The Salmon of Doubt

Creepy little music bit. It was part of a box once. But that was broken into a billion other little bits by a running child. They were just going to throw it out, so I asked for it. They let me have it for 10 cents! That was pretty awesome. My husband can use it in a glass box for me and then it will be even more awesome.

I have a friend who knows stones and is going to take a look at it for me and tell me what it really is. They are red brown, heavy as rocks and remind me of cherries.

And one of my favorite authors is Douglas Adams. I love the Hitchhiker's Guide books, the radio program and the movie... even the Dirk Gently books and Last Chance to See. He had a lot of passion about many things and The Salmon of Doubt really lets you see behind the books. It brings the man to life in a whole other way. It isn't an autobiography, it isn't a novel, its a compilation. Things he was working on when he died. Articles he wrote. Stories about him from other people. It is a beautiful book, and I am thankful that his friends and family shared it, and really, him, with the world.

Fantastic Book

H. Rider Haggard is one of my favorite writers. This was a very good book. I only have a digital edition of it, so I have always been on the look out for hard copies. I first heard of Alan Quartermain when he was played by Sean Connery in the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. 

I wanted to find out more, and when I read that he was the subject of a whole series of books, well, I was hooked. The stories are so well written, so surprisingly modern, they could have been written last year. Instead many of them were written over a hundred years ago.

I highly recommend them.

Striking colors and a reader

Look at that color! Such interesting little cups. I suppose they are for flowers, but they are very small so I'm not sure. I have some silk poinsettias that I can stick in them for the winter. I just have to dig them out of storage.

And it may be to early to get Easter decorations, but they didn't tell the Goodwill that! Good thing too. I know this bunny originally came with a dish under him and was probably sold at the CVS for a dollar or something, but I still like him.

And another candlestick of course.

Ironstone and Good Books

I am a big fan of Piers Anthony. I love his work and I think he may be a genius. Knowing how much I love books, you may surmise that I have much of his work. You would be correct. But I didn't have these ones.

The plate will be of use to me. I was going to break it up for a project, but I may hold on to it and use it as serveware instead.

And how could I resist anything Sherlock Holmes?

Fantastic finds!

I can't tell you how much I love these books. I could probably try, but I'm not really very good at that. So all I can say is, 'Go, read!'

I was in the middle of organizing my bookshelves to try to create more room for my finds and I started to read The Lost City of Z. Just paging through it a little. I got so caught up, I lost 3 hours. Its just beautifully engaging.

I can't wait to start the other ones!

A disappointment and a good find

I'm milk-free. I choose not to eat milk products because if I do, I feel terrible. It's as simple as that.

And it sucks the big one.

So I tried this vegan cheese I found at the grocery store. I was so excited. I always am. And I am always disappointed. I keep trying, but I don't know why. The taste was mediocre, but it said it would melt. Er. My grilled cheese was a disaster. It melted to the bread, but not to itself. I put two slices on and once it was hot, the sides just fell apart. Yuck.

Had a spot of luck thrifting to make up for it. Those shoes are real suede in fabulous condition. Looks like they've never been worn. I love my big red beads and Terry Pratchett is just one of my favorite authors. So awesome!

Kinda makes up for the funky cheese...but well, I love to read and all, but I miss the hell out of cheese.

Things to read and make me happy

It's been a rough work week.

So busy. I have been kept hopping at both jobs. I stopped by the thrift last night after work. It was about 10 minutes to closing and I ran in to do a quick search for anything neat.

In books, I have been coming up mostly empty. But I found this. It is pretty interesting. I look forward to reading it in my non-existent down time.

And these are just because I love pretty glass bottles. And I always like to have some stirrers on hand. I make all kinds of drinks in the summer that I can use these with. Sangria and mojitos and hibiscus tea oh my!

Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb is a good writer. I enjoy his work. But this is the first time I've ever found a full series for $1.50. Thank you Goodwill!




And I was featured! So awesome! Thank you!

Alice and Bananas

I found this lovely brass Ankh on the shelf and knew that it had a place in my home. The bananas are a little leather change purse. They reminded me of Andy Warhol, of course. They need a zipper pull, but other than that, it's in perfect condition.

And when I saw the Alice in Wonderland copy, I knew that my thrift shopping day was complete.

When you find things with that much randomness, it's so much less than random.

What do you think the thrift universe is trying to tell me?

Sex and Gandhi

Maybe it's not sex related to Gandhi, but as it's an autobiography, and he was married.... I'll have to wait and see.

And the Prehistory of Sex looks like a spicy read as well. The Philadelphia Experiment is just an interesting subject.


Linking up today with Apron Thrift Girl, a great site I am sure anyone who visits here already knows about. Also linking up  at Blue Eyed Owl, but I can't figure out how to add your button. Sorry!

Groucho and Clover

I'm in clover! Glass clovers to be exact. I don't know the original purpose. I wish I knew. I'm going to use them for snack trays. My husband's friends play poker, maybe I can slip them into the man cave decor.

The Groucho books are all for me though. I can't wait to read what he thought about his own times. Celebrity autobiographies are among my favorite books. We already think that we know them, I want to know what we missed.

