YARNing to SALE 2 the HEART of ART...

I COULD'VE BOUGHT A COUPLE MORE...

BUT, I would have gone WAY *over* "BUDGET"!! -- And then, there's that *LACK* of WALL-SPACE Issue...

Anyhoo, BEFORE We had wandered on over to that ESTATE-SALE Yesterday, We made a QUICKIE-STOP over to The SALLY-ANN. -- I wanted to CHECK-OUT the AUCTION LISTING. Several NEW-ITEMS had arrived Last Week, but I *couldn't* get a GOOD-Look at THEM, *Then*! - We weren't going to the AUCTION, however, I did want to SEE "WHAT"
I would have "Missed"!

AS IN, a FEW rather NICE "NAUTICAL" PAINTINGS! - Though, still a tad too Pricey...
-- We MOVED ON...

AFTER the ESTATE-SALE - and, on the WAY to TRAINYARDS - We stopped-by for a Short-Bit at Our FRIEND, BOB-THE-BUYER and His FAMILY at Their semi-Monthly CURBSIDE-SALE.

BOB buys and sells LOTS of ANTIQUE & ESTATE "TRINKETS" & CURIOS...

I'm thinking that He was likely a PAWN-BROKER in a "PREVIOUS"-LIFE

-- As I, was likely a CURATOR in at least TWO!!

He also, Posts TERRIFIC SALE-"SIGNS"!! -- NEON-GREEN, *Every* BLOCK - stating how Many Blocks "to go" in CLEAR READABLE-While-You-Drive-By-SCRIPT!

ANYWAY... He had a Few PAINTINGS that Caught My EYE... However, I just settled on the "ABOVE" 8x10-Inch ONE for $5. -- [Which I Suspect, might have been BELOW His *COSTS*?!]

He really Likes Us, and is always Offering Us STUFF *AT-"COST"*!
- A "Courtesy" that I try *not* to "abuse"...





So. I couldn't Find a "Date" on the PIECE, but from the Condition of the FRAMING and CANVAS-BACKING,
I think *over* 30-Years would be a "SAFE-BET"..?


-- Actually, at some point That FRAME *will* be getting TRASHED!



We only "Pilgrimaged" at MICHAEL'S for about an Hour... I just got - [SEE BELOW] - ONE BALL of PURPLE ROVING... Afterward, We headed to the ST.LAURENT MALL - I had a few Errands to do There...

Like, *finally* getting around to "Cashing-IN" My HBC-Points! -- Needless to say, I did a bit of "SHOPPING" LATER... BUT, *NOT* to Worry! - I *still* have MONEY "Left" on that HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY *GIFT CARD*!!

As We were heading to a CHECKOUT-COUNTER, We passed a "DISCOUNT-TABLE" of DISHWARE...

These TWO 4-INCH HEART-DISHES were just sitting there... Looking LONELY... I checked the STICKER. The PRICE was "Right". AND, THEY *were* from PORTUGAL... I really DIDN'T "NEED" THEM!

I walked away about 20-Feet... oh! what-the-hell! -- I SPUN *around* BACK and Snatched THEM UP! - After all, it was *just* the TWO of THEM... About to end up being for "FREE"!

-- HOW could I, Say "NO"?!

NEXT... We headed to a *Certain* ART-"SHOPPE", that shall remain Nameless! AS, Their "SALES"-PRICES really AREN'T *so* much!!

Their YARN was "20%-OFF"... Which, was still about 4% *ABOVE* MICHAEL'S -

[Who really *aren't* Noted for Their LOW "REGULAR"-PRICES, either.

Honestly, other than the FANTASTIC-STAFF and YARN-INVENTORY,

IT's Their SALES and COUPONS that keeps Me coming back!]

 - *REGULAR*-PRICE!?!

However, THEY also have a Couple of COLOURS that I haven't seen at MICHAEL'S... yet...

So, seeing as I had been getting BARGAINS and FREEBIES all Day, I decide to *SPLURGE* on These TWO BALLS of YELLOW!!

I think it was Those HEARTS that MADE Me *DO* IT!!

We FINISHED the Day with GROCERY-GETTING...

MEANWHILE, *Nothing* of NOTE for Today! -- Just the USUAL "SUNDAY-CHORES"...

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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*!!

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

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

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*BOOKS!* *BOOKS!* *BOOKS!* Oooo! LOOK!! *MORE* BOOKS!!

GEEZ! AFTER 40-YEARS OF WORKING IN LIBRARIES, YOU'D THINK THAT I'D NEVER WANT TO SEE *ANOTHER* BOOK?! - huh?

