Dazed and Confused

Summer fun

We had a terrible thunderstorm with hail last Friday, which I wrote about in yesterday's Writers Plot post.  (You can find it here.) The garden suffered a LOT of damage and we were pretty upset about it.

So on Saturday, when I started out on my weekly Garage Sale Hunt, I wanted to find something fun to cheer me up.

I did.

As I walked back to the car with my wonderful find, my husband commented, "These are the things that cause divorces."

Okay, so a pink flamingo is a cliche (and this one is so pink it's almost purple), but after the angst we went through over the garden (which is bouncing back, thank goodness).  I wanted.  I needed it.  And at 75 cents -- what a bargain!

I want a new telephone

Have you tried to buy a phone lately?  I'm talking landline phone.  In your house.  The kind of phone you can put on your shoulder and talk to your mother while you stir the spaghetti sauce so it doesn't burn.  You CAN'T find them.  The only things available these days are all cell phone wannabes.

I want a REAL telephone.  And OLD telephone.  As it happens, when we were growing up (way back through the mists of time).  The phone company owned the phone.  We were one of the first families on the block to actually BUY our own telephone, and it was pink (the same color as our house).  I loved it. 

The phone company was made up of grumpy old men and they didn't want people to have extension phones.  It was a BIG no-no, but somehow my Dad got hold of an old Art Deco telephone, and he ran the wires and we had TWO--count 'em--TWO phones in our house.

As a kid, I found it hard to lift the receiver of that old phone--it was HEAVY, and I didn't like the phone.  Where had it come from?  Did it have cooties?  When the phone rang, I'd run to the front of the house to use the pink phone just so I wouldn't have to use that terrible old phone.

Of course, now I would KILL to have that phone.  I've seen similar phones in antique shops, not in as good shape, and they want between $60 and $100.  (The graphic on the left doesn't do that phone justice.) 

Since I can't have the phone of my dreams (or at least I'm too cheap to get it--and where would I put it?), I've given it to my character, Tricia Miles.  She keeps it in her Haven't Got a Clue bookstore where she sells vintage mysteries.  When she uses it, it takes her back to the days of Agatha Cristie and Harriet Vane and getting lost in their adventures.

Maybe what I really need isn't an old phone, but more time to read mysteries.

That sounds good to me.

The Quest

Back in March, I gave up my booth at a local antique co-op.  What with the economy and all, people just weren't buying antiques and collectibles--or at least enough of them for me to make my rent.  This trend started more than a year ago and it just came time to give it up.

Sniff.

Of course, my booth was never as cool as I wanted it to be.  First of all, I never had the money to invest in the kind of stock I wanted to sell.  And there's no guarantee if I had better stock that I would have had better sales.  (Many of my co-op neighbors had the kind of stock I wanted to sell, and they weren't doing any better than me.)

I bought most of my stock from garage/tag sales.  I used to start shopping for stuff I could resell in early April, going to any and every garage sale.  With the price of gas, I haven't been to many sales this year.  But this weekend (with gas finally reaching $3.999 around these parts), we did make the rounds.

It's painful not to be able to buy the stuff I normally would.  I saw so many vintage orange juice glasses in mint condition for a quarter (which were guaranteed to sell for $2.99 each...eventually), and jewelry, and dishware, and Pyrex and....

But now I'm "shopping" for other things.  My family puts in requests and I go find them.  My mother collects hankies with crocheted edges.  Got two of them for her on Friday.  Dad has broken a number of glasses.  Got six of them for him.  Hubby wanted a meat tenderizer.  Got one of them.  For myself, I'm looking for blue plates.  (I'm decorating a bedroom and have chosen blue and white plates.)  Found a really old one for a quarter and, even better, a bag of plate hangers (at least 15--they're a bit tangled) for $2.

A portion of my booth was devoted to used books.  I can't stop looking at all the titles when I walk into a sale, and Saturday I found something I've been looking for for about a year:  a beautiful hardcover edition of A Little Princessby Frances Hodgson Burnett (illustrated by Tasha Tudor) for fifty cents.  (I've already read half of it.  I'd seen two movie versions of the story, but never read the book)

And then the holy grail of my searches:  1950s "Made In Japan" Christmas figurines.  First up, a Santa & Mrs. Claus sitting on a see-saw music box; wind it up and it plays "Jingle Bells" while the Santa and Mrs. bop up and down (for $2).  And then at the North Rose Ladies Auxilery sale at the fire hall, a duplicate of what started my collection about 15 years ago:  a Santa and reindeer "candleabra" that spells out NOEL.  Now, do I really need a second one?  Of course not, but it was only a buck.  In mint condition--IN THE ORIGINAL BOX!!!!!!

