So You know, SNOWing-up as a SHOP-FARI-*SHERPA* was NOT on My SPEND-SATURDAY-SCHEDULE!

ESPECIALLY, WHEN *NO* YARN WAS "INVOLVED"! -- [What's THAT about?!]


FIRST OFF, I wasn't really certain about Today's WEATHER... FRIGID-TEMPS are One-Thing, however, SQUALLS and FLURRIES are *another* Matter altogether! -- Honestly, I really wasn't THAT keen on going OUT...

*BUT*, MOTHER "INSISTED"!

SNOW-PELLETS had just begun to Fall when We left the HOUSE on the Way to Our First "DETOUR"! - There was a "DOLLAR" Store that She wanted to GO TO...

oh. LOOK!

BIGFATFLUFFYFLAKES-*COVERING*-The-CAR-in-*SECONDS*!!

We did *not* Stay for long...

Once past the Short-lived SQUALL, We managed to CAUTIOUSLY make Our Way to MICHAEL'S... She wanted to *Checkout* those "CLEARANCE"-Items for Herself! -- [I *knew* I shouldn't have mentioned Them...]

However, as MOTHER pillaged through the LAST of the "CHRISTMAS"-CRAP-STUFF, I scavenged-up These SCRAPBOOKING BRADS for SISTER....

*OVER* an Hour LATER, They were ALL that *I* came away with - [The YARN was ON-SALE, just NOT at a Price that I felt like Paying FOR - This Week!] - whilst MOTHER, *FILLED* a Cart-worth of CRAP-For-SISTER-That-I'm-NOT-Sure-She's-Going-To-*WANT*!?

Not to mention, that IT was *also* a tad infested with GLITTER - [I *HATE* GLITTER!] - and, somewhat awkward to Pack into THE CAR, *IN* the FLURRY-of-SNOW-That-I-Could-Hardly-Keep-AHEAD-OF-to-*REMOVE*-From-SAID-VEHICLE!!

Although TRAINYARDS had *not* been ADDED to MY "DAILY-SHOP-PLANNER", had the WEATHER NOT been *so* MISERABLE, I probably *would* have Ventured over to That WALMART to Check on Their "Supply" of Those New STORAGE BINS - [SEE 16JAN2014 POST] - However, the Time *was* getting ON and We still had to get to THE-BIG-MALL...

THEY were having a "SIDE-WALK-SALE", that had been on BOTH of Our "ITINERARIES"!
-- At least, there's COVERED-Parking!

Browse.
Peruse...
Didn't Buy.
Don't "Need"!

Eventually, We ended up at HUDSON'S BAY - [formerly THE BAY] - and MOTHER wanted to See "IF" there were ANY of *Their* CHRISTMAS-STUFF "Left"..?

okay. Now THAT, I *didn't* have a Problem with. The Store usually has some GREAT-Stuff. -- It took a Few Minutes to finally Find the tiny Display-Area...

Oooo... And, EVERYTHING is ON-SALE! - Plus, *another* 15%-OFF if You Use THEIR "CHARGE-CARD"!

hmm...

There were TWO of These STEEL-Plate PLATTERS
- [down to about $7.50!] - but I only Bought ONE...
A Decision that is likely to Haunt Me *Later*, I'm sure!
-- Then again, IT does weigh about 5-Pounds!

This STEEL CANDLE-"STICK" was the *only* RED ONE remaining! -- There were Several WHITE Ones of a slightly Different "DESIGN", but I didn't get Any...

At just over $3., that was no doubt Another BAD Choice on My part!





The TIN TREE was also the SAME PRICE!

Athough, seeing as IT's almost 2-Feet High and I had ALL of that OTHER METAL to TOTE around, I didn't get a Second One...



Once PURCHASING was Completed, I then had to DEAL WITH being LADEN-DOWN with Several POUNDS of *STUFF*!! - And of course, THE CAR was on the OTHER-Side of the MALL!

No worries. MY Stuff. My "PROBLEM". -- I'll *COPE*...

But THEN, a Few Stores further along, We came across CRABTREE & EVELYN. -- MOTHER hasn't been in "THERE" for quite some Time... And, usually enjoys Looking at WHAT They have during the SIDE-WALK-SALES.

ahh... The Store is "CLOSING"..??! -- [They've been Here for DECADES!] - huh.

*ALL* there's LEFT... a Couple of Shelves of "PRODUCT" that We *don't* USE, the "CASH"-COUNTER, and TWO-NICE-YOUNG-BUBBLY-PRETTY-CLERKS in the rather EMPTY BRIGHTLY-LIT Store... "CONVERSATION", naturally Ensued!

