Recient Thrift Store Goodness... Alder style

I think I'm going to ban myself from the thrift stores for a while. We really don't need any more stuff but I always find things when I go.

Somedays you just need to get in the car and go

I should really be doing inventory right now but I just thought I would pause for a moment. We sort of took this morning off unannounced, town is dead right now and we needed a little relationship repair, not to mention specific cat food for Bancha. So we took a little trip to the "big city" (Albany) since that's the closest place that has his particular food. It ended up being a great trip, no arguments or stress-outs on either of our parts.

We have this habit of imagining moving places anytime we are stressed. It's a game we play 'well if this doesn't work in Bennington I can imagine moving to..." It can be a dangerous game but helpful as well, it puts things in our life into perspective, what is important to us and what we are missing from where we have lived in the past. Of course the logical outcome would to be disappointed when we come back to reality except with us it motivates us to work harder to do well here so that if we do realize five years from now this isn't where we want to be we have the freedom to think about other options.

But it is all a game, a way of talking about our life without talking about our life.

Poor Alder was dragged along on this trip, he doesn't seem to enjoy the driving as much as I do. I suppose it will just be one of those things he half remembers "you guys used to take me on these long random trips for things and talk about weird stuff." Of course he might just hate us for putting him in this outfit, yes I know the spinning wheel theme is more for girls but I couldn't pass them up for two dollars at the thriftstore.

What Today Was plus Thrifted, Made and Cut

This was one of those days, that just started right (as apposed to yesterday that just started wrong).

7:30 am We all wake up and have a hard time leaving the bed too much silliness to be had. Dreams to be shared and of course sunshine to bask in.

8:15 am Pile down to the local cafe for yummy mochas and what passes for breakfast.

9 am Kevin and Alder are off in search of the Bald Mountain Trail. I'm left at the shop, there are shelves to build, walls to repaint, floors to vacuum.

11 am Primer is drying so I'm off to the hardware store for, well a long list and they have everything!

Noon- 4:30 Pause at home to find a package of goodness all the way from Farmer City IL (I'll post pictures tomorrow) Back to painting, the guy who's going to design our sign stops by to talk (last guy made an appointment and never showed up). Finish repainting the front of the store, clean up.

5pm Walk up the hill home to be met by happy son and husband and delicious dinner cooking.

7 pm Put Alder to bed, fall asleep with him until 10.

10 pm I'm up might as well blog.

And now for the Thrift
An apron with blue birds! My blue bird collection is growing.

Ribbons, the flat one was hiding under a ton of crappy stuff, only a little corner was peaking out to be seen.



I made this!Old sweater+hot water+old buttons+scrap fabric= lovely jacket
Yes there was a plethora of sweaters thrifted with the ribbons just waiting to be felted.

And now for the cut. I still can hardly believe the difference (ignore the banana residue).

Flea Market Thoughts

We spent the weekend in New York, a party (over whleming), connecting with an old friend (haven't seen since tenth grade), lots of food. Alder and I went to the flea market Sunday. When I was a kid I would go almost every week, at that point I was into suit jackets and old maps of Portugal and New York. My taste has changed but being there hasn't. I spent $3 on a little cut paper picture of peaches on the branch (will have to wait for picture) it now hangs happily at the bottom of our stairs.

What I love best at the flea market is taking it all in. Even if I'm not interested I end up looking at each booth. My favorite part is inside the cafeteria, the market takes place at a middle school, where all the old jewelry, coin and ephemera dealers are. As I fingered costume jewelry and dressing table mirrors and young orthodox guy haggled with the coin dealer and a Korean mother and daughter browsed the movie paraphernalia. The room smelt like school food and old paper. In the dim lights I felt like I could be fifteen again.