Waist Deep in Toys!

I'm trying to inventory as fast as I can! So many awesome toys and children's items from the collection we just purchased. I have a grand idea for display at the shop and can't wait to share it! It's going to take some time, but the wait will be worth it! Keep checking.!!!!

Lots of work to do! Inventory is not a fun job! After that tedious task, then the fun begins. Until next time,
Pam

Toy--Toys--Toys--A Huge Collection

Well, this is a sampling of the toy collection we picked up today. What a day, if there are 100 toys....there are 1,000. It will take a bit of time to inventory it all. What a treasure! Shelf after shelf after shelf.

Of course nothing goes smooth for me. We were across the river about 30 minutes from home, got loaded up, and my car wouldn't start. I mean it was dead. No notice. Just dead. So.....we had to have it towed home. Just what I didn't want to spend money on. But no choice. Luckily, Gary was there in his truck so at least I had a ride. I don't know if you have ever seen an SUV being loaded up to towing. I have a Yukon XL and it was full. Normally 4 wheel drives have to be put on a flat bed and it is turned half way up to load. I could see all of this stuff going everywhere. That is about the only lucky thing for me, this ride of mine could handle normal towing, so the stuff was safe. We thought we would have to unload it so we could leave the car over the long weekend. As luck would have it, it was just the battery. Deader that a doornail. We had tried to jump it and it didn't work so we thought it might be the starter or something. All is well now, and all of this stuff is now in my living room. I truly do think I live in a warehouse! What a day. But it ended up being a good day!

Until next time,

Pam

Lots of Changes at the Shop

This is the entry way at the shop. We have alot of upcoming changes--dealers moving around to bigger spaces, a couple moving out, some moving in---and lots of new merchandise coming! I walked--or I should say--hobbled around the shop and snapped some pictures. I'll be posting more pictures later after the changes. Kind of exciting.!!

I think I'm going to keep this hardware piece for my bedroom.

Heads up!

Any glassware you would want!

Vintage clothing.

This dealer specializes in vintage clothing.

The shop is quite big--over 5,000 square feet, and we have something for everyone. I will be busy making room for a huge collection of antique toys--an entire collection of things you won't believe. Keep watching and I'll show the progress. The shop will look different after I'm done! I think the saying "Change is good" might apply here!

Until next time,

Pam

Finally, I'm Back Among the Living!

While out of commission, I finally got busy with jewelry. My knees are so bad, Gary left town without me. Two shows, gone a week and a half. This is the first time in my life I ever had that much "ME" time, and I was miserable. Couldn't do anything because of my knees. He had "ok" shows, but had a great time. I stayed home like a hermit. But finally, I think I'm getting better. I have been wanting to restring beads and convert vintage clip on earrings for a long time, so finally I did it. The pictures below are just some of the samplings. We sell alot of costume jewelry at the shop. All of these are vintage, not the new beads. Alot of glass beads.

I call the earrings "tidbits" because they are made from tidbits of old jewelry. They look prettier in person, but just wanted you to know that I am alive!

Take care, and don't take your "knees" for granted. When they don't work, nothing does.

until next time,

Pam

Hot Fun in the Summer Time

Well, summer is officially here---the pools are open, it's hot, steamy and stormy. School is out--let the fun begin.Can you imagine the fun of wearing one of these hot, itchy, wool swimsuits? And remember the locker at the swimming pool.
Why was it so cool to have the big metal safety pin with your basket number on it--pinned to your swim suit? And you were really cool--at least at the Roxana Park Swimming Pool if you had a season pass--and it was sewn to your suit. All you had to do when you walked up to the admission booth, was say--SEASON. It was one of those tough TOMBOY things I think. Swim all day, go home, fix supper, help mom with whatever, and go back. As long as we were home by the time the porchlight was on. We lived across the field from the pool, so we could watch for the light. What a simpler time that was. Then go home, go to bed, and do it all over again. Got a tan like a brown butter bean. Aaaahhh, summer vacation. For a moment, I was right back there! Good times.
Until next time,
Pam

Windows and Porch Trim--We Love It!

Recently, when we were in Hermann, Missouri doing a show we did our usual drive around and take pictures of buildings, windows and fixer-uppers of interest.

This big--huge-building is under renovation. It will be a real beauty--it already is.

This one was for sale---It will be perfect for someone as a weekend getaway home!

I love the red on this home, already a beauty underway.

It always kills me--someone will paint the brick, then the next time you go by--it has been sandblasted! At least that's the way it is in our city of Alton, Illinois!

I love to see the progress of home restoration--from year to year when we set up at shows and do the same drive bys! We love to window shop.

Better go for now,

Until next time,

Pam

Dad's Sugar Free "Apple Pecan" Pie

While mom is under the weather--my dad has become quite the cook! He cooks everything on his George Foreman grill--fish, steaks, hamburgers--anything that he can. He has also mastered pies! This is his latest--an sugar-free "Apple Pecan" pie. His last was a banana cream--he's diabetic so he cooks with Splenda instead of sugar. Gary is diabetic also, so I use splenda all of the time. He wants to try a cherry pie next. I'm all over that one!

The advantage of living behind mom and dad is that if you can't come over for a piece, they'll send it to you! It was yummy. I still have a banged up knee and missed family night. But I didn't miss the pie--there were 2 pieces and I took the biggest--after all it was from MY dad--doesn't that seem fair? Ha Ha.
Better go for now.
Until next time,
Pam