Booth Update

Well, we got my pretty new red bench down to my booth today, and I got things displayed on it fairly well, I think.

Here's a new front shot, where you can see the curtains I hung above the top shelf to cover some of the ugly pegboard.  There's a light right above it, so the picture didn't turn out real well, but you get the idea.....I hope. :)

The next 2 photos are of a couple of booths across from mine, that the ladies have decorated up really nice.  In the 1st one, that gals husband makes all her cabinets for her.  They are so nice!  My husband would be great at making cabinets for me, but since he's not retired (like he should be) he just doesn't have time.  That booth is going to become available in April, as she is moving to an even larger booth at the front of the shop.  Susan offered to hold the booth for me if I want to move into it after I get back from Alaska.  It is a lot bigger, and much wider and not as deep.  I like that.  Plus it has electricity and mine doesn't.  Makes it nice if you have lamps for sale or to enhance displays.  I think I'll take it.  It's only $10 more a month.

I love doing this!  And will really be able to get into it more and enjoy it more, when I can get around better.  I have already sold a lot of stuff for the month.  Much more than I ever have, and I think it's partly to do with having a better display area.  Also, it's been quite a bit of my jewelry that I have taken in to sell in the display case.  It's encouraging and I'm very pleased!

It was very warm and sunny the past couple of days....in the high 60s.  This AM we awoke to pouring rain and whenever the weather changes so quickly, I hurt.  All over.  Big time.  I read up on it and it's all to do with the barometric pressure and such.  Makes sense, but oh how I hate it!  I would have been a day I would have stayed home and done nothing, but it's the only day Chuck can help me with stuff and I just had to get my new bench set up!  I hope I make it thru my San Diego adventure without any unexpected debilitating weather fronts!.  The girls will just have to roll me around....hahahaha

Sneak Peek

I just had to post a sneak peek of my bench. This is just after one coat of paint. One of us will do another today and we will set it up tomorrow! Yay!!

Progress!

I've been looking for a vintage hutch or some sort of antique table/shelf to use in my booth at the Antique Mall so That I can better display some of my stuff. Haven't had much luck finding the perfect thing...yet...but I will eventually. In the meanwhile I saw this bench a week or so ago and decided that I would buy it, paint it red and use it until something better shows up. This is a picture of it that i had taken from across the road one day, so that I could show Chuck. LOL I went and bought it today and then stopped and bought some Cherry Red paint> Weeeeeeee.......I didn't get to take a 'before' picture, before Chuck dove in and started painting it for me. And he threatened me with my life if I took a picture of him painting. Thus, the picture from across the road.

He hates painting, with a passion, and typically refuses to do it, which is why he didn't want any photographic proof that he actually COULD do it :-). I'll take a picture when it's done, and then again on Sunday when we take it to my booth.  I can drape my vintage table linens over the back of it, set baskets of doilies and towels and other small vintage linens on the seat, along with some other things.  And will be able to set things under it, as well!  I think it will be kewl!!

I am getting so excited for the San Diego trip!   I can't wait to see everyone and enjoy some more of that beautiful city.  And go to Trader Joes! And go to the desert!  But, oh Lord, how I wish I could drive there.  I LOVE road trips and positively HATE flying.  It's not the actually flying part that I hate, but rather the changing of flights and planes and layovers.....but it's always worth it when it's over :)

That's it for now.  I'll post more tomorrow or Sunday when I get my bench in place in my booth!

Russian Federation & Antiquities

I had a visit to my blog from the Russian Federation!   WTH??  I wish they were trying to contact me to tell me that I had won a trip to Russia or something exciting, but they didn't even leave a comment.  Sigh.

I've been keeping very busy acquiring things to sell in my Antique/Flea Market booth.  A couple of weeks ago, Chuck went with me to my booth, to measure and see if his gun cabinet would fit.  I suppose I should back up here. I'm getting ahead of myself.

Back in December, Chuck bought a gun safe for his rather ample gun collection.  That left the gun cabinet that I bought him, oh so many years ago, empty.  He suggested that he could put shelves in it and I could use it to display things in my booth.  Particularly things that need to be locked up to prevent being stolen! So, a couple Sundays ago he went down to Betty's Attic with me to see what rearranging we might have to do if we brought the gun cabinet in.  While we were there, we found that there was a larger booth for rent, so I decided to take it.  So instead of $40 a month, I'm paying $55 for almost double the space.  It allows me to better display things, to a point, anyway.  And presentation means a lot.  I felt like I was trying to cram too much stuff into a too small space.

