For a surprise he whisked me out of town fri. and wouldn’t tell me where we were going. We spent the day driving and stopped at a few thrift shops and antique stores along the way which of course was great.

After hours of driving however, my back hurt and I was turning into JoAnn, the vintage crabby bitch as soon it was apparent we were in downtown Pittsburgh. I kept thing, “what the hell is in Pittsburgh that he made me spend the day in the car???” I zonked out early and slept like a rock.

The next day I felt better and he informed me we were heading to the Homer McLaughlin Co. to shop the FIESTA WARE outlet!!!!

I didn’t even know this place existed and is the mecca for fiesta ware collectors.

When we got there and I surveyed the emense 2′nds warehouse space I felt weak in the knees and short of breath. THOUSANDS of every color and pattern! It was a beautiful sight.

Then, when I realized the prices, I really got happy- for instance the large size tea pot which retails for about 60 dollars is 15 dollars , a vase is 3 dollars, dinner plates were about 3 dollars, etc.

Rick gave me the budget and we filled the trunk of the car with enough fiesta to start a restaurant!!!

Happy Happy JOY JOY!!!!!

One of the weird things that happened on the trip was at one thrift shop we stopped in I bought a coat for 3 dollars- a Woolrich wool coat in fiesta ware striped colors. I even looked at Rick and remarked,”Look honey, it looks like Fiesta ware !” He still kept the surprise!!!

Well, I guess this is kind of a materialistic post, so sue me, but I am very pleased with my spouse. What a guy!!! What is it with some women and dishes????

LOVE and Christmas Joy to all of you!!!!!!!!!! JoAnn

The weather wasn’t so hot this trip but we still had fun.

During my scaveging on the way there last Sun. I bought an absolutely lovely circa 1890s dress. I have already displayed it in my victorioan parlor on a dress form. I also found some lovely ladies portraits from the same era with ornate frames. I also found a coach purse and several 50s dress to sell on etsy.

I was thrilled with my loot and had to do some picture rearranging today and retire some to the sell pile. Here are a few pictures of the dress, pics, etc.!

Rick power washed all the winter grime from the front porch yesterday. Living on a busy street creates tons of dirt.  I know it’s not officially Spring yet but thats where my head is at and I spent a few hours decorating the front porch and the little backyard seating area under our balcony.

The theme this year for the back garden is red as you can see from the pictures.  Soon my red tulips will be coming up. I plan to plant a lot of red geraniums and petunias in all my containers.  I have all kinds of perrenials and flowering shrubs.

The front garden and porch are pink this year. There are already a lot of pink and purple perrenials out there ready to come up and I will be planting coleus and pink begonias.

Except for a few purchases from the Christmas tree store(they are selling spring things now) I have been gathering things from around the house and collecting things from thrift shops in the past few weeks.   Some of the chair pads are covered in old table cloths and duck taped in back.  This project was all make- do and little money spent.  I look forward to warmer weather when I can add real plants to the porch and fill the hanging baskets and planters.

Happy first day of March tomorrow!

Today I am making the best of it and working on my netbook in my sunroom.  I love this room and it’s probably the main reason I wanted the house in spite of its then run-down condition.  Our victorian house is not very sunny so being able to have plants and light is great. My African grey, McBeth lives in this space and as I write the dogs are snoozing on the wicker sofa. Here are some photos to get you in the spring/gardening mood.

I’ve been without my car this week as it was undergoing major(expensive) repairs. So today I tired of this house arrest and spent a few hours walking about our small town, Red Lion, PA.

Rick and I both grew up in the area but spent over 25 years living  in other states, including MN.,MD.. and Illinois. for Rick’s career.

When we were young we were desperate to leave small town life and experience other places. So we packed up our baby son and were off ! I regret nothing and It was so good for us.  Somehow, after the children were grown we found ourselves drawn back to home.  Life is different when you hit 50 and a slower pace life looked great.  York County is one of the most beautiful areas of the country- when we were young we were too boneheaded to see that.

We ended up in Red Lion because we found an old  Victorian house cheap that was sorely in need of restoration. We bought it from a young couple who had started working on it and we just picked up where they left off.  4 years of work, sweat and every spare cent we are pretty proud of our home. We replaced moldings, installed  antique light fixtures, removed miles of dropped ceilings, repaired plaster, installed a period senstive bath and kitchen, painted miles of walls and trim, outside painting, and created a garden with fish pond.  Tons more to do but that is the nature of reviving a victorian–it’s not just a house, it’s a lifestyle.