-- a 14-Inch-High-35-*PLUS*-Pounds-*STACK*-of-16-"REFERENCE"-TOMES Later...

nuts! - I *hope* there aren't any DOUBLES..? -- I really DO *need* to make a "BIBLIO-LIST"... ugh! "Cataloguing"... crap!

okay. sooo... LONG-STORY-PROBABLY-NOT-SO-SHORT... There was an ESTATE-SALE in BEACON HILL. Again.

MOST of the "STUFF" was Outside. -- THEY were only letting in a Few-People at a Time *into* THE HOUSE - We never did bother... Besides, I probably would have just been *too* TEMPTED to SPEND *more* MONEY!!

Anyhoo... "The-HUSBAND" had Passed-Away a Few Years back - [apparently He had been a SCIENTIST who used to Work for the *same* Government-Department that I used to!] - and "The-WIFE", who was 89, had Recently moved into "A HOME"... "The-FAMILY" was DOWN-SIZING!

As it turns out, THEY had a somewhat LARGE "Informative" LIBRARY!

The Laneway held SEVERAL *FULL* Bookshelving-UNITS... The Majority of My "HAUL" was from ONE-Bottom-Shelf. -- THAT was My "FIRST-LOAD"! And, a bit of a struggle to handle... IT's been a WHILE... Of course, IT was a Foot-High-25-Pound-"BAD"-ARM-*FULL*!!

Not to mention, the rather lovely MILKGLASS VASE that I was Trying *NOT* to Drop!! -- I'll Post a Pic of That, Tomorrow... As well as, of the OTHER *COOL* STUFF that I GOT Today!

The "SECOND-LOAD" was about a third *less*..? -- whatever... The BACKSEAT of The CAR looked like the Interior of a BOOK-MOBILE!! -- hmm...

Meanwhile, for the MEAGER Investment of $16., I'm certain that I've Acquired a FORTUNE of KNOWLEDGEABLE BIBLIO-ness!! -- Now, I just HAVE to "Live" LONG enough to get *through* THEM ALL!!

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CHINTZY on the CHEAP...

"WHY?" I BOUGHT THEM... [seeing as I am, *more* into "SEASCAPES"..]

• honestly?! That 50-Cent-EACH Price certainly *didn't* TWIST My *BAD-ARM* the "WRONG"-Way!!
• They'll go well with My "COLLECTIONS" of FLORAL NEEDLEWORK CANVASSES and FABRIC REMNANTS. And, GLASS... CERAMICS... Little WOODEN BOXES... TINS... - [btw, just STOP Me at *any* Time here!] - VINTAGE FURNITURE... That B&B I'll never Own and aren't "Domestic" enough to Operate *anyway*!!
• You know, I just Remembered... I have an ANTIQUE TIN that I'd gotten off of My Late-PATERNAL-GRANDMOTHER Decades ago that *would* also MATCH!!
• Besides, with *better* Frames, Their diminutive 8x10-Inch size will make Them even more "DECORATIF"..?
• DON'T need to be "Watered".
• and, oh yeah, did I mention..? *50-CENTS Each*!!

Meanwhile, This 6-Inch SUNFLOWER TIN-BOX only set Me back 25-Cents.


-- Just a little "COUNTRY"-CHINTZ!



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"NEEDED": WALL-*SPACE*!!

THAT ART-"CURATION"-GENE WAS ON THE *SHOP-FARI* AGAIN...

Being TEMPTED by the Several Worthy CANDIDATES for My "5. & UNDER"-THRIFTY-ORIGINAL-ART-COLLECTION that had crossed My PATH Today...

Alas, as ALLURING as THOSE TWO "$6.99" Ones at The SALLY-ANN were, They also had a tad TOO Much "MINOR-DAMAGE" and GRIME to make *Exception* to My current COST-"Criteria"... A Pity... One was actually on the OLDER side and from ENGLAND!

No matter... I made up it with The ABOVE WORK...

BTW, Remember LITTLE-OLD-ASIAN-NEIGHBOUR-LADY from Several Weeks ago..? - [SEE 19MAY2013 POST] - Well, We were Back THERE again...

Actually, She's had a Few MORE SALES since Then... We didn't get Anything at Them, BUT, *should* HAVE - MOTHER keeps harping about the Small-POWER-HAND-SAW that They had Last Week which She had Passed on!

Whatever... THIS was Where I had Picked-Up The PAINTING for $5. - after "Negotiations"...

MOTHER - [a Former ARTIST and somewhat Skilled-COPYIST] - *hates* IT! And, to be Honest, I'm not exactly *drooling* over IT, either... HOWEVER, IT *is* almost 60-Years-Old and in FAIR-Condition... LOCALLY Done, and, well, You know... "$5."! -- Besides, I don't believe that MOTHER has ever been a great "Fan" of the "IMPRESSIONIST"-Style anyway.

