---->
my beautiful sister, jena
<----
anne hathaway
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
what a crock
so. the garage sale "season" has been pretty disappointing.
every saturday afternoon when our local paper arrives in the mail, i check out two things~
(1) the menards sales flyer
(2) the garage sales advertised for the upcoming week
at this point, it's become more than routine. in fact, i dare say i am somewhat (ok...completely) obsessed. i suppose i get it from my parents, who have always made time for thrifting in the summer. this summer has proven no exception, as the desire to go out searching for all sorts useful treasures to bring back to my new home is more than i can resist!
unfortunately, since that time, every single yard/garage/moving sale has been a complete bust. it has a been a summer of wasted gas in what has turned into a futile search for the household stuff we need (ok...want).
that was until last thursday, the first day of the county fair. because it is near our home, and because we had yet to decide whether or not we were going to go, j and i took a quick morning trip over to the fairgrounds to scope it all out. as we got close, we noticed a yard sale directly across from the front gate. turns out, the home belonged to a local kindergarten teacher who had been busy cleaning house. i think j had begun to pull the car over even before i pointed out the big pink sign!
once outside, j took a five second glance around, then started back to the car. i was about to do the same, but as i walked toward the driveway, suddenly something on the ground beneath a table caught my eye:
now, many of you are probably saying to yourselves, "what a ... um ... lovely ... pail...?"
and a month ago, i would have said exactly the same thing! however, all of the lousy garage sales have left me with plenty of time to do some real shopping! here, let me explain.
unfortunately, where i live, the shopping is somewhat limited. ok, very limited! however, one little boutique sucks me in every month - the picket fence gals occasional sale in lindstrom, minnesota. walking through this historic house, stuffed inside and out with beautiful decor, i am always inspired. as a result, i have also come to learn a thing or two about antiques. after seeing a couple of red wing pottery pieces (both here and at various friends' homes) i started to do some research about the history of the company.
now, at the time, i had no idea whether this mint condition pottery was manufactured by red wing or not, but with a $12 price tag i was willing to take a chance. even if it turned out to be something else, it was still a beautiful piece, right? so i took it home.
after some searching later that evening, i discovered another piece very similar to mine, posted in an 'ask the experts' section of the red wing collector's society web page. according to the expert, that piece was known as a *two gallon salt glazed red wing double p* crock. worth quite a bit more than what i had paid. hmmm.
so i emailed the above photo of my crock to the same gentleman, along with a description, in hopes of finding out if that's what i have, too. can't wait to know!
every saturday afternoon when our local paper arrives in the mail, i check out two things~
(1) the menards sales flyer
(2) the garage sales advertised for the upcoming week
at this point, it's become more than routine. in fact, i dare say i am somewhat (ok...completely) obsessed. i suppose i get it from my parents, who have always made time for thrifting in the summer. this summer has proven no exception, as the desire to go out searching for all sorts useful treasures to bring back to my new home is more than i can resist!
unfortunately, since that time, every single yard/garage/moving sale has been a complete bust. it has a been a summer of wasted gas in what has turned into a futile search for the household stuff we need (ok...want).
that was until last thursday, the first day of the county fair. because it is near our home, and because we had yet to decide whether or not we were going to go, j and i took a quick morning trip over to the fairgrounds to scope it all out. as we got close, we noticed a yard sale directly across from the front gate. turns out, the home belonged to a local kindergarten teacher who had been busy cleaning house. i think j had begun to pull the car over even before i pointed out the big pink sign!
once outside, j took a five second glance around, then started back to the car. i was about to do the same, but as i walked toward the driveway, suddenly something on the ground beneath a table caught my eye:
now, many of you are probably saying to yourselves, "what a ... um ... lovely ... pail...?"
and a month ago, i would have said exactly the same thing! however, all of the lousy garage sales have left me with plenty of time to do some real shopping! here, let me explain.
unfortunately, where i live, the shopping is somewhat limited. ok, very limited! however, one little boutique sucks me in every month - the picket fence gals occasional sale in lindstrom, minnesota. walking through this historic house, stuffed inside and out with beautiful decor, i am always inspired. as a result, i have also come to learn a thing or two about antiques. after seeing a couple of red wing pottery pieces (both here and at various friends' homes) i started to do some research about the history of the company.
now, at the time, i had no idea whether this mint condition pottery was manufactured by red wing or not, but with a $12 price tag i was willing to take a chance. even if it turned out to be something else, it was still a beautiful piece, right? so i took it home.
after some searching later that evening, i discovered another piece very similar to mine, posted in an 'ask the experts' section of the red wing collector's society web page. according to the expert, that piece was known as a *two gallon salt glazed red wing double p* crock. worth quite a bit more than what i had paid. hmmm.
so i emailed the above photo of my crock to the same gentleman, along with a description, in hopes of finding out if that's what i have, too. can't wait to know!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
note to self
when your gut tells you a business is out to get as much money out of you as they can....you're probably right!
even if you're not, there are too many other honest competitors out there ready and willing to fight for your business. make a move anyway, and stay on top.
good bye, st. croix vet clinic! the friendly faces in amery have a new client.
even if you're not, there are too many other honest competitors out there ready and willing to fight for your business. make a move anyway, and stay on top.
good bye, st. croix vet clinic! the friendly faces in amery have a new client.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
trying to beat the summer heat
just sitting inside today, basking in the joy of an air conditioned house. got in a quick walk around the cul-de-sac this morning, washed the car, and stopped in at menards. much more productive than yesterday.
hmmm. feeling like i should be taking more advantage of this glorious summer, as it is definitely passing by very quickly. before school starts up again (school supplies are already being sold at your neighborhood target...) there is much to do.
july/august will hopefully bring-
1. travel to sheboygan for bratwurSHt days (yee hah)
2. monday night movies in loring park
3. a bbq/bonfire with friends
4. a get together with ann & jeff (cause didn't we promise to do that?)