The best part is all the great folks we have met, small business owners,and neighbors.  We have been invvolved with local govt.  Like many small towns on the northeast coast  we are a town that struggles. Red Lion was incorporated after the civil war and was extremely successful manufacturing cigars and furniture, up and down the streets you can see the old tobacco factories now made into apt buildings and such.  During those days a lot of money was made and some beautiful homes were built.

That heyday has passed and Red Lion has struggled to find a new idenity. We have a cute main street and many have started businesses. We do have empty store fronts, and are supportive of new businesses. The housing stock is amazing- a virtual treasure trove of Victorian architecture. of all sizes and prices.  Many people have fixed up properties and they are beautiful.  Many more are crying to be saved.  With the housing market crash, all properties are a real buy, if you can afford to invest. There are so many people here who care about the  town and work constantly to improve. it.

I took pictures within a 2 block radious of our house- I live near the square.

My apologies to all the businesses I missed, we have a lot of great places, I also didn’t make it to our great park, library, or high school.  This is just a little overview of our town that I have come to love and consider my forever home at this point.

Julie and I wore vintage outfits of course!  Julie looked adorable in her 50′s red and white cotton dress, red flower in her hair and vintage red bracelet and earrings. I wore a black and white polka dot strapless cotton dress with a red cardigan. I also wore a vintage bracelet. I tried to make my makeup as authentic as possible. The food was various hot sandwiches and fries and there was an open bar.  It felt so good to dress up and go out, we need to do more of that!

The crowd was hoppin’ and the dance floor packed. Very hard for me to dance since my back makes walking difficult but Rick and I did slow dance which made me all giggley. Swoon. The guy has still got it! Rick wore a black and red bowling shirt I got him, Marv  wore a cool Hawaiian shirt, Scott was cute in his bow tie and argyle. Unfortunetly my pic of Andrea and Brooks didn’t turn out!S

Just a quick post to let you know- I cleaned my closet(well- some of it) and put some nice size 10 heels for sale in the web store. All are heels, great condition, some new, not vintage.  LOW PRICES. If you want more then one pair, email me so I can give you an even better deal and the best shipping!

I’m always relieved when the holidays are over and the years starts anew! Even though I’m fighting hibernation mode- I can smell Spring in the distance which gives me the will to live.  Not a wnter person, 20 years living in Mpls. cured me of that.

Well, in between hibernating, eating carbs, talking on the phone, spending hours on facebook, oh yea- working on the website, it is AMAZING the good shopping that has occurred.  The key to this my friends is to have a good natured spouse or friend who will join you on ferreting out new adventures, and I have both!!!  The vintage spouse was in N.C. all last week on business.  So I guess he was feeling magnanamous and took me to the Thomasville Morning star flea market.  It was like a date for old people!

All the good outdoor stuff of course is not there in winter but it still was a good time.  Cream of Crab soup and french fries for brunch.  Food is yummy there, not diet. That is why it is good.  Karens little shop was open and as usual was crammed with the most delectable assortment of vintage girlie goodness you can imagine.  I bought a lovely victorian glove box with an illustration of a lady.

At the antique center  I got lost in the book dealers section and came home with 4 books on hauntings. Whether you believe or not it makes fun late night reading and I’m an imsomniac and live in a big old spooky house! We also stopped at a fav junk store where I unearthed some nice 40′s hat patterns and a few hats.

I thought I was all done hunting and gathering but Mon. morning bright and early Julie calls and says the magic phrase- ya wantta go thrift shopping? Oh twist my arm!  Julie is willing to drive farther then I usually do on my own so it’s a special treat.  Plus the fact that she is obsessed, wacky,and loads of fun. It is a good idea to cultivate friends with mental illnesses compatible with your own tee hee. The last outing I had with her I found a Christian Dior hat in a downtown York junk store plus a 40′s printed table cloth and a box of hats , all for about$9.00!

Off to Lancaster we went, first stop the bin store at Salvation Army. For the die hard thrifter, not the faint of heart.  Cheap but you really got to dig.  We have found some amazing things there though. The score of the day for me was-you’re not going to believe it- a large black leather COACH tote bag/purse in excellent condition!  $1.00!!!!

After sandwiches in the car we hit the regular salvo next door, and then went to a newer mennonite charity run thrift that was HUGE! Found some lovely linens, my fav being a black hostess apron with red appliqued roses.  Lots of fun!

The next day I had to shovel out the disorder in my house that I normally do on mondays.  I even packed up some big bags of purses and shoes I no longer wear for Goodwill.  Like a lot of “vintage” people my house is rather full and if something comes in, it’s a good policy to make sure something goes out.

The rest of the week I puttered around photographing a pile of men’s vintage that will soon appear on the site for sale. Maybe I’ll blog about that also. Also have been reading some vintage books I want to share- another day!!!! Love, JoAnn