A refreshing change of pace

 
For a change, I thought I wouldn't immediately assault your eyes with an overdose of Christmas. We all know that is coming soon enough. Instead, here are some pretty things that came, in this photo, from Saturday's estate sale.

 
I'm not big on figurines, but I snatched this one up right away.

 
Inside the top of the skirt is a pincushion.

 
And at the bottom of the skirt is a thread caddy. It's just about the cleverest thing ever.

 
The little crocheted bags (which have the most beautiful satin ribbon drawstrings) are endearing.

 
There also was a pile of cross-stitched quilt squares. I haven't had time to count them, but there are a bunch. In perfect shades of pink and green.

 
After going to the estate sale with Linda, I went to a sale she'd read about on Craigslist, but that she wasn't going to be able to get to. I headed into the countryside and got a little nervous when I passed the "Town of XXXX" sign. I don't want to mention the name of the town.

I will say, though, that in my newspaper days, one of my colleagues and I played a rollicking game we called "Guess the Dateline." In the late afternoon, when we didn't feel like writing, one of us would look through the stories that had been filed for particularly interesting police briefs - you know, the ones that involve stray gunshots, alcohol or exotic pets. (Sometimes all three. But almost always alcohol.) One person got to read the story out loud but not reveal its location, and the other person got to Guess the Dateline. It was uncanny how good we were at that. Anyway, Town of XXXX frequently was the winning Guess the Dateline answer.

So as to avoid a lot of unnecessary detail, I'll summarize the sale scene in the Town of XXXX as follows: pit bull, cigarettes, cussing. Undaunted, I ventured into the barn, where there were pretty linens, vintage clothes and Christmas ornaments. It did not fit at all. Anyway, even though I don't buy handkerchiefs any more, I did pick up a few (that photo was a way long time ago) that were too pretty to leave.

 
Or too monogrammed to leave.

 
I bought things I'd usually never buy, because they were quite affordable. Like a child's long cotton gown.

 
A camisole with its original tag.

 
Old bonnets.

 
The tag on the organza bonnet is too cute for words.

 
And a nice selection of skeleton keys, and that about takes care of my weekend adventures. Unless you want to hear about how I spent almost all day Sunday cleaning. But getting not so much as a shopping list together in preparation for Thursday. I did squeeze in some photographing of turkeys, however, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about my priorities. 

Comments

[Julie]

Oh wow B - LOVE the "sewing caddy" girl, that's a real prize - sweet. I can never find skeleton keys so I'm quite jealous....the Guess the Dateline game is hilarious (maybe I'll try it over the long weekend LOL). J

[Sarah]

You could come take some pictures for me.

I fear I may never blog again due to complete lack of photo taking motivation and time. Ugh.

[Jenny Sellars]

Sounds like your prorities are right in order!! lol!!

[Lavender Dreams]

I love that little baby gown! I try to find things like that for my dolls! Enjoy your week! ♥

[Lena]

What a pretty selection of things to be found there. It makes me wonder about the person it all belonged to. "W" had lovely taste, didn't she? I can imagine her distaste of cussing and drinking. I wonder where she found refuge from that life. Perhaps it all came after. I imagine her with lace curtains, geraniums growing at her windows, and sitting in an old rocking chair, while singing her baby to sleep. I hope her husband wasn't a carouser. She deserved better.
Oh my, the stories things can tell!

I love the striped crocheted bag. You are inspiring me greatly with the crocheted pin cushions and now with these little bags.

[Sharrieboberry]

Oh please, tell us about the Sunday cleaning. That's something that's never done here and I would love to hear what it is!

[Into Vintage]

I have to confess that the police briefs published in my local, small town paper make for some very entertaining reading. And although alcohol + gunshots (?!) figure prominently in many of the stories, there's always a dog-eats-chicken or something similar to jazz it up.

[Niina]

I want the caddy!!! Are you going to put it up in Etsy? How much would you ask for it plus shipping to Finland? I've been collecting pincushions for two years now and my most recent find was a brass monk. Please, e-mail me with details!

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

First, I must say that I love to read the police blotter! Especially if I find someone in there that I once knew, like an old boyfriend. Is that wrong of me to take pleasure in that? Anyway, lovely finds, and you are much braver than I, because I would have had to turn back after seeing that pit bull!