Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

....let it STOP!

Second time shovelling today!  Hus did the first round.  But the shovelling is easier in Alberta compared to the North Coast of BC where the snow comes down sodding wet and heavy.  I am also sporting my new (yes, brand new for once!) Calvin Klein parka.  At least I got it on a 50% off sale.  I am thinking that I am going to need the hood once the temperature drops some more (its about -10 C today).  

The wintery, Christmas-y title of this post also suits some of my recent thrift finds:

Like this circa-1978 embroidered picture.  If I can't get cold chills from looking out my window, I can get them by looking at my wall!  Actually I think it is really well done and it goes well with our minty-green walls.  I think I paid 5 bucks.

Maybe I'll be in the kitchen with the blinds closed, and want a reminder of the snow...

....I only have to look at my circa-1980 table centrepiece!  Can you believe that all I need is an aluminum can to complete my snow friend?  That's my kind of crafting!

While I was scouring the Christmas wares at the Salvation Army, I also bought a few ornaments, 'cause I can't help myself.

There are quite a few pink balls in the box, although from the picture you can't tell them from the red ones.  I also liked these smaller ones.  

 

Pyrex Present

Our family often exchange used gifts.  When I opened the gift my parent's gave to me on Christmas Eve, I was happy to discover two individual-sized 'Forest Fancies' dishes!

I haven't used them yet, but I will.  I only have a small collection of pyrex and have never baked in it before!
Other kitchen goodies (new ones!) that we received for Christmas were: a heavy-duty pizza cutter, a recipe keeper binder, tea towel, filet knife, kitchen scissors, veggie scrubber, and cookbooks.  Thanks everyone!

Christmas Greetings!

Hello and Merry Christmas!


It has been a hectic few weeks with Christmas preparations, parties and the end of the semester.  We only got our Christmas tree up on Monday and I adorned it with all the garage sale and thrift store ornaments I found over the year.

We almost didn't get a tree at all. When we went to the tree lot (which is a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts) there were only 5 trees left.  At least that cut down on the decision-making!  We chose this one, and I think its spareness suits the mid-century glass ornaments.
I hope that you are all having as good a Christmas as we are.  I'll share some of the great gifts I received tomorrow.

Friday's Freebies: Assorted Box of Christmas Stuff

Last weekend, I ended up at a garage sale of a senior couple who were downsizing.  As I was looking over a table of their Christmas wares, they mentioned that the box underneath the table was free.

I saw several rolls of wrapping paper on top and spied a few Christmas cards under the garland, so I took the whole box.  I ended up with a lifetime of spare envelopes, assorted cards, and various paper ephemera. 

Cute Vintage Christmas Cards

bows, Christmas Card holder, jar toppers

This is just a sample of the Christmas cards in the box.  There were many more vintage cards, as well as a selection of newer cards.  The best thing the box contained, however, were these...

1970s stickers

These stickers brought back so many memories, as we also had them in our Christmas wrapping box when I was a little girl!  Every year I would come across them while wrapping modest gifts for my family.  


There were also tons of 70s birthday cards and cards for other occasions...

...and 12 cent stamps to send them!

And pastel-coloured 1980s cards....

For the most part, all of the cards were blank, but there were a few personalized cards. We live in a small town, so it didn't take long to identify the senior couple as the parents of one of Hus's co-workers.  So, next week Hus will return a 1977 graduation card, and a 1994 Christmas letter.

I will need to do a better sort through the box, and recycle some of the cards and envelopes (old envelopes have a habit of sealing shut as a result of moisture), but will try to use whats left.

Pre-Christmas Garage Sale Finds

I thought I'd better visit a few garage sales this weekend, before they were gone for the season.  Besides a few other things, there was a Christmas theme to my purchases.

Three Avon Spun Glass Ornaments....$1

two Christmas tins...10 cents each
Tennis balls....50 cents

I was inspired to buy the tennis balls by a tip my sister gave me last week.  Instead of taking down-filled duvets to the dry-cleaner, wash them in the washing machine, and add the tennis balls to fluff the duvets while in the dryer.  


I also found the same 1980s immersion blender that I had until last year!

 I paid $5 for it, but know from experience it is worth it.  We bought the same one for my mom in the early 80s, and I took it with me when I moved out.  So I know that it can last for 30 years.  Plus, it wasn't even the motor that burned out; the wand fell apart.  I think its longevity came from the fact that it was made in France, prior to planned obsolescence being common. 

Totally unused!  Now I can blend soups in the pot again!  I love how it is called the 'Robot Marie' I suppose this was a high tech name for the time.  Moulinex still sells it under that name.  The next time I am in a department store, I am going to check if it is still made in France.  


I also couldn't resist these decals for 5 cents.

They are reproductions.  I have no idea what to do with them, yet, but something may come to mind soon.


I also took home a huge free box of Christmas stuff.  Check back later this week to see what was in it.


I am linking to a bunch of other thrifty people at Her Library Adventure's Flea Market Finds.

Shiny Thrifts for Christmas and gift giving

I also purchased a few Christmas things on my three month hiatus from this blog.  

Four older christmas ornaments from an antique shop for .75 cents each, and some mini-bulbs in the original box.  Someone came by and also wanted his picture taken at the same time, so here is a gratuitous dog photo....

Anyway back to the mini-bulbs.  I bought these at the Salvation Army.  I have to admit, I bought them mostly for the box, with its three-colour silk screen, 60s (?) font and the whimsical winter scene, but at a quarter this could be justified.

I'm sure I'll use them somewhere.  

I also bought a few Anchor Hocking dishes that my sister over at Carpe Diem Acreage is collecting.  She's been a great help in adding to my Kathie Winkle collection, and I'm happy to return the favour.

These came from the same antique store and Sally Ann as my Christmas stuff.  I got the side plate for only .50 cents, which my Sis tells me is a good deal.  Too bad she'll have to wait until Thanksgiving for me to deliver it!