...an easy SMILE!

This time of the year in the NE United States, when temps are generally hovering in the teens, 'saling' tends to dry-up!  An occasional Estate Sale or trip to a Thrift Store are about the only ways to get a Good.STUFF.Fix.!!

Yet,

I have noticed lately (as has J), that I rarely come home without an extra box or bag (or 2) of 'STUFF'!

Upon pondering this, I realized that I have gained quite the posse of suppliers to 'feed my habits'!!!

PACKING/SHIPPING SUPPLIES

~Our local Marshalls (namebrand discount homegood/clothing stores ) calls when they have a boxful ready to pick up

~Our hometown RX always has a bag of packing misc. ready for me when I pick up our monthly prescriptions.

~My Mom's hairdresser sends her homes with boxes full of 'peanuts' every 6wks (for us!!)

WE KNOW A LOT OF WINOS!!

When you love to craft & create with CORKS, like I do, this is a GOOD THING (It would be SERIOUS TROUBLE if I had to empty all these bottle by myself!!)

~Sweet next door neighbor waitresses evenings at a high-end Restaurant, and has convinced the bartender to save corks for her!!

~A dear friend works at a local winery doing tastings...

~Our Favorite Happy Hour Bar has a bag waiting for me weekly!

(*One night at Happy Hr., I was surveying the contents of the 'weekly bag'.  One of the 'Hierarchy' of the Company J works for was out with us - he looked at me, shook his head and laughed "Oh Susan, I wish something that simple could put a Smile like that on MY face!")

BIRDS of A FEATHER...

~The Best Man from our wedding has become an avid Hunter/Fisherman in his retirement.  He is more than happy to supply me with FEATHERS to feed yet another of my recent 'crafting inflictions'!

JUNK MAIL

~My 'trendy' friends are more than happy to keep me supplied with catalogs!!  This probably seems REALLY BIZARRE to most, but when you don't do much retail shopping, you tend to get NO CATALOGS!!  I LOVE thumbing through high-end clothing & home goods catalogs to catch up on the latest trends, and get Creative inspiration - like my recent soldering attempt!!

As WONDERFUL as all of this stuff is...

it was fun to get a 'Different Fix' this past Friday, and come home with the Subaru FILLED!!

To sum it all up...

I had my First. Real. DUMPSTER DIVE!!

BOSE Outlet STORE CLOSING!

I missed all of the BIG store display pieces over-flowing from the top and sides of the Dumpster, that first caught my eye when I pulled into the mall from the side entrance... but I had 'real' stuff to do that I didn't want to look/smell like I had been 'rummaging around a dumpster' for.

When I came back through 45min. later, it looked like the dumpster was empty, but upon closer inspection - NOT!

More tangles of wires, cables, remotes, speakers, headphones and other non-sense than you can imagine - but luckily there were TWO Large Plastic totes (with Covers!!) in the dumpster, just waiting for me to fill.  It means NOTHING to me, but it put a SMILE on J's face!  I can Honestly say this is the first time I have ever garbage picked that he has actually APPROVED!

(and Today, 1/29 is his birthday - so I'm glad I brought him home some Fun Stuff!!)

After I had loaded every.last.electronic.bit into the car, I went back for ALL of the unopened boxes of office supplies!(?)...case of scotch tape ...boxful of white board markers in red ...boxful of white board markers in black ...another in green  ...another in brown...  carton (6 boxes of 5,000) of staples ...roll of Bubble wrap ...white board erasers ...tape dispenser ...3hole punch ...boxful of Sharpies in black ...in red ...boxful of highlighters ...pens ...white out ... folders ...wood yardstick ...magnetic displays ... even a Disco Ball light NIB!!   OH MY!!

Yes, we have had TWO DAYS of fun sorting through all of the STUFF!

I can remember my Dad on occasion making comments about People regarding their smiles... "She wouldn't be nearly as Grumpy, if she smiled" ... "She wouldn't be half bad, if she would smile" or "I like her, she has a good smile"

Despite a lack of SALING, I have had an abundance of SMILES in my life lately!

...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY J!

 I love You!! ((BIG Smile!))

...SERENDIPITY !

~  'SERENDIPITY' ~

GRAND OPENENING 4-16-16

J and I are excited to have some of our 'STUFF' at this new Boutique!!

If you are from the Central New York State area - STOP IN!

...FANCY!??

Just back from a brief  'holiday' with 'The Girls (+1 hubbie)'.

Beautiful... Relaxing...Layed Back...

EVERYTHING a 'Vacation' (as opposed to a 'Trip') should be!  I even sunburned my wrist, as I wasn't wearing my wristwatch.

Needless to say, females 're-kindling' (while '+1' fished...) led to some interesting conversations (okay, maybe a 'bit' of alcohol was involved...).  After talking with some other 'native-vacationers', one member our group described the acquaintances as 'FANCY!'.  This led to in indepth conversation as to what she meant.  We all started inputting our own definitions of 'FANCY'.  What is YOUR definition of 'FANCY'???????