In all, I spent less than $10, but boy, what cheap entertainment.

And Sheep May Safely Graze

Back when we were courting (don't you just love that phrase?), Frank bought me a Christmas cassette (tells you how long ago THAT was) called Celtic Christmas, harp music by Kim Robertson.  I fell in love with one piece called "And Sheep May Safely Graze" by, of all people, Johann Sebastian Bach.  (Can you believe it, I'd never heard the piece before.)  I loved this piece of music so much, I hired a harpist to play it at my wedding.  (Sadly, she wasn't as good as Kim Robertson.)

I think that's when I got this thing for sheep.  I started buying them.  Oh, not the actual creatures.  Get real--I live in the suburbs.  My first sheep was a stuffed toy.  But I'm not really into stuffed animals (although I do seem to have more than my fair share).  I like that they're placid animals--at least as figurines.  They sit quietly in my cabinet and seem to have a calming effect on me when I'm ready to yank out my hair over some idiotic situation.  Although an acquaintance of mine who works at a "living museum" (think Sturbridge--but not as grand) says sheep can be really stoooopid--and even throw tantrums.  Who knew?

About ten years ago I bought my first orphaned sheep at an estate sale.  Somehow they'd been separated from the other nativity figurines.  I wasn't exactly sure what to do with them until after a trip to Italy, where I got a St. Francis figurine.  Then my little display kind of evolved, including an orphaned lamb. 

Things haven't exactly gotten out of hand, but I do try to pick up as many orphaned nativity sheep as I can find at garage sales and such, and I usually don't pay more than 50 cents for them.  My first ram came from a charity shop in England (a gift from my mother--he's the one with the black horns).  One Christmas my friend Janette even gave me a Cherished Teddy (in a kilt and holding a lamb!) to act as shepherd for my flock. 

I don't think I added anything to my collection for more than a year before these guys showed up just days ago. 

They needed a home...and I'm happy to give it to them.

Merry Christmas--and happy holidays all!

Santa

“The great thing is not to believe in Santa Claus; it is to be Santa Claus.”

-- Pat Boone, American singer

A potent caffeine...

Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age.

~Carrie Latet

A promise of continuity....

“Each of us creates our own special time at Christmas.  We find our special ornaments, hang the mistletoe, and place the star as we have done before.  There is a comforting certainty in the sameness--a promise of continuity.”

-- Lady Bird Johnson, American First Lady

Old fashioned or modern?

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple:  loving others.”

-- Bob Hope, American comedian and actor

Peace and Goodwill?

I do like Christmas on the whole.... In its clumsy way, it does approach Peace and Goodwill. But it is clumsier every year.

~E.M. Forster

In the old days....

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'

~Dave Barry, "Christmas Shopping: A Survivor's Guide"

Homesick at Christmas...

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home."
  ~Carol Nelson

Christmas Wreaths

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles.
~Author Unknown

Worthwhile....

“Christmas makes the rest of the year worthwhile.”

-- Charles Schulz, American cartoonist

Of those that are not here...

“We speak of a Merry Christmas,

And many a Happy New Year;

But each in his heart is thinking

Of those that are not here.”

-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet

How few?

“How many observe Christ’s birthday!  How few, his precepts!  ‘Tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.”

-- Benjamin Franklin, American statesman, scientist, and philosopher

Winter's Chill...

“Heap on more wood!--the wind is chill,

But let it whistle as it will,

We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.”

-- Sir Walter Scott, Scottish poet, novelist, and historian

Mail early!

"Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas."
-- Johnny Carson

All the snow in Alaska...

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it "white".

-- Bing Crosby

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

In winter snows...

Sing hey! Sing hey!

For Christmas Day;

Twine mistletoe and holly.

For a friendship glows

In winter snows,

And so let's all be jolly!

~Author Unknown

A Christmas Candle...

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away.
~Eva Logue

What a blessing...

“What a blessing Christmas is!  What it does for friendship.  Why, if there were no Christmas, we’d have to invent one, for it is the one season of the year when we can lay aside all gnawing worry, indulge in sentiment without censure, assume the carefree faith of childhood, and just plain ‘have fun.”

-- D.D. Monroe

Children at Christmas

“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child himself.”

--  Charles Dickens, English novelist

For the man who has everything...

