...when passions meet in April SUNSHINE

 This is what I'm talking about...

The sun has been shining in CNY, and the days are warming a bit.  EVERYONE wants to be outside!  Garage/Yard Sales are still sparse, I spend my 'down' time snooping through dumpsters and Gardening! 

 This past week I had a MAJOR 'Dive' SCORE of SIX (6!) pots of Easter Mini-Daffodils.  While they are past their 'BEST BY:' for this year, the bulbs planted in our garden will flourish in the future!!

Since I had been 'bit' by the Spring Gardening Bug, I gathered up a batch of seed packets (flower, herb & veggie!) that I had rescued from a discarded display last Fall (2020).  I am still trying to decide what to do with the stack of New Gathering Buckets I recently dove.  Tall, Skinny, WaterTight...  Any Ideas?? 

I then ventured to our basement & garage to gather an array of 'Potting Vessels', which will later be divested around our gardens!  While doing this I came across a 20# bag of potting soil that I had forgotten about (or should I say a Large grey tote, holding the contents of a 20# bag of potting soil)...  Isn't it silly that a Bag of Dirt 'has' to be tossed if it gets a little slit in the bag??! 

~FOUR pots of Canna Lily bulbs.  As a general rule, I plant NO bulbs that require attention EVERY change of season (gladiolus, dahlias, etc...)!  However, every rule has it's exceptions!  My Father had an affinity for Canna Lilies.  He left a LARGE legacy of Canna Lily bulbs!  Several members of our family are now trying to learn the art of growing these fickle plants.  We've potted them - it's up to you now Dad!

~ My 'growing plants from seeds' ability isn't exactly stellar, but in the Spring it always 'Sparks JOY' (lol!!).  So, amongst the pots are 'CILANTRO', 'BASIL', 'ROSEMARY', 'CHILI PEPPERS" and 'PANSIES"

~AND~

The Easter Daffodils are all tucked in their new homes, trying to give us a little love by opening a fresh new blossom or two before they call it quits for 2021!

enJOY

& 

be well!

... SO.MUCH.WASTE.

Monday, 3-22-21 ~ Picture Perfect Spring Day in Central NY!

Went out to do a few errands, and of course I HAD to take a peak to see what was in the local dumpsters...  After ONE (1!) dive, this is what the back of my car look like!!

Such waste.

Can you see the 'BEST BEFORE' dates?!!

2 boxes cereal

12 32oz bottles Tampico Juice

3 bags Animal Crackers

11 packages Oatmeal Cookies

14 pkgs Chocolate covered Grahams

23 boxes of Mini Muffin packets

17 boxes crackers

12 boxes Fruit Snacks

...and this is only what I rescued - there was MUCH MORE!!

All this, from 1 day, at 1 store, in one relatively small town, in New York State.  

I can't even begin to imagine how much USEFUL stuff, that could REALLY be helping people, is tossed across our Country - every day, week, YEAR!

 

Well, this is one diverted boxful, being packed and delivered to people who will appreciate.

baby steps... baby steps... baby steps...

enjoy

&

be well

... 'K' is for

 

KOKOPELLI.

What is the story of Kokopelli?

There is another story from the Hopi Culture that talks about Kokopele being a hunchbacked member of the village who tricks the village beauty into having sex with him. Many believe that Kokopelli was more than a trader, and more significantly, an important conveyor of information and trinkets from afar.

For my 'personal Alphabet of Collections', 'K' was a deep dig.  Not a lot going on with 'K'!

This 'conveyor of information and trinkets from afar' gets the honor.

Numerous years ago, during the first of many visits to Arizona, I was 'introduced' to the image of Kokopelli.  A couple of trinkets with his image came home with me as souvenirs, and since then I often find them at sales... 'abandoned souvenirs of other peoples travels'.  NOT one of my many active collections (but I do have at least 3, so that makes it an official collection)!! I'm seldom inspired enough to rescue them and give them a new home, but they do bring back sweet memories.

