outdoor thrift

 If you've visited my other blogs recently, this one may seem a little repetitious...

 but we've been spending a lot of time in our yard this spring!

My husband (alerted by my sister) picked up some picket fencing

that was trashed in her addition.

 For "free" - with some elbow grease, paint and creativity - we beautified 

 several spots in our lawn.

 The fence was a perfect place to hang this rusty wreath.

made from old, rusty bed springs.

 My husband repaired and re-hung this old, wooden swing we found at a garage sale

 or auction many years ago.  It will be ready for our youngest grandchild who will

 visit us this weekend!

One of my favorite projects was finding the "perfect place"

to hang this mirror which had been laying around

waiting to be purposed.  This, I believe, is where it belongs!

I'm a strong proponent of Outdoor Thrift - as you can see.

mug shots

From left to right:  My husband's current morning coffee mug, mine, the one I purchased at a garage sale today for $.25, and one I like to look at but seldom use.

I'm kind of particular about my mugs.  The first feature I require is that the mug have a √ "lip" on it.  I don't know another way to describe the rim that I look for.  The mug to the far right doesn't have a "lip", so I just look at it and offer it to guests now and then.  A √  blue and white color scheme is a second desirable feature.  Lately, I've realized a √ white interior is preferable since when I'm pouring my coffee into a mug in the morning, it is sometimes difficult to judge the amount of coffee in it if the inside is a dark color.  For that reason, my current mug is about to be changed out for the one I purchased today.

 Speaking of "mugs"....

Do you have a favorite mug - or do you grab a different one every day?
What makes a mug "work" for you?

how sweet it is!

 I recruited one of my white pitchers to hold the sweet-smelling

 lily-of-the-valley plucked from one of our flower beds this morning.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm wearing my $1 (thrifted) "hot coffee" tee shirt 

and accessorizing with several brown bracelets (also thrifted).

 I'm wishing for an inexpensive record-player (an old fashioned one)

to play these vintage LPs...

 only a few of a stack of freebies I claimed from a curbside treasure trove!

How sweet it IS!

painting with "oops" paint

 SOOOOO excited to find "Oops" paint at one of our local hardware stores--

green to finish the potting bench, above...

and a great shade of blue for the vintage vanity table, below

After a second coat of paint and a little glass knob for the drawer, this will be darling!

By the way, "Oops" paint is what one of our local hardware stores labels paint that is returned -- for whatever reason not to a customer's liking. It is GREAT quality paint - sometimes strange colors but at a significantly lower price from its original. As my husband says, it's actually easier

 to pick from 3 shades of green "Oops" paint than the 40-50 shades or so of green 

on those little color strips!

speaking of several years....

 It's been awhile since I've photographed myself--

mainly because my new Smart Phone doesn't have a time delayed camera feature - 

at least none that I can figure out.

So I'm back to the old way.

This morning I wanted to show off the thrifted necklace I'm wearing.

After trying several shots of it, I decided that getting the green color

of the pendant to show properly is impossible with my equipment!

I'm wearing a favorite striped (thrifted) Ann Taylor top.

I've had it for several years and the colors never seem to fade!

Speaking of "several years"....

My husband has stored wood in his shed for several years.

A few days ago, he began to create a potting bench out of some of it.

I can't wait to see the final product!

Today I'll be rummanging around the garage to look for a few trim pieces

for him to apply before painting.

Stay tuned - and visit my Wonder-Working Man HERE.

stocking my (imaginary) shoppe

 Cleaning out a cupboard today,

 I ran across a small collection.

 

 Looking closely at these pieces, I understand why they caught my eye

in the thrift store a few years ago.

 I'm just not sure what to do with them.

In the past, I used to buy things as if I were stocking a shop.

(I think I would have called it a shoppe if it had ever materialized....)

Have YOU ever shopped for an imaginary shoppe????

aftermath

These two photos could be titled "Aftermath".