So, now I'm home and unpacked...
NO, this isn't the luggage I packed to go,

...this is EXTRA CARGO I picked up as we were ending our vacation.

All packed and leaving the lake, on our way out of town at 11am, we caught glimpse of a Church setting up a yard sale - WOO-HOO!!  The PERFECT ending to a PERFECT week!!

I think it is a Really good thing that we were on a bit of a time-crunch, as well as space in the CAR being limited!! 



I think I managed to make our stop worth-while (wink!wink!)! A couple of retro 1/2 Aprons, Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Souvenir dishtowel, vintage Dr. bag, Rope fish boat-bumper, Wolf Sculpture Owl, Alexandria Bay Souvenir plate, Austin Prod. chalk sculpture, Blue Mountain Pottery Mug, France Fridge Beverage glass Jar, Tupperware burger, Rubens pitcher, 3metalFrog business card holder (?), WearEver Aluminum Teapot, Mardi Gras mask, 2 'Terms of..' towels (golf & fishing), and a whole bag of Canadian vintage recipe books/manuals/advertising!!  Nothing was priced individually, they just looked at the pile and quoted a price.  These items averaged out to .40¢ each!!

**I Forgot to mention those incredible 'child' skis that I saved in-the-nick-of-time, as they were being tossed into a truck ~ enroute to The Dump!?!

We've been having a ball going through and researching all of these CANADIAN finds!!

Now...

 back home...

trying to play 'catch-up'!

Up early to gather some RIPE berries before 'The Rains' that we are supposed to have for the next 4days!  Managed to get 6quarts - and did you know that if you stain your hands 'mulberry purple', that 'red raspberry' stains GLOW??

and then the rains set it.



PERFECT time to make a Mulberry Pie...
and dream of 
'FANCY dinners at The Lake'...

...and 'FANCY' sunrises...

...and my Favorite 'FANCY' turquoise Boathouse...

...and 'FANCY' sunsets.

..." it's a Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood, A Beautiful day for..."

...A ROADTRIP!!

Saturday morning had us 'on-the-road' by 5:15AM!

...places to go...

...people to meet...

...things to do!

WHAT? "Minus 11 degrees" you say?!  Didn't even phase us, just put on ANOTHER layer - "Negatives" have become 'The-Norm' these days!!

 

  First Stop: LETCHWORTH STATE PARK (ETA: 7:30am!)


The partially frozen Falls, under the OLD Train Bridge...

It was COLD!!



These photos are all by J, except this ONE Selfie!
It was about all I could muster in the sub-zero temps!!

...but sooo AMAZING!!

The FOUNTAIN.
We stop by here for a Photo-Shoot Every year, but this year it seemed much Grander (ie: COLDER!!)
Below are some photos for Comparison-
First is  'FOUNTAIN 2011' and in the next photo is 6'-0"tall ME standing in front of 'FOUNTAIN 2015' (for size reference!!)

NEXT STOP:  CARTWRIGHTS MAPLE TREE INN! (ETA: 8:45am to meet up with College Buddy 'L')

 I have written about this Breakfast Journey in the past, so anyone 'REALLY' Interested can read about it HERE.)

Enroute HOME, we made a Detour through Corning.

No.  We didn't stop by the Museum/Factory, but that is on our 'Summer-time' Bucket list. 
 Our Destination was:

HISTORIC MARKET ST. Antique SALE!!

We did NOT purchase any Lovely STEUBEN Glass, or even any PYREX (both native to this area!!)!  We did find a few 'SOUVENIRS' to take home with us though!!

2015 Sweater Clips #1 & #2, and a Hatpin - $1 EACH!!

~AND~

J broke our 'NO MORE HAEGER" mantra, with this Beautiful, burgundy piece!

I have to confess, he was a STEAL @ $5, and he does fit in Wonderfully with the rest of our School!! (HAEGER 2015#1)

**In one of the Antique Store, an employee walked by me and said "For some reason I have had that Mr. Rogers' song in my head all morning" and then we both proceeded to say "It's a Beautiful day in the Neighborhood"!!





...ITHACA, NY

ITHACA, NY -  Home to Cornell and Ithaca College. 

 Want to know more?

Check out their Tourism Site:

ITHACA

8-) !!
SORRY!  We need to find humor wherever we can these days!!!!!!!!!!


2-18-15  SORRY IF YOU MISSED IT WHILE IT WAS 'Live'...  THE TOURISM SITE WAS FLASHING UP A SCREEN TELLING PEOPLE THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO REASON TO VISIT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR - ALL THEY HAD WAS SNOW AND COLD - GO SOUTH, CHECK OUT THE KEYS!!!

...CHARMING!

What kind of 'CHARMer' are you?

