Stepping back in time . . .

[Bucky]

Today, while I was in town stalling around while our son had a tennis lesson, I stopped in this quaint little antique shop on the square.  It is full of treasures from days gone by.  Walking through the store is like a trip down memory lane at my grandmother's / mother's house.

Actually, I had been in this store either last week or the week before and saw this green vintage painted toleware student desk lamp with a milk glass shade & oil pot.  The lamp was interesting and caught my eye.  I thought about buying it.  The lamp has a 3-way lighting system and I just liked the lamp.  Do I "need" the lamp?  No, but I "wanted" it!!    However, I didn't buy it.

Fast forward to today . . . checked to see if they still had the lamp.  Nope, it sold right away.    Woulda, shoulda, coulda!!  Rats!  I knew I should have gotten it when I saw it.  I've seen lamps similar to this one on Ebay sell for $100+ and this one was $25.  They had the lamp turned on in the store, so I knew it worked.  (It would have looked perfect sitting on the tea cart in the dining room.)

The real purpose of this post (bet you were wondering IF there was a purpose  ) - is to say that if there is something that brings you pleasure - whether it be a stroll through an antique shop, a visit to the library, going to a flea market or farmers market, etc. - DO IT!!  Anything that is relaxing.  It seems any more, we're in a hurry, hurry, hurry society with all kinds of electronic devices that we are glued to 24/7.  It's nice once in a while to step back in time and not have all the noise and distractions of today's modern society.

Another thought . . . as I was looking through the store, you noticed the quality of the goods made in the early 1900's through probably the 60's or 70's.  Nowadays, stuff is cheaply made of plastic or other materials that break easy.  So, next time you need a quality item that is built to last, look at an antique shop!

Whenever you have an opportunity, buy from local people . . . whether it be at a farmers market where they sell their own grown vegetables, fruits, etc., or from a crafter at a craft show, a local artist, etc.  These people many times make their living from selling their wares.  You will find quality items you won't find in the big box, brick and mortar, mass produced stores.

Just one more thought . . . in the next few weeks, I'm going to go back to that quaint little antique shop on the square and ask the owner if she needs a buyer.  Someone to keep an eye open when I'm at garage sales for possible items for her store.  That's where I have found many, many of my treasures for my own home (the same kind that she sells in her store).  I would work for free - just because I like to do that kind of thing.  How fun is that??  

Bucky

[irish]

Hi Bucky, Interesting stuff!

I have quite a few little things that I like to do that make me happy but haven't been able to do them this past year or so---hope springs eternal and I hope to be able to do them next year.

The one thing I love to do is buy books at garage sales or anypplace that has a sale. When I was up at my son's last week my DIL and I took the 2 kids and went to the library. Wow, what a nice library. Built on the shore of a lake. REally cool.

The big deal was they had "fill a paper grocery bag with books for 1$" and I just about went crazy. I ended up with 25 books for that buck. I went through 2 bags that broke on me but finally made it to the car.

Then this week I went to my library and checked out their  books on sale. The have a small room that is full of hard cover and paper backs that are on sale all the time. Paper backs 20 cents and hard cover are 1 buck. I picked up 23 books there for 16 dollars.

I sat down on the floor and checked the price inside the cover of all the books, etc. It came to well over 600$ and cost mw 17 dollars. This is about what 3 new paper backs would cost now. Boy, was I a happy camper. I always write the date I read the book and how I liked it inside the cover so I know when I can read the good ones again. I usually give the not so good ones back to the library to resell.

Both these libraries take free books donated by the public to sell so it is really a great service---especially for those of us with limited finances. It really doesn't take a lot to keep us occupied if we keep our minds and eyes open for cheaper fun. Haven't been to a garage sale yet this year. We have had so much rain this year that the garage sales have been cut down. Too many sales had to be cancelled due to the weather. Fall should be better. Irish

[Meld256]

Bucky,
You always bring up some interesting things.    That's a great idea asking if the shop may need a buyer; like you say, you love the search for items.  That's part of the fun!

Enjoying what brings me pleasure is a big part of how I have been able to cope in the last year.  I realized I missed sewing, so I started quilting again.  But, anything that we like to do that gives us joy is what we need to do!  Lord only knows we all need a bit more JOY in our lives. 
Whether it's time with our family or friends, a stroll, going to the library, any kind of craft or something that keeps our minds working is what we need to do. Sometimes those days are few when I feel like doing some of this, so when I do feel decent, I take advantage of it! Reminds me of that song "I hope you dance". 

I agree that we all could buy from local stores more. We have so many places around here where people combine what I think of as some unusal things.
  There's the gas station that has a lunch counter with great fried chicken, but you can also buy fishing bait and hunting licenses.  The vacumn cleaner/sewing machine repair shop that also sells medical equipment and the owner is a realtor.  The couple that has a photography studio on one side of the building and a financial planning business on the other.  My husband's cousins have a locksmith business and a very nice little Italian restaurant attached.

