thrift shop project

2008-05-08T06:14:00.001-07:00

Goodwill, Somerville, MA.

Silkscreened Cow Art, $1.49.

This is for my friend Arthur. He will soon have a new room, and I hope he will like this. It reminded me of Ferdinand, even this is a lady cow and Ferdinand is a bull.

There have been a lot of changes at my local Goodwill in the past few months. It's been tidied a bit and nearly all the staff has changed. Ediba, where did you go? And, for the Davis Square faithful, don't you miss Wayne's excellent shopping soundtracks? A Goodwill run without Screamin' Jay Hawkins just isn't the same.

2007-10-04T22:48:00.000-07:00

Bloglines had a little blip and showed that the TSP had a new post. "Thank God", I said to myself, "It's about time I updated this damned thing."

2007-06-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

I've always had good thrifting adventures in NYC. The thrifting is different than in other parts of the country (so much H&M clothing!), but there are still some great things to be found.

Salvation Army, Astoria, NY.
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Goodwill, Astoria, NY.

The Steinway St. thrifts are nice, because they are close together and there are excellent places to eat nearby. They're also close to the subway, which is convenient for lugging purchases home.

Three Quilted, Embroidered Butcher's Charts, $4.99/ea.
Mere words cannot express how awesomely excellent I think these are.
Orginally, these were still framed and glassed, but I had to have them. Had to. I wasn't looking forward to schlepping them around all day, and said so to Henry, the cashier. Henry, my new good friend, suggested I re-donate the frames (they weren't my taste at all) and take out the innards. Thank you, Henry!
These may be the thing that overthrows my 'nothing on the walls' rule.

Pantone 'Blue Nights' Shoulder Bag, $3.99.
I've drooled over the Pantone Universe bags for years. My current bag is in (desperate) need of replacement, and this should do the trick. It's in great shape.

I also hit some thrift stores in Manhattan, and was pleasantly surprised. More on that later.

2007-06-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

Some things of note:

In the Julie and Julia vein, Carol is cooking the French Laundry cookbook. I'm a total Keller disciple, and think this is great.

There was a set of Town & Country bowls at the Goodwill last week, but I chose to lug home beer instead.

Two California thrifts, the Robin's Nest in San Clemente, and the Well in the Desert in Palm Springs, are closing. It will be interesting to see, as rents escalate, what stores will last and what won't. Will we be left with the thrift equivalent of Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart?

Urban Renewals, June 15, 2007.

Ann Taylor Cashmere Sweater, $3.99.
Man, I used to be cool, and now I buy Ann Taylor things. Indie cred, where did you go? *weeps*
This sweater has seen little use, and I'm going to unravel it and use the yarn for something else.

Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook, Ruth Berlozheimer, Ed., $1.99.
We all like the CAI booklets. This is in amazing condition! No splatters, smells, or warping. The 1950 edition. I can only hope the same for me when I'm sixty-seven.

Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, $1.99.
Not one, not two, but three of these were at UR, all priced differently. Weird. Fron 1951.

Aprons, aprons, aprons. I recently did an inventory of my aprons and the number is a little...Collyer-esque. Work aprons, house aprons, this place is full of them.
Much to the consternation of friends and co-workers, I have decided to wear an apron as part of my daily ensemble. So far, I've been complimented by postal workers, a bus driver, a Central Square crazy, and three old ladies.

Nifty things seen:

Old Jantzen Bathing Suit, $5.99.
A cute hipster girl had this in her cart, and was kind enough to let me photograph it. Hi, Kara! I hope all your bathing beauty dreams come true.

2007-06-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's been very turquoise around here lately.

Portable Royal Typewriter, $2.99, Goodwill, Somerville, MA.
I saw this one day, and said to myself, "No, no, young lady, you do not need another typewriter. Yes, it is lovely, and yes, in wonderful condition, but you do not need it, missy. Go upstairs and look for a pair of black linen pants instead."

How I love portable typewriters! They're so practical. A few years ago, I found this shiny Royal beauty at the Goodwill in Cambridge.

I was very pleased with it and put it on my lap to admire it on the subway home. A late fifties-ish businessman looking gentleman sitting next to me also admired it and joked about my new laptop. We had a spirited talk about cool old stuff and second hand shopping. He loved yard sales and flea markets, but his wife thought they were terrible. As I got off the train in Davis Square, he offered me thirty dollars for the Royal. I laughed, said no, and suggested that a typewriter hunt would be a fine thing for him to do. I hope he found one.

Pyrex 'Butterprint' 1 Pt. Casserole, a quarter at the Methodist Church's rummage sale.
Sometimes I'm just horrified at the behavior I see at sales. At this sale, there was a terrible kerfuffle over the price of a television set. *sigh*

Craigville Inn Linen Dish Towel, $0.25/ea at the Goodwill in Somerville.
I'm not sure if the Craigville Inn even exists anymore. My mother would know.
I found three of these towels. Two had never been used and still had the price stickers on them. Forty-nine cents, in case you're interested.
It's always nice to find Cape Cod kitsch.

Another Linen Dish Towel, a quarter.
For a project. The images are wonderful.

Thrifting never lets me down. In the past year, my shampoo, pasta sauce, conditioner, face lotion, jelly and moisturizer have all been discontinued. The perils of modern life, I tell you.

2007-06-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

The above gentleman is an insane beloved part of my life. He:
1. Cannot pronounce the -ch sound.
2. Sends hysterical text messages.
3. Rushes to pour you a glass of Port if you are under the weather.
4. Teases Hassan mercilessly.
5. Calls the Goodwill the 'poor store'.
6. Can see small things!

Happy fiftieth birthday, Amandio! You drive me up the fucking wall, but my life is a far better place for having you in it.

2007-06-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

From the Cape Cod Times, Thursday, 24 May:

Offered without comment. I got some terrific things. 'Nuff said.

2007-05-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

The usual notes before the thrifted goods:

A good thread about thrifted cooking things. As a restaurant and food person, I usually read chowhound before I even check my email in the morning. It's a great reference.

The TSP was mentioned on both the Cambridge and Somerville Townonline blogs.

Scott is curious to know if anyone knows of any good Vera sites. Does anyone? I haven't been able to find much, besides his (always) great info. I really wish I'd come up with the phrase thrift store archaeology first.

Vice Is Bad for a Reason
Woman Drinks 12 Diet Cokes a Day
Sent to me by lovely pal Emily. My Diet Coke addiction is well documented in these pages.

Square is taking a week long thrifting road trip. It will be interesting to see what they come up with along the way. Thank to Kevin for the link.

Two thrift shop myspace pages, Out of the Closet in Los Angeles, and Circle Thrift in Philadelphia.

Everything came from the Goodwill here in Somerville.

Flowery 45 Case, $1.00.
I've wanted a 45 case forever, but, when I've seen them, they've been in a condition I call 'extra-loved'.
The only other case I've seen in good shape was, oh, five or six years ago? We were still living in the downstairs apartment, that much I do remember. I'd seen a swish turquoise and white case at the Goodwill, but talked myself out of it. What did I need with such a thing, anyway? I don't have any 45s. When I arrived home from the
Goodwill, I changed my mind and dashed back out. While walking down Elm St., I passed two little punk rock girls, one of whom was carrying a swish new turquoise and white 45 case.
Eddie Bauer Brown and Pink Flowery Linen Skirt, $4.49.
This skirt is swell. I wore it twice this weekend, and Gram complimented me on it. She did, however, have plenty to say about my orange Crocs.
No Drinking Before Five Coaster, $0.25.
We here at Casa Beaucoup-TSP are often accused of being boozehounds. We prefer to think of ourselves as bon vivants.
iSi chargers, $1.00.
These were great to find, because seltzer season is starting and chargers are $15 a box at Kitchen Arts.

Radiohead Shirt, $1.99.
It's for a friend. Radiohead makes my head hurt.

How to Enjoy Playing Cribbage, $1.00.
New Englanders are nutty for cribbage. I learned it when I was a small girl, and love to play whenever I can. Linda Greenlaw writes in The Lobster Chronicles:
The ever-present cribbage board and playing cards rested on the table where Mom and I had left them after counting our final hands last night.Cribbage boards are as common as wooden spoons in the kitchens of this island. Children raised in this part of Maine often learn to play cribbage before they can tie their own shoes. Some people might find that backward, but it's actually quite advanced. Long before I knew that one plus one equals two, I understood that seven and eight are equal to fifteen, and that fifteen is good for two holes on the cribbage board.
The inside of the box:

The back:

Now this, this is what always amazes me about thrifting. Did someone keep this in their house for forty years before taking it to the Goodwill? Can you imagine the hope someone may have had, thinking, 'someday I'll have time to sit and learn to play cribbage', only to have those hopes dashed? Why was this kept, and never opened?

2007-05-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Some things I've seen recently, worth noting.

Urban Renewals, yesterday:

Imagine keeping all your sewing notions on such a geographically correct likeness!
I was so amused by this I had to call my mom and tell her all about it. It wasn't until after I realized it wasn't for sewing thimbles, but decorative porcelain thimbles.
No offense to any Canadians in the audience.

Also at UR:

Oh, the Skotch Kooler. We'll still be seeing these fifty years from now, along with the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Old Navy Holiday tee shirts, Holly Hobbie (did you know Holly Hobbie was a real person?*)bed sheets, and Mardi Gras beads.

Cambridge Goodwill, today:

I nearly died from the utter cuteness of this knitting bag. It still contained some acrylic yarn and a half finished project.

Somerville Goodwill, last week:

Forty kinds of scat! If only I knew someone interested in elimination identification.
The background fabric is from a pair of curtains, now hanging in my (very small) living room.

If my sister gave this to me, I wouldn't know what to say.

A Last Supper paint by number accented with glitter? Mere words can't express the emotions I had for this.

*Thanks to Rebecca for the link!

2007-05-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

May 10, 2007

I'd met Rebecca for lunch, and, since I didn't have to work that evening, decided to stop at the Goodwill and Salvation Army in Central Square on my way home. I hopped on the #1 bus bound for Cambridge.

From top to bottom:
Three Pyrex Refrigeratorware Pieces, 'Spring Blossom Green', $2.00. I already have the larger bottom piece of the set. I think I'll lot and sell it, as I have a pile of SBG pieces.
1.5 Qt. Pyrex Cinderella Casserole , 'Woodland', $1.99.
This is for a friend. There's a small chip in the lid, but lids are easy to find.
2.5 Qt. Pyrex Cinderella Casserole, 'Spring Blossom Green', $2.49.
What's with all the SBG? Someone is either:
1. Rethinking their kitchen decor.
2. Moving.
3. Dead.
This is missing the original top. The top to this is a opaque frizzled lid, not a clear glass lid, and will probably be difficult to find. I'll keep my eyes peeled. If you happen to have or see one, drop me a line.
2.5 Qt. Pyrex Casserole, $2.99.
Pyrex Love calls this the 'Tree of Life' pattern, but Pyrex Pattern Finder considers it un-named. Hmmm.
I haven't yet been able to find a 2.5 qt. casserole in 'Butterprint', so I'll use this until I do.

After stopping at the co-op for a few things, I went down into the subway to head home. My subway pass isn't where it should be! I put down my bags and search further. House keys, yes, wallet, yes, tissues, phone, iPod, all there. Where's my f****** Charlie Card? I used to keep it my iPod sleeve, but, when charging it the day before, noticed it was scratching the back of it. I put it in the front pocket of my bag instead. I'd used it to get on the bus, so it couldn't have gone far. Darn it! I paid $59 for this stupid thing! I need it!
My steps retraced, no subway pass found.
I buy a fare and go home, mad as mad can be.
When I get home, I realize, not only is my pass gone, so is my umbrella. I must have left it somewhere in my furor.
Fare thee well, Charlie Card and nice red umbrella! I can only hope whoever found you needs you more than I.

2007-05-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

Due to neurologists, bio-techers and college graduations, it's been awfully busy here lately, hence the lack of posts and/or thrifting.

All items came from the Goodwill in Cambridge, MA.

Three books, all $0.79.
Love in the Time of Cholera,, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I picked this up for Jason, who has never read it in English. He is my favorite Colombian, server assistant and twenty year old. A lot of superlatives for just one person, and he is worthy of it all.
Chasing Che, Patrick Symmes.
The author retraced Che's 1952 motorcycle journey through South America, talking to people who met him and what his work means to those today. I'll read this, then give it to the aforementioned Jason.
The New England Berry Book, Bob Krumm.
There's a chapter about beach plums. Some think I get about nutty about rhubarb, but prunus maritima so sets me off, sedation would not be the worst idea.

Vera Bradley Tote Bag, $3.99.
I've noticed some of thrifts have started to put VB bags behind the register, as they are considered valuable. This was in a laundry bin with a lot of old backpacks and convention tote bags. I also found two quarters.
This is on eBay as we speak. I'm always happy to find a VB bag, as they always sell well. It's in excellent condition.

Two Big Curtains, in a Fun Brown Floral, $1.99.
I'm working on Big Fabric Ideas, and this will fit nicely.

Black Eileen Fisher Pants, $4.99.
I need a new pair of work pants. I tore mine last week in a ridiculous bit of hysteria (please don't ask, it is too silly) with Hassan. The tear is in a very conspicuous area (left buttock) and can't be mended nicely. Would you buy a hundred dollar bottle from a girl with visible undies?

Sage Green Gaiam Organic Cotton Baby Blanket, $0.99.
For a friend.
One day I was reading the Gaiam catalog on the subway, and nearly died laughing.

Neato Platter, $1.99.
It's nuclear housewife-y cool. It'll probably get sold at some point.

Mad Flowery Shirt, $4.99.
I bought this for Hassan, even though he ripped my pants. I am a very good friend, and he looks quite handsome in it.

One important note:

Lisa's fourteen year old son Cody has a wonderful opportunity to visit the Domimican Republic in June, sponsored by the University of Illinois's Center for Global Studies. Some of the cost is subsidized by the university, and some by his family, but he needs to make up the difference. Why not skip a trip to your local Goodwill and give him a few dollars? It gives me hope to see people his age taking such action. There's a paypal button on Wordy Diva if you'd like to help.

2007-04-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Newman's Day!

If I were celebrating, you can bet I'd be drinking some...

I have to thank whoever left the terrific user note on del.icio.us. It made me laugh, thinking about being a sort of person who has a reverence for potholders. Without them, my hands would be a mess!
Fifty cents at the Goodwill in Somerville.

Good books have been hard to come by lately. The book pickers have been fierce.
The Sallie Tisdale book has a big crack in its spine. I usually don't buy books in bad shape, but I'm going to pass it along to boys, and they are not as picky as I am.
Why would anyone get rid of a Paul Theroux book? Or John Cheever?
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is for my grandmother. She'll like it.
How to Do Things Right is a book I first read years ago and loved, being rather fussy myself.

If you are celebrating Newman's Day, you'll need some:

tomorrow. A new member of the Diet Coke family! It has both vitamins and minerals! It's healthy, like a salad! Well, if salads were brown, caffeinated and full of artificial sweetener. Really must stop trying to justify my DC habit.

2007-04-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

A few links:
From the Madison Capital Times: Diamonds in the Drop Box.

How'd I miss this? September 4, 2006, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Not Every Thrift Store Is a Nonprofit.

Plastic Free in 2007.

Malls of America. This is a wonderful site!

Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Clockwise, from top left:
The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Ina Garten, $1.99.
Ina and her Food Network cronies irritate me beyond belief. Yes, I know her recipes work, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to stick her with pins repeatedly.
If you're of like mind, read Bourdain's (Tony! I love you! Call me!) review of the FN awards. It's the best thing I read last week.
This sold (for $19) in ten minutes on amazon.com. I'll use the money to buy beer. Ina, you drove me to it.
A Package of Big Bubble Mailers, $1.49.
I've needed these for a week, but have been too lazy to go to Bob Slate. Excellent!
Why on Earth would someone get rid of such things? These are so useful. It's not like a pair of jeans you've gotten a little too chubby for, or a book you didn't enjoy. Those are the things won't need anymore.
Pyrex Grab-It, $0.50.
This was for my mother, who likes Grab-Its. We are a strange breed.
Blue Fused Glass Necklace, $1.49.
This will look nice with my work clothes. My co-workers were recently teasing me about my dazzling lack of accessories. I wear three silver studs (two ear, one nose) and my bracelet. Sometimes I'll wear a pin. Isn't that enough?
An Old Girl Scout Pin, $0.50.
I liked it. Old Girl Scout stuff sells well. Check out this swell Brownie pin.

Three Frizzled Glass Flower Pots, $0.50/ea.
The two matching pots are by Hazel-Atlas, the other has no maker's mark. They'll look great with the snazzy metal tray I picked up last month. 'Tis the season to plant.

I also picked up some fabric for Abby, but it's in the washer.

2007-04-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm a chilly woman. It can be June, and I'm hunting for a cardigan. Some may say it's because of my poor footwear choices, but I like to think it's got to be more than that. What I'm doing in Boston is a mystery to me, I should be a resident of Key West.

A Lovely Quilt, Urban Renewals, $14.99.

This was a lot of money for me to spend. It's the most expensive item I've bought since I started the TSP.
Said lovely quilt is in superb condition. It measures 40" by 60" and has seen little use, if any. I'll have to lug it to the laundromat and give it a bath, and then it will be used in my (very small) living room.

My favorite block.

Another, Not-So-Lovely Quilt, $2.99, Goodwill, Cambridge, MA.

Now, this quilt has seen lots of action. Some of the blocks are starting to fall apart, and the fabric is faded. Doesn't it look like a Girl Scout project from 1973?
Hmm, I'm not sure what's to become of this. I thought perhaps I'd mend it and use it as a beach blanket, but it weighs a ton (what is this thing stuffed with, lead?) and what, with books, fruit, water, lip stuff, a towel, and my phone, I have enough to tote already. We'll see.

When I was at Urban Renewals the other day, I was thrilled to see this!

An autographed photo of Bert and Ernie!
I almost bought this, but:
1. I am a thirty-eight year old grup and would have been mocked mercilessly by friends and strangers alike.
2. I don't like things on my walls. I like them in other people's homes very much, but my apartment is small and it seems even smaller with things hanging. I feel like the walls are closing in.
Still, autographed by Bert and Ernie! I'll kick myself one day.

2007-04-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Caution! Non-thrifting content ahead.

Now, I'm not afraid to tell anyone who will listen that I'm a big dork. I am also quite passionate. Combine the two, and it's a frightening combination.

One of the things I get all in a twist about are grocery stores. When I travel, I love to see the different products for sale, and how much they charge for things I buy at home. Why is Stonyfield Farm lowfat vanilla yogurt twenty cents cheaper at Hannaford in York, Maine, than at the Stop 'n' Shop in Somerville? Cub Foods, you really need to be more vigilant about monitoring your bulk bins. Frying cheese is readily available at the Hy-Vee in Mankato, MN, but darned if I can find it here.

When Rebecca invited me to go to Baltimore with her, I readily accepted. After thinking about Charm City for a few days, it seemed to me that Wegmans had a store there. Checking the website, I found I was right! It was in Hunt Valley, on the light rail. I wouldn't even have to rent a car. Wegmans wanted me there, dammit! Who was I to let them down!

Friday, March 30, dawned bright and clear. It was to be a lovely day! I showered, drank some Diet Coke with Lime, and made myself look pretty. It would not do to be any less than my best on such an important day. Armed with my camera, I said goodbye to Rebecca and headed up the street to catch the train, fraught with anticipation.

A half hour later, I was there.

I grabbed a basket (since I was traveling, I was only getting a few souvenirs) and felt like Dorothy entering the Emerald City. Wegmans is wonderful! There's macaroni and cheese! Jelly! An enormous selection of croutons! I wandered the aisles, taking photos and basking in the warm Wegs glow.

After a while, a gentleman wearing a tie approached and asked if I needed help. I introduced myself and said I was a Wegmans enthusiast visiting from Boston. He was very pleasant and we spoke for several minutes about the store, my trip to Baltimore, and the Boston grocery market. We shook hands and he wished me well. I was sort of disappointed he did not offer to give me a tour, but, hey, I was at Wegmans, and really, isn't that enough?

Two hours later, I was ready to go. My feet were a little tired and I was hungry. Thank goodness Wegmans has a wonderful cafe and comfortable seating! They really do think of everything.

I can't imagine that anyone would be interested, but there's a flickr set about the excursion.

2007-04-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

As usual, I'm behind on posting. I've been way busy, and been feeling the blog blahs.

Goodwill, Cambridge, MA.

A Nice Collection of Pyrex, 'Spring Blossom Green' Pattern.
It is nice to have some spring, somewhere. The weather has been cold and not springlike at all. One of the nice things about being in New England is that there's always the weather to talk about.
The top is an oval casserole, the bottom two are Cinderella mixing bowls. All were a dollar ninety-nine. These were clean, clean, clean. No scratches or nicks in the design.
I'm not crazy about the Cinderella style. Rebecca pointed out that the ears would be very handy for pouring out the contents of the bowl, and, yes, while useful, I just don't like it. I feel the same about mushrooms.
These will be sold, sooner or later. I'm still tossing about the idea of joining an antiques co-op, or maybe doing a table at the South End Open Market. Does anyone have any experience with these sorts of things? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Two Lovely Mixing Bowls
Now, I think these are Depression, and could possibly be by Hazel-Atlas, but there's no maker's mark and can't be sure. Time to visit the bookstore and peruse the Gene Florence books. Has someone else seen this design? Here's a close up of the pattern:

The bowl on the left is 10" and $2.99, the right is 8" and $1.99.

After I left the Goodwill I went to Harvest for some kombucha and a brownie. Then I had to lug all this stuff to work, then home, on the subway. While I pride myself on not needing a car, some days I long for an automobile. The orange FIT is especially snazzy!

2007-03-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'm doing some knitting spring cleaning. This has been used twice. I like hand winding my yarn better.

Save me from putting this up on eBay! It can be yours for $30, and that includes priority shipping. It's been selling for around that, without shipping, so $30 seems very fair.

Drop me a line at thriftshopproject at gmail dot com if you're interested.

2007-03-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes! There was Champagne, shocolate (not a typo) sheesecake, and lots of fun. It was a good day.

Goodwill, Cambridge, MA.

Rubber Stamp Holder, $1.99.
I saw one of these of flickr a while ago, and thought it would be nifty for holding kitchen things. I'll have to put it away for when I have a bigger kitchen, though, because it takes up too much room! The kitchen is the biggest room in our apartment, but has very little counter space. Sometimes I have to open the ironing board and use that as a surface if I'm doing a lot of cooking.

Little Glass Lamp, also a dollar ninety-nine.
I had a box in the basement with oh, ten or twelve of lamps similar to these, and it was stolen, along with three old GE fans I'd bought at a yard sale on Woodland Rd. OH, was I mad!

Salvation Army, Cambridge, MA.

Pyrex 1.5 qt. Casserole, #474, 1.99.
This was a promotional item from 1961 called the 'Bride's Casserole'. It's in remarkable shape. There were a lot of other casseroles in the 'Gooseberry' and 'Daisy' patterns, but they'd been put in the dishwasher and were not in the best shape.
I'll sell this. I have two Pyrex casseroles already.

Not pictured:
Salad Blaster, brand new, $0.99.
John was so taken with this I gave it to him. It's sort of nifty, your salad goes in the cup and you put dressing in the reservoir on the top. When it's time to eat, you press the button on the top, and BLAST! your salad is dressed. I thought it would be fun to do this with adult beverages, too. Put your mixer in the bottom, the booze in the top, and BLAST! It's cocktail time!

After I got to work, I put my purchases on the bar for all to admire. We talked about them and we thought it would be great to have a bar/antiques place, where you could have a great drink and play with neat things. I'll put that in the 'ideas: someday' file.

2007-03-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

More at Colorstrology.

Today I am thirty-eight. How this happened is a mystery to me.

Note to co-workers: You're off the hook!

2007-03-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

Fellow rhubarb enthusiast Katie commented the other day about her copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Junior Cook Book. Now, in a strange twist of fate, I have one, too.

March 15, 2007, Goodwill, Somerville, MA.

This copy is the fourth printing from 1963.

Some of the recipes are illustrated in blocks of pink, some in blue, and others in harvest gold. I'm curious as to the reasoning behind this. Are Party-surprise Sandwiches for boys, but Yummy Chocolate Squares the province of those with two X chromosomes? With its deep yellow page accents, Cinnamon Toast must be fun for all!

The Mother always made jelly muffins when she would make chowder (corn for me, clam for everyone else) for dinner. Much to the chagrin of everyone I've ever been related to, even distantly, I can't stand shellfish. If you want to hit a low tide and go dig clams, I'll be the first one there, but eat them? Eeewwwww!

A doughnut sundae? 'Nuff said. I am sorely tempted.

Note to co-workers: There had better be a nice cake tomorrow, with candles and singing, or you people are in big trouble.

2007-03-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

August 23, 2006

I realized that I'd posted this on Flickr, but not here, and it certainly deserves it.

This was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. First, we were still in the throes of summer Restaurant Week (actually two weeks, which was brutal) and I was dead tired. Second, Sean was going back to Ireland today, via South Africa, and I was upset. Who would I drink Magner's and ice with? We'd been friends for four years, and seen or texted* each other nearly every day. I'd even proposed to him! How could he leave us?
Patty called to see when we were meeting at the airport. I started to sob, saying I couldn't go, I just couldn't do it. I am not a cry-er at all, having adopted a British Naval 'worse things happen at sea' attitude in my early twenties. In order to avoid further weeping, I left my phone at home and headed into Davis Square.
Alas, weep I did. I cried all the way down Holland St., at the bank, and managed to stop before I got to the Goodwill. When I found:

A Cookbook for Girls and Boys, Irma Rombauer, $1.99
my spirits cheered a little. Look at the happy pink and white cover! Then, reading:

the floodgates opened again. Who would get rid of something with such a tender inscription? Heartless!
With my faith in mankind lost, I headed to meet Kevin for beverages. I cried on the back couch at Diesel. I cried over beer and plates of meat and pie. The only thing that cheered me up was reading this book at the end of the day, and feeling thankful that nobody had ever made me eat such culinary wonders at 'Rice Ring with Creamed Food' or 'Tuna Fish Fondue'.

*When Sean returned to Ireland in November we started our 'trans-Atlantic textual relationship'. A word of caution, if you're thinking of having such a relationship, check with your wireless provider first. I'd hate to have you shocked by a $341 phone bill. At ten cents per text, and multiply that by, oh, a few hundred, and you're in for a nasty surprise. I would like to thank the excellent customer service at T-Mobile for their help in this matter.

2007-03-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Spotted on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at the Goodwill here in Davis Square.

If this hadn't been so beaten up, I'd have bought it in a second. Look at the color! The swell graphics! Fill it up with some Las Noches Locas and I'm good to go.

2007-03-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

Now that the Hell of Restaurant Week is over I can get back to the important work of posting.

Notes before the thrifting:

Happy birthday to Oldest Friend Caroline, and belated to Excellent Friend Rebecca and Landlord Friend Bill!

I was at Target on Saturday, a rare weekend off for me, and spotted stuff from Boots the Chemist! There were testers, even! I picked up the Radiance Beauty Balm and the Fresh Faced Tinted Moisturizer, a little too smelly for me, but a great color match.
Method also has a new line of unscented products called 'Go Naked', and I picked up a bottle of the dish soap, feeling guilty. Please forgive me, Global Balance, I got sucked in by the gorgeous packaging.

$1,300 book! Thanks to Rebecca for the link.

Clockwise, from top left:
Ransburg Yellow Tissue Box, $1, Chatham UMC Thrift Shop, Chatham, MA.
The ladies at the shop were happy to see this go. They told me it had been there for quite some time.
It's in beautiful condition. It's for re-sale.
Vera Scarf, $0.25, Hospice Thrift Shop, Barnstable, MA.
God, when isn't there a Vera scarf?
Flowery Old Fabric, $0.10 and $1, Church Benefit Shop, Chatham, MA.
For a sewing friend.
A Variety of Old Bernat Knitting Books, $0.10/each, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, MA.
Full of notes in the margins. I should scan some of photos inside, they are a riot.
Chiquita Banana Cookbook, $0.10, also from Joan of Arc.
While you're in Orleans, you should stop by the Ho! and have a beer. We did.
Betty Crocker's Hostess Cookbook, $1, St. Peter's, East Harwich, MA.
Copyright 1961. I can't wait to unearth the culinary masterpieces within these pages.

Underneath:
Yet Another Tablecloth with Flowers on It, $1, Fisherman's House Thrift Shop, South Yarmouth, MA.
This still had the original tags. The original price was $2.49, so I got a great deal.

Flour Sifter, VNA Thriftique, South Yarmouth, MA, $1.
It's a uni-tasker, but does its job so well, I'll make an exception.I made two triple batches of cookies (Amandio insisted!) last week, and it performed like a champ.

I'm working on a new group blog idea. If you have a love of old cookbooks and are not afraid of mockery, drop a line.

2007-03-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

Some non-thrifting things:
TSP pal Abby is enjoying some well deserved fame. I am very happy for her! If you're in the area, go see her exhibit.

Yes, spring is just around the corner, but wouldn't it be nice to have a warm scarf, just in case?

If you're a person who eats,

cannot be recommended enough.

GT's Kombucha! How I love thee.

Urban Renewals, Allston, MA.

Pyrex Butterprint Bowl, $1.99.
Pyrex Spring Blossom Green Bowl, $2.99
These will go into my stockpile of Pyrex nesting bowls. Every once in a while, I group and sell them.
'Butterprint' is a favorite pattern of mine. The turquoise and white look so clean together.

Flowery Metal Tray, $0.99.
Loud and flowery, how could I leave it? I'll use it as a coaster for house plants in the kitchen.

Rowenta Powerglide 2, $9.99.
I recently went on
about the loss of my beloved Rowenta. When I priced new ones, I nearly wept. Goodness me, but they are expensive. Although the old one was probably not safe to use, leaking water as it did, I still used it, praying I would not be electrocuted and Kevin would find me dead on the floor. One day, I vowed, I would have another Rowenta.
The old, leaky Rowenta of possible death is on the left, the new one's on the right.

As my habit, I went to Yi Soon post shopping. Truth be told, if Yi Soon weren't there, I'd make the trek to Allston far less frequently. One of the ladies was on the phone, waved at me and held out a gold twist tie and asked what it was called. I told her and listened to her conversation. She looked at me, rather pained, and I asked if I could help. She said the person on the phone didn't understand her. I said of course, and took the phone. Barbara from Joliet, Indiana and I had a great talk about the paper and plastic needs of the bakery. All is well again at Yi Soon, and there are lots of gold twist ties to seal the delicious bags of bread and wife's pastries. Hello, Barbara, if you're reading this!