Old Booth before I moved

Gun Cabinet full of treasures

New space

New Space

My shelf in the Display Case (top left)

Okay, from the pictures you can see that I have quite a bit more room and was able to put more items out for sale.  I also rented an available shelf in their big display cases up front, where I can sell some of my rings and jewelry that I no longer wear, and it can be kept safe under lock and key!

The gun cabinet works quite well, but I need more furniture type items to better display things.  That is only a table up against the back wall, and I really want to get some sort of a hutch to put there, so that I can better display dishes, etc.  For now, I am looking at a bench I found, that has a back and arms.  I want to put that along the right side and lay table clothes over the back of it, and put baskets holding assorted linens on the seat.  There will also be room for some things to set on the floor underneath it.  The shelves Chuck made me are fine, for a start, but I'd rather have hutches and such for my displays.

I actually have spruced up my booth a bit since I took these pictures, but forgot to take more.  Chuck hung a curtain rod for me, up high on the back wall, and we put up some old fashioned lace curtains I had.  Looks much better than that ugly old peg board.  I also have a new rug that needs to go down, to cover the ratty carpet. 

I've been busy buying vintage linens (doilies, table clothes, guest towels, dresser scarves, etc.) to resell and have acquired some terrific items for next to nothing.  I do the whole stain removal, starch and iron thing....and yes, I actually enjoy doing that :-)
I have also gotten a huge batch of vintage knitting needles, that I was very excited about!  Some of them I am keeping for myself, but most I am selling.  Also, have any of you heard about the new fad of making bridal bouquets out of vintage brooches?  It's quite the thing, and I invested in several 'lots' of those to resell, as well.  I really enjoy doing all this.  I just wish things would sell faster!  Things have been picking up quite a bit the past month, tho'.  Hopefully it will stay that way.  This fall, once I get all healed up from my surgery as all, I should be able to go scouring the country side for great finds to resell.  It's really what I want to do!

Wanna Give Someone the Finger!

The first thing I want to talk about today is my ring finger on my right hand.  Or, should I say, my 'Former' ring finger....since I can no longer wear any of my dozens of rings on it!  The knuckle on this finger has taken on a life of it's own, and I really, REALLY don't like it!  Today it hurts.  A lot! So I'm gonna share.  About a year ago I noticed that my knuckle was swelling and it was becoming hard to get my rings on and off.  I figured, okay.  I've got arthritis in various parts of my body, including both thumbs, so it stands to reason that my fingers will eventually be affected. Problem is, it just kept getting bigger and was hurting quite a bit.  I mean, I already take meds for my arthritis (which doesn't take care of all of the associated pain and/or discomfort, but helps a great deal) so why was it hurting so much?  I went to see my Doc so he could determine if mayhaps it was a cyst or a chipped bone or something, and he deemed it good old arthritis. Crap.  So, deal with it.  It was about that time that I took the 1st picture here, back in September.

It quit bothering me and didn't seem to be metamorphosing, so I decided to have some of my favorite rings resized.  At the going price of gold and silver, it is a little pricey these days to go up 2 full ring sizes, but Chuck agreed that it was fine so I did about 8 or 9 rings.  Now, my ring finger WAS a size 9, but this knuckle now required a size 11 for clearance. My middle finger is size 11, so I figured that if my ring finger decided to have another growth spurt, I could always wear these rings on my middle finger.

This second picture was taken this AM, and you can see that it has, in fact, started metamorphosing again. This AM the whole thing is just throbbing and hurts the entire length of it, not just the knuckle. Guess that's what prompted me to finally write about it.That had been my intention when I took the 1st picture, but I never got around to it.  That's just a really big change in 5 months time. I think maybe I'll let Dr. H take another look and see if I can inspire him to snap a little x-ray of it....just for peace of mind....or something. 

The sad thing is, that I have a massive jewelry collection.  Well over 100 rings.  Seriously.  All gold and silver and gemstone.  A lot of them can't be resized 2 sizes, because of their settings.  And the only finger they will fit on is my left ring finger, which houses my wedding ring.  Lots of $$ tied up and just sitting there, but worst of all is the fact  that I dearly love most of those abandoned rings and it gives me a huge sad to not be able to wear them.  Ah, hell...enough sniveling.