People here have just learned how to "make do" with the talents and resources they have. Nobody told them "you can't do that"; they are very resourceful. I'm more impressed the longer I live here.
I got way off track there irish, you reminded me that I need to get to the library.  Good post, Bucky!

[One and only]

for most of my life my time was spent doing and helping others,, I still try to do that,, but I have learned that now Iam pretty important too,, and if I see something I want,, I get it,, I dont think about it,, sleep on it,, or worry about it later,, I jsut do it,, I think I deserve that little pleasure,,

[Meld256]

One and only,

Good for you!  You're right; we all deserve to do things for ourselves.

[eyeamdry]

This is a good message.  The lamp was just $25.  I know $25 can be a lot in a bad ecomony, but it we are older and have worked for a few or many years and this happens once in awhile, does it really hurt anything?  Now if you go out and buy "stuff" all the time, it can be a junk problem.  My hubby loves garage sales, but we are at the time of life where I am trying to downsize instead of bringing stuff home.  Lucy

[Meld256]

I agree, Lucy.  Sometimes something like a $25 lamp can give us joy.

But I know what you mean about not bringing in more stuff.  We have a small house now and I'm still downsizing from stuff we brought with us from our move 3 years ago.  (Almost done, I think)  There's really not much closet or storage space, so every bit of "real estate" needs to be used carefully!

My father loved garage sales when he was younger.  He always found a tool or something "he thought he might use" someday.  When he and my mom moved from their 3-bedroom home w/ a full basement and garage into a retirement community, it was a nightmare.  We had 2 garage sales, and still gave away things.  They had 30 jars of canned beans in the basement that were 25 years old!  I know you and I don't want our homes to be like that! 
Here's to having a few things that we love, and clean out the rest! 

[Daisy1234]

Thanks Bucky for giving me a good life lesson!

I'm going to put your advice to good use right away as there is a nice ice-cream cornet in the freezer I've had my eye on for the past several days.  Well lets just say that that cone is going to be toast in about 15 minutes!!!!

Live life to the fullest!

and thank you for the smile today,
Daisy

[Bucky]

Lucy - it wasn't the $25 for the lamp that was holding me back, it was the "want" vs. "need" aspect of it.  Did I need the lamp  . . . no, I wanted it!  I too, am trying to downsize and get rid of all the "stuff" around here. 

Daisy - I hope you enjoy your cone . . . you deserve it!!   

Bucky

[One and only]

I agree, Lucy.  Sometimes something like a $25 lamp can give us joy.

But I know what you mean about not bringing in more stuff.  We have a small house now and I'm still downsizing from stuff we brought with us from our move 3 years ago.  (Almost done, I think)  There's really not much closet or storage space, so every bit of "real estate" needs to be used carefully!

My father loved garage sales when he was younger.  He always found a tool or something "he thought he might use" someday.  When he and my mom moved from their 3-bedroom home w/ a full basement and garage into a retirement community, it was a nightmare.  We had 2 garage sales, and still gave away things.  They had 30 jars of canned beans in the basement that were 25 years old!  I know you and I don't want our homes to be like that! 
Here's to having a few things that we love, and clean out the rest! 

older people had parents that lived through the depression,, a lot of them learned from there parents to make do with what they have and to hoard other stuff,, My Aunt is 89,, she still hoards things that she will never use,, closets full of shoes she gets at yard sales but will never wear,, but shes allowed to do anything she wants as far as i am concerned

[Pisces24]

My folks grew up in Depression times, so I guess I picked mine up from them. About $5 is the most frivoulos I will go unless it is something needed or takes the place of something.

I pick up books for 25cents at garage sales too. I keep em a year or so and donate them. Not big money and I get my 25 cents worth. On average my "thrills" are pretty cheap,  You need to do something different or buy something different - its the spice of life!

Being a buyer would be nice BUT remember you can't keep it all!!! LOL 

[Meld256]

One and only,

My parents were older when I was born, so they WERE Depression children. Daddy will be 95 in Sept!

I understand why he kept things. There were 16 kids in his family, and they didn't have much growing up. As an adult, he had a decent salary and bought what he wanted, but was careful.  And all the stuff he kept, he usually found a use for a lot of it. He made lamps and toys for the grandkids out of wood scraps, etc. Very resourceful guy, my Dad.

He had his priorities, which made us laugh sometimes.  He had a pair of "work shoes" and "work pants" he wore gardening and working around the house that my mother threatened to throw out many times.  They were at least 20 years old. Told her he didn't need to spend money on new ones, and they were comfortable (=threadbare). 

Right after one of their "recent discussions" Mom called them, my husband and I visited just as a landscaping company was finishing planting a 6-ft-tall blue spruce in their yard.  Dad told us it was $250 and it was beautiful. My husband thought it was hilarious he wouldn't buy new shoes but spend that much on a tree.    We all have our priorities...