Actually, THEY really didn't "SAY" Much - *Then* - however, I've since Noticed that a Handful of OTHER BRANCHES have also CLOSED. Leaving ONE remaining, waaay across TOWN over at the *MEGA-MALL* of "BAYSHORE"!! -- I haven't been THERE in Decades, either!

MEANWHILE, as MOTHER was Chatting-Them-Up, I was Scanning some "FIXTURES" on a Back-Shelf... -- You know Me, I'm always on the LOOK-OUT for possible *USEFUL* CRAFT-SHOW "STUFF"... I asked if THEY were *FOR* Sale..??

"..No...Someone is suppose to come by to remove them.."

"..Do you want any of them?.."

[INSERT - MOTHER and I *sharing* an "EVIL-GRIN"-Moment!]

SINCE I was *already* OVER-LOADED, I elected to LEAVE MOTHER with Her New "SITTERS" whilst I, *HAULED* back to THE CAR with My Bought-TONNAGE and, subsequently move IT over to a CLOSER Parking-Lot. -- I just HOPED that there would be "SPACE" for the Future *FREE*-LOAD!?

We got about a Half-Dozen of These SLOTTED-SIGN-FRAMES.
Along with as many Small LUCITE-BOXES and Round DISPLAY-STANDS.

It was probably a "GOOD-THING" that THE-BUBBLY-TWINS *didn't* have any "BAGS", hence LIMITING Us to using Our own! Or else, We would have walked out with MORE "BOOTY"!! - [..or NOT... My Load-CAPACITY *was* Teetering...] - Besides, as it stood, I was already PAST the Part where We MOTHER would have to "EXPLAIN" to FATHER about *WHAT* We had just "ACQUIRED"...

well... at least IT's *STOPPED* SNOWING!! -- For now...

Sooo... The "GOOD PART" was, considering the Time SPENT on the FREE-STUFF and the FULL CAR, all Thoughts of Checking-Out the REST of THE-BIG-MALL seemed to have *slipped* from MOTHER's Mind! - [yay!] - Which, left Us with an Hour or so to make Use of the "NO-TAXES"-DAY at LOBLAWS...

ah! Some "needed" APPAREL for FATHER! -- That might Divert His "ATTENTION"..?!

*HOME* at last!! -- And, 20-Minutes of Sneaking-In UNLOADING. Then, SHOVELLING! -- Remember those BIGFATFLUFFYFLAKES from EARLIER??!!

yeah. The WHITE-STUFF, IT's *ALWAYS* around...

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The NON-Literary Buys...

ALTHOUGH I'M SURE, EACH ONE HAS THEIR OWN "UNIQUE" STORY TO TELL...

Prior to My TOME-TOTEM Stacking at YESTERDAY's ESTATE SALE, THIS 4-Inch MILKGLASS VASE was My "FIRST-PICK"! -- Needless to say, ITS Novel-Design made the "handling" of IT considerably SAFER during My Juggling-STRUGGLES with that FIRST-LOAD of BOOKS!

WORTH the DOLLAR-Price-TAG! -- And, I suspect that IT's also an *Older* PIECE..?

The - BELOW - "BOMBAY-COMPANY"-Made WRITING-LETTER-BOX had been *beneath* the VASE... When I Returned for "ROUND-TWO", I *snatched* IT up for Another DOLLAR!

Granted, IT could DO with some *serious* "SURFACE"-REPAIR to the Veneers, otherwise, IT's still in Sturdy-Condition! -- HOWEVER, I'd certainly Like to KNOW *HOW* the DAMAGE had Occurred..?! - The SIDES are *Fine*, yet the INSIDE BOTTOM looks almost AS *bad* as the OUTSIDE...

I still have to take a *better* LOOK at IT... IT's a toss-up between WATER-Damage and/or EXTREME-HEAT-EXPOSURE..? -- whatever... IT's still USEFUL!

MEANWHILE, in the GARAGE... I came across THIS *OLD* HANDSAW!

Another *Handy*-DOLLAR-FIND! -- I Love Finding VINTAGE TOOLS... Most Times, Their "QUALITY" is well ABOVE that of Their MODERN-Day-Counterparts!

AFTERWARD, We popped into The SALLY-ANN, where I Discovered THIS *CLEAN*-Condition KNITTING-NEEDLE HOLDER...

*WITH*, ELEVEN-PAIRS of BAMBOO-NEEDLES!! -- IT was just under $4. -- At *That* Price, HAD They been METAL or PLASTIC, I certainly would have "Passed". - BUT, "BAMBOO"...

