Estate Sale Fun!

Whew!  I am I exhausted!  Today has been a very busy day and full of sooo much fun!  I started out my morning with a 3 mile walk with my neighbor.  We are both really trying to stay committed to our walks but only manage about 3 days a week.  She works and and has a young daughter with a very active schedule.  I am so thankful for the days that we can make it.  I really should do more on my own but just can't seen to commit to it like I should.   But I feel good that I was committed to it enough to put our walk before my trip to the estate sale.

Yes, that's right, we had a local estate sale in our community that was advertised online on FB.  It is going to be a two day tag sale.  I was so happy to hear that!  I really don't do auctions, too nerve wracking!  This company actually had already posted pictures online of items available for sale and many people where asking prices and they were giving them out.  I was thinking Oh no, this is going to be a out of my league!  I had already spotted a few things online I was really interested in but thought for sure they would be gone by the time I got there and that there would be many resale professionals who would beat me to the door anyway.  So, I really didn't worry too much about it and went on my morning walk and got there about 9:30am.  The sale started about 8:00.  I knew the room I wanted to find right off from the pictures so I went to that room first and dug right in!  Here are my treasures!

The very first thing I picked up was this beautiful white ceramic soup tureen.  I have wanted one of these after seeing all the lovely soup tureens everyone else has in blogland.  I saw this online with the sale pictures they advertised and set out to get it. The online photos were only whole room shots without any closeup photos.  I was really hoping this would be all that I was imaging it was.

I certainly think it was and more!  I thought for sure it would be too expensive, but it was marked $10.00 so I immediately picked it up.  An older gentlemen had leaned over to look at the price when I was picking it up and then he turned to his wife and said, "Well, she just got it!"  The wife said, how much was it?"  When he told her she said, "Well I guess so that was a good deal!"  I was so pleased to get this!

It is quite large to say the least.  Perfect condition with no chips and the ladle!  It has raised vegetables on the lid and vine or stem like handles.  It would actually hold and serve a nice pot of soup!  I love it!  Here's the markings on the bottom!  Italy...oohh la la!

Well the next thing I picked up is not the next thing I wanted!  I was holding back!  So I wandered around and saw this cute little table clothe for $3.00.  Of course if you follow me at all you know I love plaids of any kind and so this I had to have.

Then the next thing I got was actually part of a set, but priced separately.  There was a matching smaller pot too!  I noticed a crack in that pot so I only got this larger one.  It was $6.00 with the plant included.  Now if you have ever priced nice pots and plants you know that was a steal!

Ooops!  Sorry I just realized it's not part of the original goods photos but I never even brought it in today.  I set it down on the back deck in it's new home right away!

Okay, now it's time for the final purchase from this sale!  It was sitting next to the soup tureen with several other matching pieces.  I also saw this online and wanted to check these out as well.  I even left the sale and drove away then turned around and went back to get it! Yes, you guessed it, it's rooster #3!

Rooster # 3 is beautiful and Fitz and Floyd no less!  I was so excited to see that these were F&F as I actually have several F&F Christmas pieces that I adore!  I hedged on this because it was $15.00.  I thought that was a good deal but need the reassurance!  It is actually a pitcher and stands 13" tall!  Not a chip or scratch on it either.  There was a matching coffee pot for $15.00 and the salt & peppers for $10.00 that I passed on.

My big dilemma here is there were also some very large Woodland Bunnies by F&F that I held back on!  I really keep thinking I need to go back tomorrow and try and claim one if it's still there.  Should I, or should I just ride it out!  The bunnies would be used once a year but would add so much to the rest of my F&F pieces and are so cute! I have already spent more then I wanted to so I am so torn!

Well, let's move back a few days this week to the day I went out with my mom to an antique store.  They were loaded with so many pretty china sets but I wasn't looking for that and was just browsing.  However, I couldn't pass up these sweeties for $1.75 each.

I just fell in love with the pattern and the price!  They are actually very sturdy tin bowls.  There were 3, but one was slightly scratched so I passed it by.  The check out lady was so surprised to see these for this price she jumped when I told her there was still one more I didn't want.  She immediately went back to get it for herself.  LOL!  These pictures really do not do these bowls justice!

The bottom of the bowls are stamped with this!  It says, Daher Decorated Ware.  1971  Designed by Daher, Long Island - NY 11101 Made in England, REGD. DES 951942.

I'm not sure what that means but it looked good to me!  LOL!

That's my great deals this week!  What do think, pretty sweet huh?

No!  Wait!  I got a few more excellent deals today! I almost forgot to tell ya!  I told you I was exhausted earlier because I spent the rest of the day shopping some more.  I am going to bend the rules on this blog party just a bit and show you this retail deal too!  You just have to see these to good to be true finds!

Yes, this is not a mistake! I bought these today! And what a deal!

I got this warrior trident from Party City..originally $9.99 for only $2.39!

And these two pieces of fabric from Hancock Fabrics clearance remnants for only $1.28 cents total after tax! Can you believe that? They were only .49 cents a yard.This black piece is slightly less then 2 yards and the red one is slightly less then a half of a yard.

Now , I know what you are thinking!  Has she lost her mind?  Has she gone goth!  NO!  But I will only tell you this...it has to do with a little fun we are having this weekend at the Sailing Club!  I can't tell you more then that as I hope to do another post on this.  So you'll just have to come back next week!  My point in showing you was this, how lucky is it when you actually need something this off the wall to go in and find what you are looking for on clearance!  That doesn't happen often but when it does.  Woohoo!

