Thrift stores...........

I am down to just keeping this blog active for now. I seldom have time and not too many follow my blogs anyway. So for now my garden and pretty things will be incorporated into this one blog. I need to find the money to get it printed out again, probably 3 more books as too much now to make into one.............then again I wonder if it's worth the expense.
So this subject is thrift stores. I do know there is often bad press about such things. CEOs getting paid a lot from things given freely. What I do know is this. The Women's Recourse center does a lot of good in our community. At least two of my granddaughters found help there when they most needed direction, counseling and advice as to where to get legal help, medical help and so on. So if by buying things I enjoy and knowing at least half of what I pay goes to help others then so be it. I know they provide meals, coffee and support to those who need it on a daily basis.
I go there every now and then. We have many others in our town some church run. What I have found though is at least one that I used to go to regular has since becoming popular so have put up the prices. I don't go along with that, I buy things I don't need because I like them, not because I have a need for them and consider it a donation of sorts. I won't be taken advantage of though, if I can buy the same thing in the store why would I spend my money on a used item?
well, in our travels I became fond of The Samaritans closet in Lake Leelanau. I would often find some bargains there and that's the fun part. They recently moved to a new location and its now much bigger and very pleasant so when we go through the town I often stop as I did this week.
Here are some of my finds.




I need more plates like a hole in the head but, well these two will fit in very nice in the blue bedroom downstairs. I had plates with bluebirds on but Cooper broke a couple, these will replace those. I also found others that at this point I have no idea what I will do with them but at one dollar each, how could I resist? Pretty sure they will find a place


Looks hand painted

I also found this nice little cheese keeper but will use for something else no doubt and some fake flowers that I will use somewhere too. Under those is a pair of jeans I got at the same time.


The best deal was a painting for 7 dollars that will go really well in the blue room. I loved it.


The jeans were 4 dollars and I could have got another pair half off but I only saw that one, they are stretch and will fit like leggins, ideal for wear with a long sweater and boots when I go adventuring. The rest of the things were a dollar a piece so how could I go wrong.
I was going to paint some pictures for the blue room but well, as I never seem to get down to it this will do for now. At least the walls will now be full again.
So if you can get what you want from thrift stores no one will put me off. I may not need any of it but my house is full of things I enjoy and have not paid a fortune for.

Sunny days.......

Finally I got to go out, a frustrating week ended on a pretty Friday. Gerry didn't want to go out on the other couple of days that were decent. I have really enjoyed this winter, being able to get out has made a big difference. I LIKE the cold. This day was crispy to say the least and even I got cold at some points. The wildlife stayed in the warmth of the woods so sightings were rare to nil. First off we went down to the Bay because we saw on the news that the wildfowl were "rafting" I believe that's what its called.


I couldn't get a close up but it was good to see it. I didn't fancy getting out of the car yet, hair still wet from the shower. We took Cherry Bend to avoid traffic, stopped by Cedar Lake to see if anyone was about but nothing but tracks, it was pretty though. Birds singing in the trees but I could not see them.

I wasn't sure where I wanted to go but we decided to avoid Suttons Bay in favour of cutting over on Otto Rd to Lake Leelanau. Lots of beautiful old barns along the way. It was surprisingly warm in the sun. I could only see from a distance but could just see fishing shanties on the frozen lake Leelanau.


When we got into Lake Leelanau Gerry suggested I go check out the Samaritans Closet. I was not going to but hey, if he suggests it why not. Of course I found goodies there and will do a separate blog on that subject. After that we went down by the river, the narrows where the two parts of the Lake join up





A few Mallards and other "ducks" hanging out there. The white headed one is a "Bufflehead" the brown tufted head is a Common Merganser. I believe there were also some Goldeneye, hard to tell at a distance.



