Thrifty Thursday

Gentle Friends, once again we were out and about "thrifting" over the weekend.  I found a few fun things and something I've looked for on and off for a long time.....

... here's a snap of the haul... from the top... a fun little toy from "Nightmare Before Christmas" of Lock, Shock and Barrel in their tub going after Sandy Claws - I do love that film...  it is sitting on a super redware plate with some great slipware flowers, and although its really not me, I think this is a great plate... now what to do with it???....  We got to a couple of Estate Sales and I found a hanging cast iron receipt holder - and the prize of the day was a nice miniature portrait - and although it was broken in two (being painted on white glass), it was the frame I was after.......  and here's the story...

.....  I've had two of these miniatures since we broke up my mom's house a few years ago.  The one of my mother in the "new" frame I've had since we broke up my grand parents house over a decade ago, it was in a less than attractive leather frame and I've been looking for years for one that - 1) fit and 2) I liked and 3) could afford.....  it all came together on Saturday in this frame.... so now I have out the set of three, my mom, my grandmother and great grandmother......

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Thrifty Thursday

Gentle Friends, over the weekend, which were two lovely sunny days here by the Bay, there were 3 Estate sales to visit - and my regular Thrift/Consignment stores.....  can we say "in Hog Heaven!!"  Although two of the sales were a bust the third and last one we got to was gigantic.  There was a ton of stuff and a ton of folks shopping.  I found some fun things......

.....  there were 100's of books to see and sift through with bookshelves everywhere....  The book about the Atoche is really nice as it is signed by the Head Conservator and the head archaeologist, both talking about all the support given to the search - I am guessing that the person who's stuff we were all pawing through was an investor. I was really excited to find the great matryoshka of the Czars and Czarina of Russia.....  I saw it on Saturday but it was far to expensive so I left it knowing that Sunday was 1/2 price day..... I went back on Sunday and I thought someone had already bought it, but after searching around I found it in a back pantry and totally snapped it up!

.......here are the 7 dolls unstacked/nested.....  Peter the Great, Emperor from 1721 - 1725, Catherine II The Great, Empress from 1762 - 1796, Paul I, Emperor from 1796 - 1801, Alexander II, Emperor from 1801-1825, Nicholas I, Emperor from 1825 -1855, Alexander III, Emperor from 1855 - 1881 and Nicholas II, Emperor from 1881 - 1917...... when I was paying at the check out card table the woman running the register asked about my ""Shakespeare" Russian Thing".......  I saw it as a teaching opportunity so I quickly explained who each person was and after a few minutes of what I thought was really interesting information I could see her eyes glazing over...... I do love Russian Imperial history!!  I guess Peter the Great could be mistaken from the Bard of Avon......... but then again maybe not.  I do love matroyshkas and especially when they are on the unusual side.

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There you go sports fans, more fun stuff  - or as I've heard around my house lately... "more stuff to dust".....  thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Love is Something Big and Shiny!!!

Gentle Friends, last weekend, that four extravaganza of laziness, started off with breakfast out at the Red Cafe - and then it was off to an Estate Sale.  Most Estates Sales here by the Bay begin on Friday and go through the weekend.  Since I work M-F I can't get to them until Saturday. Being off on a Friday allowed me to get to the only one going last week on day 1...... the sale was on the small side, but there were a few stand out things.......

 .....  as we walked in I saw the 3 part meat dome ( the three parts are 1) warming tray for hot water, 2) the actual well and tree platter and 3) the dome cover with handle) and just plotzed, you know how I love silver and this gorgeous thing just yelled "take me home"......  but it had a big price, that I couldn't swing, so I looked around and found a few fun things....  the wedding ring quilt, the great little piece of bright cut glass, and the silver bread tray. Even as I was paying and leaving I was drawn to the big silver behemoth sitting behind Ernie the cashier guy......