2007-02-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

February 10, 2007

Nothing says 'dead old lady' like a lot of pins at a thrift, unless it's a lot of carefully pressed linens.

The solid white, pink and blue & green flower pins came from the church thrift shop on 28 in West Yarmouth, what's the name of it? You know, it's right next to the West Yarmouth Library. They were all a dollar. I was debating whether or not to buy the white pin until my mother, rather exasperated, exclaimed, "Good God, Kristin, it's a dollar! Just get it!". The poor mother, she will go to heaven for sure.

The daisy pin came from the VNA Thriftique in South Yarmouth. I saw a girl I went to high school with there, but we didn't exchange hellos or anything. The less said about the high school years, the better. The pin was a buck, and the matching earrings were available, but weren't in the best condition.

The rest of the pins came from St. David's Thrift Shop in South Yarmouth. The smaller ones are actually clip earrings, and I will remove the clips and put pin backs on them instead. The big pin was a dollar-fifty and the earrings were $1 a pair.

We had quite the animated conversation with the ladies at St. David's. As I was being shown the pins, I remarked on the vast quantity of circle pins in the display case. One of the ladies, in a hushed tone, said, that in her day, you wore your circle pin on your left side if you were a virgin, and on your right side if you weren't. Goodness me! We then talked about how co-oh-oh-ld it was, and knititng. They complimented me on my hat, and asked about the pattern. I told them I'd found it on the internet. One of them said "I hear there's a lot of things on that internet." Oh, you have no idea!

2007-02-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

Salvation Army, Wilmington, MA.

I usually don't make it out this way very often, as it's not public transportation friendly. I had use of a car that day, and was in the area. It was a pleasant surprise. It was a little overpriced, but there were lots of things, such as:

Christmas File Box by Ohio Art, $0.49.
I always think I'm going to send Christmas cards, or celebrate Christmas for that matter, but rarely do. December is a crazy busy month for me.
This will be sold, sooner or later. I'm playing around with the idea of joining an antiques co-op, and have started to gather things for it.

Antique Household Gadgets & Appliances, David de Haan, $1.00.
This book is cool! It still has the price sticker from the Smithsonian on the back, and the pages haven't even yellowed. Someone either loved this book and took great care with it, or just the opposite. I'd love to scan some of the illustrations, but I'm afraid I'll break the spine.
This illo was found inside the book and definitely scan-worthy.

2007-02-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

Some things I've seen out and about recently. Pictures via my phone.

This is a promo item Pyrex did for Christmas 1961. I'd never seen the pattern before, and don't like gold, so I passed on it. VNA Thriftique, Yarmouth, MA>

I chuckled about this all day. Why wasn't this ever used? I dread to think of iguanas running down Mass Ave., untethered. Salvation Army, Cambridge, MA.

What does square taste like, anyway? Goodwill, South Boston, MA.

2007-02-06T10:54:00.000-08:00

Some notes before the thrifting:

Rebecca and I are headed to Baltimore at the end of March. She's attending a conference, and I will have days free about the city. Besides visiting Atomic Books, and one field trip so dorky it can't be mentioned, I'm up for suggestions for things to do. Any ideas?

Barilla will donate one cool dollar to America's Second Harvest every time someone downloads (it's free!) a copy of their Celebrity Pasta Lover's Cookbook. Thanks to TSP pal Lisa for this info.

Keep your eyes peeled for the Christian Carlos Fund auctions. I'm donating a scarf, and should be knitting right now instead of typing this.

If anyone sees:

in their travels, and wanted to send me one, I'd be forever grateful. I know, it sounds quite awful, but I am over a barrel for anything rhubarb.

A great post about thrifting by Grace. She said everything I'd like to say, but beat me to it.

Salvation Army, Cambridge, MA.

Really Nice Lambswool Sweater, $1.00
I tend to wear my clothes until they are more tatter than garment. My cardigans are all in terrible condition, so I was happy to find this. Great condition, and the 100% lambswool content of it is so soft, I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off myself.
Home Cooking, Laurie Colwin, $0.50.
Everyone is tired of hearing me go on about LC, I'm sure, so I'll keep quiet.

Urban Renewals, Allston, MA.

Silk Flowery Scarf, $0.99.
This would look nice with the above sweater. Too bad I have STD, scarf tying disorder. Maybe when I'm in France I'll find someone to teach me.
Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, $1.99.
One of the best books I read last year. For giving.
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Alexander McCall Smith, $0.99.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books are not serious reading by any stretch, but they are marvelously entertaining. I'm done with the series, and will pass it on to Gram.

The most remarkable thing about this trip was biting a small piece of my cheek off whilst chewing gum. This was icky. It squirted blood and the nice ladies at Yi Soon gave me some gauze to clean up with, as blood was dripping down my chin. Yuck. The next time I'm asked if I can walk and chew gum at the same time, I guess the answer will have to be no.

2007-02-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2007
Goodwill, Somerville, MA.

Oh boy, it was cold that Friday. My kitchen was only 52 degrees, and Kevin was away, so I needed to find a way to keep warm. 'Chicken!' I thought. 'I'll roast a chicken and things will be warm in here until I retire to the living room to watch Law and Order and knit.
Since I don't usually keep chickens in the house, I had to go out. I also needed wrapping paper and ribbon (I can't stand gift bags) for a baby shower present, so I bundled up and headed out.

Not exactly proper attire for nine degrees, but I like it, and no, Mother, my feet were not cold.

Despite the cold, McKinnon's was bustling. I stopped by the deli counter to flirt*, then grabbed a bird and a package of short ribs. We eat a lot of short ribs here in the colder months, and oh are they good, if I do say so myself.

A Goodwill stop had not been planned, but since I was walking by....

Timbertoys of Vermont Train Set, $1.00
Who would get rid of something so beautifully made? I thought this was swell.
This is for my pal Arthur.
I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman, Nora Ephron, $1.00.
Bought for the Mother, who didn't want it. I loved Heartburn, but I don't like the 'we girls are in this together' tone of this one bit. I'll sell it on amazon.
Stripy TAG Dishtowel, NWT, $0.50.
I desperately need new pot holders, and will use this to make them.
Quilted Potholder $0.25.
Soon I'll be swimming in pot holders, I guess. This was found at the register, and couldn't leave it. Here's a close up:

Spool of Gorgeous Silk Ribbon, $0.50.
Never used. Now I have the ribbon I need to wrap the baby gift, because I also found...
A Brand New Roll of Flowery Wrapping Paper, $1.00

Excellent! Now I don't have to trudge in the cold to Paper Source!

Total: $3.94.

Oh, the iced tea spoons are still up for grabs, if anyone wants them. Let me know.

*My favorite deli person is a silver haired gent in his late sixties, early seventies, maybe? I am always impressed that he wears a shirt and tie underneath his blood stained apron. He is quite the ladies' man, with a lot more than mortadellla on his mind, if you know what I mean.

2007-01-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

Eek!

I call unexpected items in thrifted stuff a 'gift with purchase', just like Clinique! Things I've found:
*A 'Dear Jane' letter, dated May of '61, in an old etiquette manual.
*A hundred dollar bill in a tweedy men's blazer I bought at the CCH Thrift Shop in 1986.
*Head lice. I was fond of old newsboy-ish caps, and apparently the little buggers outlasted a dip in boiling water. My roommmate at the time had dreads, and wouldn't come near me for weeks. I don't thrift woolen hats any more.
*Marijuana.
*A perfectly pressed Easter lily in a dictionary.
*Dirty Polaroids.
*Half a Hershey bar.
*Postcards, postcards, postcards.

What have you found in a thrifted item?

2007-01-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2007
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA.

I was lucky enough to have Rebecca join me on this day. Due to our completely opposite schedules, we have thrifted together only once before, although we often pick up things for the other when we are out and about.

It had been slow at work the night before, and John and I played the new cocktail discovery* game, with Rick and his friend Chris. No new cocktails were created, but I did discover I was terribly hung over the next morning. I thought my eyeballs would explode.

Wandering through the linens, a child's quilt caught our eyes. It was in beautiful shape, and we momentarily debated who would like it. Since Rebecca knows more people with children, and even has one herself, she was the natural choice. Isn't it gorgeous?

Photos courtesy of Rebecca.

We remarked on the vast number of ponchoes on the racks, and how happy this made us. There's no excuse for a poncho.

Also seen:
-Several Martha Stewart books.
-Christmas balls, many in excellent old packaging.
-A faux fur coat, in a polyester called 'Lykafur'. A shame the photo didn't turn out.
-

Please note the Brita pitcher in the back. Does anyone ever buy these? I don't think I've been in a thrift store in the last five years that hasn't had an ample supply of them.

In my impaired state, I found two things, a copy of Eats, Shoots & Leaves for Stela, and an apron.

Rebecca gave me a questioning look when I picked this out of the rack. I said, "There's an appliqued pear on it", as though that made everything okay.

The apron was worn the next day with my orange Crocs while making dinner, and I was quite the lurid sight.

We later ate lunch at Color on Harvard Ave. It is the cutest restaurant in Boston, hands down. Spicy noodle soups are also great for hangovers, trust me.

*This is not to be confused with 'Guess What's in This?', another popular pastime in the food service industry.

2007-01-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

As usual, I'm a little behind on posting.

A few things:
-Colleen is using her new-found fame to raise some money for Rosie's Place. Why not donate a few dollars? I did.
-The Radioactives make their video debut! Yay, Radioactives!
-I was doing the crossword in the paper last Friday, and had to do that Old Person Who Can't See thing. You know what I'm talking about, when you move your arms toward and away from you, to get the print into focus. I was so upset I promptly had to fix a beverage.
-January will truly be known as the Month of Linens.
-I was interviewed about thrifting and the TSP by a venerable publication. I am not sure if the piece is going to run or not, but it provided me with squeals of delight.

Anyone want these? They're three iced tea spoons by Oneida, 7.25" long. I was obsessively cleaning out my silverware drawer yesterday and realized I'm never going to use them. I think these came from Thrift Town in Sacramento, but am not quite sure. Preference will be given to anyone who has odd ends of Noro Kureyon to get rid of. It's for a project.

2007-01-16T09:45:00.000-08:00

A funny story. It was funny to us, anyway.

I stopped by Rebecca's place of employ yesterday to give her a variety of cheeses. She was wearing a comfy gray tweed sweater. We talked for a few minutes while I eyed said sweater, then asked, "Is that from Structure?" She thought so, and twisted around to show me the label. It was.

Fall, 1992, I think*, Hyannis, Massachusetts.
My father and I were at the Cape Cod Mall**. I had to buy a skirt for work, he needed a new pair of sneakers. He was irritated, because I'd recently had my nose pierced and he thought it was awful and people were staring at me. We were standing outside Friendly's, eating ice cream cones, when a something caught his eye. A sweater in the window at Structure. A gray tweed sweater, with a mock turtleneck. He said he liked it, and we went in to investigate the matter further. He tried it on. However, the $40 price tag was too much for his frugal New England heart***, and he put it back. He spoke of it often, and on several occasions I told him to go back and get the damned thing, but, oh, $40! Just for a sweater? Nope, no way.
Weeks later, deciding on what to get people for Christmas, I remembered the sweater. It was still there, and still $40, which was too much for my frugal New England heart as well. I made the Terrible Brother give me $20, and got it. He was very happy and wore it all the time.
A year or two later, living in Denver, I found the same sweater at ARC. Loving a good joke, I bought and sent it to him. Since then, I've given him seven or eight others, and still always look for it.

*I can't remember whether it's 1992 or 1993. It's the last time I lived on Cape for any length of time, that much I do know.
**We are not exactly mall people. The only time I ever go in one is to smear different kinds of goo on my face at the Pru Sephora.
***My dad used to wear clothes he found on the side of the road. I am not kidding. For years, he had this yellow and navy striped shirt found, I think, on the side of Route Six. Whenever he wore it the T. Brother and I would yell "buzz!"

2007-01-12T10:49:00.000-08:00

You'll all be pleased to hear I did get the pink Detecto scale. For five bucks, I couldn't pass it up. In a year's time, I will probably wonder why on earth I bought it, and sell it, but for now, why not?

Speaking of things I am wondering why on earth I bought, is anyone interested in...

It's beautiful, but I'm not going to do anything with it. Let me know via the usual channels if you'd like it.

2007-01-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

Gwen is the lucky recipient of the Knit Wit. Packing it up today, I found two pattern books in the box. Truly horrified, I decided that such awfulness shouldn't be kept a secret. Thus, a flickr set.

Have fun, Gwen!

2007-01-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

Two things I saw today at the Goodwill in Cambridge.

The green sewing box I passed on due to the singe-y marks on the lid. Very rarely will I buy something not pristine, due to the fact there's simply too much stuff out there. Another sewing box will be out there, someday, when and if I need another one.

I'm still mulling over the pink Detecto baby scale. It is exceptionally beautiful, but what on earth would I do with it? I don't have a baby, probably not having one any time soon, and don't know anyone who would like such a thing. I try not to buy things just for decor, because I don't have the space, but this may get the better of me. It's lovely. Your thoughts?

2007-01-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

Urban Renewals, Allston, MA
January 4, 2007.

With the new LinkPass, I'll be taking a lot more buses, in order to get my money's worth. I am missing my old subway pass already.
A Bag with Two Fiesta Luncheon Plates and a Heart Shaped Dish, $1.99.
The Fiesta plates were in marvelous shape. Since turquoise Fiesta is the house china, I never pass it up. The pink plate I'll pass on to a friend, and the heart shaped dish, although too cute for my tastes, will be nice for holding my cough drop collection. I've been sick for weeks.
The tablecloth beneath came from the Goodwill in South Boston this fall. It was a dollar. There's a small hole in it, but in an unnoticeable spot.
I also found a nice round Vera tablecloth, and some acetate scarves. All were just handwashed and are drying. I'll get to those later this week.

In the tradition of lazy blogging, here are some links I've been enjoying:
Obsessive Consumption.
The restaurant industry and health care. Via Megnut and Emily.
From Bourdain's show last week, the Northern Ireland Political murals.

2007-01-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

Is anyone interested in the Knit Wit? I only wanted it for the images on the box, and I'm done with it. Drop me a line if you'd like it.

2007-01-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

Rowenta Powerglide 2, Family Thrift Center, North Quincy, MA.

I dropped my beloved Rowenta while ironing my work clothes this morning. The base cracked and water leaked all over, the iron spitting and hissing like an angry cat.

I found her at the much missed Family Thrift Center. FTC has been closed since, '00, '01, maybe? We'll say the early aughts. She was $4.95, and I debated buying her because she was sort of heavy, and it was a twenty minute walk back to the subway. Good sense prevailed*, and we went home together.

Miss Rowenta has lived in three apartments, and ironed an infinite number of work shirts. I salute you, old friend. You will be missed.

*The fact that a woman kept pestering me about whether or not I was going to buy the Rowenta and offered me ten dollars for her had nothing to do with it. This woman drove me so wild I finally told her to f*** off or I would call security. I dread to think the sort of security FTC would have, but it worked.

2007-01-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

January 2, 2007
Goodwill, Somerville, MA.

If you're in Davis Square, make sure you walk by the Goodwill and be amazed at the pile of donations. It's about two feet shy of the ceiling. After you've done that, swing into Anna's . They are now offering their al pastor tacos in burrito form, and it has changed my life in small but important ways. Get cheese, rice, and ask for the al pastor sauces instead of salsa and hot sauce. Please tip nicely.

