Today's word, and a giveaway

I know, I used this photo earlier this week. I need it to illustrate today's word. Besides, you guys will pretty much tolerate anything once you see the word "giveaway," won't you?

Before we get to today's word, much less the giveaway, I need you to help me out. I'm starting a new collection. One that, for a change, won't cost anything or clutter up my house. It's my new collection of misspelled words that appear in yard sale and auction ads. When you find them, can you report in? If my local advertisements are any indication, I think we will have quite an impressive collection by the end of the season. On to today's word:

aphgan

You know, aphgan. That crocheted thing in the picture. Somebody was advertising one in their yard sale listing this week.  I chose it out of all the other misspellings I saw because of the effort that went into it. I mean, you could kinda understand how somebody might use an "f" instead of a "ph." But to use a "ph" instead of an "f" - that takes effort and deliberation. You can just see the furrowed eyebrows as the person bends over their work: "Hmmm, I know it's kind of a funny looking word, and there's an "h" in there somewhere" - and then the little light bulb fires off over their head, and they think they've nailed it. Aphgan.

Much as I like this word, it pales in comparison to my all-time favorite sale misspelling. Somebody was selling a Louie Baton bag. I really puzzled over this one. I thought they might be selling a long, skinny case for a majorette. And maybe Louie was a company well-known to majorettes. And then the little light bulb fired off over my head. Louis Vuitton. They were selling a Louis Vuitton bag.

OK, here's the giveaway. I'm coming up on my 100th post, and tradition dictates that I need to give something away to celebrate this. Which I'm happy to do. So I'm thinking of digging into my stash of vintage fabric and notions and putting together a pretty little package. Just leave a comment over the next week; I'll let you know when I'm closing it off. The package will be light, so I'm happy to send it to the UK or Australia or the Netherlands (hi, LiLi!) or wherever. It would be fabulous if your comment provided a misspelling for our dictionary, but it doesn't have to.

I leave you with my favorite misspelling of all time, which appeared not in an ad but at our local grocery store. The store wants us to use tongs instead of our hands to pick up bagels. But the sign over the bagels said: "Please use tongues to pick up bagels."

I leave you with that image as I head off to some sales and look for aphgans.

Comments

[Judy]

I was looking through our local paper this morning and saw in the 'For Sale' section that someone wanted to sell a "toddler wroght iron and wood bed with accessories for $80.00" Just thought you might appreciate that!

[Robin~Thrifty Miss Priss]

I'll keep my eyes out for the misspellings! I'd love to be entered into your vintage fabric giveaway! Love the colors on this aphgan!

[amy]

this post made me laugh out loud! i think one of my favorites was an ad in the paper selling a cadillac deville, but they spelled it devil. i don't think i would want that car!

[pasha plum]

Oh I can't think of any misspellings right now but I have to get in on this giveaway!

[Lili M.l]

Hahaha!! I did enjoy your post very much (feeling very famous now). Though I'm not a big help because the words that I see spelled wrong are dutch words. But I can play along in your give away, so this comment isn't totally wasted :-)
Congrats on your 100th post! Have a nice weekend hunting aphgans!

[Shara]

I see people selling "rot iron" furniture when it should be Wrought Iron. Drives me nuts!

[Stacy A]

What a fun post girl! I will keep my eye out for those misspelled words. I see them all the time. The tongue one is classic. So glad to get caught up with you. Have a great weekend!

[Jessica]

A few years ago the community center was offering children's classes on knit and croquet.

[susan]

haha!! that is good. i dare you to do it one of these days!!! i cant think of any misspellings yet but will keep an eye out for them.
congrats on the 100! and your little giveaway sounds scrumptious!!

[Vicki]

Years ago a sign in a chain store for "chick fashions" umm...did they mean chic fashions? I see SO MANY!!!! I'll have to start commiting them to memory...happy 100th!

[Stephanie]

Sign seen in a local yard: This property NOT for Sail.

The sign alway tickled me because I imagined the yard with a mast and sail floating down the road. I loved it and was sad when the sign finally fell apart.

ps my daughter is a horrible speller. I am always telling her something is misspelled. I'm not so good myself. It's in our jeans *grinning* I think.

[Lindsey and Twyla]

I love it! That's so funny. You would think in this day and age that person could have easily found out how afghan was spelled. Have you noticed a lot how people tend to put collectables instead of collectibles?!

[Linda]

Wish I had a quarter every time I see Little Tykes instead of Little Tikes (actually little tikes, according to the website).

[arizona]

I see misspellings all the time. Makes me nuts. Sometimes makes me laugh (or lauph...lol).

[vintagesue of VRS]

As a stringent super-secret-agent Grammar Policewoman, I'm sooooo psyched you are commenting on this. Can you now entice people to spell-check their blogs???

I'll be sending you things as they come in. And Lindsey/Twyla have my favorite pet peeve pegged!

[Pauline]

Well nothing I've seen recently in a yard sale but two years ago my daughter watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and then had to make a choc wrapper for school. Thankfully she made a practice one before she made the real wrapper for school and I was able to change her spelling - but I've kept her original "Wanka Bar" in a very safe place!

[Kerry]

I am a terible speela mysef, so probly over look many and not no it. But I get buy!!!!

Kerry

[Sue Cahill]

Thanks for the laugh, since I am a cronic misspeller I have probably provided some of those doosies in the past. Please throw my name in the hat for the gaveaway!

[Alli]

Oh my, I love those misspellings! Now I have a fabulously disturbing mental image of people retrieving bagels with their tongues, dutifully holding their hands behind their backs....

I'll definitely be on the lookout for some good misspellings for you.

[Ginger]

Please put my name in the hat too. I love the post on here big smile have a wonderful day !