Shopping!!!!

Saturday was the day. No not black Friday early morning, nor even Saturday early morning, department or discount stores.  Nope, not this trip. 

My sister-in-law had it all planned and I was chosen as her shopping partner for the day.  No way out.  Part family tradition, part curiosity pushed me forward.  I didn't want out.

Friday night, even though my husband and I had retired before most everyone else in the house, it was late.  Pulling myself out of my brother and sister-in-law's ultra comfy guest bed Saturday morning was maybe the hardest thing I did all day.  Finally, I did manage to roll out, half an hour after my husband; when the aroma of his espresso drifted up the stairs. 

Not knowing what kind of weather was predicted, but guessing it might be a little of everything this time of year, I dressed in layers.  Friday was a craft fair shopping day and good training.  Layers had been a good choice Friday; likely it would be right for Saturday's shop-a-thon as well.  Matching layers were a little bit of a problem, but I decided not to let that trouble me.  The day's search for great deals was much more important than the fact that I'd be wearing light blue, dark blue, and brown together.

A bit of make up to make me look alive and a few curls with the curling iron and I was off to meet my sister-in-law in the kitchen.

We each nibbled on our favorite left over dessert and drank hot coffee.  We needed to super charge our bodies for the work at hand.  We were pumped; ready for the hunt.  We kissed our men good bye, because, I mean after, they gave us some cash and we headed out.

The first stop was an art, craft and gift shop to look at dolls.  My sister-in-law had spied them on a previous trip and wanted my consult on this important matter.  She and I entered the fragrant shop.  It was beautiful and exciting.  We found a two foot doll in the first display.  She had pink sponge curlers in her hair; was dressed in a gown with matching robe which had large pink flowers and pink feathery trim, and feather trimmed pink slippers!  She was fun.  Should she be the one to accompany us back to my sister-in-law's abode? 

Next we found two other dolls, similar to the first one but dressed "to the nines", as the saying goes.  They had fur jackets, much finery, jewelry, stockings, high healed shoes and ATTITUDE!  One was in light browns and reds, and the other was outfitted in darker browns and maroons.  The later was ultimately the lady who tickled us the most.  She will reside in the half bath on the main floor of my brother's house, where she'll have a couple of friends, one, a cat woman and where she'll fit in perfectly.

The other half of that building was a bakery.  Yum.  They were selling chocolate chip pumpkin bread, orange cranberry bread, and many other wonderfully aromatic breads, cookies and scones.  The young woman there cut me a sample piece of orange cranberry bread big enough for a meal!  It was wonderful.  Along with these beautiful baked goods the shop was selling "homemade" jams and jellies.  We bought the pumpkin and chocolate chip bread and a jar of strawberry/rhubarb jam.  Our men were not upset when we unloaded those purchases later that day.

The next stop on this Saturday shop-'til-we-dropped adventure was a smaller-than-Friday's craft fair, but a big-enough craft fair.  It had many very creative jewelers.  Jewelry doesn't usually excite me as much as other art or crafts but this jewelry was impressive.  There were crafters making beautiful art from sea shells, ladies sewing bags, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, mittens which allow the fingers to be freed if need be, and many more amazing craft and art creators with their creations.  Regrettably we found no treasures to take home from this craft fair.  I did however, take ideas which will make my bags better.

Our next stop was, lunch at "Five Guys", a burger and fries place, and that's just about all they serve.  We had burgers.  Our men happened to pick the same place for lunch and so they shared their fries.  Satisfying and filling and nice to sit down and relax.  We kissed these two guys goodbye again and continued our day.

Our final stop was the biggest; I mean the absolute biggest, thrift shop ever.  The name on the outside was, "Unique".  At the front of the building there were half a dozen small vendor shops.  They were on the order of an indoor swap meet.  My sister-in-law rushed me past these, saying "Don't stop here, we want to go on in."

As we rounded the corner my mouth dropped open and I caught my breath.  A thrift store shoppers dream come true was laid out before me!

There were at least half a dozen rows of dishes, home decor, pots, pans, come-in-handys and etc.  After that there were as many rows of bed spreads, curtains, rugs, sheets, shower curtains and etc.  Then, there were rows and rows of clothes.  The last row along the far wall was men's ties, men's and ladies shoes and more.
There were rows of Christmas decorations, sewing supplies including some cloth, furniture, appliances and many items I didn't even get to walk past.

We began on one side going up and down searching for whatever we could find.  First thing, my shopping guide found a piece to match her unique kitchen ceramics.  It was a piece worth about four times the thrift store price, and there were no chips or defects; a treasure of a find.  I found place mats to use for making bags. 

We continued on and nothing got past our eagle eyes.  The items in a thrift store always bring back memories, some warming, some chilling and some funny.  There was a little baking dish just like a set my husband and I bought from a man selling them out of a panel truck back in the 70s, it was marked $8.48.  Another shopper showed it to us and we all had a good laugh.  The item was sold in a set of eight I think for less than that.  It had to be mis-marked, didn't it?

I try really hard not to give in to "old arthur" but he got the best of me Saturday afternoon.  While my shopping partner continued her searching, I tested a chair with a metal frame and cushioned seat.  It was very comfy, and if I'd had a place for it I'd have spent the $3.42 to buy the chair. 

While resting I watched people.  This shop is near our nations capital.  There are people from every country on the earth in that area, and I think they were all represented.  But, the only differences were skin color and style of clothing.  There were no other differences.  Everyone shopped the same way, intently looking things over, trying them on, examining them, asking their companion shoppers what they think; all of them, picking up toys for thier children and enjoying the hunt.

After about five hours and another walk-by the dishes and decor items to see what had been set out while we were looking on the other side of the building, we made our way to the check outs.  We were each happy with our finds.  On the second walk-by of the dishes she found a set of beautiful pink glass tumblers and a few other things.  I left with a large stack of new and slightly used cloth for making bags, a bag of buttons for them, Christmas ribbons, a large bag of beads, an espresso pot for my husband and a few other things.  Great stuff.

We were surprised to find it was dark outside when we left.  It was sad, the thrift store shopping was over.  Neither of us talked very much on our ride home.  We were exhausted, hungry and wondering how angry our men might be if they were allowed to see all the day's finds. 

I asked, "Well, did you get your Thanksgiving shopping fix?"

"I guess so." she said dully.

"What?! Well just what would it take?" I asked, loudly.

"I don't know!" she laughed.

I laughed too but really, I think she could shop seven days a week!
**********************
Unique Thrift Store

Falls Church, VA
Benefits veterans.