Clockwise, from left:

A Little Red Robot, $0.50.
It's for Kevin. He's been going through a robot phase. Here's hoping he'll buy me a pizza in exchange.

A Blue Satin Glove Box, $0.50.
I always pick up glove boxes when I see them, if they're in excellent condition. They are perfect for storing things besides gloves.

Sassy Magazine, September 1992, $0.50.
My roommates and I were a little too old for Sassy, but we loved it anyway. I have fond memories of drinking cheap beer and acting out some of the 'It Happened to Me' stories.
A book about Sassy will be out this spring.

Two Issues of Everyday Food, $0.50/ea.
I sort of like Everyday Food. Some days you're just not in the mood to make a Turducken.

A Cigarette Case, $1.00.
I would like to mention that I am very proud of both Rob and Hassan for quitting smoking, even though they have both cheated a little. One must be supportive of one's friends.
This still had the sticker from UO on it. I've torn off the red sequin cover and will make one from some Mexican oilcloth, then use this as a wallet.

Total: $3.68.

Also spotted:
*Seven Pyrex bowls, all of which had been run through the dishwasher, ruining the frizzled clear coat. Why do people do this to innocent Pyrex?
*An ugly spice rack, still full of spices. Twenty year old nutmeg doesn't smell like much.
*A lovely wooden case for storing slides. If only I had slides to store.

2006-11-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

Don't forget, it's Buy Nothing
Day.

2006-11-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

TSP: The Enormous Update
November 21, 2006
Floribunda, Part the First

As I've already stated, due to my extraordinarily floral surname, I'm attracted to nearly any flowery object.

Clockwise, from bottom left:
Oilily Brown Skirt, Goodwill, Cambridge, MA, $3.99.
I am not a woman prone to cursing, but Oilily makes f****** gorgeous clothes. They had a pair of boots in their Fall 2005 collection I was completely enchanted with. I would walk by the Newbury St. store every Tuesday on my way to work, gazing longingly at such beauty. One Tuesday, the word 'SALE!' was emblazoned on the window, so I popped in. I touched the boots, as soft as a week old kitten. So pink, so pretty! A saleslady appeared at my side, asking if I'd like to try them. Temptation got the better of me, and I said yes. As I tugged them on, she said they were marked down to only $185! I quickly slipped back into my $25 Crocs (bought with a 20% off coupon!) and dashed out of the store, leaving behind an eclair I'd bought at Cafe Vanille.

Flowery Embroidered Doily-esque Thingamabobble, A.I.M. Thrift Shop, Wellfleet, MA, $0.10.
Ten cents? Handwork? Natch.

Two Vera Scarves, Goodwill, Portsmouth, NH, $0.59/ea.
Things to do on a trip to P-mouth:
1. Eat at the Friendly Toast.
2. Visit Jenna! Hi, Jenna!
3. Pick up a growler or six at Smuttynose. I have a great deal of personal experience with each and every one of their beers, and all are delicious. Speaking of which, I still have two of the Summer Weizens in my mom's fridge. The Terrible Brother had best keep his hands off them.
4. Pay your respects to the now closed and demolished Yoken's. People are tired of hearing me go on about it, so I'll be quiet.
5. Go to the nice big Goodwill on Route One.

What Must Be The Zillionth Apron I've Bought, A.I.M Thrift Shop, Wellfleet, MA, $0.10.
This one is nice and long. It hits me just above the knee.

Blue Flowery Tote Bag, Urban Renewals, Allston, MA, $0.99.
There's always a cloth tote in my bag. I abhor plastic bags and only take them from the butcher and Yi Soon. I've asked the bakery ladies to not give me a bag, but they insist. These days, I'm buying six coconut butter buns a week, plus wife's pastries, a red bean mochi pastry and whatever else strikes my fancy. That's what you get for introducing friends to such perfect things. I walk into work with the Yi Soon bag and feel like a coke dealer.
My previous keep-in-my-bag tote bag recently met an unfortunate end, so this will get daily use.

2006-11-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

TSP: The Enormous Update
November 14, 2006
Dirty

Clockwise, from top left:
Selected Poems from Wendell Berry, Goodwill, South Boston, MA, $0.79.
I love Wendell Berry. Enough said.
Reading the Mountains of Home, John Elder, Goodwill, South Boston, MA, $0.79.
Someone in Southie must have been thinking, 'Oh, that nice Kristin person will be by sometime soon, so I will drop off a pile of books that she will like.' I found a lot of books that day.
Laura: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Donald Zochert, Salvation Army, Buzzard's Bay, MA, $0.25.
My first copy of this came from Loftus Store in De Smet, South Dakota. I still have odd, unsettled feelings about my trip to De Smet. It was a great day and I met wonderful people (Debbie @ the Wal-Mart in Brookings, SD! I hope you heard about the letter I wrote to your manager about how great you were got you a raise.) but I didn't really learn anything new about Laura, there are no Laura Ingalls Wilder secret tapes out there or anything. Also, the prairie creeped out this girl who can read a tide like a first grade primer.
Birkenstock Arizona Sandals, Urban Renewals, Allston, MA, $3.99.
All but new. I purchased these for a friend, but, alas, the friend was not happy to receive such practical footwear. She actually pinched me! Did I think she was some sort of hippie? Whatever had given me the idea she would wear something so ugly? Needless to say, she did not take the Birks, and I will put them up on eBay sometime next spring.
A Lovely Brown Wool CP Shades Skirt, Salvation Army, Saugus, MA, $4.99.
I have to shorten this (read: I'll take it to Gram and have her do it) as I have the world's stubbiest legs.
Brown Seven for All Mankind Jeans, Goodwill, Cambridge, MA, $5.99.
I may be dreaming to think these may actually fit one day, but I'll keep them for three months. If they don't fit then, I'll eBay them.

Miele Vacuum Cleaner Bags, Urban Renewals, Allston, MA, $1.99.
I hesitated before posting this, because then I'd have to admit that on March 10, 2003 I thrifted a Miele Black Diamond vacuum cleaner at the Goodwill in Central Square for $15. All the attachments were included. It's the second greatest thing I've ever thrifted.

2006-11-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

TSP: The Enormous Update.
November 13, 2006
Red

Red Eight Ounce Thermos, Goodwill, South Boston, MA, $1.00.
It's for Hassan, so he can sip hot tea in snazzy style. This smelled a little musty, so I made a different sort of tea with white vinegar and boiling water. After sitting for an hour, it was as good as new.

Spanish Now!, Goodwill, Somerville, MA, $0.79.
I'm taking a Spanish class and picked this up for reference. Fluency by June, or bust!
A Christmas Story, Jean Shepherd, Salvation Army, Chelsea, MA, $.25.
It's for the Terrible Brother. Due to geographic whims, we are rarely together at Christmas, but during TNT's Twenty-Four Hours of A Christmas Story, call each other constantly, usually just before an especially politically incorrect scene. We're not the best sort of people.

The rocks are from Cape Cod Bay, and didn't cost a cent.

2006-09-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 18, 2006.

Sometimes you just have to say fuck it. My terrible cold and other personal stresses had made my life somewhat (actually, a whole lot) unbearable. My panacea for all ills, physical or psychological, has always been the beach, either in the drink or in the sun. It can be ten degrees, it can be eighty. With two days off, the last warm days of summer, four books, a beach towel, and attitude, I picked up the rental car and blew out of town. Ogunquit or bust!
Southern Maine is a favorite place of mine. A friend who's from there says it's because it's just like where I'm from, except I don't have to worry about running into people I went to high school with. He's probably right, but not about to tell him that.
Driving and I have a weird relationship. I haven't owned a car or driven with any regularity in almost nine years. If you'd like to go to St. Louis and need a co-pilot, I'm your girl, but day-to-day driving would make me crazy.
Of course, with road trips comes the radio, another thing that's not part of my daily life. Here's the TSP Report on the state of commercial radio these days:
The Dirty Dancing soundtrack will never die.
Man, that Kelly Clarkson is everywhere.
Do people know there are other songs by Elvis Costello than 'Watching the Detectives'?
What's the deal with radio stations giving themselves names like Frank and Mike?
Only heard one song by the Replacements. A travesty!

A lot of thrifts are closed on Mondays, and I only hit one before getting to the beach.

York Community Thrift Center, US Route One, York, ME.
I've been by here many, many times over the years, and the 'sale today' sign is always out.

Wanderlust: A History of Walking, Rebecca Solnit, $0.25.
A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf, John Muir and Peter Jenkins, $0.25.
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson, $0.25.
A fellow walking enthusiast seems to be divesting their library. I can only hope they have not gone on the Final Walk, if you know what I mean.
Total: $0.75, but I gave them a dollar and told the ladies we were even.

Things you need to know about the YCSA:
1. Pulling in and out of the parking lot tries the nerves. Be careful!
2. The volunteers are great.
3. It's open seven days.
4., and this is the most important:
It is down the street from Pie In The Sky, one of the three best bakeries I've ever been to. I stopped and bought a brownie to eat @ the beach. Temptation led me astray, and I tore into it as I left the parking lot. Five minutes later I turned around, drove back and bought two more. It was that good. Do yourself a favor, and go get one. Leave now.

A half hour later, going down Beach Street and over the bridge, I spotted that line of pure blue and tan, where the water and sand meet, and let out a small whoop of utter happiness. I felt like I'd been saved.

2006-09-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank all for the get well wishes. I am feeling much better.

In lieu of actual content, here's a find to really envy. I'd have bought that in a New York minute, and lugged it home on the bus to boot.

2006-09-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

I have a terrible cold.

2006-09-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

I've been seeing groupings of like titles a lot lately, and it makes me laugh.

2006-09-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

Two exciting things:
1. Check out my wonderful friend Sean's new blog about volunteering in South Africa.
2. Gwen has a new flickr group. Go join!

August 17, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

Bento Boxes, $1.99 for all three.
I hear from the kids that bento is all the rage. Since I so rarely get the opportunity to be hip, I had to carpe bento, so to speak.
Two of the three boxes were still in the plastic packaging.
I had done the day's shopping on my way to work. Showing Hassan my purchases, we became quite hysterical at the 'Pray to God for mercy' on the Zodiac box, and said it constantly throughout the night, and it became even funnier. Well, it was funny to us, anyway.

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, Lynne Truss, $0.99.
The second copy I've bought this year. This one will be for Diego.
Ex Libris, Anne Faidman, $1.99.
I've never seen this used before, so had to snatch it up. Her previous book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is one of the best books I've ever read. Go find it, now.
Smashed, Koran Zailckas, $1.99.
Another book I've been looking for. Come to find out, co-workers Kelly and Amanda are reading it as well.
Nine Parts of Desire, Geraldine Brooks, $1.00.
I've really enjoyed all her non-fiction so far.
Blue tix were half price this week!
Paris to the Moon, Adam Gopnik, $1.00.
Still had that grainy new book feel and the original price sticker from Borders.
McCall's Sewing Book, $2.99.
The copyright on this was from 1971. The illos inside are great, and I'll have to scam some soon.

Also seen @ Urban Renewals:
1. Jennifer!
2. A lot of Pyrex casseroles, none of which I needed or were a pleasing pattern. I'm not a fan of avocado green or harvest gold.
3. A book that would have had Jodi a mess. Title: Hamsters and Other Laboratory Animals, from 1961. It was full of interesting scientific uses for guinea pigs, hamsters and the like.
4. Fourteen copies of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, all in a row.

Total: $12.46.

2006-09-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

August 10, 2006
Goodwill, Cambridge, MA

Personal notes:
1. Kevin had a nice blurb on Boing Boing yesterday. This comes on the heels of his Metafilter mention. Just because he's all famous doesn't mean he's excused from taking down the recycling.
2.1. I was sad about Steve Irwin, and tried to insert 'Crikey!' into my conversations as much as possible yesterday.

Some days you don't find anything. That's okay, because:
1. Increases the odds you'll see something to catch your fancy the next time.
2. In all honesty, I don't need a thing.

I was leaving the store, waving goodbye to Assistant Manager X, when this bag caught my eye from behind the counter. I ask to see it, and my pulse raced. The handle passed the quickie is-it-Bakelite? test. It's in excellent condition. The only flaw is the plastic lining is cracked, but I think that's from age, not from use. I ask A.M. X the price. 'Ten dollars!' he crows.

Ten dollars? I don't like to spend much more than that on anything, unless I can live in it or drive it to Chicago. With Massachusetts state sales tax, that's ten-fifty. I ponder. Several people in line mention its swellness. I slap a Hamilton and two valuable laundry quarters on the counter, call A.M. X a mean name, and off we go.

Total: $10.50.

2006-08-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

I'm quite fed up with Blogger today. I've been trying to post all day, and it won't let me, so I've moved today's post to Vox. Let me know what you think, either here or there!

Take that, Blogger!

2006-08-25T09:28:00.001-07:00

The readership here at the TSP is, well, small. So, when the people speak, I must listen.

Bottle cap is for scale.

How I Set My Jeans on Fire Sometime in May*
By Kristin R., Age 37.

It was a cool gray Friday afternoon. I was futzing about the house, tidying up before a busy weekend at work. In the basement, a load of wash humming a happy sudsy coda. I run downstairs to to switch it over to dryer, stopping to say hello to our upstairs neighbor, who was on her way to pick up her little boy at school.
When I get to the basement, I find the dryer already occupied. My plans for mechanical evaporation, foiled! Upstairs Neighbor must have put things in before leaving. Damn! My work clothes are now wet and sad, and I have to leave in forty-five minutes. I trudge upstairs with the sodden load.
I hang up the things that can be hung up. Socks and unmentionables are draped over the wooden drying rack. One thing remains, my J. Jill dungarees I bought at the Salvation Army in Salem. I need to wear these to work**, I can't go pantsless on the subway. Jeans take forever to dry. What to do?
Inspiration seizes me. The oven is set to 450F, I wait five minutes, and put my pants in. Ten minutes later, I turn them over, to ensure even browning.
Oh, s***! What's that smell? I yank them out of the oven, throw them in the sink and turn on the tap. Grill marks, so desired on a rib eye, are all over my jeans. One spot on the left thigh has burned through. My favorite jeans! I sigh, pin the big hole together, and head to work.
A few days later, I mend the hole with some pink embroidery floss. It looks like a scar, which I quite like. How my jeans have suffered for me! The mending didn't last long, and once again I must resort to safety pins.
Three months later, the hole has gotten bigger, and I still can't bring myself to get rid of these, despite constant mockery. With winter coming, I'm sure I'll either get rid of these or properly fix them. Poor jeans.

*Kevin Church, noted arson specialist and comics blogger, said, 'It's because you're an idiot'.
**I have no idea why I just didn't wear anther pair of pants to work that day. It got stuck in my head that I was going to wear them, and that was that.

2006-08-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

It was recently pointed out that I don't seem to thrift any clothing. I do, but as soon as I get home, take off the tags and toss it in the laundry basket. It then gets washed and put away, and never blogged about. I'll try to be better about this, but in the meantime, we here at the TSP have a new category...

Things I Have Thrifted So Far This Year That I Have Forgotten To Write About, by Kristin R., Age 37.