All this time I had been pretty warm, but when we got to Leland to explore the beach there. OMGoodness, I froze my fingers off. The wind was howling in and even though I put on my hat and gloves I froze. I hardly ever feel the cold but ooooh boy too cold for me



We stopped to see the progress in Fish Town. The cheese shanty is back in place and the men still working on it. The waves breaking over the wall at the harbour and wind froze my face on the other side by the river it was warm again







Heading back then towards Glen arbor after getting coffee at Trishes Dishes we started off
We went down to Bohemian Rd to check that beach all so pretty and again warm on that side out of the wind can you see the snowballs? In Leland they were ice balls, here not quite so frozen. I was looking for the stranger phenomenons we get along the shorelines in winter. One being snow volcano's that is when the waves hollow out holes in the ice and the "surf" washes up through the hole..........didn't see any, or ice pancakes that day.



On the way to Pt Oneida we did see some deer but the pictures didn't show them very well. They were eating under and apple tree and were by then back under the pines, still we did get to visit until they took off, about six of them, most of the places we stop were not accessible so we headed for Glen Haven, passing through Glen Arbor and watching the progress on the old mill and house. Coming along nicely. Laura and I went inside the house one day as we were adventuring, it looks as thought they have stripped it down to nothing almost. I wonder what they will do with it all. Next to Glen Haven, we saw deer feeding in someones garden but had gone by before we could get pictures. Ducks again on the water at Glen Haven, they must come into the Bays to avoid the wind, must have really cold bums but that didn't stop them diving. I didn't linger because it was really windy by then.




Headed to Empire next past the Dunes where no one was out adventuring that I could see.


No deer to be seen, all in the woods no doubt. The waves and wind were fierce and everything covered in ice. Incredibly beautiful. I stood trying to get pictures buffeted by the wind Two ladies behind me holding on to each other trying to stand on the ice and enjoy the view and laughing, I said "A bit nippy isn't it" They said "yes rather brisk".....as they tried to turn in tandem holding each other up in the gale force winds,






My face froze but it was just so lovely. We took a back road on the way home and by then the snow was drifting over the roads. Part melted from the sun and drifting from the wind it promised some bad roads that night when temps dropped again. Lots of black ice.


Back home and safe I didn't have to worry about supper because left over Taco's and we were ready for it. The poodles happy to see us as always make for a warm welcome.

A new direction.........................

Well maybe not a new direction but a change of direction. We started off heading for Elk Rapids. It had been sunny but the sky was still a dull grey. It was hopeful for a short time but didn't come through for us. Heading north to Elk Rapids my camera was just not being cooperative, I have ordered a new cheap one. We shall see how that goes.

The metal sculptures are at The Twisted Fish Gallery in ELk Rapids. Can't wait to visit and see all the new ones in their lovely gardens.....



Can you see the ducks? well I caught up with them on the river in Elk Rapids. I would say a Gaggle of geese but they are Mallards.


What a load of cold bums.......they are sitting on ice. As I stood there were more coming in. One loan seagull on the bank finally joined them on the water. I took a whole bunch of pictures but apparently they didn't come out too well. A whole flock came down while I was standing there so I hoped I got some good pictures but I didn't. It was freezing too. Maybe my camera's didn't like the cold.


We went down by the harbour but none of my pictures were of much good. The ice pancakes were just forming but didn't show up well.




We took the road E Torch Lake dr that wound around the other side of Torch Lake. We saw several deer but I couldn't get pictures. I also saw a Pileated Woodpecker but there was a car behind us so we couldn't stop. It would have been a really good shot too. We stopped to get some coffee and this handsome chap watched us.

Well it was a change of scene but without a reliable camera a bit of a disappointment, especially missing the deer and woodpecker but hey ho. It was better than sitting home and cleaning the bedrooms which is what I would have done haha. Well maybe next time it will be better weather, we certainly saw the deer. Tt would be better with a blue sky also. Sort of sick of the drab grey white sky, makes my pictures dark. Not sure when our next outing will be. Friday we are taking Debbie to lunch and some hobby lobby exploring. Hoped to have Tristen at the weekend but that remains to be seen.