Despite My Personal-Preference, to NOT Use such GUARANTEED-to-*SNAP*-Between-My-Fingers "Utensils", OTHERS swear by Them! -- Who knows, perhaps I'll Find a for THEM..?!

Only, just NOT RIGHT *NOW*!!

************************************************************

BTW, *HAPPY BIRTHDAY* to My Late MATERNAL-GRANDFATHER,

who was probably the One that gave Me the BIBLIO-BUYING-"GENE"!!

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Actually, in the "Long-Run", being LATE probably was for the Best...

AND, CHEAPER! -- well... sorta... perhaps..? - yeah. okay. *maybe* NOT so much...

So. Of course, MICHAEL'S just happened to be having this GREAT "Time-Limited" 40%-OFF-*ENTIRE*-Regular-Purchases-SALE until 1:00... A perfect Opportunity to "HOARD-UP" on that NEW PATONS ROVING YARN! -- And, LOOK! NO *RAIN*!! - [just OVERCASTness]

right. THAT "happened" *NOT*!! -- By the Time EVERYONE got UP and "ready", there was NO way that We were going to make THAT Deadline!

oh, Look! A "YARD-SALE"-SIGN for the NEXT-STREET-OVER...

There were a Couple of SALES. However, BOTH were Packing-UP! -- I managed to Pinch These TWO RICE BOWLS for a TOTAL of 50-Cents!

THEY're an ample Size... And, got Me to Thinking that, THEY could be Handy to use for Small KNIT-Projects..? - YARN-BALLS could be run through those Holes...


ANYHOO... Eventually, We made it over to MICHAEL'S - *after* 1:00 - and, "Power-Browsed"... MOTHER hasn't been There for quite some Time. -- I Introduced Her to the WALL-of-WOOL!

Meanwhile, seeing as there were NO "40%-OFF"-COUPON Deals going on, I opted-out on getting any MORE of the ROVING YARN. -- for now... -- Instead, I Gathered OTHER-STUFF - [SEE Further BELOW]

So... As I was heading Across the Store to put an Item back, I "stumbled" onto a Carousel of MARTHA STEWART YARNS... hmm... *SHE* makes ROVING YARN, too?? huh. -- And, on the BOTTOM-Basket, there's the REST of the CLEARANCE-[$1.99]-PRICED *MERINO*!

After Acquiring the ENTIRE Lot of GREEN Last Week, I had wondered about whether or not IF there were ANY *MORE* to be had at THAT Price..?! -- Needless to say, I Grabbed THIS ENTIRE LOT as well!

seriously. I was about to Leave *WITHOUT* WOOL!?! - I *had* to GET THIS BUNCH!

I noticed that there was a Softer-GREEN in Those TIN-POTS that I'd gotten Last Time. - I have a *USE* in Mind for THEM, so I got More.

Those Little PLASTIC-BOXES were also Priced Lower... I'm sure that I'll Find SOMETHING to put IN THEM! -- Perhaps, Those WOODEN-CLOTHES-PINS..?

And, BTW... ONE can never have *enough* STRIPPED RIBBON!!

***********************************************************************

It was that "$1.00" SIGN's *FAULT*!!

IT STRUNG ME ALONG AND MADE ME *KNOTTY*!!

oh! AND, it gets WORSE... I actually Used a COUPON to bring the Price DOWN to 83-Cents Each!!

I got what I could of That LEFT-One as IT Matches My BUSINESS CARDS!

And, DON'T get Me Started on My ADDICTION to "LETTERS"...

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"WHAT" was Bought THIS Week on *THE BLOOG*!

...BESIDES "GROCERIES"!

Overall, it's been a BUSY Week with COMINGS and GOINGS and PLANNINGS and TRYING to get *ANY*THING Worthwhile DONE!!

oh. yeah...

And, "apparently" there were a Couple of "Nearby" - [within 40-Miles] - EARTHQUAKES
This MORNING!! -- WHICH, I "apparently" **MISSED**!??! - sorta... I think *something* Woke Me up enough to just TURN-OVER..?

What can I Say? ONCE I'm Asleep, I'm usually a Heavy-Sleeper. Besides, a "5.2"..? oh, pul-leeze! The FURNACE Turning-ON probably clocks in at "4.5"!!

Anyway, My Bed is in a Semi-Basement Corner. The HOUSE has STEEL-Framing and We're on BEDROCK. Not to mention, NONE of My surrounding TOWERS-OF-PILED-*STUFF* moved either! - So. NO Probs!