Mickey Rooney's autobiography is one of the best. Katherine Hepburn and George Burns also write some great things. My most recent favorite was Micheal J. Fox's Lucky Man. He is some kind of amazing.

Butter warmer

I think everyone needs a butter warmer in their lives. If it happens to be blue enamel, all the better.

The cheese grater will have a second life holding more of my earrings. The plate has a destiny in pieces. The book, is of course, to be read, and the Avon candle holder? I actually think that it will hold a picture.

A cork will go in the candle spot, a bit of added wire and Presto-Chango, I give you the perfect herald of spring.

 Okay. Half a cork.

A-vo-ca-do!

So I'm looking over these very nice amber teacups when a woman from the other side of the room says to no one in particular, 'What the heck is that?!' while holding up that odd green, um, implement.

I look over, as do the rest of the people in the room. No one else wants to help?

"It's an avocado slicer," I say. She looks at me like I'm crazy. Other thrifters shuffle away. 'Who would want that?' She tosses it down and walks away from housewares.

I walk over and scoop it up. Am I the only one who hates nicking my fingers while trying to slice an avocado inside it's peel?

And would you believe that I've never read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? I have read Mysterious Island, which is kind of a follow-up. So I think it's time.

These are some classics to avoid, and some to seek out. I advise seeking out Jules Verne.

Books and Flowers

This pretty little flower dish is holding some of my earrings right now. Occasionally it also holds change. It is one of the nicer plates I've been able to find.

The books here... Wow. Unseen Academicals is one of the more recent books in the series. They are expensive! But I do love them. Sometimes I will make an exception to my rule of only thrifting books and buy one every six months or so. They really are that good.

Will post some pictures this week of things I made for the Superbowl party this past weekend. I served them in thrifted dishes.

Love is Charlie Brown

So this is the book I got the hubs for valentines day. It really is as cute as it looks. The wine bottle is a great serving tray. More for like pretzels and chips, because there is cute paint all over it. Tonight I filled it with honey roasted sesame rice sticks. 

The zebra sock made it's way into a bridal shower gift this past weekend. The pins are little gold trees and you may not be able to see the little red rhinestones in them for apples. I picked them up so I could give one to a teacher friend. Her union has been on strike recently and she really needs some support. She's a great teacher and has been getting a lot of flack from the parents over things she has no control over. (Hope I see her soon, it's been awhile) 

The Mongol Horde

My friend had a birthday in early december. But he's been out of the country for school. So when he recently came home for a visit, I was so excited to give him the present I've been saving for him.

It's a children's book from the 1950s. And it falls perfectly into his area of study. I thought of him immediately when I saw it and would've bought it for him even if there was no birthday or holiday coming up. Sometimes things just speak to me that way.

These just said take me home.

But I thought they looked awesome with the book, so I gave him one and kept the other. Turkish scimitar letter openers. How does life get better?

Last Christmas

Last Christmas, we had just moved into our new apartment. We love it here now, but then it was still a little empty. 

My husband is the best husband ever.

He bought me a bookcase for Christmas. As you can see, we filled it up in short order. I put all my most valuable, oldest and most rare books into it.

It has since filled up with even more books and all my best knick-knacks. It's one of the best presents I've ever gotten.

Aw....

I have a MOOSE!!! 

I have pretty much not much else to say about these items. They are christmas-y. They are awesome!

Merry Christmas!

Things I am not giving away

I do not have kids. I am not going to have kids for a few more years. I have friends who are having kids left and right. I have found all sorts of awesome things for them at the thrift stores, clothes especially!

These items are not for any of my friends. These things are for me.

Don't tell my mother. She'll get way too excited. But I do plan on having kids. Just not for a few years. It would be to the benefit of everyone if we had a way to pay for diapers and rent when the time comes.

It doesn't mean that I can't plan.

I love the Beatrix Potter series. It's creative, charming, and full of all sorts of characters who believe that it is most important to be nice to each other. And I think that is the most important lesson of all. If you instill a desire to be nice to other people and considerate of their feelings, that person will be pleasant to be around.

Now if only these snow globes were as easy to photograph as the decision to keep them locked away in a box in the attic.

My eventually box is filled with ornaments for the day I have a full sized christmas tree, and baby things. It also has some things my grandmother left me. Her pearls that need to be repaired and her thimble collection. The rest of the box is devoted to baby things. These will go next to the cute outfits I've picked up over the last few years.

But this set is just beautiful.

Santas or Fat Bearded Men?

I know they are Santas....but they are so cute I may put them out early. But right now is too early. But these guys will probably be the first out of the christmas drawer.

Yes, that is a very full suitcase. I have already taken the stars apart to use as bookcase decor. They stand up better when they are flat on one side. They fit right in next to the Xanth books. And I had to pick up the jar. I always need to pick up a jar.

The glass string that didn't show up well is a bunch of nesting, tinkling bells. Very pretty. The other bell is crazy. The handle fits right in you hand so you can whang it back and forth fairly hard. Must have been a school bell. I'm not sure who the little man is, but he reminds me Ichabod Crane. I know he doesn't look so much like it, but I think it's the long limbs. He looks nice nestled next to my Closet monster and mummy man.

And the suitcase. Isn't it a beauty. I'll have to see if I can find some keys though. Then it would be much more useful.