The nights are definitely cooler, and getting longer by the minute each day. Weather predicted to be hotting up all this coming week though, so we've still got plenty of summer left, even as I'm having to find warmer jammies to sleep in.
Today we hit a few yard and estate sales. Happy to pick up a second air purifier for a couple bucks. Himself used his compressor to clean up the HEPA filter, and has it in his bedroom now I think. May help his breathing/sleeping this winter. I also bought a bunch of larger planters for a fiver...about $50 worth...a real coup. I will use some of them to plant veggies in next year, if we're still here. There is one very artsy looking planter/saucer I'll repot my shamrock in, as the old pot is really past its prime. The shammies will appreciate the attention I'm sure. There is also one massive decorative terracotta pot that is very attractive. I'll use it for some pretty outdoor plant next year. The large pots are so pricey new, and it seems nobody turns them loose until they die. The two estate sales we went to today were across the street from each other...a widow and her neighbor, an old widower had recently passed away at the same time I guess. They were related somehow so the families got together for a joint sale. The woman had collected antiques and there was an outbuilding expressly used to display her stuffed animal collection and countless other knicknacks. I bought a glass bird there and gazed on the large array of Teddy bears. Probably several thousand dollars worth, all brand, spanking new, untouched by a child's hand. It made me rather sad.
I wonder at the point of gathering all those things over a lifetime. Do the collectors believe that a relative will treasure them...perhaps pass them down? I can't count the estate sales I've gone to where the descendents can't WAIT to get shed of their familial obligation to peddle off grandma's beloved china, silver, glassware and 'miscellaneous junque'. The only thing the relatives stubbornly cling to it seems, is real estate and grandma's good jewelry.
On the other side of the street the old man's considerable horde of "boy toys" brought out the bargain hunters by the carload. Himself picked up numerous items he wants for his collection of dusty ol' junk, before we both left happy. I suppose it won't be long before we see 'For Sale' signs on the lawns of both houses.
Estate sales are depressing to me as a rule. I like the sales where the folks just decide to try and make a little money off the crap they bought at sales and found they really didn't need. I get a particular kick out of seeing something for sale that I used to own. It makes me giggle when I see something I KNOW the value of because I bought it once myself, and know what I sold it for at the end of its usefulness to me. It doesn't happen often, but it's always a laugh.
Once in a local shop here I saw two brown pottery glasses, fashioned like carved Polynesian warrior shields. They were advertised as antiques ("perhaps Aztec?") GAWD...we had got them in Sparks, Nevada at Trader Dick's in John Ascuaga's Nugget in the late 70's; I wound up using the souvenir glasses as containers for forcing avocado seeds to sprout! The lime deposit from years of use was clearly etched on the inner rim of both vessels, yet here was a retailer palming them off as valuable items worth as I recall, $7.50 apiece! I had sold them for a quarter each...after getting them free for buying some dopey drink in a casino bar. I nearly lost my composure that day.
Anyway...not much excitement to report. Other than that the DHL people who were to deliver my new Dell Laptop apparently have lost said machine. The mouse came last Tuesday while I was gone from the house, and I assumed the laptop would arrive the next day after I checked the tracking number on the computer site. When it didn't come a call went to the DHL folks, who are at a loss to explain what could have happened. The package arrived in Spokane, and from there they don't know whatever could have befallen the thing. I was told today they will call me on Monday. We'll be in 'town' that day at the VA clinic for Himself's latest checkup. Tuesday I'll be going south on a cigarette run.
I'm off to snuggle under my feather duvet. It's 52F, and my legs are getting cold.
Sighhh.
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