don't ask me why

 Above:   Today's addition to the herd!  A nickel's worth from a thrift store!

 It joins the others....

 currently on a couple of shelves.

 Only a few are very significant (and those only slightly).

 The rest are simply for fun.

Don't ask me why!

 (And don't get me started on the subject of children's books!)

And here I am - Wednesday morning.  Ready for several outings in my go-to-jeans-and-jacket.

Everything, including the animal print scarf was a thrift store find.

(I WILL dry and comb out my hair before I leave the house.)

venturing beyond familiar

 Saturday, my husband and I ventured beyond "familiar" into our neighbor state - Ohio.

Thrifting and lunch was our agenda.

At one shop (Lima, OH), after we had selected clothes from the 75% off rack,

I was told we could have had 6 items for $1.00!

I was running out of time, so just took the 4 items I had for $1.00.

The Lee jeans above and the leopard print shirt at the bottom were two of them.

 At another store in another town (Delphos), I found these dishes for $.25 each.

 I'll use them in place of greeting cards--

maybe with a few brownies or cookies.

I found the jacket I'm modeling in the first photo at this shop, too.
I just love the "lines" on its back.
My husband came home with a pair of shoes and a couple of shirts, too.

It was both entertaining and productive to "Venture Beyond Familiar"!

Oh!  I almost forgot this white planter

which fits nicely with my collection

of white planters and ironstone.  Twenty-five cents, too.

is this better?

 You shamed me into it!

 I folded up my three corduroy skirts (black, olive green and burgundy),

- and, yes - that's how I store them...

Well, not on top of my jewelry box, but folded and on shelves....

and donned a pair of blue jeans.

Same black Tee, though.

"Is THIS better?"

I STILL say I'm as comfortable in my skirts as blue jeans.

Thanks for your comments.

It was interesting to read them

and to try and figure out why I'm so "different".

today at the croft*

My brown-checked tablecloth needed washed.  Instead of putting it back on,
I selected this faded paisley one.  I like it for a change!
(Yes.  I DID get my summer shoe wardrobe sorted, weeded out, and stored.)
And here I am today!
Yet another LBT with a different pair of jeans this time.

Note the unique, flared sleeves.

Not so convenient to work around the house in,

but funky and fun.

*croft = short for Gatescroft, the name we selected for our
house/home some time ago.   Do YOU have a name for YOUR house?

the deeper....the more

The DEEPER I dig (in my closet and drawers)

 the MORE I find that was waiting for me to get back-to-size!

This morning that means a pair of jeans & a blouse with flared sleeves

and happy pattern!  

Everything thrifted years ago!

Shoes included.

 And how about this sweetly decorated cigar box?!?

 Pretty OUTSIDE and INSIDE.

Found last Saturday at the $2/bag sale at the Church Rummage Sale.

These, too.  A set of 6.

North Carolina Thursday

I'm the one on the right - wearing my "travel" pants and an orange tee.  All thrifted.

What Should I Wear When I Travel?

One of the magazines I read while riding toward our southern destination had this page with instructions about what to wear when traveling...

I was happy to wear MY black jeans which were close to those recommended by a fashion editor.  I wore mine with a white blouse, slip-on black shoes, and a silver necklace & earrings.  It worked for me!

Before eating a late morning breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we stopped in to check out this thrift store in Sevierville, TN.  I found some small figures for a Christmas project my husband is working on.  We met friends at their golf course home and traveled south, eating a wonderful  late afternoon dinner (salmon!) at Stone Ridge Tavern near/in Asheville, N.C.

GRANDPARENTING STYLE

This is what I wore Friday when we went to pick up two of our grandchildren.

Grandparenting is what I'll be doing  for several days.  I may not be back until Tuesday!

Here's one of them.

Tuesday - Taxes and Toenails

Musical ensemble practice, a visit with a "shut-in" friend, completing our taxes, and completing a couple of loads of wash.  This is what I plan to do while wearing my freshly washed bluejeans, a feminine top, a brooch strung on a gold chain necklace, and open-toed shoes to show off my newly-polished toenails!

 

GET IT IN BLACK AND WHITE

I'm basically a "black and white" person - in fashion and in mindset.  

(That's not always good, I know.)

For today---fashion-wise--it actually turned out better than I expected. 

Uncluttered, crisp, clean.
All thrifted.

The Vest-Train Keeps on Rolling!

I bought these interesting black jeans yesterday for $1.00 (all ladies' slacks/jeans/sweaters were $1.00).  The legs are flared at the bottom; the fit is comfortable.




Accessories include a gold & silver belt and a short multi-chained necklace of gold and silver.



I couldn't pass up this unusual wire wall-hanging.  I wonder where it came from?!  I also bought a few vintage fabric pieces.  I will show them later. 

Today's Outfit

After downloading this picture, I changed my jacket for one without the fur collar.  It looks much better!  Note the leopard print belt matching the scarf...





I added some clip-on earrings that give a vintage touch to my outfit.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE

 That pretty well sums up my fashion style - Plain and Simple.  This sweater is another piece I purchased at the 1/2 price sale at the thrift store last Friday.  It is comfortable and warm.  (I just eyed it and didn't try it ion.  It looked smaller than it wears!  The sleeves are long, so I just rolled them up a couple of times....).

Having spent $.50 on the sweater, I can turn the thermostat down a degree or two in the house and save more on today's heating bill than I paid for the sweater!  My style is "thrifty" in more ways than one.

Today I need to sew a button on the cuff of the red blouse I wore yesterday.  I pinned it in desperation before church.  Note to self:  Be sure item is in good repair before hanging in the closet!






Plain and Simple.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

I haven't worn this top since I thrifted it.  After yesterday, I was yearning for a little color.  So I pulled out a pair of black denim jeans to pair with the green and white stripes.

I may throw a blue denim jacket over my shoulders later. We plan to meet our daughter and her family at a restaurant near Mishawaka, IN to celebrate her birthday this noon.  Restaurants are often too chilly for me!

Maybe a triple strand of pearls, too???

Note  The Smile!
AND I found a better way to light my pictures!
What a day!

LET THE BIRTHDAYS BEGIN!

Today begins one Big Week of Birthday Celebrations.  Today is our daughter's (we go to visit her tomorrow); tomorrow my mother's (we'll celebrate with her and my two sisters & their husbands this afternoon), and February 6th is my husband's.

This black stretch top with flared sleeves paired with my newly thrifted jeans (well, thrifted last week) are what I'll wear to the party today.

I know it's dark, but I feel most myself in this outfit.  I hope it doesn't say anything negative about my personality!

A fine gold chain necklace and gold earrings are the only accessories I'll wear.

FIT AT LAST

 

It was fantastic to find these jeans at a thrift store yesterday!  I have a shelf full of jeans in my closet - none of which fit well.  Too short, too long, too tight, too loose...I need to get rid of them and start over. These, however are perfect.  Just right for wearing as I run errands today.  A slight flare on the bottom makes them easy to get in and out of.  You can see the lace details on the neck of my T-shirt below.  I'm also wearing some brown tortoise shell bangle bracelets, a brown belt, and brown slip-on shoes. I'll add the wool jacket when I leave the house.