It has become a joke with travel companions...  I seldom buy souvenirs during the trip (unless it I REALLY like it!!), because I know that I will find stuff on 'the cheap' at sales - and I get the added 'thrill of the hunt'.

Sometimes this method of souvenir acquisition has some added benefits!!

ex: Last summer, in accordance to 'social distancing guidelines', we went camping in Old Forge, NY.  We avoided the MANY souvenir shoppes, which didn't bother me in the least. 

Since then I have picked up a mug, sweatshirt and this vintage ashtray - for a grand total of under $1.00 !!

~The mug was used a couple of times & redonated.

~The sweatshirt was 'pre-shrunk' and 'worn-in', fitting Perfectly, and is now a 'go to' piece of my wardrobe.

~The ashtray, I did some research, and was easily able to find him a new home via eBay!!

The truly GREAT thing is that I never would have given this ashtray a second look if I hadn't been attracted to the 'OLD FORGE' souvenir aspect!!

Am I alone in this practice of 'souveniring' ? I'm curious - let me know in the comments!!

enJOY!

& 

be well...

...the JOY of a 'Mystery Goody Bag'

 

Setting: March, in Central NY State, a balmy 30°, no wind, and even a bit of that 'bright thing in the sky'...

It's Monday, no saleing in sight.

Ahhh, but PERFECT for Diving!

Lo and Behold, I even came home with TWO (2!) Mystery/Goody Bags/Boxes (from here on out refered to as 'MGB')!!

For those of you not 'up' on your Diving Lingo...

MGB (aka 'Blind', 'Mystery', 'Goody'). (N): a contained bag / box that is full of shelf pulls or product.  No debris or 'trash'.  Generally rescued by a diver intact, and the contents are not examined/sorted until a later time.

and what did my MGB contain, you ask?!

MGB box:

Valentine leftovers! 

 Including:

 (35) bags of lollipops

(10) heart-shaped boxes of chocolates

(9) bags of individually wrapped chocolates

(48+) boxes of valentines

...and more!

and the MGB bag:

Shelf pulls (at 'Sell By' date, or slightly damaged)! 

 Including:

 (5) bags pretzel sticks

(24) Cheesecake / dip mix boxes

(2) boxes ccrackers

canned olives, stew, spaghettios, a candle and a sealed spice with a cracked lid. 

That's all 'fine' you say, but what do I do with it??

First, I take what we can use,

Then I invite our sweet neighbors to go shopping!!

The remainder is then divided up between family , local soup kitchen, Church surplus food pantry, and a friend who makes gift baskets for nursing homes / shut-ins!  There are so many people out there that TRULY appreciate all this 'waste'.

...only a small amount diverted from the landfill, but this is where it begins - right?

enJOY!

& 

be well

...IRONIC (long lost lyric)

Ironic

Alanis Morissette

An old man turned 98
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down, he thought
"Well, isn't this nice?"
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

Well, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out
When you think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face

A traffic jam when you're already late
A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?
A little too ironic
And, yeah, I really do think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

And, yeah, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

EVERYONE remembers this 2005 classic - right??!

Well, this past week, while out Diving (DD, Dumpster!), I discovered the long lost lyric to this song!...

 "IT'S LIKE DIVING A CASE OFF 55 BAGS SIXLETS, WHEN YOU'VE GONE CARB-FREE"

enJOY

&

be well!

...LIFE IN A SNOW-GLOBE

This is what it looks like outside, today FEBRUARY 22, 2021, in The FingerLakes region of NY State..

...about 20°

which is NOT enough degrees (in my book) for much of anything,

NO GARDENING.

NO YARD SALES.

NO SHORTS & FLIP FLOPS.

(you get the idea!)

~BUT~

I really SHOULDN'T complain, because FEBRUARY 21,2021 looked like this...

PERFECT BLUE SKIES!

SUNSHINE!

NO WIND!

an AWESOME DAY, that we enjoyed by walking some waterfall trails!