HOWEVER though, MOTHER *did* FEEL IT and was just a tad Freaked over IT...

..seriously? - WHAT did She "Expect"? - The TEMPS just shot UP and The SUN was OUT!!
-- OF COURSE, THE PLANET is going to "REACT"!! - duh.

But, ENOUGH of Our "LOCAL" TERRESTRIAL-TREADMILL... ON to THIS Past Week's *PURCHASES*!

The TRAINYARDS-TOUR-de-TUESDAY garnered Me MORE of These GIANT-CLOTHES-PINS - [BELOW] -and JOURNALS from MICHAEL'S - [LEFT]

Most of Which, went to SISTER for *another* BRIDAL-SHOWER that She'll be doing Next Month! -- I Kept the GREEN PINS...

As to the Could-DO-with-Some-Paint-EXPANDING-RACK-that's-*Only*-Missing-a-"Hanging"-HOOK, I actually ended up getting IT for **FREE**!! - [psst! Don't tell MANAGER-DAVE!]

NEWER-CASHIER-GIRL had Entered a Wrong Amount - [as in over $40,000!!] - Corrected IT. Then, FORGOT to Enter the PRICE!

-- Granted, I was probably "Distracting" Her with My COUPONS..?

LATER, I headed over to VALUE-VILLAGE and Found This SET of THREE CHROME-WIRE-PAPER-TRAYS and a Never-Used CROSS-STITCH CANVAS. -- $1.99-EACH minus the TUESDAY-20%-OFF-"SENIORS'-DISCOUNT! - That I manage to Get *without* being the "Required"-AGE!

On SECOND THOUGHT, I'm not sure IF whether THAT's a "GOOD THING"..??!! -- Then again, to the CUTE-PERKY-Somewhat-MATH-CHALLENGED-*YOUNG*-CASHIER, I'm sure that *ANYONE*-Over-40 probably *fit* the Criteria!!

But hey, for "20%-OFF", I'll get "OVER" Myself!!

MEANWHILE...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY,

SISTER-S & MOUNTIE-MAN-S!!

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The *Other* ORTS & ENDS of the Week...

I KEEP FORGETTING!! -- There's ANOTHER ITEM from "THE BOX"!!

A GREEN-15-Inch-Textured-GLASS-PLATTER... I had IT tucked away in a Plastic-Bag, behind some Other Stuff, and just kept Forgetting to Photograph IT...

WT*?!!-- IT's **BROKEN**!!?? -- HOW did *that* Happen??!!

huh. I suppose IT was just a "CHEAP"-Quality ONE after all, DESPITE ITS Appearance... oh well... I'll hang on to the FRAGMENTS for now. IT *was* an Interesting COLOUR... I'm sure that I'll be able to Find *SOME* "USEFUL"-Artsy-AFTERLIFE for IT! -- SOME Day...


ANYHOO...

EARLIER in the Week, during My various "TRAVELS", I happened into FABRICLAND... Just picked-up These 100% COTTON REMNANTS...

There's a "CLOSING-SALE" going on at THAT Location. Apparently, some Time in the AUTUMN, the rather Large BUILDING that has housed the STORE and Several OTHERS for DECADES, is to be TORN-DOWN!! -- Rumours of some "BIG-BOX"-OUTFIT moving IN abound...

IF so, I just HOPE that IT's someplace that I actually WANT to SHOP *AT*!! -- A FEW of the OTHER BUSINESSES - including FABRICLAND - were *quite* CONVENIENT to have at THAT Spot for MANY of the "LOCAL"-NEIGHBOURHOODS!!

At any rate, it'll be Intriguing to see what "THEY" do with the "MOONSCAPE"-Parking-LOT! -- No matter how OFTEN that IT's been "PAVED" over the Years, "CANYON"-Size POTHOLES are CONSTANTLY opening UP!!

THEN, when I was at MICHAEL'S on TUESDAY, I Acquired THIS STUFF for PRINCESSES'-MOM and SISTER's "Future"-BRIDAL-SHOWER-SCRAPBOOKING-*USE*...

Along with Their already "SALE"-PRICES, *Additional* COUPONS were also Utilized....

MEANWHILE, Today's "VISIT" *Enticed* Me into Purchasing These GIANT-SEVEN-Inch-"CLOTHES-PINS"! -- I got TWO of Each Colour...

I was Thinking that I could probably Use THEM for Displaying My BLANKETS..? -- A Hanging-ROD could be run through the "Coil"-Part, then placed on Hooks or Whatever...

hmm... I really NEED a DISPLAY-"BOOTH" for *ALL* of My **STUFF**!!

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