*A new work shirt for Hassan. Originally from Express, I found it @ Urban Renewals for $4.99. He bought my preferred kind of Diet Coke* as thanks.
*A black sports bra-top thing from Danskin. Very comfortable, and I don't mind the uni-boob look. $1.99 at the SA in Chelsea.
*A pair of black linen pants by Flax. The Unitarian thrift shop in Barnstable, two bucks.
*Three back issues of Everyday Food. A quarter each at the Davis Square Goodwill.
*A white Eileen Fisher tee shirt, which I spilled Syrah all over two nights later, and threw away. It was my first glass, I swear!
*At Close Range by Annie Proulx, which I also gave to Hassan. He bought me some Diet Coke with Lime in return.
*A pair of J. Jill jeans, presently in the wash. I accidently set these on fire in May, but they are so comfortable I can't bear to part with them yet. $4.99 at the SA in Salem, NH.
*A green shirt for Hassan. God, did we get married or something?
*A fifties-cool porcelain cake topper of a girl bowling, which I put in my bag. It later turned into the nicest white powder, because I put two twenty ounce bottles of guess what? in the bag as well, and was smooshed all to bits. $0.50, Goodwill, Cambridge, MA.
* Two books that I am embarrassed to tell anyone the titles of, $0.79 at the South Boston Goodwill.
*A blue Speedo bathing suit, NWT, Goodwill, Cambridge, MA. $3.99.

Once again, we're enduring the Special Hell known as Restaurant Week. Not much thrifting has gone on, but a whole lot of foot soaking, drowning one's sorrow with one's co-workers, and being tired. However, coming soon: TSP: The Cocktail!

*Did anyone ever try the Diet Raspberry Coke available in New Zealand? I'm dying to know how it was.

2006-08-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yet more personal notes before we get to the (long overdue) posting:
1. I am sorry to see that Hillary won't be keeping Thriftcraft, but she'll be incorporating it into Wee Wonderfuls, so we won't miss out on her great finds and creations.

2. It's nice to see The Art of Finding is posting again.

3. I'd like to welcome new reader Alice into the fold! Now she doesn't have to be jealous Patty was mentioned and she hasn't been.

4. Fifty percent of my Favorite Boy Quadrant are celebrating birthdays today. Here's a fun quiz:
1. A. is hard of hearing. B. pretends not to hear me.
2. A. lived with a woman who is forgetful and cranky. B. lives with a woman who is cranky and forgetful.
3. A. is constantly battling the critters who ravage his garden. B. likes the movie 'Star Wars'.
4. A. ate pie for breakfast for nearly sixty years. B. would, too, if I would let him.
Which of these gentlemen is turning ninety-six, and which is thirty-two?
Happy birthday, Kevin and Grandpa!

UMC Thrift Shop, Chatham, MA

August 3, 2006

Three Old Knitting Pattern Booklets, $0.05/ea.
A Festival of Sweaters! It sounds like the sort of event that would have Rebecca and I whipped into all a frenzy. I hope there'd be funnel cake and kettle corn.

Lots of Green Embroidery Cotton, a Pair of 10.5 Needles, $0.25 for the cotton, $0.50, the needles.
Not much to say about this. I always buy metal knitting needles when I find them, so I can color coordinate my project to the needles.

Martha Stewart Living, Holiday 1994/1995, free!
It was in the free magazine pile outside the shop. I wonder what it's been doing for the past eleven years.

Old Wesson Oil Measuring Cup, $0.50.
I love old promo objects like this. I found a Wesson mayonnaise maker when I lived in CO years ago, but, since I don't really like mayonnaise, never used it. It disappeared into the moving vortex.

Total: $1.40.

Oh, and the shop was having a bag sale the day I was there...

2006-08-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

UMC Thrift Shop, East Harwich, MA.
I didn't find anything here when this was taken, but it's been the site of some nice finds in the past. They seem to specialize in milk glass, old, bad knitting patterns and cookbooks.

I'm thinking of taking the site to Vox. The interface seems much more friendly than Blogger. Does anyone have any thoughts about Vox? How have your experiences with it been?

2006-08-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

A thrift shop and a library, all in one stop? It doesn't get any better than this.

South Chatham, Massachusetts, August 4, 2006.

why couldn't I have been an only child? why?

2006-08-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

why couldn't I have been an only child? why?
Originally uploaded by rosegirl.

Yet another personal post.

Today the Terrible Brother's is a year older. While nobody on the planet can make me angrier, without him, I'd have to deal with my Vaguely Insane Family all alone. We have all the same memories, and he calls me on all my bullshit. Happy birthday!

2006-08-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

It's too damn hot to do anything except sip icy beverages (presently: iced Mocha Java from Someday and L'Eau de Somerville) but wanted the locals to know there's a heat wave sale at the Davis Goodwill, all tee shirts and shorts are a dollar. Stay cool!

2006-07-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

July 30, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

I don't usually thrift on the weekends. My weekdays are free, so I do my shopping then. Today was an exception, because something in the window @ the Davis Square Goodwill caught my eye.

Tupperware Forget-Me-Not Holder, $0.25.
My mother raved about these to me a couple of years ago. You put a half an onion, lemon, lime, whatever, in, and hang it from your fridge shelf so you don't forget about it! What a handy idea!
I have to say, plastic kind of skeezes me out. Kevin will happily attest to this, as I screech like a banshee when he brings home something in a plastic bag, or overuses it in any way*. I'd prefer to keep everything in glass or paper, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. Do what you can and pray for the rest, that's my motto.

ANYWAY...the niftiness of the Tupperware Forget-Me-Not holder overcame my anti-plastic holier-than-thou stance. I am so hoping that the acids in whatever I may put in this will kill any kind of plastic ick. In reality, the acids will probably exacerbate the plasticity and I'll be dead in a weeks' time. Drat.

The World According to Mimi Smartypants, $0.79.
A fellow blogger! How could I resist!

Toujours Provence, Peter Mayle, $0.79.
Yes, thrifts are full of the Peter Mayle oeuvre, but I think the books are eminently readable and funny. This is the only one I don't have.

Sink Reflections, Maria Cilley, the Flylady, $0.79.
I am the sort of person who:
1. Hates a mess!
2. Loves to clean!**
3. Doesn't like to wear shoes,.
The Flylady and I, we butt heads at #3. Will be amazon-ed.

Peoluze Fifty Pound Postal Scale, $1.99.
I've been selling on eBay for three years now, and I can't stand gouging people on postage. It seems like I either:
1. Way overestimate
or:
2. Way underestimate
postage. Hopefully this will solve this dilemma.
BTW: This is what I saw in the window and drew me into the Goodwill today.

A Spoolie-Dealie Thing, Probably From a Spinning Wheel or Other Similar Object, $0.99.
In the bizarre place I'm from, small bluefish are called 'schoolie-dealies', or 'snapper blues***'. I love bluefish, to catch and to eat, with a passion saved for mother and country, so am resurrecting the term. Feel free to do the same.
This is such a pleasing object to hold. It's so smooth and wooden. Perhaps I'll drill a larger hole in it and use it as a candlestick.

Total: $5.88.

*Since I am childless, I get to obsess and worry about other, much more pointless, things. Poor Kevin. I even obtained a plain canvas bag for him to keep in his courier bag, to bring things home in.
**It's true! I have even cleaned for fat, fat cash and for friends who feel overwhelmed with life. A tidy house makes you feel much better.
***The Terrible Brother once rather firmly implanted a fish hook in my leg while fishing for snapper blues. He now says it was an 'accident'. He's a fool.

2006-07-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

A few personal notes before we get to the thrifting:

1. Happy belated birthday to Katie!
2. I'm going to start a band called the Essentials. We'll sing songs about how to hem a skirt, getting a bus crazy to leave you alone, six things to do with roasted garlic, etc. I've already got a Grammy speech half written and some dance moves down. If you have a subway accessible practice space, or any musical talent to speak of (please, no more viola players, we have two already) get in touch.
3. Congratulations to my third favorite comics blogger on
being Blogger's 'Blog of Note' this weekend. If you've ever wanted to see someone go on and on (and on) about awful comics, Dave's is the site for you.

July 25, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

The Global Soul: Jet Lag, Shopping Malls, and the Search for Home, Pico Iyer, $1.99.
Pico Iyer is a great, great writer. He's the one responsible for my obsession with Bhutan earlier this year. After some research on travelling to Bhutan, I decided to set my sights a little closer to home. Besides, altitude and I are not exactly friends. My time in Colorado almost killed me. I'm a sea-level sort of girl.

Knit Lit (too), Linda Roghaar and Molly Wolf, Eds., $0.99.
There's a small crack in the spine. It will be passed on to the usual suspects when I'm done with it.

Pyrex Refrigerator Ware Set, Gooseberry Pattern, $9.99.
You can't tell from the photo, but all four pieces are here. All in shiny new condition. One of the tops was chipped, but I replaced it with one from my stash.
This will be put on eBay. It's selling well, and I have a good-sized collection of Pyrex fridge ware already.

Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women, Jo Packham, $1.99.
A pretty book. I never knew April Cornell was a real person! Sold on amazon for $14.

Colors: Tibor Kalman's Issues 1-13, $2.99.
Colors is a magazine published by the Benetton Group. While I won't get into the utter creepiness of Benetton's idea to put RFID chips in all their garments (a plan they abandoned in April, 2006), the magazine is lovely to look at. It reminds me a lot of Dan Eldon's journals, or vice-versa.
This may get amazon-ed, it's going for real money. I've read it once, and can't see myself needing it for the permanent collection.

Total: $18.84.

Other notes:

-First used Crocs sighting!
-Yi-Soon has some new buns. I tried the green tea and red bean, a winner, and Mexican blueberry, not so good.
-I later cheated on the good ladies of Yi-Soon and stopped at the Seoul Bakery on Harvard Ave. The house-made mochi is dee-lish!
-The 66 bus drove right by me. Why, I have no idea.

This entry was fueled by Ipswich's Summer Ale and fresh cucumber slices. Don't bother with the Ipswich, while tasty (it's beer, after all) it's nothing special. Stick with their craft brewed sodas and seltzers. For an excellent summer brew, try Gritty's Vacationland or the Smuttynose Summer Weizen, which is one of the tastiest wheat beers I've had in quite a while.
If anyone has any suggestions for good summer/wheat beers, please let me know!

2006-07-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

July 21, 2006
Salvation Army, Cambridge, MA

Ball Winder, $1.00.

It's brand new. Nothing else to say.

Total: $1.05.

2006-07-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

July 6, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

I was chastised for being a bad poster @ lunch the other day. Kevin is away for the weekend, T.S. Beryl has kept me off-Cape for a bit, so I will try to use the time wisely.

All paperbacks were a quarter, hardcovers fifty cents! Just what I need, more books.

The Carnivorous Carnival, Lemony Snicket.
It's for Kevin. The L. Snicket titles make me laugh, especially The Grim Grotto. The Grotto I know and love is anything but grim, and, if you're in the 617/781/978, you should go eat there, soon.
Dance Dance Dance, Haruki Murakami.
Another book for Kevin. I should read The Wind Up Bird Chronicles sometime.
Compass Points: How I Lived, Edward Hoaglund.
I first read him, what, fifteen years ago? If you like excellent nature writing, he is a must.
Valencia, Michelle Tea.
Oh, Michelle. I know the correct Third Wave-post Riot Grrrl stance is to think that you poop diamonds, but I can hardly tolerate your writing. I've tried, Michelle, I've read all your books, but it just isn't mean to be. You probably don't like me, either.
Sold on Amazon for $6.

More Home Cooking, Laurie Colwin.
Hardcover! Little shelf wear! A quarter! I almost popped with glee.
Rebecca was the recipient of my rather tatty PB copy. I was a little embarrassed giving her such a well-read book, but I daresay she liked it.

French Women Don't Get Fat, Mireille Guiliano.
For fifty cents I may as well find out what all the fuss is about.
Wouldn't it be funny if this was Abby's recently discarded copy? I got quite the chuckle thinking about that.
Perhaps I should write a sequel of sorts, French Women May Not Get Fat, But American Chicks Who Love Their Cheeses, Pastry and Wine Sure Seem To Be Well Rounded.

Dansko Professional Clogs, Size 39, $4.99.
I know some are icked out by the thought of used shoes. I'll only buy them if they are in nearly unworn shape. A pair of Birkenstocks I bought in March sold on eBay for $45, which I then used to help fund my Crocs library. Shoes are one of the few things I'll buy retail.
These are for Patty. She has a new job, and she will dazzle her co-workers with her new clogs.

Vintage Tablecloth, $1.00.
No stains, no holes. What more could you want in a tablecloth?
Maybe it will become an apron or a skirt, maybe I'll sell it. Who knows?

Total: $8.86.

2006-07-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

July 5, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA.

Someday I'll get caught up on posts and email, I swear.

A Bag of Quite the Niftiness, $2.99.

Handbags don't really do it for me*. I have a perfectly serviceable courier bag I've carried for the last seven years. To mix things up, sometimes I'll carry my Queen Bee Trucker bag instead. The latter is starting to show some wear (wear on the corners, stains inside from Diet Coke spills) and I've been on the lookout to replace it. This will do nicely. I think it was the pen holders on the inside that sealed the deal for me.

Anne Ross Glass Berry Bowl, $1.99.

Anne's glass studio is down the street from my mom's house in Harwich. I've already sold this.

'Eva' Vase, $1.99.

While I don't think I've ever spent more than $10 there, I love Crate and Barrel. It's so clean, so organized! All that clear glass! The shiny kitchen appliances! Forget Xanax, all I need is five minutes inside one of their stores.
I'd seen the Eva vase years ago and thought it was lovely, but for $20? I'd rather spend the $ on flowers and put them in a jelly jar.
In other fun, has anyone else seen the Marimekko cow in front of the Boylston St. C&B as part of the Cow Parade**? It's snazzy. Did anyone make it to the Marimekko exhibit in Chicago? I'd love to have seen that, but a trip just isn't feasable this time of year.

No books today! Truth be told, I have plenty already.

Other notes:
*First sighting of French Women Don't Get Fat.
*The Sexton Picnic Box! Not my photo.

It's teal-y green blue color attracted me. The box I saw had no rust or signs of wear. The inside was clean and didn't smell funny. What on earth would I do with this? Place it next to the couch and put knitting in it? Magazines? My mind raced with the possibilites. I bent over to pick it up and my hopes were dashed. While a gorgeous, gorgeous object, the Sexton Picnic Box weighs eleventy million pounds. I couldn't imagine lugging it up the street to the subway, taking it to work with me, then dragging it home at the end of a long night.
Needless to say, thoughts of the SPB needled at me all night. In the morning, I went back to Urban Renewals with my granny cart, and it was gone. Fare thee well, Sexton Picnic Box.

Total: $7.42.

*Handbags may not do it for me, but tote bags throw me in such a frenzy, sedation would sometimes be not the worst idea.

**Thanks to Rebecca for the link!

2006-07-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

Goodwill, South Boston, MA
June 28, 2006

Blecky Yuckerella, Johnny Ryan, $0.25.
I saw this and immediately picked it up. Kevin's a fan of Johnny Ryan's. I don't think it counts as a children's book, though, not by any means.

Secrets of the Tsil Cafe, Thomas Fox Averill, $0.79.
Foodie restaurant fiction. Recipes, even.

Honky, Dalton Conley, $0.79.
A memoir about growing up on the Lower East Side in the 1970's. I've always wished I'd lived in that NYC, it's such an interesting time in history.

All But My Life, Gerda Weissmann Klein, $0.79.
I'd seen the documentary, but have never read this. For TSP August history month.

Atlas of the Human Heart, Ariel Gore, $0.79.
Purchased for giving. This is a wonderful book.

