Thrift Shopping

Hi! The other day my friend B braved the hot highways and drove down to visit me for a day of thrift shopping. We always have so much fun! We went to the big shop that moved ''far'' away. If we visit a few more times I think I'll be able to find it by myself, on a quiet winter day. We took an easier road---only got lost twice,lol. Pickings were excellent.
Interesting items---
a made in Republic of China copy of a Singer Featherweight sewing machine. It was made of tin and quite garish. Parts were missing too. $34.99. No.

Tie selection for a guy who asked me to look for good ties. LOL the mushroom one on the right was a designer tie, never worn. No.

I also passed up a vintage peanut dispenser, an idea for friend who repurposes oddball machines. But---No.

We found other very good stuff. B always finds clothes, so she was very pleased. 

I found treasures [my total bill was under 20.oo]:

A lidded Nantucket basket. Probably a Chinese repro, so I won't mind lining it to turn it into a sewing box.

It is very nicely made, though. And even still has the leather loop and bone slide that form the latch.

A red Staffordshire plate. I never turn these down, though later I was disappointed that it does have a chip.
Pre 1900. English.

A small candlestick to be the base of a velvet fruit pincushion. [with beach rock]

Fabric in the form of skirts. I loved this olive-gold tweed. It is 60% wool, so it may felt okay?

And this rather adorable cotton skirt.

It doesn't fit me, as it is a size 4, but I bought it for the retro-y fabric. Either for my French fabrics quilt / throw and /or for---what else, lavender pillow sachets.

Cute little earrings. I've been losing earrings often lately, so the price is right. Amethyst for Fall? And the ruby and diamond tiny hearts look like real gold! I haven't gotten them under the giant looking glass to see if they're marked,. You just know I'd never pass up little ruby hearts.

Then I found this neat rough seaglass-like vase or candle holder. It was a gift to my friends who babysat Mo while B and I enjoyed a peaceful dinner on the deck.

We made a quick stop at a roadside flower stand. I need a new pot f blooms for my front door step. Yikes, the prices.

Dinner was so nice. It was a hot still evening but quite dry, so it was comfortable to sit outside. We got home around 6, after checking out a new small shop [closed] for future visits.

I quickly broke out the crisp white wine! Aaah. Cheap but Delicious. You should have seen me trying to insert the corkscrew into what I discovered was a metal screw top. I guess screw tops are good for picnic wines?

I had another wine for us to try too. It was awful, went right down the drain. A Barefoot Vineyards moscato, eeew. Sugar syrup.  [sorry, Barefoot. I love your other wines.]

I set out one of my antipasto platters because we were starved after all that hard work of thrifting.
Rolled salami and mozzarella; brie with pear paste, French mini baguette, and marinated chevre / goat cheese. (Make the day before. Log of chevre, smushed into a lidded container.* I like the kind with herbs on the outside-- fines herbes. Add whole garlic cloves, black pepper and fresh herbs, in this case black basil for my deck pot. Fresh tarragon or sage is lovely too. Pour on good olive oil. Serve room temp with bread or crackers.) *These Weck canning jars are perfect.

Dinner was my fave salad: butter lettuce with bleu cheese and dried cranberries, basic vinaigrette, a bit sweet [add sugar or Splenda].

And "Pasta with Mushrooms'' recipe here I used brown cremini mushrooms and XL-steak cut Portobella slices, cut into pieces. I subbed a large handful or two of baby Italian arugula for the parsley in the recipe. I'm not fond of large quantities of parsley except in tabbouleh.

Lovey fast pasta dish, delicious!

Dessert:

homemade sugar cookies. Raw sugar on the tops. Thin and crispy, yum.

Vanilla gelato topped with mixed berries--blue and straw---combined with a glug of peach Grand Marnier and tiny chocolate chips.

 I love these square bowls! B found them on her last visit but she didn't buy them because she said they would not be useful!?! Wrong-wrong-wrong. We use them all the time for yogurt and granola breakfasts, and they were perfect for this dessert.

The sun set over the ocean and I sadly had to wave B off on the road home. I wish she lived closer.

A thrifting footnote: My other best friend L was a good sport and went with me to this new thrift shop in town! It's only been open for maybe 6 months? What a mess. My fingers were itching to do some tidying. But maybe it's worth a peek in now and then.

OMG, the mess

Now it's just about the hottest muggy-est day of the year so far. Mo has to stay indoors and I've been keeping him company for awhile.  He 's napping in front of the AC, he won't miss me when I leave, so I'm off to the beach for my swim.

Have a wonderful evening! Be cool.

''mommy left me at the babysitter. alone!''

love

lizzy 

gone to the beach

last Sunday: beach crowds!