I hope you can see how great my day was!  Please let me know what you think of these deals!  I love to hear from you!  So leave me a comment, okay?  Also please be sure and check out more great finds at the following linky parties...you will be amazed!

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/ at Garage Salen

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ at Nifty Thrify Tuesday

Green and White Tablescape

Good Morning!  Today the sun is shining brightly and the temps are still fairly low yet!  I am feeling happy to still have an extra table to do outdoor settings after loosing my umbrella table, so I have decided to do a green and white table scape.  I have been very inspired by so many of you that I can't help but join in on all the fun.

 I know there is much to be proud about when being original and unique.  However, I hope most of you do not mind when someone borrows your ideas and uses them in their own way.  I am all about giving credit where it is due, but I am not sure I remember who had the first green and white setting that I saw, but I loved it!  I loved it so much it stuck with me!  I know this is probably not a new concept to most of you who regularly table scape, but it is to me.  I would have never thought of pulling a setting together in this way, using certain colors only.

 That concept has added a whole new dimension of table setting for me!  Really!  I have always thought of decorating a table with what you have but not so much in terms of themes and colors.  I mean I have always tried to purchase things for my table that coordinate but have not done alot of mixing and matching.  Now that I'm blogging and joining in on all the fun it's added so much more to my creative side and I just love it!  So thank you to whomever did the first green and white table setting and to all of you who have followed suit and posted your beautiful settings!  I hope you will enjoy mine as well.

I started with this older green and white tablecloth.  My sister in law gave me this years ago during one of her garage sales.  I loved the way this looked like lattice to me.  It is one of my favorites even though it is well into fading now.  Let's move in a little closer!

 Then I added my centerpiece items.

English Ivy and a small cloche on silver

In a beautiful lime green pot.

Yes, this needs polishing big time, but I liked the varnish look for this casual setting

A green candle sits in a crystal votive sitting in milk glass.

I  am loving this place setting, so pretty!

It began with my white everyday plates with embossed fruit from Gibson. 

Then added my white monogrammed linen napkins.

 I topped it off with my green and white plastic salad plates from the Better Homes and Gardens collection at Walmart and clear footed fruit bowls.

I added crystal goblets and my silver plated stainless flatware, Louisiana by Oneida.

 

For serving fruit for two I added this sweet crystal bowl given to me by my best friend.  It has florals and sweet little butterflies etched in the side.  I also used our monogrammed tea towel and the matching flatware serving pieces.

I hope you also noticed I chose the greenest location I could find to set up this table!

I hope you enjoyed my green and white table scape today, set amongst my beautiful green plants.

This was so much fun setting up! 

I am joining http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Tablescape Thursday.

Be sure and check out more beautiful settings from the link above!

Have a great day!

Mary

Unusual Weather

Wow!  Have we had some crazy weather lately!  The last few days we have had records highs just topping triple digits at 100 degrees, with heat index's even higher!  Although we live in the south this is not expected yet so soon!  It has been hot and oppressive and dangerous!  I was going to show you how we spent the weekend trying to beat the heat.  However, I have to fill you in on the moment first.  Right now our temperature is at 78 degrees after getting 2.5 inches of rain from a thunder and hail storm.


  After a late afternoon of antiquing with my Mother today, I returned home at the end of a lightening storm.  My first clue something wasn't right was when I pulled up to find my big beautiful blue umbrella in the driveway!  I was in a panic when I saw that the pole was only half the size it was supposed to be!  Luckily it had only come off the second part of the pole and was looking pretty rumpled but not broken.   Unfortunately I cannot same the same for my table.  This is what I returned home too...

As you can see there's the second part of my umbrella, still in the stand.  I can only assume it became air born and lifted the table which stayed behind with a big CRASH!

My chairs were scattered about too!  Luckily this is the only damage we had!  I have been wanting a new table so I guess this means the hunt is on! 

Now back to my original post!  What do you do when it's miserably hot?  I spent part of the day sitting around the house as usual whining about how hot it is and how we do not have a pool.  That is, until the Mr. told me to pack it up we were going on the lake.  Fortunately there was a small enough breeze to make it less miserable then sitting in my back yard and the water was exceptionally comfortable when the breeze died down and we jumped in. 

This past weekend our club was hosting our annual Thistle Regatta.  These are smaller racing sailboats.  This particular fleet has a large following of dedicated sailors who travel these regattas from state to state.  This year was our smallest turnout of only 17 boats total.  They guessed it was due to the heat as most of those who travel to our club usually camp out for the weekend.  They had a great time and were able to get in all their races despite the heat.  Here's a few photos of their last race on Saturday from our perspective on our boat.

 I apologize for the photos but I have a real problem taking these photos when our boat is bobbing up and down in the water.  Additionally when the sun is shining I cannot see what my lens is focused on so it's a gamble at best.

These are the Thistles going down wind with their colorful spinnakers out!

I love seeing these colorful sails!

The pontoon in the middle is holding our race committee members.

I am very pleased to see I actually was able to get any shots at all.  I literally could not see what I was shooting!

This is towards the end of the race as they were dropping sails and some were being towed back in.  The Thistles do not have motors to cruise back in when they are finished and usually sail in if weather permits.

They are pretty boats and fun to watch but a bit too small and tight for me!  I like my leg room!

After they left we jumped in the lake, cooled off, turned on our motor and headed back home.

I am joining http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ for Outdoor Wednesday!  Please be sure and visit the link above for more Outdoor fun!

I love hearing from you, be sure and let me know if you stopped by.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday Everyone!

Stay cool!

Mary