Posted by Our Thanksgiving was lovely with my two daughters, husband and myself. We watched the Macy’s parade and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, two of our traditions. After our Thanksgiving meal, where we all ate too much, three of us fell into food comas. I’m naming no names but I was not one of them! When the sleepy heads woke we went for a walk in absolutely perfect fall weather. When darkness fell we split up the leftovers and our girls headed back to their condo. That’s always bittersweet. Every now and then a bit of “empty nest syndrome” still kicks in. (I am fortunate they live just four miles away!)
Here are a few of our homemade Thanksgiving delights. (Two of these were made by my eldest daughter.)
On Black Friday I was intending to go to the early bird sale (starting at 8:00 a.m.) at my neighborhood thrift store and then swing around to a couple of more to see what I could find for my Etsy store. I really was. But when the time came to get ready and go my heart wasn’t in it. I knew the stores would be crowded and hectic and felt like I needed the peace and quiet of home more than I did finding a few items to sell. (Did you go out shopping for Black Friday?)
It was a good choice and gave me the time to putter and start diving into the books my friend Beth dropped off for me a few days ago. Two were on Judaica which I am poring over. I love selling items of faith and Judaica is a favorite and it’s been great learning more.
Sidebar
In 2022 I tagged along on my husband’s biz trip to NYC and while he was tied up in meetings I roamed Manhattan looking for vintage and antique bargains. I did not do well buying that trip, but one store sticks out in my mind. It was a tiny antique store on West Broadway. They had fabulous, interesting items but there were signs everywhere that said “Do Not Touch” and “Do Not Photograph” and price tags were not visible. (It all seemed a bit…hostile.) I asked the young sales clerk to see a silver cup that was locked up and the owner came over, unlocked the cabinet but did not hand the cup to me to examine but held it in his hands like it was the crown jewels. He emphasized that the small cup was sterling silver as he rotated it. I saw the etched Star of David and and said “Oh, it’s a Jewish Kiddush cup.” He replied “I don’t think so.” I replied, “Well there’s the Star of David” and he looked miffed. “Well, do you want it or not?” And honestly I was stunned by his rudeness and condescension and the fact that he wouldn’t even let me touch the cup and frankly didn’t even know what he had. Needless to say I didn’t buy it. Jeez Louise!
But back to the present–on Sunday I popped into my neighborhood thrift store after church as I literally drive past it. Some shelves were darn empty AGAIN and the purses were depleted AGAIN, but their small book section has strangely been providing some winners so I spent time looking there. (I just listed my 1992 Led Zeppelin “Physical Graffiti” songbook and it sold in a day–paid $2.50, sold for $24. Actually books have featured heavily in my last eight sales!!)
Well on Sunday I found this quirky 2005 graphic book, “Pyongyang, a Journey in North Korea”, from Guy Delisle’s experiences working for company in North Korea for two months. I couldn’t leave this behind. This was quirky good and I think I need to read this one.
And I bought this 1970 Paul Masson winery history book but I am not as keen on this one and I think it could take a long time to sell. But it also isn’t widely available for sale online so that’s in its favor from a seller’s standpoint.
As November ended, I realized I was thankful for so many things in my life and included in that mix was my little vintage biz and blog and all the people I’ve gotten to know because of it. Thank you.
Gratefully,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 