Merry Xmas!

First of all, I want to wish the merriest and brightest Xmas ever to you and all your loved ones.

Isn

Like baking gingerbread....and wrapping presents..... 

 Under the watchful eye of the blowmolds....

And I was able to put the finishing touches on my 'buffet'.

I also took the time to reflect on 2016.

This was an extremely difficult year.

As many of you know my father passed in last January.

There was a lot of sorrow, tears and uncertainty.

But there was a lot of joy and laughter as well....

 I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I am very 

resilient, I might stumble but I will get back up stronger than ever.

What's planned for today?

longing in our pjs, watching tv and eating leftovers.....

Have a great day everyone!

Sooooo Cool!

Just a quick post!

there is a wee park near my house....

Last week as I'm walking by I see this..... 

 Did Santa actually park his sleight here?

Well, maybe not because there was only 1 reindeer!

and some wind chimes, lovely but not ALL THE REINDEERS!

I'll be on the lookout for them and Santa as well!

Sleep tight!

Christmas Flea Market

Sunday December 4th there was a christmas flea market held in church basement not too far from my house.

I saw great displays!

 Every glassware fanatic will swoon over this pic!

 Must buy vintage brooch !

 The huge fur boa really reminds me of my mother

 Super cute display!

 I am thinking I should start collecting piggy banks!!!

 Or maybe Tiki glasses and cups!

 I wish I had room to bring all these treasures home!

Lovely Barware! 

I picked up this little guy. He's seen a lot of Christmases!

He's missing some paint but he still lights up and he is CUTE!

I will leave you with this picture of vintage and antique

ornaments that belonged to Dad.

Have a great day!

Hope to blog soon!

Thrifting

2014 was the suckyest thrifting year for little old me. There were no BIG finds and in a way that is fine since I decided to put the store on hiatus.

But I love a day where all the thrifting stars align and you find good stuff! You just need to appear and pouf! Thrifting magic!

So that’s just what happened on Saturday….We took a small roadtrip to drop a box of donation at the Value Village in Cornwall and cross the bridge for some U.S. groceries….

But our first stop was Michael’s for a Xmas Peanuts flag…I lost mine to a windstorm 2 christmasses ago….I have no idea why they don’t carry seasonal flags , they have Friends and Welcome but no Christmassy joy (SUPER DOUBLE BUMMER)

So back in the car and on to Value Village…I drop my box and went in not expecting much…There was a lot of gooood stuff

But especially a vintage Xmas tree stand new in a box from Zellers. We had the same one , until it rusted out and died and we bought a big ass Xmas tree stand that is super ugly nut the tree never tips over…My step daughter wanted one for a small tree and the price was right at $2.00 ($3.99 minus 50% off).

I also grabbed one of those mixed bags for $1.99 and I was thrilled to find this mini pitcher (creamer) that had been on my thrift bucket list for many years, ever since I bought its big bro in a church basement in Moncton NB…That takes us back to 1988 !

There were 2 other knickknacks that will re-enter the wheel of thrifting pretty soon….

 

 

We also stopped at the Salvation Army and I wa lucky enough to find this

Vintage exterior light set , new in the box for $2.00

 

 

I will use it to replace one of my sets that is cracking under the weather strain.

 

Last but certainl not least...

This is a blowmold vignette that Dan set up for me.

 

It fills me up with JOY!!!

 

                                  I'm off to watch TV because I need to get off my feet. I just came out of
                                 a Xmas cooking marathon! I made cranberry orange bread, cranberry fudge, mini cheese balls and Pfeffernusse dough (I will bake the cookies tomorrow as they taste better the same day).

Tomorrow I will cook the turkey, stuffing and Monte Carlo potatoes....Good times!

You just never know

Saturday was the most amazing day!

We got up early and finished the Xmas lights outside, in minus 20 Celsius, this is quite an achievement....

Then we brought the Xmas tree from the basement, and installed it (still not finished but working on it).

Later that day we had a line dancing party and on our way, it was still quite early, we spotted a thrift shop (squeals of joy)

I found this cutie pie...

                                             I had never seen one like this before. I plan to group
                                            Santa blowmolds in a gaggle or clodder.
                                             Now what do you call a group of Santas???

                                At the party I won this HUGE fruit basket!

                                 I gave some to a friend but I am still struggling with finding uses for all this fruit!

There will be cinamon apples and pear compote! NICE

Have a great night and stay warm!!!

Winterish

I had a study day today to study and prepare for an insurance exam.

I was up at the crack of dawn (as usual) to prepare for Dan's day and my own. Hey I figure if Dan's morning goes smoothly, then I can go on with my business!

So at 6:30 am I was sitting in front of the computer ready to learn......I learned a lot of things relevant to my job....But it seemed to go on forever!

I took a break to walk....walk to my fave wednesday morning destination!

The church basement!