Saturday came and we ran around to the thrift and consignment shops, finding only the double disc Special Edition of "Independence Day."  Then I thought, why not ride back over to the Estate Sale and see if "it" had been sold.  We arrived and it was still there, after hemming and hawing for about 45 minutes Bill, the Estate Sale rep,  finally hit me with a price I just couldn't pass on, and this beauty came home to live at my house.  The verbal provenance that came with it  - that is was purchased at the Estate Sale of Eleanor Roosevelt's things when she died in 1962.  Now, I take that with a grain of salt, but it is a fun fact, true or not.  

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Thrifting Thursday

Gentle Friends, its almost the end of the week and the heat here by the Bay is going to break this afternoon.  I was watching the news before leaving this morning and the cool ocean breezes are pushing onto land in the next few hours and we'll be back in the 60's quickly!!  It was 98 in my car, SoMA, at 2:00pm yesterday and 68 in the car this morning - but, it has been two three days since I've had on a sweatshirt.

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Saturday was a lovely day, bright and sunny, with the prospect of the regular thrifting we do, there was also the prospect of a few estate sales to pop in on......  I found a few choice bits.....

from l to r - a great divided relish/sauce dish of cut crystal (Heisey) with a sterling, gadrooned foot, a split oak "buttocks" egg basket, a Longaberger basket, an aluminum kitchen utensil, an R&B silver nut dish and a copy of "A Visit from St Nicholas/Night Before Christmas" in Spanish......

... the divided dish I found at one of the estate sales, and it was a piece that I thought was priced a little on the high side, so I walked away from it on Saturday.  After Mass, then a quick breakfast and a stop at Trader Joe's on Sunday, I was still thinking about it.........  I knew that everything that was left at the sale would be half price, so I drove on over and it was still sitting in the dinning room so I snapped it up for a super price.

I have been asked by more than a couple of folks what I do with all the "stuff" I pick up at sales and thrifting.  A very valid question, most of the things I just live with for a while.  After that I make the descisioin to keep a few things the rest of the stuff..... I divest myself of either through local dealers I know or pass things on or just sell things outright on the Bay of Evil. I usually don't pay too much for things and get quite a few bargains, so it is amazing what a tidy little extra income I can generate on eBay by just staying within my comfort zone of knowledge.

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Thrifty Thursday

Gentle Friends, it is a dry Thursday here by the Bay... yesterday it was a drippy, wet day, and just rain, rain and a little more rain.  Not a very hard downpour but steady - and really refreshing.  I do love rainy days!!  On the way home from work I had a follow up at the Doctors, and since the "stone" hasn't moved (I was doubled up with it Monday evening) and I am still screening...... and nothing has "popped out" yet, I am now going on to see a Urologist, my life just gets funner and funner doesn't it!!!  

If that wasn't the high point of the day, then the two screws in my back left tire letting the air slowly out must have been!  After coming out of the Doctors I had to stop to fill up the tire with air, to get home, to run and feed the hounds...... then it was off to Larkin Bros. Tire Company over on S. Van Ness to have the tire fixed.  I got there by 5:15, they close at 6, so it was just under the wire, or I would have had a flat this morning, which would have just sucked!!!!  They are really super, I had been there before with the old car, I would Highly recommend them for fast and honest service.  I thought there was only a single nail/screw, but once the tire was off the rim,  the guy found a second one...... just my luck.  

After the tire issues were dealt with we stopped off and picked up dinner, I was in no mood to cook and clean up.....  and since it was Wednesday, TCM was showing films of the Star of the Month, the wonderful actress....

....Mary Astor - 1906-1987.  

I caught the end of "Little Women" - 1949, and the whole wonderful "Meet Me in St Louis" - 1944.  I really enjoy her films, she won best supporting actress for her role in "The Great Lie" - 1941 co-starring with Bette Davis. 

Here's a great quote of hers......"  "There are five stages in the life of an actor: Who's Mary Astor? Get me Mary Astor. Get me a Mary Astor type. Get me a young Mary Astor. Who's Mary Astor?"  Isn't that great I just love that quote!!

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Since it is Thursday, that means thrifty finds from last weekend......

