Gone To The Beach

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Gale Warnings

Hello! And brrrr! November showed her Autumn ugly face, bringing a dark day of cold heavy rain and blustery winds. RED gale warnings have been appearing constantly on phone and screens, as the wind ratchets itself up to a tantrum. The wind makes it very cold, my bones hurt! Though just now, walking Mo, it was milder than expected as I waddled after him in sweaters and two layers of coats. [windchill 40* F]

It is pitch dark at 4.30 on a rainy day! Two weeks to earliest sunset, on December 7.

I am very grateful that I have Mo, my doggy, to be a friend and comfort during these holidays and dark winter months.

And always, of course! We'll share a laughable tongue in cheek Turkey TV dinner on Thursday. Might make my cornbread stuffing as I bought all the fixin's before I knew there'd be no holiday dinner shared. It keeps well! Turkey TV dinners were my mom's bribe for me and my brother to behave well when she and Daddy had a rare date night and we had the loathed babysitter come. We thought a frozen dinner such an exotic treat in a home where food was always made entirely from scratch, even pizza and donuts! And I'll think of them, the Thanksgivings together.

Below, my gift to you all, is a beautiful poem I came across on IG. Sharing it with you. I am so thankful for you, my internet friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

November by Kevin McManus

November, you old vagabond,

with your tattered coat of grey,

you stumble into every town,

with a chill that steals the day.

You bring the ghosts of yesterday,

in your satchel, heavy and worn,

and your songs, in shades of melancholy,

leave the heart a little torn.

The leaves, they tremble at your touch,

as if they fear your solemn rhyme,

and the trees, they stand like soldiers,

guarding secrets lost to time.

So, welcome, November,

with your sombre grace,

and the tales you have to tell,

in your poetry of solitude,

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Sunday, November 17, 2024

In and Out, Out and About

Hi everyone! It's mid-November already! Wow, time does fly. My fellow thrifter friend visited me a few weeks ago and instead of going to our usual places, she wanted to try something new. This friend shops for clothes, I thrift for fun---looking for collectibles, decorative items and shirts/ sheets/ textiles that add interest to my quilts and other project.

I'm a fan of markets like the little church fair, small, doable, great prices, lovely items---all proceeds for church and charity.

But winter hours are odd, and they don't sell clothes much.

Instead I had noticed this new-to-us shop when on the road trip to Joann's this summer. It got good, very good! reviews on my local FB group.

The store was huge! like two Costcos, a warehouse. Lots of clothes I did not begin to look at.

It was clean. The jewelry area was attractive. Shoppers looked poverty level and desperate, sadly. Prices were high.

As for the housewares---I feel a bit mean but I have to say---I have never seen such trash in my life. The crappiest flea market would be better; this was like what gets hauled to the landfill after a poor quality garage sale. Where does such plastic crap even come from, where was it sold?

This was what I found as ''possibles":

McCoy bowl, a fake or very new shoddy line. [note the rest of the stuff on the shelves, eeek!]

Thin pottery, tacky. [tho I admit lighter bowls are easier to use and wash, store, but still.]

Blue and white bowl, Japanese indigo ware/ modern. Really lovely. Quite large, about 8-10" diameter. I think it was $16.99. Similar can be found cheaper at Home Goods, though I was tempted. Picture it full of lemons or pears?

Note the design is seashells.

Pretty platter in a familiar, modern moderate line of china. Very expensive at $14,99

edit this is vintage-ish Nikko "Blue Peony" , platters like this are on eBay and Replacements for $20-40. But still no bargain.

I had hoped to find a resin or metal jackolantern for my downstairs entry. Mine got kicked and broken by a delivery guy. I don't put out a real jack bec of the squirrels, hoped to replace it. But no.

internet image

B found nothing either, the clothes were high priced and the massive rows crammed full were overwhelming. I did look at one child's cute but used puffer jacket---similar cheaper and cleaner at Old Navy. No bargains here! We went home to the beach and had Thai at our tiny, hole in the wall place we love. So glad they made it through Covid years.

...............

Back home I've transitioned to November decor.

And my marigolds are still so pretty and profuse.

Not sure about Christmas---tree decor, all that work. Meh. Hope I perk up and get over my Grinchy-ness soon. My brother is already starting his decorating and collecting!