The Good City, Emily Hiestand, Ande Zellman, Eds. $0.79.
For good (great public transit, excellent jobs, interesting things to do) or not-so-good (hellishly expensive housing, drunk college students puking in my yard, I've lived here for eight years and bored to tears with it), I call Metro Boston home. A book of essays about the area.

Linnea's Almanac, Christina Bjork, Lena Anderson, $0.50.
A terrific children's book about gardening and nature. A friend gave me another Linnea book years ago, noting the many similarities between us. Too bad I don't wear bangs anymore.

Total: $4.10.

A passing thought: How long does it take to sprout an avocado pit, anyway? It's been half submerged in water for three months, and not a shoot yet.

2006-07-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Double your pleasure, double your fun, two trips in one!

Goodwill, Somerville, MA
June 27, 2006

Pyrex Butterprint Casseroles, $1.00 each.
Oh, Pyrex! You are so practical and pretty. If you were a man, I'd probably have married you years ago.
The frizzled design on these is in excellent condition. No lids, but the posse and I are on the lookout.
I think Cashier Lady X gave these to me so inexpensively because I told customers in front of me to shut the **** up. They were giving her a hard time, and, if I may be so honest, I was terribly hung over, and wasn't in the mood. Actually, I'm never in the mood for people to give any working person a hard time.

Urban Renewals, Allston, MA, later that day.

Mattanza, Theresa Maggio, $0.99.

Oh, a book about fishing? Like I wouldn't buy that in a second.

Portable Bar by Executair, $5.99.

The Terrible Brother's birthday is coming up. My Prom Date, and his closest friend, gave him a similar object a few years ago, but this one is bigger, and has more accoutrements. Alas, it will cost me far, far more than $5.99 to fill this with Timothy's favorite potables.

Total: $9.34.
An additional tip: Don't place your hopes on a football team whose native land is home to some of your favorite things. Your heart will be broken, and your Italian landlord will make terrible fun of you tomorrow.

2006-06-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

June 26, 2006
Goodwill, Cambridge, MA

Two Teabag Holders, Made in Occupied Japan, $0.50/ea.

Teabag holders have a special place in my heart.
Gram (we all know of the Awesome Awesomness that is Gram)has a small and splendid collection of porcelain and glass. On her hutch, she has a... I want to say Staffordshire teabag holder, but can't be sure. When I was a little girl, she would put small change in it each week for me. She did the same for the Terrible Brother, but put it in a teacup, because he was a clumsy child and needed something with easy access.
As a bigger sort of girl (during what I like to call 'the amazing fuckup years'), if I were broke, I'd look in the teacup holder, hoping there'd be something in there. Occasionally, there'd be a folded up twenty. I think she knew how bad things were for me at the time.
I think I'll sell these. Must consult with Jennifer. She knows more about this kind of thing than I do.

The Umpty-ninth Work Shirt I've Bought, $3.99.

It still had the plastic price tag doodad holder on-er attached. What are those things called, anyway?
It's a nice Eddie Bauer wrinkle resistant shirt. 'Wrinkle resistant' is definitely in my top ten favorite phrases.

Books and Other Assorted Paper Goods

Travel Sketchbook, Still Wrapped in Plastic, $0.25.
For Jess.
Book of Goldfish Postcards, $0.25.
Is the Asian stationery trend coming to an end? There's been a lot of it around lately.
The Quilts of Gee's Bend Postcard Book, $0.50.
Rebecca and I went to see the Gee's Bend quilts last year at the MFA. They were stunning works of art that nearly moved me to tears. You should see them.
Rebecca will get a chunk of these because I'm nice like that.
Do The Windows Open?, Julie Hecht, $0.79.
My favorite book of short stories. The main character is a ridiculous pain in the bippy, reminding me of myself. I always buy this to give to people I love.
Living Juicy, SARK, $0.79.
I've got a collection of SARK books to put on eBay. Individually, they don't sell, but lot them and you'll make a nice piece of money.

Total: $7.82.

At most thrifts, going through the donation bins is an enormous no-no. In Central Square, one of the cashiers now has a big whistle she wears around her neck. When people start poking through the bins, she will toot (quite loudly, I might add) and yell 'Get out of the bins!'. I think this is great.

2006-06-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

June 22, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

Old Polaroid Swinger, $3.99.
Why I needed this is a mystery to me. I've been seeing a lot of older cameras lately.

Orange Juice Glass, $1.99.
This originally came with a plastic reamer that sealed on the top, and a plain plastic cap to use when you weren't juicing. The frizzled design is in perfect condition. Orange juice (mixed with vodka) is a fine thing to drink. No scurvy for me!

Books!
Emily, Michael Bedard, $0.99.
A children's book about Emily Dickinson. I've long been enamored of her, to the point of visiting the ED Museum. It's a pretty spot, and you should stop by if you're ever in the area, perhaps on your way to WEBS?
Living Out Loud, Keri Smith, $1.99.
For resale. I've found and sold copies of it before, it usually goes for $10 or so.
O Pioneers!, Willa Cather, $0.99.
It's for Stela. A favorite book of mine. Excellent condition.
Richard Brautigan's Trout Fishing in America, The Pill versus the Springhill Mine Disaster, and In Watermelon Sugar, Richard Brautigan, $2.99.
I first read Richard Brautigan in my ninth grade English textbook. It was 1983, and the hippie years were definitely over. The bio blurb described him as enjoying 'rapping with friends and mellowing out'. Rapping with friends! This caused much mirth among my hormone addled classmates.
He's one of my favorite authors, despite his odd capitalization theories, and I was pleased to find this. My present copy is sticky. Yuck.
Beautiful Napkins, Margaret Caselton, $0.99.
Get a few restaurant people together, grab a stack of napkins, and soon the table will be full of different folds. I've folded enough napkins in my life to span the earth, probably more than once.
This has excellent instructions for a style new to me, the water lily.

Total: $14.44.

Before I left the house that day, I checked the weather. Thunderstorms were expected, but I figured they wouldn't roll in until I got to work, so I left my umbrella @ home.
Riding the 64, I notice it's getting dark. Real dark, as a matter of fact. Much darker than it should be at 1:30 PM. I quietly chant to myself, 'Apres moi, le deluge', hoping the rain would hold off until I was nestled in the warm bosom of Urban Renewals.
Alas, it was not to be. The heavens opened up, the bus dropped me off, and, well, I don't think I've ever been so wet.

2006-06-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

June 17, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

A Mess O' Cute Asian Stationery and Pencil Case, $1.00.
Most of this will be sent to a friend who has talked about writing more letters. Here's my favorite:

The Lovable Pea*s zipper case will be for varied and sundry knitting items.

Eileen Fisher Silk Skirt, $3.99.
The silk used for this is smooth and luscious, the gelato of silks. Instead of wearing it, I may just carry it with me and rub my face in it from time to time.

The Wine Tasting Class: Expertise in Twelve Tastings, Judy Ridgway, $2.99.
This will be a great tool for training people without a lot of wine experience. Never used. Never opened, for that matter.

Total: $8.18.

Warning! Adult content follows.

I was standing in line, waiting to pay for my finds du jour. Manager X was sorting through some donations. His hands were inside a bag, and he said 'OH, NO!' loudly. The offending object was taken out. It was actually a microphone for a kid's karoke set, but looked (and felt, judging by his reaction) a lot like this. I was in such hysterics I dropped my wallet and change rolled all over the floor.

2006-06-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

June 6, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

The photos for the next few entries may be a little off. I knocked my camera off the table putting together a stupid bookcase and broke the battery housing. It's also making a weird noise when it zooms. I'd use Kevin's, but the thing clicks and whirrs like a cicada. Time to visit Dave the Camera Guy.

Hot, Hot Pink Lilly Pulitzer Flamingo Shorts, $1.99.
I like pink, but these shorts are so pink I think my corneas may have been seared.
These will be sold on eBay. Lilly stuff sells well, especially in the warmer months.

Blue Fish Linen Dress, NWT, $5.99.
I've liked Blue Fish clothing for a long time, and actually bought a piece brand new once. The clothing is hand painted on organic cotton and linen, in earthy colors, and signed by the artist.
This particular item is not really my style (too flouncy big) and will be sold on eBay. Blue Fish stopped production in 2001, and the clothes go for a fortune, especially brand new.
The tag is cute, here's a snap:

Two Decks of Cards from the National Knitted Outerwear Association 55th Annual Convention Dinner, $0.50.
I have this vision of the NKOA55thACD, ladies in white gloves with cat-eye glasses and red lipstick, the gents wearing patent leather dress shoes and crisp white handerchiefs in the lapel pocket. I hope there was dancing after the meeting.
Google has only 37 entries for the NKOA, and I can't find any documentation after 1964, so I daresay it doesn't exist anymore.

Lefton Daisy Bud Vase and S&Ps, $1.99.
All still had the tell-tale gold and red Lefton stickers, so these probably have never been used. These will be sold @ Jennifer's shop.

Books! It wouldn't be the TSP without books.

An Italian Affair, Laura Fraser, $0.99.
I'm going through an Italian phase at the moment. As we (type?)speak, there's a glass of chilled limoncello to my right.
No Uncertain Terms, William Safire, $2.99.
I love William Safire in the NYT. His politics, in my eyes, are questionable, but his love of proper language almost redeems him.
The Greatest of Marlys, Lynda Barry, $1.99.
Yet again, bought for sale.

Total: $15.44.

Wednesday is Senior Citizen's Day (Note to self: Must find friend over 65 in Metro Boston ASAP) @ Urban Renewals. When I was checking out, the cashier smiled and said I wasn't old enough to get the discount. I piped up, "Not yet!" and we had a good laugh.

2006-06-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

June 4, 2006
Goodwill, Cambridge, MA

The blog title ought to be changed to Kristin Buys an Awful Lot of Books and a Few Other Things. All the books were half-price that day.

Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book, $1.00.
You could have knocked me over with a pastry brush when I found this. I thought it was the original from 1952. It was reprinted three years ago, and that's what this copy is, with all the '50's recipes and graphics. Excellent condition.

The Greek Achievement, Charles Freeman, $0.39.
August will be history month here at the TSP. I'll read it then.

Robbing the Bees: A History of Honey, Holley Bishop, $0.39.
One can only hope it's better than Bee Season, a book I didn't like at all.

Mothers Talk Back, Margaret Dragu, Sarah Sheard, Susan Swan, Eds., $0.39.
Being thirty-seven and childless, my thoughts often turn to my aging ovaries. I've read more books about motherhood in the past six months than I have in my entire life. The Mary Oliver interview is great.

East Toward Dawn, Nan Watkins, $0.39.
Published by Seal Press, so of course I bought it.

The Mockingbird Years, Emily Fox Gordon, $0.39.
The first paragraph almost made me cry. Change a minor detail or two and it could have been me.

Miriam's Kitchen: A Memoir, Elizabeth Erlich, $0.39.
A culinary memoir.

Refuge, Terry Tempest Williams, $0.39.
It's a great book, part of the permanent collection. This is for giving.

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, Joseph J. Ellis, $0.39.
Once again, for August.

Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member, Sanyika Shakur, $0.39.
There are a few things it's fairly safe to say I'll never be, such as:
1. Teen model.
2. Child star gone wrong.
3. A man.
4. L.A. gang member...unless the gang liked tote bags, rhubarb, beer, and tidying up.
At least I can read this and find out what I'm missing.

A Big Ol' Vera Bradley Tote, $3.99.
It's on eBay as we speak. VB stuff sells well. I should get at least $40 for it.

Fiestaware Teapot Lamp, $2.99.
'No way.' I said to myself. 'Fiesta didn't make lamps...did they?'

Fiesta produced these for a while in the mid-'90's.
This made me very happy, as my everyday dishes are turquoise Fiesta. I'll need to make a shade for it.

Total: $11.49.

While happy with my purchases, why did I have to find them on the same day I needed to carry a birthday cake and all my work clothes, as well? The fates truly are cruel.

2006-06-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

May 13, 2006
Salvation Army, Hadley, MA

Still behind on posting, but getting there.

The Terrible Brother left me his car for the weekend, and I took the TSP on the road.

How come nobody told me about the shiny new SA in Hadley? I know the Western Mass.-Eastern Mass. relationship is tenuous, at best, but give a sister a break!

A Pleasing Plastic Tote Bag, $1.49.
There were three of these bags @ the Hadley SA, one pink, one green, one blue. I thought about getting all three, but:
1. Really don't need one more tote, much less three.
2. The green one smelled a little funny.
3. The green tote also contained a half-finished knitting project. This makes me very sad, as I am convinced the knitter died and won't get to finish his or her last project.

I &9829; Whole Grains Shirt, $1.49.
It's a promo shirt for Kashi. I don't like things emblazoned with brand names one bit, but the idea of dudes ogling my chest and getting to yell 'Quit staring at my whole grains!' was too much to resist. It's a good thing I eat Kashi.

The American Heritage Dictionary: Fourth Edition (21st Century Reference, $0.49.
I read Not Buying It by Judith Levine a few weeks ago. It is a well-written, thought provoking book, and highly recommended. There were a few words that I needed to look up whilst reading it, and I wished I had a small lexicon to keep bedside. Now I do, and I find myself reading the dictionary at night.
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell, $0.49.
A favorite girlhood book.
Leave It to Me, Bharati Mukherjee, $0.49.
Loved her other books, I'm sure I'll like this.
The Gardener's Bed Book: Short and Long Pieces to Be Read in Bed by Those Who Love Green Growing Things, Richardson Wright, Dominique Browining, Michael Pollan, Ed., $0.49.
I have a bed and I like green growing things.
Michael Pollan is out to get me, I swear.
Storm Tide, Elizabeth Ogilvie, $0.49.
I found the other two titles in the Tide Trilogy at the Goodwill in Somerville a few weeks ago. An odd, odd, coincidence that I would find this.
Dear Grandmother, Victoria Magazine, $0.99.
For Jennifer. She's not a grandmother, but we often dodder about like old ladies. She loves Victoria.
Doubt: A History, Jennifer Hecht, $0.49.
To read.

Total: $6.91.

happy birthday, Patty!

2006-06-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

sign of all extreme cuteness!
Originally uploaded by rosegirl.

This sort of looks like my friend Patty, Awesome Girl Chef. Allston, MA.

Uploaded by rosegirl on 3 Nov '05, 9.35am EST.

2006-05-28T04:54:00.000-07:00

Early November, 2002
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Ladies' L.L.Bean Wool Coat, $5.99.

Here in New England, you are judged on a few things. How long your family has been here, how strong your accent is, the quality of your winter outerwear. Needless to say, L.L. Bean leads the pack in the latter competition.
Flashback to November, 2002. The weather is rapidly chilling, and I am defenseless. My previous coat, a great black cashmere Benetton, purchased at the fondly remembered AMVETS in Allston, is dead. The panic has set in. Trips to Eddie Bauer and EMS left me in shock and horror. The prices! I wanted to buy an article of clothing, not put a down payment on a house.
I spotted this on my weekly trip to the Davis Square Goodwill. Like a first date, questions raced through my mind. Could we be happy together? What, if any, scars were there from previous relationships? Were there used tissues (ICK!) in the pockets? I would soon find out.
I try it on. So far, so good. We seemed to be compatible in the important areas, one would even say it was a good fit. We hang out for awhile at the Goodwill, then decide to go home together. A hasty decision, but when it's right, it's right.
Last spring, when you went for your end of the season cleaning, I felt things weren't right. A torn lining, thinning elbows, buttons that had lost their luster. The end was in sight.
The last few months were tough. Your ragged looks embarrassed me. I will always cherish our time together, but it's time for you to go.