...... and I hit the regular places, picking up the pair of super 19th century brass candlesticks at a Goodwill, and we hit an Estate Sale of a real Film Fan.  Actually I went both Saturday and Sunday to the Estate sale, there were 100's of DVD's, many of them I already had. I went back for more on Sunday since the DVD's were 1/2 priced so I picked up another bunch - they went from $4 to $2, how could I not go back??

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks for stopping... do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Thrifty Thursday......

Gentle Friends I hope you all had a super New Years Eve and a wonderful New Years Day.  We stayed in as I am not one for the massive crowds and crazies driving around NYE.... and I brought in the new year ironing some of the things I had washed earlier in the day.  I hate putting things away not ironed.  Then yesterday we went to an friends house fro their annual"good luck" luncheon the have been hosting for the past few years - he makes black eye peas with ham hocks, collard greens, corn bread and four types of salsa, from hot to melt the spoon which has habanero peppers in it - I stay away from that one and stick to just the hot, which is pretty hot to my little tongue!!  He makes a ton of food and everyone goes home with a doggie bag and we'll be having it again tonight - I'll make some rice and a cornbread and it will be delicious!!!

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The Saturday before Christmas I ran around to my usual thrifty haunts and found a few things, we also hit up a great Estate Sale........

.... I found the flaring dish (on the right) at a Goodwill.  It is Italian and marked Fierenze and 800, the standard Italian silver mark, and was only a few dollars.  It is beautifully made and I can only think that no one had a clue as to what it was - I was totally stoked!!  The other things I picked up at the Estate Sale.  On Saturday I only bought the DVD, English silver tray and the salamander corbel,  I saw the brass candlesticks and the sterling mug (cann), but they were just too expensive for me........  The corbel is a reproduction from Wells Cathedral, I have a few of these repro bits from other cathedrals I have visited, they are made from the ground up stone from the actual places broken off and left over during restoration.

Of course I obsessed the rest of the day over the mug and then after 8 am Mass the next morning and our weekly visit to Trader Joe's, I drove back across the city to see if there was anything left to be gotten.

  Usually on Sunday, estate sales will cut the prices in half to move what didn't move the first two days.  I was also hoping that the mug had been sold, so I wouldn't have to decide it was just to much money.......  I walked in the house and there in the front room in one of the cases with the few other things that were pricey sat the mug....  I sort of circled it some more - then walked out and into the dinning room, found that the brass sticks were still there and half price, so I had to get them now.  I turned around and walked back to the case to fondle what was quickly becoming "my" wonderful, mid 18th century piece of silver!!  

The more expensive things I was told did not go half price (I had figured they wouldn't) and they were slated to go to auction if they didn't sell.   There was some glass stuff and few other pieces of less interesting silver some pretty jewelry... and "my mug."  I haggled a bit and got $50 knocked off the price and finally decided I needed a Christmas present to myself, so my crazy silver fetish won out and it came home to live at my house for a while.  I really don't know any of it's provenance, the marks tell me it was made in London in 1752 and now it resides in San Francisco, but between then and now who knows???  Here's a shot of the great engraving on the front....

...... we all need presents!!! - and isn't it beautiful!!!

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There you go sports fans - thanks for stopping by, dos top again!!

Take care,

edgar

RAK'd and an Estate Sale

Gentle Friends the other day the mail brought a lovely RAK from Grace over at Needles Pins and Dragonflies.  We exchanged- emails about chocolate and jelly and she sent me....

..... some Prickly Pear Cactus Jelly, "Holly Band" kit from Charland Designs and some great charms.  Now I have an excuse to make some biscuits this weekend with this treat!!   The "Holly Band" piece will be a challenge as it incorporates many stitches I have never tried!  Thanks so much Grace!!!

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Last weekend we made the rounds to the different shops and as I said  before it was a total bust - as it can be - with there being next to nothing I wanted/needed/or could rationalize buying.  But there was an Estate Sale that was really super - tons of stuff and I found a little pile of things to add to my heap of things.....