At any rate, "WHENEVER" the Day comes that I can Display "THE COLLECTION", THIS ONE will nevertheless "BLEND-IN" just Nicely with The OTHERS...

LATER ON, over at The SALLY-ANN, They were having Their MONTHLY-AUCTION.
-- We didn't Stay, as We still had OTHER-Stuff to do... Although, upon reflection, I Wish that We HAD! - As there had been a LARGE "Rural Winter" PIECE that had Caught My Attention which had been MIS-Numbered, with NO "Paperwork" in the AUCTION BOOK!

I really would have liked to have Known *HOW* Much IT had eventually gone FOR! -- IT would have made a rather Lovely "DECORATIVE"-Piece... AND, have went well with a Couple of My Previous - [SEE 15SEP2012 POST] - *ACQUISITIONS*!  - nuts!

Then again, I probably *wouldn't* have been ABLE to FIT IT "into" THE CAR!! - Not to mention, PAST FATHER!

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hmm... IF I had Another ONE...

...I COULD PROBABLY MAKE A BENCH..? -- IT would certainly be STRONG enough!

Anyhoo, THIS WINE-RACK was My ONLY YARD-SALE-FIND-of-the-Day! -- From $5., I got IT down to $3.50!


Made of Quarter-Inch-CHROME, IT weighs a TON! -- I don't own any WINE, but at *that* Price and Sturdy-Design, I couldn't "pass" IT UP!! - Besides, I was Thinking that I could probably Incorporate IT into My CRAFT-SHOW TABLE DISPLAY..??









Whatever... I'm sure that I'll come up with SOME "USE"!





Meanwhile...

We only Found TWO SALES and an "ESTATE" One... THAT Place had Several VINTAGE Pieces of WELL-WORN FURNITURE. And, ARTWORK - which, for the most part, *wasn't* in the Best of Conditions... A lot of "Moisture"-Damage.

Overall, the Items weren't nearly as well-kept as Those from that Last ESTATE-SALE of a Couple of Weeks ago - [SEE 06JUL2013 POST] - Not to mention, MANY of Today's Offerings were on the Pricey-Side... Although, there were a Couple of ARCHITECTURAL "Elements" that had caught My Eye. BUT, were not "Removable"... nuts!

Afterward, We headed for LOBLAWS for some *FREE CAKE* - [because IT was "NO-TAXES-DAY"] - and, so MOTHER could a bit of BOTANICAL-"RESCUE" at Their GARDEN-CENTER's "Closing"-SALE... For $1.50, We HALF-Filled the TRUNK.

**THANKFULLY**, however, NO WAY near AS much as a Few Years ago! - [SEE 25JUL2010 POST] -- WHEW!!

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After TWO-Weeks of "TOIL & BROIL"...

NOW, IT'S "SHOP & *BAKE*"!! -- We're beginning to get the HUMIDEX "Equivalent" in DIRECT *HEAT* THIS Week...

BTW, "I checked" - We were just ABOVE HONOLULU's TEMPS Today!! -- **MINUS** the BEACH and SURF and TRADEWINDS and the New Season of *HOT*-HUNKY-"HAWAII FIVE-0"-GUYS Production starting-up...

[..I *REALLY* need to get a PASSPORT!!]

ANYHOO...

We hit a Couple of YARD-SALES in BEACON HILL - that were *still* OPEN!

For $3. - I couldn't RESIST THIS *ANTIQUE* Bit of STONEWARE!! -- NICE-YARD-SALE-LADY was Selling IT for Her ELDERLY-AUNT, Who had gotten IT from Her PARENTS... IT's *Definitely* a CENTURY-Old!

Despite the LACK of HALLMARKS, except for a *Y* "DATE"-CODE, and after spending a Few Hours of RESEARCH, I've Determined that IT was Made by "PEARSON's" of CHESTERFIELD [ENGLAND]. Although, I've YET to nail down a DATE...

As to "WHAT" IT is... According to *My* Belief and GENERAL-CONSENSUS, IT's a BED-WARMING HOT-WATER BOTTLE. -- HOWEVER, there is *also* a "possibility" that IT might actually be an EARLY-Version of a "POP"-Type Bottle..?? - As for "Fizzy"-Beverages like Ginger-Beer..? - [a.k.a. a "SHANDY" - which would be fitting, as That's My Nickname!!]

WHATEVER. -- IT's *OLD*! And surprisingly, *still* FUNCTIONAL! - As a HOT-WATER BOTTLE! - OR, as a DOORSTOP... PAPER-WEIGHT... ANCHOR... [IT weighs about 5-plus POUNDS! EMPTY!!]