5. furniture for my basement
6. finished mentor/mentee hours at school
7. reading the two jodi picoult books i bought at the library for $0.50
8. an appointment to have my wisdom teeth yanked (yessss)
9. a garage sale with maureen
10. more visits from family and friends, and trips to the state park
hmmm. feeling like i should be taking more advantage of this glorious summer, as it is definitely passing by very quickly. before school starts up again (school supplies are already being sold at your neighborhood target...) there is much to do.
july/august will hopefully bring-
1. travel to sheboygan for bratwurSHt days (yee hah)
2. monday night movies in loring park
3. a bbq/bonfire with friends
4. a get together with ann & jeff (cause didn't we promise to do that?)
5. furniture for my basement
6. finished mentor/mentee hours at school
7. reading the two jodi picoult books i bought at the library for $0.50
8. an appointment to have my wisdom teeth yanked (yessss)
9. a garage sale with maureen
10. more visits from family and friends, and trips to the state park
Monday, July 7, 2008
loving the library...
in a recent job interview, i was asked, "what book are you currently reading for pleasure?"
the answer came easily. i had picked up "the memory keepers daughter" by kim edwards at a thrift store months before, yet due to a busy spring schedule it was collecting dust on my coffee table, unfinished. it wasn't until i saw the movie version of edwards' story being broadcast on lifetime later that week that i snapped off the tv and finally sat down finish what i had started.
since that time, i have made it a point to devote a spot of time each day to reading. even though the library "in town" has proven a bit disappointing, i did come home the other day with a book that has pleasantly surprised me--
i have been a fan of suze orman for the past year or so, and it was her picture on the cover which initially attracted me to this book. just as she appears on her televised call-in show, her book expresses smart, straight-forward advice for all those "yf&b"ers (young, fabulous and broke) struggling to figure out the financial maze of adulthood.
here are some of the points she makes:
regarding career moves-
"you strike me as an incredibly undervalued asset. you have a great education, great skills, and great energy. you have what it takes to succeed in a career that truly interests and excites you. if that sounds too rah-rah for you, that's your first problem...if you don't think you are fabulous, if you don't have incredible confidence in yourself, you will never have the strength to go after what can make you happy."
regarding financial success-
"if you forced me to pick one single bit of advice that would have the biggest impact on turning around your financial situation, i wouldn't hesitate for a second. you have to know the score: your FICO score."
regarding love and money-
"financial intimacy is when you understand that you have different financial personalities and you work to come up with a shared approach to spending, saving, and investing."
regarding her "don't do it" section-
"people first. then money. then things...do not focus on your paycheck, focus on making your mark."
there is no fluff in this book. she shoots you the facts, and as i was reading, i truly felt like someone was sitting me down and saying, "look, here is what you need to know about money."
who wouldn't appreciate that?
the answer came easily. i had picked up "the memory keepers daughter" by kim edwards at a thrift store months before, yet due to a busy spring schedule it was collecting dust on my coffee table, unfinished. it wasn't until i saw the movie version of edwards' story being broadcast on lifetime later that week that i snapped off the tv and finally sat down finish what i had started.
since that time, i have made it a point to devote a spot of time each day to reading. even though the library "in town" has proven a bit disappointing, i did come home the other day with a book that has pleasantly surprised me--
i have been a fan of suze orman for the past year or so, and it was her picture on the cover which initially attracted me to this book. just as she appears on her televised call-in show, her book expresses smart, straight-forward advice for all those "yf&b"ers (young, fabulous and broke) struggling to figure out the financial maze of adulthood.
here are some of the points she makes:
regarding career moves-
"you strike me as an incredibly undervalued asset. you have a great education, great skills, and great energy. you have what it takes to succeed in a career that truly interests and excites you. if that sounds too rah-rah for you, that's your first problem...if you don't think you are fabulous, if you don't have incredible confidence in yourself, you will never have the strength to go after what can make you happy."
regarding financial success-
"if you forced me to pick one single bit of advice that would have the biggest impact on turning around your financial situation, i wouldn't hesitate for a second. you have to know the score: your FICO score."
regarding love and money-
"financial intimacy is when you understand that you have different financial personalities and you work to come up with a shared approach to spending, saving, and investing."
regarding her "don't do it" section-
"people first. then money. then things...do not focus on your paycheck, focus on making your mark."
there is no fluff in this book. she shoots you the facts, and as i was reading, i truly felt like someone was sitting me down and saying, "look, here is what you need to know about money."
who wouldn't appreciate that?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)