2006-05-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

We here at the uppity TSP are still playing catch-up. I should be done by weeks' end.

Not One, Not Two, But Three Magnetic Poetry Sets, Goodwill, $0.75/ea.
Magnetic Poetry is all the rage in well-dressed refrigerator circles. Of the three (two Original MP sets, one Boston MP set) sets, only one was opened. I'm envisioning leaving such messages as 'eat the last of the asparagus', 'don't forget your water bottle, silly!' and 'get your hair cut!.

Flowery Pint Glasses, Urban Renewals, $2.99 for six.
Due to my floral surname, there are so many flowered things around here, there should be an FTD decal on the front door.
I've seen these glasses around for years, but never a set.
It's not a good idea to try to get off the train, juggle bags, and eat a coconut butter bun from Yi Soon all at the same time. You will break one of the blue flower glasses and curse up a storm on the subway platform, at the same time so happy you didn't drop the bun. If you ever find yourself anywhere near Allston, Massachusetts, you should stop at Yi Soon and purchase your body weight in pastry. Yes, they are that good.

Six Silicone Cupcake Liners, Goodwill, $0.25.
I'm still quite wary of cooking with silicone, but thought I'd try these.

Krups Coffee Bean Grinder, Salvation Army, (gasp!) $7.99.
I've needed a coffee grinder for years. Never bought one, because I don't really like kitchen appliances that do only one thing*. This belief has made me wander about aimlessly, clutching a bag of beans.
The grinder was NIB.

Tiny Cafe Set, Global Thrift, $1.00
This is quite similar to the cafe set I bought last month
The sugar dispenser I'll keep, but the other will be sold.

Knitting Needles, Two Bakelite Crochet Hooks, $0.25.
You can always use such things.

Lefton 'Miss Priss' S+P Shakers, Urban Renewals, $0.99.
These will be sold. They are a little creepy, the eyes follow you, just like the Mona Lisa.

Snoopy Thermos Container, Goodwill, $0.50.
If you have to take yogurt to work, you may as well do it in snazzy Peanuts style.

Vintage Hershey's Candy Dish, Urban Renewals, $1.99.
The history of chocolate! How could I leave this?

The late Laurie Colwin is to blame for my multitasking kitchen gear opinions. In her excellent essay The Low-Tech Person's Batterie de Cuisine*, she states: "Most things are frills, few are essentials. Most of the world cooks over fire without any gadgets at all", then cedes, "Of course, there are special interests that must be catered to". My favorite, however is: "As to baking, which requires a great deal of specific equipment, my motto is: never buy anything except at a tag sale. The tag, house or garage sale is the low-tech cook's happy hunting ground."

*Home Cooking, Laurie Colwin, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1988.

2006-05-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

Since I'm so behind on posting, I'm dividing finds into three catagories, Books, Clothing, and Other Things. I'm doing Books first, as it's what I have the most of. Damn reading.

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, Lynn Truss, Goodwill, $1.99.
I have bought numerous copies of this. I give it to friends who speak English as a second language, and all have enjoyed it so far.

I Love Everybody (And Other Atrocious Lies), Laurie Notaro, Goodwill, $0.79.
Laurie Notaro is a funny, funny woman. I'd love to have a few drinks with her.

Reading Lolita in Teheran, Azar Nafisi, Savers, $1.99.
I paid way too much for this, but Stela is looking to read it. Now she can.

Keeping Food Fresh, Janet Bailey, Goodwill, $0.79.
An excellent reference book. I'd gotten it from the library before, and have been looking for my own copy. If you're interested in food, it's invaluable.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott, Goodwill, $0.79.
As evident in this blog, I need all the writing help I can get. I'm a big fan of Annie's.

The Art of Possibility, Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, Goodwill, $0.79.
Bought to sell. It goes for $6-7 on amazon.

The Ebbing Tide, Elisabeth Ogilvie, Goodwill, $0.79.
Maine fiction. It will be good beach reading.

Expecting Adam, Martha Beck, Goodwill, $0.79.
I've wanted to read this for some time. I'll pass it along when I'm done.

What's the Matter with Kansas?, Thomas Frank, Goodwill, $0.79.
I've already stated my Thomas Frank Love. Here's another photo of him:

Lisa can just hush about how she used to talk on the phone with him. Shh!

High Tide at Noon, Elisabeth Ogilvie, Goodwill, $0.79.
See above. There are three books in this trilogy. Curious to know why only two were at the Goodwill. Hmm.

Just Checking: Scenes from the Life of an Obsessive Compulsive, Emily Colas, Goodwill, $0.79.
I had this but gave it to...someone. Maybe I'll get to read it this time.

Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld, Goodwill, $0.79.
I read this last week when we were Very Busy at work, and couldn't do any serious reading. It was well written but I hated the main character.

The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization, Thomas L. Friedman, Goodwill, $0.79.
Kevin read The World Is Flat and loved it. I'll start this sometime in June.

If I weren't so lazy, I would have stitched these together. Oh, well.

Two or Three Things I Know for Sure, Dorothy Allison, Goodwill, $0.79.
Bastard Out of Carolina was great, and hope this will be, too.

The Baby Owner's Manual, Louis and Joe Borgenicht, Urban Renewals, $0.99.
This is part of a new baby gift, which will be given as soon as the damn baby blanket is done. The kid is already a week old, so I had best get moving.

Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood, bell hooks, Goodwill, $0.79.
Everyone should read some bell hooks, especially Feminism Is for Everybody.

Four Nancy Drew Books, two of them were $0.50, two were a quarter, Savers and Goodwill.
For the October Nancy-a-thon. I'm starting to dread it a little.

The Secret History, Donna Tartt, Savers, $0.50.
My old copy of this is tattered. This still had the sticker from Big Chain Bookstore stuck on the back. Pristine condition.

The Garden Primer, Barbara Damrosch, Goodwill, $0.79.
Since I presently have nowhere to garden, I have to settle for books and other people's yards. Barbara's husband is Thomas Frank-handsome.

Sweet Chaos: The Grateful Dead's American Adventrue, Carol Brightman, Urban Renewals, $2.99.
It's for the Terrible Brother.

The Olives Table, Todd English and Sally Sampson, Goodwill, $1.99.
I'm surprised I bought this. When I first moved to Boston in 1998, I applied for a job at Olives, which, at the time, was at the height of its popularity. I was told there would never be a waitstaff postion available. You can't carry a chip on your shoulder forever, I guess. I'll read, cook, and send it back off into the universe.

Superman: The Complete History, Les Daniels, Urban Renewals, $2.99.
Bought for Kevin, but he already has it. I'll have to see if one of the other nerds wants it.

Homegrown Pure and Simple, Michael Nischan and Mary Goodbody, Goodwill, $1.99.
I bought this to cook from, but will sell it on amazon instead. It's going for $18-20 right now. I wonder if Mary Goodbody is related to Slim Goodbody*?

The Best of the Classic Quilt Series, Laura Nownes, Goodwill, $0.79.
I'm still with the Quilting Thoughts. Hopefully, I'll get to it this summer.

Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking, Michael Chiarello, Goodwill, $0.79. I hate hate hate his program on the Food Network. Yes, he lives in Napa, and everything is perfect. It's heaven on earth, blah blah blah. I will be in heaven after I sell this, it will net me $20 or so.
Truth be told, I hate hate hate most programs on the Food Network. Give me ten minutes with that insipid Rachael Ray and a crowbar, and I would die a happy woman.

I once said that I would wait tables forever if I could spend my days reading.
If only I had known...

*If you remember Slim Goodbody, you're old, just like me!

2006-05-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

Jeez, you'd think someone would update this thing once in a while.

2006-05-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Jenna, on the left, is participating in Project Bread's Walk For Hunger on Sunday. I'm skipping my weekly trip to Urban Renewals and the Central Square thrifts and have donated what I'd spend to her walk. She's $115 short of her goal, and any little bit will help. It's an excellent cause. The link to donate is here.

2006-05-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

April 24, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Pink Flowery Teapot, $1.99
The glaze has crazed (doesn't that sound like a code phrase for something?) and there's a small chip on the inside lip, but I didn't care, it's very pretty. Early 20th century English stoneware.

Food Chopper Bottom, $0.25.
Who knows were the top went? I'll use it to hold kitchen utensils. The font in 'automatic' is excellent.

Yellow Bakelite Swirl Mixer, $0.25.
I'm not a fan of yellow, but do like the $ made from selling yellow Bakelite objects. Made by the Rochow Co. of Rochester, NY. home of Wegmans, one of the Great Grocery Stores of the World.

Lustro-Wate Clothes Sprinkler, $0.25.
I iron a lot. I thrifted a Rowenta at the late, great Family Thrift Center a few years ago, and am so happy with it, I would buy another one, brand new. This will help me attain my dreams of having perfectly wrinkle-free work shirts.

The Schoolgirl's Pocket Book, $1.00
Oh, how I love old etiquette books. I brought this to work with me so Hassan and I could laugh at it. It didn't disappoint.

Not pictured: The Pocket Muse, Monica Wood, $1.99.
A book about writing. A silly book about writing. I'll dump it on Amazon, it sells for about $6.

Total: $4.91.

2006-04-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

April 21, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

Cuisinart DLC-10, $12.99
My batterie de cuisine is limited for someone who cooks as much as I do, as obsessed with food as I am. I live in an aparment that is Quite Small, and subscribe to the Laurie Colwin theory of kitchen gadgetry. In the past few weeks, I've been making some labor-intensive meals, and my arms have ached from excessive grating, chopping, kneading and slicing.
When I saw the Cuisinart, my heart leapt. I walked around for with it for awhile, feeling unfaithful to the Wusthof gods. It works perfectly, had seen little use by its previous owner, and I would have been a fool to not buy it. Three blades were included: a 3mm slicer, a medium grater, and the hallmark Cuisinart S blade.

Old Cuticura Shaker, $2.99
What a beautiful object! It's still full of powder.

Small Cafe Set, $2.99
All the accoutrements you'd find at your local cafe, but smaller. The honey dispenser is the largest piece, it's 4" tall. I may sell this.

Total: $19.93

Other interesting things seen:
Some neat old Kodak cameras, which I almost bought because they were such gorgeous objects. A copy of Julie and Julia, which I recently read and loved, and What's the Matter with Kansas?, by Thomas Frank. I was sad to see the Thomas Frank book discarded by someone, because I think he's really, really cute.

2006-04-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

April 18, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Pink Depression Cake Plate, Jeannette 'Sunflower' Pattern, $1.00
Man, I love me some Depression glass. I gave up serious collection of it about ten years ago, and sold much of my collection, but sometimes I see a nice piece and snag it.

Total: $1.05

2006-04-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Two trips in one!
April 13, 2006
Goodwill, Cambridge, MA
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

Clockwise from HK:

Hello Kitty Plush, $0.50.
I'm not a huge fan of HK. She's too ubiquitous, too...Starbucks. However, the screaming cuteness of a tanned Kitty in her little bathing suit (NWT even!) was too much to resist, and Starbucks is to be commended on their fine and friendly service at their store at the Middle Ridge Service Plaza in Lorain County, Ohio. I'm still really sorry about dropping the iced coffee all over the counter.

Deck Prism, $1.99.
Deck prisms were a common sight on old wooden boats. You'll now find them sold as curios. It's a heavy, solid chunk of green glass with a sharp point. Don't mess with me.
I was excited seeing this, after last week's finding of the Nathaniel Philbrick book. I must be going through a whaling phase.

Ice-O-Mat, $4.99.
What if the power went out and I had no way to crush ice? People might stop by and want a margarita. It would simply not do if I had to offer them a lukewarm beer.
This object is in beautiful condition. I don't think it's ever been used. The wall attachment hardware was included, still wrapped in paper.

The Adrian Mole Diaries, Sue Townsend, $0.79.
The Adrian Mole books are my favorite works of fiction. I don't have a copy at the moment, I think I gave it to Matt last fall. If you've ever had questions about the Norwegian leather industry, these are for you.

The Sign of the Twisted Candles, Carolyn Keene, $0.50.
Yet another Nancy Drew. Don't kids read these anymore?

Mississippi Solo, Eddy L. Harris, $0.79.
Along the lines of River-Horse by William Least Heat-Moon that I gushed about a few weeks ago.

Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl, Debra Ollivier, $0.79.
God, between my inner child and my inner French girl, it must be way crowded in there.

Flowery Sheet from Pottery Barn, $0.50.
It's for a project. I don't usually condone the use of Pottery Barn.

Green Cordoroy Paul Frank Bag, $3.99.
Way too much $, but it's for a friend. Still had the tags.

Pretty Pretty Green Sweater, $3.99.
I bought this to harvest the yarn. It's a lovely silk and wool blend.

Blue Batik Sundress, $2.99.
It's to cut up for a quilting project, the 'A Day at the Beach' quilt from Denyse Schmidt Quilts.

Total: $23.58.

2006-04-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

We (I) here at the TSP have spent the last forty minutes reading the owner's manual for our (my) camera. Expect photo quality to improve dramatically.

2006-04-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Milk-Based Soaps: Making Natural, Skin-Nourishing Soap, Casey Makela, $0.79.
It's for a friend interested in soapmaking.

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, Nathaniel Philbrick, $0.79.
Of course, it's a book about the water.

The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth About Sex, Solitude, Work, Motherhood and Marriage, Cathi Hanauer, Ed. $0.79.
I read this last year and gave my copy to...Rebecca, I think. Maybe Jennifer. It's messy and true and
I cried every night I read it.

My, the colon should be the puntuation mark of the day here at the TSP.

The Quest of the Missing Map
The Clue in the Jewel Box
The Clue in the Crumbling Wall
The Clue in the Old Album, all by Carolyn Keene, all $0.50.

October is a crazy, busy month for me, and I never get any serious reading done. Maybe I'll read all the Nancy Drews then.

Total: $4.58

2006-04-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

April 4, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Gousha New England Road Atlas, $0.79.
New Englanders love to talk about how to get where. I am no exception. Wasn't there a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch about that once?
I had this @ one time, but I think the Terrible Brother swiped it.

A Home at the End of the World, Michael Cunningham, $0.79. I just hated The Hours (please, Michael, stop losing sleep over that fact!) but loved his book about P-town, natch.

Champagne: How the World's Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times, Don and Petie Kladstrup, $1.99.
Who doesn't love Champagne? Opening a bottle tableside is so much fun. Guests are always surprised when it doesn't pop and fizz all over the place. A bottle being opened should sigh like a contented woman.
This book just came out in November of 2005. Hmmm.
I'll read this as soon as I'm done with Rebecca's copy of Julie and Julia.

Another Purple Tupperware Container, $0.99.
This will be used in the TSP spring cleaning kick. It matches the one I bought last week.

A Pair of Totally Gorgeous Summer Pajamas, $3.99.
During the summer, I constantly go back and forth from here to the Cape. When on the Cape, I always stay with my Gram. Here's Gram:

She is a person of extreme greatness.
When one stays at Gram's house, one gets up by seven-thirty, one does not eat between meals, and one always wears proper pajamas. I will keep these at her house. Aren't they pretty? They are old Chinese pajamas, and don't appear to have ever been worn. The fabric is crisp and clean, with no snags or wear in the embroidery.

Eddie Bauer Purple Sweatshirt, $1.99.
I'll keep this @ Casa Gram as well.

