look what I found

   Since my appetite for second hand merchandise is never satisfied I’ve tried to reel in the places and the kind of things I purchase. You would think that a thrift store might be good enough but not for me anymore I now have to have coupons, special sale days or even thrift store outlets selling articles that didn’t sell in the regular thrift store thus incredibly discounted. Not at all surprising to me that I can find plenty to want, need or plan to use, this kind of nothing always turns out to be something for someone like me.

   Last week I stopped by one of the local stores, Impact Thrift having a spring fair, which I tried to miss the events of the day rather get to the hard core sales. I made my way there to dig through their $.98  clothing rummage sale, huge containers packed with all sorts of unrelated clothing, genders, children, adults, styles and sizes. Speaking about exhaustion I cut tedious and banal activity short so I can somehow manage to make it through the rest of the day. However with that said I can spot great fabric a mile away and then of course we all know what we love, use daily and so in minutes, maybe 30 I had a pile of things to lug to the changing rooms. I don’t know what’s worse, picking through the heaps or pulling on one piece after the next wearing nothing more then underwear, white sports socks and sneakers. Buck Brown knew.

   Critically easy to determine what I could and couldn’t use, $9.80 and I was out the door with ten new work out wear and one or two pieces that were a bit more fun but useful now or hopefully soon. I have a tendency to buy things I want or like but as it is I’ve tried to only buy what I can wear at this point in my life, like it or not. Life for me has been in storage, boxes, plastic tubs, bags, you name it for almost 25 years. There is no fashioner that designs clothing to look or get well. So practicality wins out, therapy, workout, running, dog, errands, sleep stuff and that’s it.

   Friday afternoon I drove up to the Mennonite thrift in Souderton that has an outlet where housewares are $.49 per pound and clothing is $.89. I mean am I a shopper or what? More great running gear, mostly winter but that’s where the good buys are now, opposing seasons. Two guys walked out with three 1/2 gallon Ball Mason jars that I had intended on grabbing and I almost had a heart attack. After making my clothing selection I browsed the shelves quickly and found a great ceramic pedestal cake plate, fabulous and thought to glance at what was left of the jars. Much to my elation I came across three, yup, three Kerr 1/2 gallon mason jars that they seemed to have missed boxed and underfoot. Thrilled, I carried my finds to the counter, a stack of clothing and 4 pieces of glassware. $6.94, did you read that right? Yes you did. I sang with the radio all the way back to Lansdale. I really can’t sing with my illness but I mouth the words thinking one day the sound will just come back.

   Today I made my way down to Impact because they had their $.98 bric a brac treasure hunt sale, what’s that? I didn’t know either. Corrugated boxes all lined up filled with junk, all kinds, tons of it, all for under $1. So I dug and chatted with a woman who had found some really great things and happy to show them to me. I was not without luck though even at the late hour which I arrived. An old enamel wash basin, a really tall bottle with a  spout on the bottom, very cool, an old birdhouse hat box, a beautiful blue cut glass apothecary and a few other things already stored for the almost ready to use wait. The total today was $6.30. You can keep Macy’s as far as I’m concerned, me and my Country Living Magazine are more then fulfilled with, hey they had it right....... treasures. So look and see what I found.