                                As you can see it is Winter here. We have snow ad the river is
                                starting to freeze

                                The air was so crisp and delicious!

 

I saw this tackylicous vintage carpet on a very un-vintage house.

And I thought of my friend Josée who got something similar in a job gift exchange.

 

I couldn't get closer because there was a car in the driveway and a lady in the kitchen!

 

The Xmas table in the church basement was pathetic.....

 

But there's always next time!  

Accidental Thrifting

Once a year I have a lung doctor appointment in the east of Montreal. I'm not saying the East End because it is an entirely different neighbourhood.

So I leave work early and decide to get off at the Beaudry Metro station (one stop earlier) and walk.

I was in for qute a shock! I found the area so dingy, sad, poor,desperate....I used to work in the vicinity in the late 80's.

It is known as the Gay Village and was, when I worked there. Now I understand the need to gather with same interest people but I can't understand the need to live in such depressing streets and why the area is so rundown!

It is as if nobody cares! 1 in 3 stores or restaurant are for rent or for sale and the residential building are oh so sad....

Well in all my walking and interior rambling I got lost....and making my way back to the hospital....

I saw a thrift shop, a st vinny ; which we don't really have a lot of in Montreal.

So I went in and conquered!

 
                               Will you take me home with you? For supper? Of course!

                                             Now Santa is a bit tired of riding in the bus...

                                             Santa is not so sure he likes public transit!

I also found a 1970's plastic Xmas village. It is now in my office and I will post pictures when it is all set up.

So dream peaceful, dream big my faithful friends and readers! Remember I am making lists and I am checking them twice! 

Thrifted! I love surprise thrifting!

Really! Who doesn't?

So last Friday on our way to my official B-Day dinner, I stopped at my usual thrift joint...

I was happy that the bag check lady was not at her post...the locals were calm and smooth....

And I found these gems!

                                               oooooohhhhhh! Amazing blowmold action!

                                              Who knew Santa had blue eyes??? Not me!

                                           

Le Creuset escargot dishes. I see quite a lot of scratched and used

Le Creuset but usually  escargot dishes are spotless because let's face it

people don't serve snails that often.

 

and finally a Pyrex 2 cups glass measuring cup. I had a Fireking one that

cracked and died not so long ago, so cool buy for a buck.

 

I hope to post again soon about my B-Day supper....

Culinary heaven. 

Santa Off Season

Well I finally cracked a timeless mystery....

What does Santa do in the off season?

Get plastered of course!

I caught a glimpse (or 2) in my backyard last week...

You got caught with your pants down! 

                                            No wonder you're smiling! What will Mrs. Claus think!

                             Have a great weekend friends, I hope to bring back great tales, fantastic pictures and amazing deals as I am going on a mini roadtrip :)

Xmas Lights

Time flew right by me and we are December 20th already???

I did some decorating but not as much as I wanted...

 

This is one of my interior vignettes...

The house on the left is really a box of tissues.

The Santa left for a new home and I replaced it with my snowman blowmold.

 

The snow fellas are hanging out with Santa...

 

The penguins are checking up on Robbie the reindeer.

 

In the backyard another Santa and his snowman friend are

keeping watch on the shade garden.

 

Can you tell I love snowmen?

 

The tree has been up since December 9th and it is still unfinished!

 People at work keep asking me if I'm ready for Xmas?

 

Who is?

 

Not me! It doesn't matter because I will be with loved ones and we will have fun whether  the turkey

is dry, the jell-o mold collapses or we run out of chips!

 

I'm off to bed because Bandito was signing all last night and I didn't sleep a wink!

 

 

 

We got.....

WE GOT STEPS! WE GOT STEPS! WE GOT STEPS!

I kept repeating : I have a balcony like a fool.

It's not finished yet but it is a HUGE improvement!

                                Our very own new steps

                                Bandito is checking if every thing is up to code!

Before the wood was touching the soil...not anymore!

NICE!

 

I love that railling

 

I can't wait to decorate it for Xmas

 

Speaking of Xmas....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not bad eh?

 

The stockings will go in the store as well as the ornements, Santa will be taking

the train next week because I will bring him to work with me to infuse me and my

coworkers with seasonal joy!

 

Gotta go, I'm off to make sure my balcony is still there! LOL

 

 

 

 

On Blowmolds....

Well everybody in the know....is aware that Xmas in July is nearly upon us.

Here in Quebec ,and I have no idea why it is called Noel des Campeurs (Camper's Xmas). And let me tell you it is a big party if you happen to be in a Québec camping ground!

What is my favorite Xmas decoration besides the tree? Blowmolds of course!

So I wanted to share some pictures....

OOOOOOHHHHH MAMMA ! I WANT ME SOME XMAS NOW!

I want to find another snowman like the one above for my personal collection! It is SSSSOOOOOO

CCCCUUUUTTTTEEE!

Gotta go!

Hope this pics helped you stay cool in that crazy heat!

Night night :)