"The only suitable gift for the man who has everything is your deepest sympathy."

-- Imogene Fey, American writer

Shrimp forks from your dog?

“Adults can take a simple holiday for children and screw it up.  What began as a presentation of simple gifts to delight and surprise children around the Christmas tree has culminated in a woman opening up six shrimp forks from her dog, who drew her name.”
-- Erma Bombeck, American humorist

Christmas is like a thunderstorm...

"A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together."
-- Garrison Keillor, American humorist and author

Gearing Up for Christmas

Well, the NYLA conference was a bit of a bust.  Perhaps next time it'll be a good way to promote my MWA chapter's author's books.  But despite the disappointment, it's time to move on to the next venture.

Wednesday we begin the Dickens Festival at the Craft Antique Co-Op.  This is always a lot of fun.  We, the vendors, get to dress up in "period" costumes (okay some of them are really, really off...but it's all done in fun), Christmasy music plays over the PA, and often we have choirs, strolling musicians, and once or twice we've had bell ringers to entertain our customers.  People are already buying gifts and decorations.  (And I've slipped in a few CDs to the homefront musical repertoire, much to Frank's chagrin.)  If the books hold out, I'll be doing two signings there over Thanksgiving weekend. 

But first I'm gearing up for the Church Mouse Bazaar, which is Saturday, Nov. 18th.  I'll be signing books for Christmas gifts (and I hope to have a fellow local mystery author with me--more later).  This will be the first time I'll be handing out a brochure with the L.L. Bartlett "brand."  It'll feature not only MURDER ON THE MIND and We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert, but it'll have a recipe from one of my characters. 

A recipe?

Yup.  Okay, Jeff doesn't cook, but Sophie does!  :)

Why a recipe?  Because I want people (okay, mostly women--they're the ones who shop at craft shows) to hold onto my brochure.  A lot of people are attracted to books and web sites that include recipes.  A recent thread on one of the lists I read included a poll:  do readers really like these recipes?  Apparently, they do.  And they like to try the recipes, too. 

As an adjunct, I'll be adding recipes to my web site to see if it "lures" people to that page. 

All it'll cost me (this time around) is some paper, a color cartridge (both of which are already paid for) and about a half hour of web time.  Will it help me with name recognition? 

Who knows.  But a big part of the game is to keep trying.

Temporary Treasure

Being in the collectibles business means I get to buy all kinds of wonderful things I love, even if I don't get to keep them.  I especially love OLD stuff.  Stuff I'd have no use for.  Kitschy stuff.  Just plain dumb stuff.

I spent all day yesterday working on inventory for my co-op booth.  I'd been accumulating stuff for three weeks and hadn't gotten around to putting it on the spreadsheet or tagging it.  So it was a marathon day.  Books, Books, BOOKS! Everywhere (and a couple I decided I couldn't part with).  Wind chimes, pictures, glassware, travel kits, a pink and black patent leather purse (it is sooooooo cute!) and Christmas stuff up the wazoo.  I love it all.  But I can't keep it.  Any of it.

Some things I live with for months before I can part with them.  Like "Made In Japan" figurines from the 50s and 60s.  I've got two sitting on my curio cabinet right now, both bought for 50 cents.  One was blind in one eye.  Not to worry, I'm not a doctor, but I write one, and I cured her with a toothpick and a little acrylic black paint. 

Last weekend I bought a distressed plant stand.  Normally I don't buy stuff that needs work (because it'll sit there for a year or two before I get around to fixing it), but this one called to me.  It's got a badly water-stained pine top, and wrought iron legs.  I'm going to repaint the legs and sand the top and toss on a couple of coats of polyurethane and put it down in my pub.  (Yes, we have our own pub down in the basement, and it is not your usual basement bar.  We have brass rails, a 1.5" solid oak bar top, the world's most expensive denim couch, a china cabinet full of Frank's collection of cocktail shakers, and lot of great stuff we've picked up on our travels around the world.  Like a cricket bat we got at a boot sale in Wales; pictures of the Queen (including one Frank took in Toronto), yada yada yada....  (I guess you could call it eclectic decorating.)

I also find it very hard to part with framed pictures.  I love little gold frames and have a bunch of them sitting around, either waiting for something to put in them, or just hanging around because I have no more wall space in my booth.  (They don't always sell that well, but I'm such a sucker....)

The big green tote is filled with stuff to take to the co-op tomorrow.  If I hadn't packed it myself, I'd swear it was full of lead.

I hope I don't get a hernia.