... from l to r.... I can barely resist ( alright I can never resist) yellow ware and this bowl was in a stack of them - I eliminated the others as they were either cracked or chipped and this one was perfect, the large silver tray was in a pile of silver and although I could have swooped in on all of it I decided to pick out the piece I really liked, and this beautifully engraved tray was perfect, and the little silver piece...

... is a really, heavy, old Victorian card tray with very little bleed ( were the silver has worn through) due to the fact that good 19th century silver plate is thick and beautiful... and how could I pass on this since it is covered in lovely foliage decoration....  and the book  "Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris" was just dumb luck.  I remember the TV movie back in 1992 of the same name but did not know that was an adaption of this book, so when I saw the book I snapped it up also.  It was a really good Sale and I love the things I found.

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There you go sports fans, thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Some Weekend Thrifting

Gentle Friends since I was a total scatter brain this morning and left the coffee cake recipe on the counter at home, I will skip talking about that today and talk about Saturday thrifting instead.  I hit the usual spots and a couple of Estate sales and came away with some fun junque.....

In a single snap you can see some of the things I am totally interested in...  if there had been a movie something and some sort of stitching it would be a complete picture of "edgar interests".......  but we can't have everything can we!!  

Starting from the left..  I found this great silver basket, beautifully hand cut and engraved, a super piece made in Schwabish Gmund, Germany by Gebruder Kuhn ca. 1890-1910 at a Goodwill store -  The marks a clear as day and they didn't have a clue where it came from or the silver content..... along with the basket I found the silver salver/tray (a Golf trophy from 1956), they were both filthy black with tarnish, and now after a bit of elbow grease, they are just beautiful again.  I also picked up there the two late 19th century Gorham salt cellars (again filthy with tarnish) 

- so it was a good silver day at the Goodwill's!! 

 The Moche frog stirrup pot I picked up at an estate sale.  I almost missed it -  and here's a short story to go along with it.... another buyer had her grubby hands all over it and just wouldn't make up her mind to either buy it or not - I just hate that.  She kept asking Bill ( the guy who was running the sale, and an acquaintance of ours) all about it, when he wasn't as forth coming as she wanted with info - she then started to gripe about the price - I know she didn't have a clue about it or what it is - and the minute she put it down into the case by Ernie (one of the Bill's helpers) I snatched it right up.  It is a super example of a Moche stirrup pot, a total repro, but so well done and not a flake or chip or nick anywhere it was so worth the pittance they were asking!!   In fact Peru, the ancient home of the Mochica and Chimu civilizations is on my bucket list of places I want to visit one day!!   The little duck ocarina was another estate sale find, raku fired it is in great condition and still plays - I am just fascinated by ancient Latin America cultures - and the museum I worked in in Florida (The Appleton Museum in Ocala) had a great collection of things from meso and south America I really enjoyed.

  And, last in the haul is a pretty extensive biography of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, a couple - one royal and one not so royal - I have always been interested in reading everything I can about them and their lives - this was a super thrift store find.

That's about it for today sports fans, thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!

Take care,

edgar

Weekend Thrifting

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you so much for your kind comments!!  I'll try and get some inside snaps on our next visit to the Basilica, it is a lovely and well appointment space.  I also wanted to mention how wonderful it is to see so many new followers!!  Thanks for joining up to follow.

Today is going to be a shortish post as I am still stitching on an exchange piece.  I wanted to show the things I picked up out and about ...