We should have KNOWN there would be an EBOR!!

OH WELL, we must enjoy it when we can!!

When the weather allows, I have been out Diving for Treasures...

GOODIES for the local soup kitchen...

...and MORE Goodies for the local soup kitchen

scratch post for neighbor furballs...

Greeting Cards GALORE!

GOTTA stay hydrated in these cold months!

.... even some Goodies for the Grand(?)-fur babies (LOL)

enJOY
& 
be well!

 

...THE Wedding Dress - a dress with soul.

 

Recently, my Mother and I have been discussing the fate of Her My OUR 1950's wedding dress (NOT Plural!)...

~FLASHBACK~

• Christmas Eve 2000 - I got engaged!
• October 27, 2001 - The Wedding.

During that time there was a whirlwind of planning, decisions, and World Wide turmoil (911!).  One of the first things a girl is 'supposed' to do is find her 'perfect dress'?!  I had never been the young girl that had Dreamed & Planned of HER DAY, I had just been concerned with finding MR RIGHT.  Okay, that was done, now onto The.Planning.  At 33yrs old, & 6'-0" tall, the thought of searching for a dress, with an entourage of onlookers, in Bright lights, with Large 3-way mirrors just turned my stomach!!

Then, The.Perfect.Answer!  I remembered that box in the attic - The dress that my Mom had worn down the aisle on 3-14-53.  I had tried it on when I was in my teens, when Mom was cleaning out 'junk'.  She was going to toss it, but I had told her to hang on to it - you never know.  It had fit perfect at that time - just a little long!  Well, as luck would have it, the dress had survived, and I found a GREAT seamstress - a Serious WIN-WIN (Mom was beyond Thrilled that I would want to wear her old dress!). 

10-27-01

 I remember walking down the aisle with my Dad, and joking 'Bet you never thought you'd be walking this dress down the aisle TWICE - in different directions!' (almost 50yrs later!!)

and now it is 2021!

~ Dad passed away a couple of years ago, but Mom & Dad had a wonderful 66yr. marriage...

~ J & I are going strong, and will be celebrating our 20yr anniversary this Fall...

~ Mom is now 87yrs old, and continually curious as to what will happen to her 'stuff' when she's gone, and trying to get things settled (?)!.

~We have both decided to set The Dress free, and let it bring Good Luck to someone else (we don't foresee future generations having any desire for this MidCentury dress - they will have their Mother's to wear!!).  The dress is headed to Ebay & ETSY - For Sale

I pulled the BOX from storage, and I enlisted the help of Sesame Shimmer (mannequin) for a photo shoot (I am certainly not fitting back into that dress again in the foreseeable future!!)  I think she did quite well.

During this cleanout, much 'reminiscing' has taken place with my Mother (priceless!).  She asked what had ever become of her 'GOING AWAY SUIT'?

For those not familiar with the term / tradition:

 "The tradition of the going away outfits where before the bride and groom leave they change out of their dress and tux and leave in more comfortable clothes, especially if they are heading straight for the airport that night or the next morning following the Wedding."

"Whereas most wedding dresses are commonly only worn once by (especially by modern brides), in all likelihood, your going away dress or suit is something that will then be folded into rotation in your usual everyday wardrobe. As such, feel free to spend a little more on it then you might if you were only going to sport it one time."

I let Mom know that it still hung in My closet.  NO,  I didn't wear it for it's original purpose, but in the late 80's -90's it was 'folded into rotation' of MY work wardrobe.  Mom's GoingAwaySuit was the Original 'Capsule Wardrobe', consisting of 4 interchangeable pieces - Houndstooth Jacket, 1 solid red skirt, 1 houndstooth skirt and a reversible vest (you guessed it - houndstooth/solid red)!  This was my Power Suit!  I wore it during my co-op position @ Kodak, and I even wore it to my 'Real-Just Graduated College' job interview at Beardsley's (which I got!).  In this suit I felt invincible.