Yesterday I went for my 'annual' eye exam.  It's been 2 years :-).  When we 1st moved here I went to Fayetteville Mall, to Sears Optical cuz they had a great sale on glasses happening.  What I found was an awesome eye Doctor!  She's amazing and SO thorough and just plain adorable.  So I continue to go there.  Yesterday, glasses were 50% off and because I am a repeat customer, I got an extra 10%.....sooooo.....when I was having trouble deciding between the purple or the cranberry, I decided to get both :).  I'm really sick of my current glasses (except when I want to read something) so it'll be fun to have 2 new and cool ones to wear.  (life's simple pleasures). 

But, I do have to snivel a wee bit more.  The trek from the parking lot, through half of Sears, to get to the Optical shop, just about did me in.  And the trek BACK to the parking lot DID do me in.  Holy Crap!  I sat in the truck thinking, what the hell do I think I'm doing???  Going to San Diego in 3 weeks.  Going to Alaska in 7 1/2 weeks.  I should be doing these things after my surgery!  Well.....I WILL be doing them then, too. But still.....I need to see my friends.  I can't wait to be together with Poolie and Terri T again!  And God knows, I desperately NEED to see Terri and Riley and Maggie and Emily and Timmy and Xander and....yes, even my SIL, Michael :-).  I just SO hate to be an inconvenience or imposition because of my freaking limitations.  I feel like such a wuss.  But the reality is, not one of them will make me feel that way.  In fact, ALL of them will make me feel like I'm the same old Yankee Chick and the same old Mom and the same old Grammy and it'll all be good!  Damn good!! So what the hell am I whining about?!?!?  It's just been over 3 years of this shit and I'm so sick of it!!! 

It's been exactly 3 years this month since I last rode my Susie, so I guess that makes it 3 1/2 years.  I first went to see the Doc about my severe hip pain whilst riding  back in September of '08. (but I wasn't giving up on riding yet!)  Holy cow!  Holy Moly!  Holy Crap!!! 

Now I want to write about Susie and I want to write about my antique booth, but this is long enough!  Hopefully I will get my butt back here and write about that stuff tomorrow!  In case anyone decides to come and read. :-)

Wild Horses.....

Great start to this day!  Sitting here, still in my jammies, drinking coffee, playing around online......and suddenly crazy horse activity catches my eye, out the window.  Dixie had managed to get out and was running the fence line.  Susie couldn't get out and was having an absolute horsey conniption fit! Mass chaos ensues!  Well, if one person can actually create mass chaos, that is.  I rushed upstairs to get dressed, got my shoes on, grabbed my phone and a bag of carrots and off I went!

OMG, was Dixie ever having fun!  By the time I got out the door, she was tearing thru the neighbors yard, kicking and bucking, having a grand time of it.  Sadly, since it snowed the other day, everything is very wet, so when I say she was "tearing" thru the neighbors yard, I mean that quite literally.  There is now a multitude of hoof prints and skid marks in their lawn.  Personally, I say we're even for the fact that their German Sheppard takes a big old dump in our yard everyday, but I'm thinking they won't agree with that.  LOL

Anyway, I gimped and limped as quickly as I could and was just about to come out from behind the barn and around the corner when I heard her galloping, hell bent for leather, right in my direction.  Luckily, she skidded to a stop when she saw me as opposed to running over top of me (which was very possible and highly likely!).  We were right by the back gate, from which she had made her escape.  I waved the bag of carrots in her face, pointed to the barnyard and told her to get her big ass in there, NOW!!  Thankfully, she did just that!  It was part good luck and part good training and a whole lot of influence from a bag of carrots!  If Susie had been out.......no way in hell could I have gotten her back until she was damn good and ready.  But Dixie will do anything for food.....ANYthing!  I made her wait tho', until I walked back around the barn so that I could get to Susie and give HER some carrots as well.  After all, she was the one that was all worked up in a lather (literally) and needed some attention.  Not the bad kid! 

It's fortunate for me that Dixie is on a diet again, which means she spends her time in the barnyard and Susie is out in the pasture.  Ya have to feed them more in the winter, when it's cold, to help keep their body heat up.  Well, Susie will still lose a little weight but not Dixie!  She has gained again.  Horses are just like people.  Dixie can and will eat anything edible, but also gains weight just looking at food! 