Starting with the blue and white transfer ware platter, I found that when I was in Florida and it just arrived via Safe Ship.  While in Florida I took some time to shop the various Thrift, Consignment and Antique Shops and Malls - in the greater Daytona Beach area.  I did some research before I left and found quite a few places to keep me busy.  In a rather large space called "Nicole's Beach Street Antique Mall" I found this great platter.  The pattern is "Canova" by T Meyer c. 1830-50.  It was a super price and on sale so how could I pass it up!  Moving to the right is a "new" to me copy of Charles Dickens' Christmas Stories, published by Rainbow Classics of Ohio in 1946.  As you might remember I collect "A Christmas Carol" books and often find that "ACC" is included in larger volumes of Christmas Stories or often in a single volume with "A Tale of Two Cities."  What "A Tale...'  and "A Christmas..." have in common except an author is beyond me.  Moving clockwise is a great older walnut frame with a gold fillet, I picked up for a $1 at an Estate Sale and rounding out the purchases are two "bronze" plastique religious roundels also picked up at an Estate Sale.

That's about it for the thrifty weekend buys.  Thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Winning Cookies!!

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I do thank you for all the kind comments and emails about yesterdays Post - warmest thanks from me to you!!!!  and to Faye, who without her sewing prowess I could have never pulled off the basket!! 

 I had a question from Tracey about how I "dyed" the linen to age it up a bit.  It was super easy, I had been afraid to try dyeing any myself for fear of ruining some expensive linen.  Well, I found some linen at an Estate sale for a great price - so now I had no excuses.  Having read how to do it over on Vonna's Blog, "The Twisted Stitcher" I just followed her directions.  She is a wonderful source of Stitchity Information and a super Gal Pal!!!!  It was her coffee method, soaking, and spattering the linen with grounds, then a baking of the material in the oven et voile, aged linen, after a quick iron it was good to go. 

I also wanted to say how grateful I am to you about all the nice things everyone had to say about all my changes to "October" cottage, I often second guess myself about colour, and this was no different.  I think I frogged as much as I stitched to get the oranges were I wanted them.

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Over the weekend I ran the rounds to the Thrift / Consignment / Estate Sales and only found a couple of books....  slim picking for sure!  Here's a snap - 

I found another Philippa Gregory novel, about Mary, Queen of Scots.  I have really enjoyed her take on the history.  I also found another "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, a facsimile copy from the Columbia University Press, 1st edition in slipcase, 1959.  Although the slipcase is a bit rough the book is in pristine condition.

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Now, the winner of the Special Edition Oreo, Candy Corn Cookies.....  I made a copy of every ones entry on slips of paper and then mixed them up for Rico to draw a name.....  but...

Smokey jumped in a drew one for us....  after getting the slip from him we found that he had drawn.....

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.......#16. Melodyr as the winner.  So, Melody, if you could send me an email with your snail mail address I can get those sweet treats into the mail and on their way to you!!  Thank you all for entering my little Gift-a-way!!

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 That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Monday Morning Posting

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks for stopping by and a great good morning!!!!  It is a brisk 56 degrees outside with a nice breeze - I love SF in the summer!!!!  Over the weekend we really beautiful days -  not warm at all but bright and sunny both days.  We were to have some rain but that fizzeled out - the most mositure we got was some fog rolling in Friday evening - and then not too much.

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As you might remember I am taking part in a year long exchange with a small group of stitchers over at "Friends Stitching Through the Seasons" and my partner, Diane received her Summer box safely.  Here is a snap of the exchnage I sent...

and here is a close up of the stitched piece....

I used the Farmer's Alphabet from Priaire Schooler to create this Pyn Keepe - It was a fun piece to stitch but for Summer I had a hard time thinking up something... now, with Fall approaching I have some super ideas!!!

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On Saturday I ran around to some Estate Sales and a couple of Thrift/Consignment Shops and picked up some fun things...  here's a snap

From front left to right....  a little plate in my Mom's wedding china - Castleton "Lace" - this has been out of production for 45+ years and what on earth you would use this tiny plate for is beyond me, I picked up these great Limoges pieces (covered vegetable and tureen) not beacuse I need them, or even have the room but because they were 1/2 price - from the marks on the bottom they date to the 1880's and are in super condition, the Native Harvest's cookbook is really interesting and finally the great old maple rolling pin, perfect condition and a lovely old worn colour!!

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On the stitching front I worked some on cottages - so here is a progress snap...