•   I can no longer fit into it.
• I no longer have an Office job that requires this attire
• Since the Wedding Dress is going, WE decided the time was right for The suit to go as well.

~AND~

In the old Wedding Dress Box, I had found a little bag tucked off in the corner - a Classy, light pink PEIGNOR SET.

peignoir

[ˌpānˈwär]

NOUN

1. a woman's light dressing gown or negligee.

   synonyms:

   housecoat · bathrobe · dressing gown · robe · negligee · kimono · robe de chambre

Since it too had a correlation to 3-14-53 & deserves a New Life, we are giving it the same treatment, and will have it it's own listing, for sale on-line!

HOPEFULLY, these vintage pieces will continue on for many more years.

enJOY!

& 

be well

... 'J' is for...

Contrary to popular belief,  'J' is NOT for J.U.N.K (remember, that is a 4-Letter word!) LOL

and, though 'J' generally refers to this Great Guy, who is currently outside digging us out - on his BIRTHDAY, we must keep on tract with Alphabet COLLECTIONS!!

Todays featured collection goes to....

JONATHAN GASH / JOHN GRANT

and his LOVEJOY Mystery novel series!

Lovejoy is a series of picaresque novels by John Grant about the adventures of Lovejoy, a British antiques dealer and faker based in East Anglia. A less than scrupulous yet likeable rogue, Lovejoy has a reputation in the antiques trade as a "divvie", meaning one with an almost supernatural talent for recognising exceptional items as well as for distinguishing fakes or forgeries from genuine antiques. Lovejoy's first name is never mentioned in the books. In the TV series based on the novels, he insists on being addressed by all solely as "Lovejoy".

ANTIQUES + MYSTERY + BRITISH SETTING (+'bit' of Harlequin) = WIN! WIN!

  I can't remember 'exactly' how I stumbled upon this series, but it was around 2004. Each 'mystery' involves a bit of 'Obscure Antique History', quick/easy reads...  I was hooked!

HOWEVER... The first in the series came out in the late 70's.  You would think they would be a common site at Sales & Thrifts, but (to my knowledge) they have only been published by PENGUIN, and so they aren't common in the USA :(

To date, I have 17 in my posession, most of which were purchased on eBay.  Yes, SHOCKER!, but I enjoy them That Much!! 

Now, we are off to see what we can find for BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES!

enJOY!

& 

be well

...MINIMALIST's Nightmare

 Maybe this article by Mary Randalph Carter should be titled

A MINIMALIST's NIGHTMARE

'The Art of Collecting

I am taking stock of what I own: the things that I possess that fill a house in the country, an apartment in the city, an office. There are objects old and new, large and small; things acquired, things given or bequeathed or simply passed along. Some are sentimental, others utilitarian, but all are evidence of how I have spent my days, of where I have been, of what has inspired me, of what I have loved and who I have loved and who has loved me. They, more than words or pictures, suggest an image of who I am, of what I have become. And though I am a firm believer that there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to collecting, I am happy to share with you some of the lessons learned on my own collector's journey.'

This '30 Day Mins Game' that I have been participating in, has really led to a LOT of introspection... 

How much stuff is TOO MUCH?

Do I really 'want' to be more minimalist?

I think that you can all guess the answer to that question!

"They, more than words or pictures, suggest an image of who I am, of what I have become."

My 'stuff'  "sparks joy" (ie: Marie Kondo Approved - LOL)
I really have no desire to change my design aesthetic, and really have no desire for more 'open space' (other than that being a blank canvas for me to fill!!).  The 'svelteSTUFF' is staying!

~BUT~

(yes, always that Big Butt)

This 30 day challenge has opened my eyes to just.how.MUCH 'behind the scenes' excess that I have!! Socks! Clothes! Tupperware! Candles!  This kind of 'stuff' has been no problem letting go!!

I'm sure that anybody who comes to visit our home (once social distancing is no longer required!!) will find it hard to believe that I purged over 500 items in January 2021, but That's Alright with Me!

enJOY!

& 

be well