Just no luck

While vacationning in New England , we took Newhampshire's route 4 AKA Antique Alley.

The way I had read about it was...that there was an avanlanche, no an ORGY of flea markets and antique malls......

And I couldn't wait to visit.....

We only stopped at 1 mall, mall is stretching the truth, even gilding the lily....The mall was okay, but it was regular sized, and kinda of boring.

Let's face it I prefer utilitarian objects from the turn of the century up until the 70's, the place didn't have a lot...

Mostly tchatskies....and ornate victorian knickknacks.....

We passed on half a dozen of Antique and Gift shops.....which are even less my thing....and they are the same shops I LOOOOVED when I was a child.

But not this time. So that was it for UN Antique Alley!

I also visited 3 other thrifts....

                                          I wanted to bring this red Dansk baking dish home with me

but it had a big ding on the other side

 This thrift shop is in York, Maine

it is spotless and full of treasures...

 I don't really get the mushrooms motif but it is fitting if you live

near the forrest!

 not appetizing....

 One of my classic's

 I did spot this Pyrex bottle

 But somehow my heart was not in it....

I also visited the Portsmouth, NH Goodwill.

I did not bother to take pictures....

I was pretty bummed out!

But my frown was turned into a big ol'smile with

this big bowl of Goldenrod's clam chowder!

So delicious!

YUM YUM YUM

We were quite good in Maine....foodwise!

We decided not to spend all our $$$ (hard earned, thank you) on restaurants and grocery shop instead.

But we still went to restaurants....just a bit.

                                We got to Maine by the way of Portsmouth NH. We were famished!
                                I think the restaurant's name is Surf.
                                I had only fish and seafood.

                               Of course you realize the pic distortion came from the screen....
                               

I had the crab cakes

Truly delicious but in my opinion way too small as a luncheon portion.

 

Dan had a huge fish burrito

and thank god was generous or else I would've starved on the side of the road!

 

As much as I wanted to stay and write I was gently reminded that I'm past my bedtime and that I have a big day tomorrow (If you ask me all days are big lately)

 

Night, night! 

 

All Shopped OUT? NO WAY!

Today was way too cold for a dip ( I find I'm either too hot or too cold) so we headed north for some shopping.

We needed sneakers and affordable sneakers because in Montreal good quality sneakers are at least 120$ and up. So we were able to buy 2 pairs  for the price of 1 SWEET!

We stopped at Marshall's, it was our first visit but certainly not our last! I found some really cute leopard flats (aerosoles) for a bargain....

And on the way to Portsmouth we spotted a thrift shop! SAY WHAT? STOP THE CAR! Holly Pyrex!

I found a nice Early American 045 with lid for a song! And a paper back because I don't bring my ebook on the beach...no way jose!

More on Portsmouth in another post...Signs of the times...I guess.

Over in Kittery, one of Maine's outlet shopping mecca....well let's face it; we always go to the same places....Crate and Barrel, Yankee Candle....and usually Bass shoes but not this time. No Bass shoes, until next time.

I totally freaked out in Yankee candle because of the Samps & Tarts Palooza! All samps and tarts a buck each! We were siffing for what seemed for ever! I was able to fill one of their sample trays (12). And we even got a free preview winter smell votive.

We stopped for lunch at Bob's Clam Hut (it was featured in triple D and we visited in February 2011). the place was so crowded it was scary! But we were able to snag the last parking place and got served really fast. It was delicious! Lillian's fried clams, one clam chowder and one fish chowder, yummers!

We shopped a bit after that but let's face it we need coffee and to go back to the condo. Well, well what do you know? We found a Goodwill and a brand spanking new Salvation Army right one rte 1!

I'll show you the finds another day because now I'm just too tired, I'm in my pj's, sipping a cold one and watching Man vs Food.

We will be getting dressed in about 15 to head out to Rye for a prize winning foot long lobster roll! I can't wait to see it!

Later my friends  

New Toaster

Well not really new....But never been used! Not vintage either....

My Dad gave it to me one Xmas maybe 4 years ago...And it so did not go with my kitchen then...But now with the kitchen all spruced up...It was the perfect time to take it out of storage!

Isn't it delicious???? You need to have a BIG personality to pull off that toaster...Yesssss siree bob!


It is really cute with the white cupboards and dark grey counter tops and the pale green walls....YUM! I'll have another slice!

So I cleaned the older one (I actually removed a cup of crumbs from the other one...Which is a testament to how I'm no suzie homemaker!) and I'll put it in storage...with the other 2 toasters...I Just realized I have 4 toasters in the house!

I have a chrome vintage one from my mother in law (kinda roundish) it works but I need to find someone who would give it a tune up....I have the one my mother gave me when I took my first appartement ( a chrome one with 2 doors, that you have to uplug after every toast) the crumbmeister ( a TFal one, not vintage at all) and the pink one (that came from Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts).

A note on my first toaster, this is truly a confession....I was very OCD-ish in my childhood and into my 20's (was never treated, I kept my rituals to myself) and after toasting my bread I unplugged the toaster. I got ready for work, left for work and would start FREAKING OUT, that the toaster was still plugged in and would catch fire and would burn everything to the ground!!!

So I would run back home (a block or more) run into the apartement to find that the toaster was in fact unplugged. Leave again, check 10 times if the door was locked and arrive to work late.


Come to think of it I should have put the toaster cord in my hadbag..so I would know for sure that it was unplugged!!!

I had a ritual for the alarm clock, the kleenex under my pillow, the front door, the toaster. They all went away eventually all by themselves (Thank God) as I got older and more confident. I guess I channeled my craziness somewhere else!




On to other subjects! I took a pic of my new flag, which goes perfectly with my seaside love.

I got it near Portsmouth NH. We installed the pole last Sunday (the pole I've had quite a while but I only have a winter flag..)

Everytime I look at it, it makes me smile and think : This is my home, this is where I belong.

I went to the church basement this morning and the pickings were slim! I found one pair of vintage pillowcases and a really cute hanky!
They have new volonteers at the church basement and I'm not too crazy about her, she looks at me suspiciously...and she charges too much! LOL

Until next time....Keep thrifting! :)