...... as you can see I am almost there with June - what a great month.  I tried a couple of other "whites" for the house but settled on the DMC B5200 I have been using as my white throughout.  I also frogged out the fence in March (like it much better).  I will certainly have June finished before the end of the month and get a good start on July.  I have seen a picture of August Cottage, and I am sort of put out with it being another light blue cottage, that will make three and the way I am stitching them August will line up with May - I am thinking of seriously changing up the light blue for another colour.

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I also baked up this tasty Lemon Coffee Cake yesterday......

I post up that info tomorrow.

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thank you all for your great comments and emails.

Take care,

edgar

Thrifting and a Salad

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you all so much for the kind comments about Mary Ann - I am really enjoying the stitching and the Belle Soie....  I always love using that stuff!!

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Last Saturday we hit a few estate sales and a couple of Consignment/Thrift Shops...  

I did find a few things...

A couple of super Christmas books - a lovely illustrated version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "The Dreaded Feast" an anthology of humorous fiction, nonfiction and poetry about the Holiday Season, I also found another Longaberger Basket and a great Franciscan creamer in the Desert Rose pattern - I have no idea why I bought this little pitcher - I don't collect it nor do I have room for it......but it was not much money, in perfect condition and pretty....  I need to find it a good home with someone who collects "Desert Rose".... any suggestions????

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With summer upon us - I can tell that by the calender since the weather here in the City has been hovering in the low 60s (gotta love SF in the summer!!!!!)  

I whipped up one of our favorite summer salads..

Broccoli Bacon Salad - it goes super with BBq'ed stuff !!  I'll post my version of this recipe over a Blacksheep Bakes at some point.

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That's gonna have to wrap it up for the week sports fans.  I wanted to let you know that I will be away from the Blog next week - I will be in Florida visiting my Mom for her Birthday - she will be turning 86 next Friday!!

Until next time - Take care,

edgar

Weekend Stuff

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends sorry to not have gotten a post up on Friday, but after trying twice to Post one - I just gave up - Blogger was bugging out for some reason and kept deleting my Posts.....  I just didn't have the time or energy to fight with it so I didn't!! 

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I think the high point for the entire weekend was the eclipse yesterday afternoon - not that it got dark at all - just the lighting changed to a very odd grey cast - and I could see the change from a seated position and that meant I didn't have to move - I like the not moving aspect of that!!!!  

We did our usual running around Saturday, starting off with the early run out to breakfast and then on to the weekly grocery shopping......  after stopping off at home to drop off the haul from the store - I grabbed the Estate Sale list and we were off again.  There where four Sales this weekend that I wanted to hit - they were all mostly a Bust!!  Along with the Sales and hitting the usual Thrift/Consignment Stores - I found few things...

I found the large "Indian Tree" platter at a Goodwill, I have a medium one already.  I really like the Johnson Bros interpretation of this old pattern, and will pick it up whenever I see some, I found the little "oyster" shaped Japanese? dish at a Thrift Shop.  Here is a close of it....

and the backside...

It fits in my hand and is the size of an oyster shell, the gold is still in great condition as is the rest of the hand work, but what could it have been used for???  We also stopped off at Amoeba records and DVDs and that's where I picked up the 1st Season of "All in the Family" a show I have always enjoyed.

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Baking yesterday I had a hankering for some Brownies ....

I used my go to recipe I got off of Allrecipes, I have posted it before  - They are Called "Best Brownies" and where originally posted by Angie - simply the best!!!!  The two changes I make is to prepare the pan by buttering and then using cocoa powder instead of flour, to keep them from sticking - and - a teaspoon of Powdered espresso to the batter to kick up the chocolate.

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On the stitching front I finishedup my Exchange piece - and it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.  Once it reaches its final Home I'll post a snaperoo.  I also worked on Mary Ann and finished up the wonky "vine" that encircles the verse....

Now, to start to work on the flower/strawberry bits....