~Old School (Sterling? / Gold?)?

~ITALIAN? 

~PANDORA?

~ALEX & ANI ?

I am curious to know your preference in this year of 2015! 

(Leave me a comment / Post a picture on your next Blog Post!!)

 I don't think that there is anything in a Man's life, more personal & Full of HIS soul than his WALLET,

and

For a Woman, I think it is her CHARM BRACELET.

Being the 'Collector' that I am, I'm sure that it comes as NO Surprise that I am avid at adding to my Bracelet!  Yes, I still enjoy my 'OLD SCHOOL' original.  Though I often admire, and contribute to my Niece's 'newer/on-fad forms', I have not succumbed!  My original Bracelet was given to me by my Paternal Grandmother in the Late 70's, with just a couple of 'Personal' Charms...

 ...my Forever Initial; Birthstone & Month; and a Volleyball!

Since then I have turned it into a 'Travel' bracelet.  I try to pick up a charm from each new State / Country I visit.

One of my FAVORITE charms - photo w/ teapot found along
edge of Street (ie: 'in the gutter) in Ireland.

These charms are NOT the staple of Tacky-Souvenir shops as they used to be!  They must be 'hunted' for!!  

Occassionally I will find an old forgotten bracelet or a single charm out in 'The Wild' while saling - and I grab them (IF the $$ is right!!).  Sometimes they are charms that I wasn't able to find while on location, others are charms of places on my 'Bucket List'...

...and then there are some that just make you go hmmmm....

(ie: Pan w/ Fried Egg?!?)

HOPE ALL IS WELL IN YOUR PART OF THE WORLD!  I HAVE NOTHING 'NEW/OLD' TO SHOW BECAUSE OF THIS

(view from our window as I type...)

See that mass in the Very Middle of the picture?

That is a picnic table...

with about 3'+ of fallen snow sitting on top of it!!

...turn...turn...turn...

JANUARY is gone(!) and FEBRUARY is well underway!

Time Flies.

I've had the privilege for the last week to get to spend MANY HOURS out of doors!

...thinking

and

...reflecting...

AT SUNRISE: "Go DO it!"

AT SUNSET: 'Appreciate this very moment for everything you have and love in Life.  There will never be another 'exactly' the same.'

...and before the moon sets again, it can all change.

...the Best of times.

Reflecting back on THIRTEEN years of...

...the Best of adventures & Fun!

...the best of friends!

and

 I'm sure, THE BEST is yet to come ;-) !!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY J!

LOVE YOU!

...$3 of HAPPINESS!

It has been said before that I'm "easily amused" and "a cheap date" - often taken as  'less-than-flattering' statements, but I guess it's true.

Hit a 'Final Day' Church Rummage sale on Saturday - 

"FILL A BOX FOR THREE BUCKS"!

(Just buy a 'print paper box' and fill it with whatever you can!)

and OH what FUN was had...

Yes, I DO know how to pack a box!!

As always, LOTS of 'stuff with potential' (ie: craft supplies)

'New' foldout storage carry-along (in Pink!), metal zippers, scrap ornaments for wreaths, jello mold for mushrooms, 'New' package of decorative papers...

LOTS of 'Tools of the Trade':

Why are there some things that I just.can't.leave behind??  I have more mini C-clamps, Hot Glue Guns, Dymo Label Makers, and heavy old clunky staplers than I could possibly 'need' in a lifetime.  Yet, I couldn't walk away from them?!!

A FEW THINGS THAT WERE ALL ABOUT ME!

This chalkware cathead and mini lantern perfume bottle are headed directly to MY PERSONAL 'museum'!


A BIT FOR FRIENDS:

'Cat-Lover' - check!  'Mini toleware Collector' - check!
OH, and hey, MORE CROCHET PATTERNS!!

and A FEW FOR RESALE:

Beautiful handmade PINK/WHITE DOILIES, 'Durham' vintage metal & plastic drawers, barware, Halloween stamps, NM (McCoy) white pottery hand vase, KODAK metal film cannisters, W. Germany candles, Hawaii wallet, Spaghetti 'DECEMBER' figures, Steubenville 'IVORY' bowl, jingle bell, and, and, and!

Isn't this NIB Irwingware 4pc BARWARE set amazing?!! (complete with instruction book!)

...and The NECESSARY 'WHAT THE???'

This mini kit came WELL TAPED, so thought we were getting a 'Grommet set'.  Imagine my surprise when we inspected it closer at home.  Solid metal 'points' with 'screws'!??  I'm thinking some kind of shoe or cleat replacement spikes (golf? baseball?).  Are these still legal (to sell?).  Any market??

~AND~

Larger than marbles, metal, heavy and a Whole baggie full...
WHAT ARE THEY FOR??
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THEM????


All in all, I think we did okay.
The fun-of-the-hunt and the sorting after kept me HAPPY for quite a while !!