They show a little bit of what followed

a successful Ladies' Tea at our church last Saturday.

My tablecloths (above) were only a few of those incorporated in the table coverings.

And the snack trays & cups  (below) were what I loaned 

to help provide place settings for about 70 ladies.

Of course, all of these items were thrift store finds for me

so when I dropped a stack of the snack trays, I wasn't out too much $$$ when

four of them broke on our driveway...!

It isn't necessary to spend huge sums of money to set attractive tables

at home or for special events such as this was...

pairs

 All of these pairs in our yard were free or purchased in thrift stores

 or garage sales.

 Whether wood or rusted metal,

 red or blue,

pairs are EVERYWHERE

and pairs are FUN.

While odd numbers are usually a better way to go in decorating,

I broke the rules and photographed what caught my eye today.

How do YOU feel about pairs - inside or out?

thrifting in murphy

 A beautiful drive on this sunny day through the Natahala Gorge took us to Murphy N.C.

 While hubby golfed, I hit the thrift stores - and there were several.

 In the first one, I found the piece of pottery (above) which I adore for its "naive" quality, 

shape and size.  Lying in it are the earrings I bought.

They appear to have been locally made (there are many crafters & artisans in the area).

Just in side the entrance to another store, there was a huge bin of books

offered for 10 cents each.  It took me awhile, but I came up with these treasures.

Do I need one more book?  No!

But I couldn't leave THIS one (below) behind.

A vintage Golden Book in quite good condition!

Elsewhere in North Carolina, but a few days ago,

I found THESE....

 ...a needle-worked picture of a red-roofed, cozy cottage and another piece of pottery--

both of which fit small collections I have back home.

dollar day

 The white blouse (it'll be fine after a quick ironing)...

 and the "hot coffee" tee

were a dollar each at a thrift store outside Franklin, North Carolina...

  So was this pair of wide-legged, denim capri!

 I like the front pockets.  They fit "like a glove"!

I can't wait to wear them.

 I had to go with this bit of Seuss whimsy! 

It was W-A-Y less than a dollar.

vacation tools

Getting ready for vacation involves pulling out some essential that I've purchased very
inexpensively in thrift stores throughout the years.  No need spending big bucks on luggage
when vintage specimen can be found inexpensively!  The travel bag has served me well.  I currently use it to transport my computer, a few books, and hotel samples of shampoo and lotion as I gather them along the way.

Believe it or not, all the clothes I need for the 2 weeks are packed

in this white suitcase (which really ISN'T as dirty as it seems).

Back home in a high shelf in our closet, it has a "twin"--well almost a twin.

Sometimes one or the other or both hold out of season clothes.

Comfortable walking shoes are another travel "must".

After a day of travel, I see that these are going to serve me well!

  I'm ready to check out a few thrifts stores while my husband golfs this morning.

Though I've cut back significantly on purchases, it's a recreational activity that I enjoy.

 My journal is one of the books I pack (along with my Bible).
THIS time I forgot the scissors and tape that I usually bring along to
attach memorabilia as I go....

 and a jacket of some sort is always important to have.
This is one of a "collection" of denim jackets that I have acquired
thanks to thrift store shopping.  It's one of my favorites.

a retro week

A thrifted key chain in retro colors with my retro name!

 In the early 70's, I still answered to "Becky".

(When I turned 40, I switched to the full name I was given at birth--Rebecca.)

In the early 70's I was finishing college.

I don't believe there WAS such a thing as cassette tapes, 

but I had a wonderful, portable stereo in my dorm room.

Among my favorite LPs were these two--now showing up as cassette tapes
in one of My Favorite Thrift Stores for a quarter each!

They play beautifully on the small Emerson recorder I also found this week for $3.00.

It's been a VERY nostalgic week

 Did I say "it sold"?  I'm kind of sad.
I asked hubby to paint it a color I could work into our own home
if it didn't sell.
Well, it did.