I had an email from a reader about a older RR piece I worked on - I get more emails about this piece from the Header Shot - so I got it out and took a good look - and a snap - and think I should fill it in as there is quite a bit of "white" space still left....  any suggestions??????  here is a snap for a memory jogger....

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That's about it for today sports fans - thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Framed Piece and a New Start

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I futzed a bit with the Blog look again and am getting close to what I want it to look like.  I am mulling over a new header picture..... but the column widths are getting there.  The whole "malware" issue I think has resolved itself - as I removed a few things that I think where causing the problems.

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The first thing I want to show is a piece I did a couple of years ago that I finally had framed....

This is the "Beatrix Potter Companion Quaker" piece I personalized with wedding dates of my parents and grandparents.  Done on a mystery 32ct piece of over dyed linen using Belle Soie "Moss."  

Here is a close up of the frame...

I love the using a black frame to set the piece off.

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I also wanted to show my new start....

 This is the "Mary Ann Hutton" Sampler - I am using a piece of 36ct "Days Gone By" linen and my conversion from the recommended DMC colours to my choice of Belle Soie.

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We made it to a couple of Consignment/Thrift Shops of Saturday and I picked up a couple of things....

A slim volume of Truman Capote's Holiday stories and a great old blue & white bowl...  painted all around with scenes of Holland...

I would guess it is from the 1920's???  but who knows.

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I baked up a great chocolate cake using the recipe from Octoberfarm 

for "The Best Chocolate Cake."  

 I followed the recipe exactly - except - and you knew there would be one...  I added a heaping teaspoon of espresso powder to the boiling water before adding it to the batter - I like the way that coffee "kicks" up the flavour of chocolate!!  It really is a scrumptious and easy cake to pull together!!!

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That's about it for the weekend!!  Thanks for stopping by, don't forget that my 5th Blogaversary Drawing ends tomorrow afternoon - so if you have not signed up there is still time.  You can click HERE to do that.  Do stop by again.

Take care,

edgar

A Weekend Finish

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends another weekend come and gone - it was lovely here in the City by the Bay.  I made it to a couple of Estate sales and the regular Thrift/Consignment Shops, did some cleaning around the house, a couple of loads of laundry..... you know the usual stuff you do on the weekends.  

I also stitched/worked exclusively on Shores of Hawk Run Hollow.... and finished that sucker up!!  I was determined to get'er done and so I could move on to another project... 

Here are some snaperoos...

close up of Blocks 2 & 3

The large center Block 6/7 and a close up of Block 10

and the entire piece....

"Shores of Hawk Run Hollow" by Carriage House Samplings

August 14, 2010 - April 29, 2012

36ct Vintage Autumn Gold, NPI Silks

I stitched this in spurts and it did sit in my WIP's basket for long periods of time.  I think that's due to complete burn out at some points - where I just had to take a break from this piece.   I made two major changes from the original as charted directions.  The First change came in Block 8 - I personalized it with an ancestor from my Family Tree - and the Second change is I used NPI 928 Atlantic Blue instead of 993 Black for the Box outlines - and I am so happy I did.  The black, to my eye, did not set off all the blue's in the piece.  Even with taking breaks and a bit of gripping along the way  - it is a great stitch....  but you do need perseverance in some of the fill stitching areas!!!

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Here are my "treasures" I found out and about on Saturday....

It is really hard to tell the size from this snap..  the rolling pin is a half size one, the Longaberger Basket is small and called tan "Herb Gathering" basket... I think, and is dated 2003 (for 80 cents how could I pass it up??) The little Belleek is from the 1960's, the Icon is on a piece of turned wood the size of a goose egg - the picture is the Veil of St Veronica - it is hand painted and gilded with some Cyrillic writing on it..... and the great transfer ware bowl everything is in dates to about 1900 - not a bad haul.

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That's about it for today sports fans - don't forget to sign up for my 5th Blogaversary Drawing.  Thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Recent Purchases... or is that Nectarine???

Gentle Readers and Dear friends I do thank you for all your help with my Blogger problem... I am still trying to fix it... I am really happy that it is not just me and my ineptitude with computers that is the cause.

