Posted by I was hoping to make a few exciting vintage scores on my Tennessee trip to share with you. That’s what this blog is about! But three antique stores and two thrift stores later and all I’ve got to show for it is a nice leather Nine West mini back pack and my vintage tin noisemaker.
But despite the dearth of local finds, I’ve had time to do a little online sourcing and ended up buying an older (likely circa1930s/40s) sterling silver charm bracelet with interesting charms.
And this 1960s, mostly rhodium-plated sterling silver charm bracelet.
So I’ll have a few things arriving in the mail when I get back. I “paid up” for these, but it’s an area where I have some knowledge and know when I can pay more.
But back at one of the local Tennessee thrift stores I wanted to buy this intriguing brass candleholder. Alas it was marked $49! Yowee. Some were listed online for over $100, but a couple on Etsy had only sold for $60-$70. Could I sell it for more than that? Maybe, but it was not a gamble I was willing to take.
But of course the real treasure is getting to spend time with my brother and dad. We’ve had lots of good conversations, good food and good wine. My bro treated me to wines from one of our favorite New York wineries (Chateau Niagara) that doesn’t deliver to California yet.
Sadly the hard reality is that at my dad’s age and health this could be the last time I see him. Hopefully not, but it’s given this trip a poignant edge. For the next few days I’ll be taking care of him and the house while my brother gets a few days of well deserved time off from caretaking at a nearby AirBnB in the mountains.
Wishing you happy hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 
What a lovely picture of your dad!
It’s hard to make peace with the idea of our beloved parents nearing death, but this is the circle of life. So we ought to make the best of the time we have together.
❤
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Thanks Gabriella. Death is indeed part of the circle of life!
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Reminisce with your dad. You may learn some new stories. Ask questions, and listen, so you can pass them on to your girls. Share things about your life. Tell him things you want him to know. Enjoy your time together. I wish I could ask my mom more questions and share some more good times.
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Thanks Fonda. I try to do that every time I see him. 😊
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That’s nice you can spend time with your dad, and give your brother his deserved time off. Caregiving can be exhausting. I only went to my mothers 12 miles from home daily to take care of her needs, and there were days I didn’t want to. Such a nice photo, and what a nice watermelon!
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Hi Lisa. My brother definitely needed a few days by himself. It’s so hard providing any real help being so far away. Did you have any help??
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No. I have two brothers, but I lived closest. Not a lot closer, so they could have helped out! None of us worked at the time. It often falls on the daughters. The worst was when she came home from the hospital with an IV, I guess. A nurse came once a week to change it in her arm, but I had to daily flush it, and I hate that sort of thing! Fortunately, that was only for a few weeks.
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