cute? The vintage napkins have never been opened. The candlestick is made of that translucent vaseline glass and the two creamers are like new, from "Two's Company."
How are the sales in your area...winding down like mine?

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Schoolhouse Flea Market

Pack Rats Thrift Store is housed in an old 3-story schoolhouse. I only had about 20 minutes so I didn't get to go through all the rooms! The place just recently opened but it looked like an army of elephants had already rummaged through it!

Each classroom held a different category. This room was housewares.

Look at this linen section. I'd need 20min just to look through this section alone.
Women's clothing. Check out those sunshiney windows. I couldn't help thinking about what it might have been like to be a student here long ago.


Some rooms still had their chalkboards and handwriting cards still up!

I wasn't here long enough to find any treasures but I intend to go back soon. I'll be sure to post more pics.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Thrift store & G-sale finds

Do you find that when life happens, it's hard to keep up with blogging?


Last weekend, a fellow homeschooling family lost their Daddy. We attended the funeral today. Such a sad time. He was only 33 and leaves behind a sweet wife and 3 kids. Please keep them in your prayers.


Also, this week we had a scare with our oldest Golden Retriever, Kelsey. (See sidebar addition). She had a stroke overnight and couldn't walk straight. She bumped into walls like a drunken sailor! I was beside myself! She stayed at the vet all day for testing but was able to come home. The vet said she would come out of it within 30days. That was 3 days ago and she has already improved to the point she can make the one step down to the patio from the house and her nystagmus (eye-bounce) has slowed considerably. God is good.


On a more happy note...I started my new job running a local Thrift Store! Too much fun! But it's also a lot of work! Here are some of my recent finds:



Pink sugar and creamer that match my pink dinnerware perfectly! Marked "1966" on the bottom. $1 for the set.




Crazy wall clock! I saw one just like it on ebay in it's original goldtone finish. Someone has painstakingly painted this one green with blue, yellow and pink flowers. It is now hanging in the cottage livingroom. My husband believes that the $2 tag was overpriced....



Two vintage rose flat sheets with scalloped edges $2. They are not the best quality so I will probably make them into curtains.



Green collander, .25. Vintage drinking glasses, .25 each. (Check out the doggies on the tall one!) Covered sugar, .10. Blue glass candy dish, .50.




You will either LOVE or HATE this item. I paid .75 for it at a garage sale and even when I bought it I thought..."What the heck am I DOING with this??" It is a printed fabric (18"x24"), kinda like bark cloth, that has been embellished with glitter and framed. WHAT? It is sooo crazy but it sparkles like the Hope Diamond so what's a Magpie, like me, to do? Plus all the glittered parts are in PINK, blue and green. I painted the frame from black to white. Click on the photo for a detailed view of it's audacity!



Here is a cute mock-quilt that my co-worker was going to toss out because of stains. I gave it a good washing and it is as good as new. Plus, it has all my pastel colors in it. Free.


These are the only 2 items I picked up on vacation in Colorado. The pretty box is from the Lang Co. by Susan A. Winget. The ceramic partridge will add nicely to my white bird collection.


It is vintage, made in Japan.




Here is a very fun find. It was a curbside attraction and I intend to replace the window and use it in the cottage in the bathroom or in the kitchen.



Door details.



Original door knob. They don't make 'em like that any more!
Hope you all have a nice weekend and keep cool. It's in the 90's here! Please also pray for our dear friends who lost their husband and father so suddenly. Don't forget to tell your family members EVERY day how much you love them!