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Today's week end wrap up post is gonna be a short one.  I forgot to show the bits I picked up last weekend while out doing our regular estate/consignment/Goodwill shopping....

... although not much was acquired, what I did get I was pretty excited about.  From l to r - I found this great coffee table book of Royal Portraiture by Beaton - published in 1988 it looks brand slap new - and for a few $'s worth every penny.  When it was published 20+ years ago the cost was $45 so I was a winner with that one.  Then there is the small majolica milk jug - mid circa 1840-60 - English...  $4 - how on earth could I pass on that.  Usually these type of jugs have identical scenes on each side, this one has different scenes on each side - one side is a hunting scene the other is a gypsy camp scene - these silly things go for some big bucks and as I always say - you gotta know just a ittle bit more than the next guy to make it pay!!  Then the last thing was a hard back copy of "The Boleyn Inheritance."  I just finished "The Constant Princess" and thoroughly enjoyed it - I really have avoided Philippa Gregory books thinking they would be like historical Harlequin Romances, but to my great surprise "TCP" turned out to be a super de duper read and this one is also turning out to be a great read.  I really like that she lends a voice to the secondary characters in history.  There are a couple of estate sales out there for tomorrow so who knows what I'll find!!

Now, regarding Today's Post title..  you know I love me my Chucks - and I have way too many pairs of them, well, I certainly needed another!!  So I went surfing on the net and found some on sale at Sears - slam bam slap me ma'am - and they were bought - and arrived yesterday.... and I got them on right now ......

......and Rico hates them!!  I always have my camera with me so I just took this snap (how ugly is our carpet at work??) I think they are really orange, but they are called "Nectarine."  I often have a hard time finding them in my size - not that I have an odd sized foot - it is a 10 - what it is, is a very common size and usually the 10's are all gone - or only high tops are left - I do not like high tops.... sweaty ankles, don't you know!!  Like I don't like to wear long sleeve shirts - I hate anything around my wrists or ankles - I am just wierd that way!!  Another tid bit about me that you couldn't live without!

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That's about it for the week sports fans.  Thanks again for stopping by and for you great comments!!!  Do stop again.

Take care,

edgar

Monday Musings

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends we start off another long work week !!  The City by the Bay has been bright and breezy even on the warm side for this time of year.  

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Saturday found us doing our usual early morning run to Safeway - the supermarket - for our weekly grocery round up... then it was off to some Estate/house sales.  There were three in the city this weekend.  We even visited a Goodwill and Consignment shop but all I found was single thing...

I found this at one of the House Sales - it is about 8 ionces square and is pottery / tin glaze in the style of della Robbia - marked Italy, I think it is really great.  When I was in Italy I saw similar things all over the place, from Milan to Capri and did not pick one up then -  so now I have - and am very happy I did. Also, buying it from a house sale saved me about $30 - so I am happy about that also!!

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On Sunday after mass - we didn't feel like going out to breakfast so we stopped over in the Mission District at Dynamo Donut and Coffee - 

I fist heard about this place on the Food Channel  - I learn so much about SF from TV!! - and we have stopped off here often.  It used to be just this awning on the sidewalk  - but they have expanded to a seating area behind and inside and an open kitchen....

The seating is to the right and just behind were I am standing to take this snap of the bakers working...  when we got there nobody was there, but in a few seconds this line appeared...

We got our coffee's and treats to go and headed for home...

Inside the box.....

was a vanilla bean donut and one of their super sticky buns!!!  Just a super morning treat!!!!

The rest of the day we spent inside - I spent it stitching and movie watching.  I'll have a snap of some stitching in the morning.  I also whipped up a super easy.....

... Pineapple Upside Down cake - I debated the recipes and went with easy  - but, even though this was easy and quick - it is really delicious!!  I'll post the recipe in the morning.

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That's about it for today sports fans - thanks for stopping by -  Do stop again!

Take care,

edgar