Yet Another Work Shirt, $1.99.
I need one, I spilled a big blob of pesto on mine last night. Damn.

Black Linen J. Jill Skirt, $1.99.
It has some lovely beaded embroidery on the bottom.

Total: $14.74.

2006-04-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA.

Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, $2.99.
This book is perfectly charming. Here's proof:
The Crab and the Monkey
Once a crab and a monkey went for a walk together. Along the way, the monkey found a persimmon seed, and the crab found a rice-ball. The monkey wanted the crab's rice-ball, and being a very clever talker, he finally persuaded the crab to trade the rice-ball for the persimmon seed. The monkey quickly ate the rice-ball.

The crab couldn't eat the persimmon seed, but he took it home and planted it in is garden, where it began to grow. Because the crab tended it carefully every day, it grew and grew.

The tiny seed finally became a big tree, and then one autumnn the crab saw that it was full of beautiful persimmons. The crab wanted very much to eat the persimmons, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't climb the tree. So he asked his friend the monkey to pick the persimmons for him. Now, the monkey loved persimmons even better than rice-balls, and once he was up the tree he began eating all the ripe persimmons, and the only ones he threw down to the crab were green and hard. One of them hit the crab on the head and hurt him badly.

The crab was naturally angry and asked three of his friends, a mortar and a hornet and a chestnut, to help him punish the monkey. So these three friends hid themselves around the crab's house one day, and the crab invited the monkey to come to tea.

When the monkey arrived he was given a seat by the fire. The chestnut was hiding in the ashes, roasting itself, and suddenly it burst out of the fireplace and burned the monkey on the neck. The monkey screamed with pain and jumped up. At that instant the hornet flew down and stung the monkey. Then the monkey started to run out of the house, but the mortar was sitting up above the door and fell down with a thud on the monkey, almost breaking his back.

The monkey finally saw there was no escape. So he bowed down low to the crab and his three friends and said: "I really did a bad thing when I ate all Mr. Crab's good persimmons and threw down the green, hard ones at him. I promise never to do such a bad thing again.. Please forgive me."

The crab accepted the monkey's apology and they all became good friends again. The mnkey had learned his lesson and never again tried to cheat anyone.

© 1959, Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.

Other stories include Monkey-Dance and Sparrow-Dance, The Rabbit in the Moon, Why the Jellyfish Has No Bones, and my favorite, The Magic Teakettle.
An impulse purchase.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Country, William Anderson, (gasp!) $4.99.
Had to have it, I'm an LHOP freak. Reminded me that I still haven't put my photos from my trip to De Smet last year up yet. It's a lovely book.

Big Tupperware Container, $1.99.
We here at TSP HQ are on a big spring cleaning-becoming-even-more-organized kick, hence the Tupperware.

Total: $10.47.

2006-04-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

March 28, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

At last, I finally get around to posting the weeks' finds.

Vintage Pyrex 9.5" Pie Plate, $0.25
As previously mentioned, I have a soft spot for old Pyrex. I'll only buy pre-1950 clear pieces, as they develop a yellowish tinge that I like. It's clean and in good shape.
Pyrex pie plates are one of the universe's Perfect Things. They can be used to bake things, to use as dinner plates on a boat, to hold beads when you're doing beadwork. They can also be great fun to take out of the oven and drop in a sink of cold water. There will be a sizzle and a splendid cracking sound. Not that I've done this or anything.

Naked, David Sedaris, $0.79.
Your dirty looks don't scare me, Sedaris Sister*!
I always buy his books and give them away. This is copy #2 of Naked I've bought this year.

The Day I Turned Uncool, Dan Zevin, $0.79.
Dan's a local writer. I often laughed aloud reading his essays in the Phoenix, back when I used to read the Phoenix. The book didn't disappoint.

A Woma Alone: Travel Tales From Around the Globe, Seal Press, $0.79.
Seal Press publishes terrific things, especially their travel anthologies. I always snap up their books when I see them.

Brown Birkenstock Florida Sandals In a Big Girl Size, $3.99.
These don't appear to have been worn at all. Look at the insoles:

These retail for $120. The mind boggles.

Philosophy Gingerbread Man Gel, $0.25.
It's ooky (thanks for the new word, Gwen!) to buy cosmetics at a thrift. This had an unbroken plastic seal, and smells amazing, so I thought it would be okay. This isn't my photo, I was too lazy to go to the shower and get it.

Total: $7.01

*I'm not disclosing the name of the Sedaris Sister. What if she googled herself, and my site came up? She'd figure out who I was and yell at me. Read Dress Your Family In Cordoroy and Denim, if you must know.

2006-03-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

March 23, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

L.L.Bean Jeans, $2.99.
*sigh* .
As a skirt lovin' gal, I used to rarely wear jeans. I had a pair for grubbing around and quick trips to the store. Boston winters wore me down, and I discovered the warmth of the tights-fleece leggings-jeans trio. Since then, I've always had two or three pair in my repetoire.
I was at the Bean outlet in PTL a few weeks ago, and contemplated another pair. At $17.95, a little too pricy for me, especially when I could spend it elsewhere. Now I'm extra-glad I didn't make the purchase.

CP Shades Suit, $5.99.
I do not wear suits, or whatever you want to call matching top and bottom sets. They remind me a little too much of Garanimals. It's a Mandarin collared blouse with nice flowy pants. The same outfit recently sold on eBay for $45, so hopefully this one will as well. I bought it with resale in mind.

Glass Candle Holder-y Thing, $0.99.
I like the bubbly wavy look of recycled glass things. It looks nice with my small candlestick collection. I may put pebbles in the bottom and plant something in it, haven't decided yet.

Total: $10.02.

2006-03-30T07:57:00.000-08:00

March 21, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Yes, I'm a little behind in posting again. Busy.

In the Hands of a Chef, Jody Adams and Ken Rivard, $1.99.
Jody is the owner/chef at Rialto, in Harvard Square*. She and her food are highly thought of. Jody's also a fellow Somerville resident, and the thought of her strolling through Davis Square and spotting her book in the window of the Goodwill gave me quite a giggle.
I may give this to Rebecca, as she's eaten @ Rialto and I haven't.

The Best of Shaker Cooking, Amy Bess Miller and Persis Fuller, $0.79.
I love old New England cookbooks, and this one is sensational. There's a recipe for Switchel in it, what else do I need to say?

The Cheese Primer, Steven Jenkins, $0.79.
I already have this @ home, but will keep this copy at work for reference. It's good to be prepared when you have to make a quick dash to Formaggio. Steven, please do an updated version!

Bringing Down the House; the Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, Ben Mezrich, $0.79.
Kevin has been wanting to read this.

Invisible Eden: A Story of Love and Murder on Cape Cod, Maria Flook, $0.79.
Despite the outrage about the book's publication, I liked it. Maria's descriptions about Cape Codders are dead-on, to the point of hilarity. I'm allowed to laugh, these are My People. I'm done with it and will give it to my mother to read.

Why I'm Like This: True Stories, Cynthia Kaplan, $0.79.
I couldn't resist the title.

White Rice Batik Tee Shirt, $1.99.
Again with the batik. It's a little hippie-ish, but I'm a little hippie-ish.

Not Pictured: A Nice Blank Book Made in India of Sari Fabric, $0.50.
I need to stop buying blank books.

Total: $5.81

*I once applied for a service position there, and was not hired, not that I'm bitter about it.

2006-03-29T08:09:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for me Friday morning, that's where I'll be.

2006-03-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

The sister of a very famous author lives here in town. I see her with astounding regularity, primarily at cafes and thrifts. She was standing behind me in line @ the Goodwill this AM. Imagine my glee when I put

on the counter!

She gave me a dirty look. I was tickled.

2006-03-26T15:15:00.000-08:00

We here at the TSP have been busy celebrating our Birthday Week, and not posting. Now that I've acclimated to thirty-seven, we'll get back to our scheduled programming.

I found this postcard in a book I bought last week. How such a thing ended up in a relatively new book, and why it was forgotten, is one of the many things I speculate on while thrifting.

2006-03-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

March 17, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

Enought already with the cold weather. I'm tired of thrifting wearing my winter coat, hat and scarf.

Big Bag O'Thread, $1.99.
It's a big bag of thread in pleasing colors. Most of the spools are unused. There must have been a dozen bags of thread today.

Also seen: several pink bed jackets circa. 1955, a slew of ugly Tupperware, two copies of The Red Tent, and a lot of Bernat acrylic yarn.

Total: $1.99.

2006-03-17T15:37:00.000-08:00

March 13, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Betsy In Spite of Herself, Maud Hart Lovelace, $0.79.
Another Betsy-Tacy book, which I know will please at least three members of our listening audience. I saw these books all over the place last year, bought a few, and haven't seen one until today. Rebecca's called dibs on it.

River-Horse, William Least Heat-Moon, $0.79.
His books are amazing and wonderful and go get yourself one, already. The corners are beaten a little but I can deal with that.

Handy Volume Atlas of the World, copyright 1933, $1.99.
I am fond of maps. This is clean and the binding is tight, with a heady old book bouquet. It's mind-boggling to see how much of that world doesn't exist anymore. I wish I could scan some of the maps, but don't want to risk cracking the binding.

The Maggie B, Irene Haas, $0.50.
A favorite book from my girlhood. It's about a little girl with her own boat. She has her little brother for company. She fishes, cleans and makes soup. This always sounded like great fun, but I would have thrown my brother overboard after an hour or so.

I was @ the Goodwill for twenty minutes or so. When I went inside, there was bright sunshine. Upon leaving, it started to drizzle. I stopped at McKinnon's to buy a chicken and a lemon. Stopped at Diesel for a small coffee. Stopped at the library to pick up two holds: Denyce Schmidt Quilts and the new James Carville book. Raining cats and dogs. Laden with goods, I tripped and fell. Sigh.

Total: $4.27

2006-03-17T15:29:00.000-08:00

March 13, 2006
Salvation Army, Chelsea, MA.

Brown Silk Pants, $1.99.

Nothing special, they are light and comfortable. It will look nice with a white tee shirt, black cardigan and lime green Crocs*.

Total: $1.99.

*Crocs and Dansko Professionals are the Official Footwear of the Thrift Shop Project.

2006-03-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

An addition to the 9 March Urban Renewals trip.

This mirror is for Kevin. He's a swell fellow, but sometimes forgets to visit the latrine. I hope this will help him attain his Ideal Boy goals.

$2.99.

2006-03-14T14:04:00.001-08:00

March 9, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA.

Three Excellent Wooden Rolling Pins, $1.99.
Being a Pastry Minded Gal, I hate to pass up a utensil that will make baking easier. I was trying to roll out dough with a wine bottle a few weeks ago and ended up with a dough-covered wine bottle. Yes, I used plenty of flour.
The bottom two will be kept, the top one will be yard sale fodder.

In A Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson, $2.99.
Astute readers will note this is the second B. Bryson book I've bought in as many weeks and the second book I've bought about Australia in one week. My goodness.

I've been fascinated with Australia since the third grade. I read an article in my grandmother's Readers' Digest about opal hunting in Coober Pedy. I loved rocks and planned to become a famous girl gemologist. In fifth grade, the Antipodean love continued with a report imaginatively titled 'Australia, Our Friends Down Under'.

Total: $5.23

2006-03-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

On a completely unrelated topic...

Has anyone seen or heard of a McDonald's that is serving Shamrock Shakes this March? They are a fond memory from my girlhood. My birthday is 18 March, and I love mint, and for a long time thought McD's had them @ that time of year just for me.

2006-03-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

March 7, 2006
Goodwill, Somerville, MA

Even though I was body and soul tired, I still managed to make fit in a little thrifting this week.

Bitter With Baggage Seeks Same, Sloane Tannen and Stefan Hagen, $1.00.
The dust jacket is a little beat. Cute book, great concept, but I could have happily lived without it.

Tracks, Robyn Davidson, $0.79.
I originally bought Tracks brand new (gasp! shock!) a few years ago. That copy has since gone on to fairer climes, so I am very happy to have found this. It is a marvelous read.

Educating Esme, Esme Raji Codell, $0.79.
I first bought this a few years ago but gave it to my mother to give to Linda, her friend who teaches fourth grade.

Black Old Navy Tee, $1.99.
It has the Dreaded Capped Sleeves, but is in pristine condition.

Old Embroidered Linen Runner, $0.79.
I can't pass up a nice piece of handwork, especially one with flowers. It's about 2' long and will look nice on my bureau.

Cross Stitch Sampler, $1.00.
First read the sentence with the emphasis on 'can', then re-read it with stressing the 'be'. Two very different meanings. Another amazing piece of handwork. I'll find a frame for it and hang it on my bedroom door. I'm not one much for stuff on the walls, but this is great.

Not pictured, because I'm wearing it right now: a green long sleeve Gap tee, $3.99.
I thought it was half price. Usually I wouldn't pay so much for this kind of garment, but was too tired to make a fuss.

Total: $10.56.

2006-03-05T06:10:00.000-08:00

The One That Got Away, Part One

July, 1987
St. Christopher's Thrift and Gift Shop, Chatham, MA

Chatham is a wealthy community at the elbow of Cape Cod. They had two church thrifties at the time, St. Christopher's and the other church, at the top of the hill next to Puritan and across the street from Cape Cod Five and the library, oh, what's it called? I bought a Pyrex teapot there once. Lee? Mom? Help me out here.

It was a man's black cashmere coat. Three quarter length, patch pockets. Excellent condition. It was a tad too big, but I was trying it on wearing only a tee shirt and a skirt. With a sweater on it would have fit like a dream.

The cost: $40. A price I would shudder at, even today, but would probably cough up. Forty dollars was a lot of money for my eighteen year old self. I was also not terribly interested in practical matters, such as keeping warm or saving money.

I wore it around the shop for awhile, thought about it, then put it back. I was going to see the Cure the next night, and might need the cash for a tee shirt and gas money.

That night I thought about it and thought about it. It was so black, and so soft. I needed that coat! I would return to St. Christopher's the next afternoon, cash in hand, and hang the expense!

It was gone. It had been sold the previous afternoon, soon after I left.

Over the years, there are many, many other objects I've left behind, then regretted. None have ever reached the epic heights of The Black Cashmere Coat.

2006-03-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

March 2, 2006
Urban Renewals, Allston, MA

LeeWards All Purpose Quilting Frame, $12.99.
I've been having Quilting Thoughts for some time now. Quoted from an email to Katie, quilter and accordionist extraordinnaire, after buying the frame:
"Now have needles, fabric, batting, quilting snacks. Just need time."
Said frame has never been used. All the hardware is still sealed in plastic.
Getting this home was quite the feat. The box is measures about six feet, and heavy.
As I was paying, the cashier asked if I had a car. I said no, I'd be taking it on the bus. She laughed and wished me good luck.
I waited at least fifteen minutes in the cold for the #66 bus. Knocked some guy in the head trying to get on the bus. He laughed and said I must be very determined. In Harvard Square, I had to transfer to the subway for two stops, then walk home. He was right, I am determined.
Oh, and LeeWards was a craft retailer bought by Michaels in 1994 for $88.8M.

Also purchased, but not pictured, because I'm lazy:

Little Women, Louise May Alcott, $0.99.
I've never read this! Lazy, I tell you.
Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe, Bill Bryson, $0.99.
Bill Bryson is a funny, funny man.
Yet Another Blue Shirt for Work, $4.99.
It's just like the one I found on 21 February, except it cost a dollar more. Next week is the Hell of All Special Hells, and my shirts will be getting a workout.

Total: $20.47.