Anyway, We've been to This Location before... ACTUALLY, it was after Buying some Old YARN There 3-YEARS ago, that I became "Motivated" to START *KNITTING* again a Year Later!! - [SEE 05JAN2012 POST]

MEANWHILE, at the OTHER SALE - [that was right *across* the Street from *where* SISTER-S Last Lived in OTTAWA] - I picked up THIS SHINY ALUMINUM LAMP for $5.!

-- I would have "Haggled" the Price DOWN, but THEY were running a "FUND-RAISER"... And, IT's in Great Condition! AND, "goes" with *STUFF*... BTW, did I Mention My "fondness" for buying LAMPS..? - [We need more *OUTLETS*...]

AFTERward, We popped into The SALLY-ANN for Quickie-Peruse... NO Purchases, either. - Though, I did *consider* a Couple of PAINTING that were OVER My "THRIFTY-ART" Budget.

Some Minor-GROCERY-GETTING Next... Then, HOME! - An Hour EARLIER than "Usual"!? -- Well, it was 110F in THE CAR... with the Windows FULLY-OPEN!

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Leaving a Legacy of THRIFTY-*LOVING*!

*MANY* A TIME, IN MY "EXPERIENCE", the FINAL-Bargained-Down-Agreed-Upon-PRICE of a "THRIFTY-TREASURE" is *more* often than not, Achieved with My PROMISE that Said-OBJECT "...WILL be *LOVED*!" -- EVEN, if IT ends up being Packed-Away for DECADES!

AS usual, We didn't Leave until LATE! - [12:30!!] - There was that Large "Charity" YARD-SALE a few Streets over... I got a Few ITEMS. But, I'll save THEM for Tomorrow.

After, a Few Other Stops on Our Way to BEACON HILL around 2:30-ish, We got Lucky and found ONE *still* OPEN! -- A NICE-30s-SOMETHING-LADY and Her TEENAGED-DAUGHTERS...

Where, I picked up THIS "TOLL"-PAINTING for $2...

IT's been done on a WOOD-PLANK that was supposed to be atop of an UNfinished Bench... Since IT wasn't "attached", She KINDLY let Me have IT. - The PIECE, along with Several Other ONES had been Painted by Her MOTHER...

Personally, as Pleased as I am to *have* and Cherish IT, I find it Disconcerting that The-GIRLS wouldn't want to "Preserve" ANY of Their GRANDMOTHER's rather Skillful WORKS!? -- Doubtless, in a Couple of Decades from Now, They'll probably be Wishing that They HAD!

NEXT, We continued on a TRAIL of ORANGE "ESTATE SALE" SIGNS... And, the Day's "GOLD-MINE" of *TREASURES*!!

Although, the PLACE had been "picked-over", the Remaining Items still gave Evidence of a Home that had been - [mostly metaphorically] - RICH in ART and CULTURE. -- I came across a Formal NAVAL-OFFICER's Dinner Jacket in one of the open Closets. Which, explained the "Source" of many of the House's more "EXOTIC" Items and READING Material...

There were Lots and LOTS of BOOKS! And, SOMEONE was also a KNITTER - [I'll have "Stitchy"-Type Pics Tomorrow] - and a Lover of the NEEDLE ARTS...

As indicated by THIS *AWESOME* FOLIO BOX of *Actual Size* PATTERNS!! - IT's Dated from 1963. The Heavily-Papered Contents are in Excellent Condition! -- For ANYONE into Replicating AMERICAN "Historical" Needle and Textile Crafting, THIS is a MOTHER-LODE of INFO!

And, of course, MORE Additions to MY ART-"LIBRARY"!

Plus, THIS Addition to My "REFERENCE"-LIBRARY... The TOME literally contains a TON of Biological Knowledge, AND *WEIGHS* as much!!

So... And how MUCH was This STACK-of-STUFF..?? -- well... Along with MORE STUFF - [that I'll show Tomorrow] - IT *ALL* came to JUST "$5."!!

THEN, as I was Paying for IT, I noticed THIS PAINTING on the Wall...

Despite being Originally Priced at $18., and since the PLEASANT-ESTATE-AGENT-LADY Liked Me - [MOTHER had been Chatting Her up!] - an Offer of $9. was made... Which, "normally", I would have GLADLY Paid...

HOWEVER, I *REALLY* wanted to ADHERE to My LIMIT on My "$5.-and-Under"-THRIFTY-ORIGINAL-ART-COLLECTION... I "mentioned" Such, with the added Incentive, "...IT'll be LOVED..."

...By Me, and hopefully, ALL of YOU as well?!

Now, I just NEED to *FIND* some WALL "SPACE"... And/Or, PROGENY *willing* to Properly CONTINUE The LEGACY..?!

Speaking of My MUNCHKINS...

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEP-NEPH-PRETEEN**!!

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