I have no idea how the gate got open.  We had company last night  and they were all out there, so I suspect Chuck was distracted and it got left unchained.  Dixie is pretty darn good at opening a variety of latches and closures, but I don't think she could have gotten this one by herself.

Okay, so now I can get undressed, take my shower and get on with the days activities!  Hopefully that was my 'excitement' for the day :-)

Time Slips Away

Nothing real special going on.....just a bazillion things that need to be done and I actually feel like doing them today!  As soon as I get off the computer.  Ha!  Which was just about to happen, when I remembered that I started blogging again and needed to get with it.  Ahem!

Some of you know that I have started knitting.  Terri got me into it back in May on my last visit to Alaska.  Those of you that know me really, really well, also know that when I get hooked on something, it becomes an addiction.  All consuming obsession.  At least for awhile.  Until the next addiction comes along.  Anyway, I have about 5 WIPs {Works in Progress} and at least 20 lined up.  Seriously!  Probably more.  I have been buying delightful and delicious and beautiful yarn like it is going out of style!  I TRY to be sensible about it.  I TRY to only buy yarn if I have a project in mind and the pattern in hand.  That works most of the time.  Sometimes the yarn is too amazing and/or the price is too amazing and I just can't resist.  The problem with that is, I'm not real sure how much to buy so.........you got it!  I tend to 'over buy'.  Damn, but it's fun!  Only problem is, knitting goes  kinda slow.  Many years ago, I used to crochet and that is a lot faster, but knitting is much more satisfying, somehow.  Plus most knitted items are much nicer than crocheted items.  I know I'll get faster at it, as time goes by, but I'll never be able to keep up with the buying!

To add to my 5 WIPs, I am starting another one today.  Bernat yarn company has what they call a Mystery Afghan Knit-A-Long {KAL} that started today. They tel you how many skeins of yarn and how many colors you will need, and even suggest several color ways for you. Each Wednesday morning they give you a "Clue" which gives you the instructions for making squares for the afghan.  This morning we got instructions to make 8 squares.  No picture or anything, so it will be a mystery until one is finished....which is the whole point.  In fact, the whole look of the afghan will be a mystery until it is completed.  I shouldn't be doing it because I already have so many other things going, but I couldn't resist!  So, once I get off here and do a little housework, I will get started on it and see what I come up with :)

In other news, my booth at the antique mall is doing good AND bad.  Sounds crazy, and it is.  Things have been selling lately, which is good......and 2 more high priced items got stolen, which is bad.  These 2 items were big enough that I thought they were safe from being stuck in a pocket or purse, but I guess I was wrong.  Then again, it COULD always be another vendor, who is free to come and go with big boxes and bags.  That has been known to happen before, as well.  This past weekend, Chuck went with me to my booth cuz I wanted his input on doing some rearranging in my limited space.  A couple of good things came out of that.  They finally had a space available in their big display cases where people display jewelry and small items.  So I finally got to rent a shelf in that for $10 a month.  That will be available on the 1st of March.  In addition to that, Chuck discovered that a larger booth was available to rent and rented it for me, so we will be moving into a space about 3 times the size of what I have.  I will have room for a large cabinet that locks and some other display options that will improve sales and allow me to put more things out for sale.  I'm excited.  I was feeling like the whole scenario was a fizzle and about to just pack it in, when suddenly things are looking up!!  My "new" cabinet will be Chuck's gun cabinet.  He finally bought a gun safe a couple of months ago for his extensive gun collection, thank God!  I was always so worried about so many people knowing about his guns, and the potential of someone breaking in and stealing them, and God knows what else!  Anyway, that leaves the gun cabinet that I bought him back in 1976, all sad and empty.  I had thought to fill it with yarn, LOL.  His idea of putting shelves in it for me to use in my booth is most excellent!  Plus!  I could even sell that, if I'm of a mind to!  I remember scrimping and saving up the $100 to buy that for him, way back then and now it is valued at about $450.  Sweet!!  I guess getting old has it's advantages!  Hahahaha {did I say that?}

Okay.....I've babbled on enough for today.  Off to do a bit of  tidying up before I start that new knitting project!