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Thursday, November 25, 2010

THERE’S A PATHWAY IN MY HOUSE!

 

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  As some of you may know, I host approximately 30 family members for Thanksgiving dinner. Since I also have a full time job, I am one very insane busy person the week before Thanksgiving.  I knew there was a local estate auction the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but I also knew there was no way I could spend my Saturday at an auction when I had so many casseroles and desserts to get into the refrigerator. 

My husband decided he would drop by the auction just to see what was there.  He called me and said “Laurie, I think this lady had more stuff than you have”!  “Impossible” I said!  My dear husband then made the fatal mistake…. “you should see all of the tables filled with china”!  After about a half an hour of arguing with myself about going to the auction, I said to myself – “Okay Laurie, you know you aren’t going to pass up the opportunity to see the home of someone who had more junk than you have”, so I gave in and went – you know … just to see if they really did have more junk than me!

I’ve attended a few auctions in my day, but this is the first auction I’ve attended where two auctioneers were working the same auction at the same time!  They had me running back-and-forth and forth-and-back all day long.  Yes! I stayed until the last box was auctioned!  The bargains were just too amazing to pass up (even if I did have to stay up all night cooking for Thanksgiving dinner).  Some of the bargains I got are my current favorite things.

Apparently, this lady loved bargains as much as I do (As I ran around trying to keep up with two auctioneers, I really started to worry about what my children are going to do with all of this junk I keep accumulating.  I’ve always thought they’d just get a dumpster and throw it all away, but I’m thinking they’ll have to have several dumpsters!)  The difference between this hoarder bargain hunter and me was that if she found a bargain, she apparently bought all they had, so she had collected multiples of a lot of junk!  When I find a bargain, I usually only buy one for me (and maybe another to give as a gift).  This lady had multiples of new, unopened, tags still on them items! 

You may remember the duck platter that I bought on our trip to Lebanon, Tennessee.  She had four of those platters with different scenes on them.  The auctioneer was taking bids, and the high bidder would get their choice of the platters.  I had the high bid at $7.00!  When he asked which one I wanted, I said “all four”!  Others, who were waiting to see if I would pick the platter they wanted, stood with open mouths as I took all four platters (my husband also stood with open mouth).  Some tried to purchase one from me.  They all (especially my husband) wanted to know what I was going to do with four Fall platters.

platter mos

Boxes and boxes of mismatched china, mismatched glassware, and miscellaneous other junk were being sold for $2.00 each – several of those boxes were bought by this hoarder collector!  In one box, I found four matching covered dishes (I think they are probably candy dishes).  In another box, I found 12 painted coasters.

coastrs cndy dishs

In another box, I found two lime green cornucopias.  My husband wanted to know what I was going to do with those giant snails!

cornacopia

In the bottom of another $2.00 box, I found two matching Blue Ridge plates and another Fall platter!

blue ridge

LEAF PLATTER

I bid $3.00 to purchase a box of pressed glass stemware, but when I got it home, in addition to the 16 stems (one was chipped), there were 16 matching footed dessert bowls.

dessert bowls

I bought this divided server for $4.00.

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When I unpacked one of my boxes, the joke was on me.  You may recall that just last week, I said I wasn’t bringing anything else that resembled a cloche into my house unless I got it free.  I laughed out loud when I found a cheese server in the bottom of a box!

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Of course, in order to fully enjoy the joke, I had to turn it into a “cloche”!

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As we were loading the truck with my purchases, my poor husband kept shaking his head and mumbling “what are you going to do with all of this stuff”.  (I imagine others were wondering the same thing!)  So, when I got home, I had to unpack and wash all of those dishes while I was trying to cook food to serve on Thursday.  (On Sunday, I had to find places to put all of that junk that I had washed!)  I also had to prove to my husband that what I bought would be used, by setting the table with a lot of it for our Sunday evening dinner with our daughter and her husband.

tblscp mos

Of course, I didn’t get that pretty ruffled burlap runner from the auction.  I ordered that from Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams.  I just love it!

full table

So, now you know why I am soooo behind on my blog visiting.  I have been buying MORE china, finding places to put more china in my house, cooking, and serving Thanksgiving dinner to 30 people!  I’ll be by to catch up on my blog reading soon.

After you check out the links for Favorite Things, please stop by and check out the links to the following Blogville events, which I am joining:

I’m very tardy, but I’m linking to Tablescape Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

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Junkin’ Finds (A La Carte)

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and since my tablescape is a Fall theme, I am linking to Seasonal Sundays

(The Tablescaper)

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Now it’s time to get all of the Fall décor put away and start getting out the Christmas decor (right after I finish washing the dishes from Thanksgiving dinner)!  I recently heard a woman on television say “I’m not a hoarder; there’s a pathway to walk through my house”!  There are still a few pathways in my house too!  laurie


40 comments:

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

You definetly earn your title. Wow!! You found some incredible bargains. I've got to head down your way sometime. Although I've told myself for a "long" while now, NO more dishes... so far I've been a very good girl.. I would have weakened had I gone to the sale with you. You had to have had a blast. I love all the beautiful things you got. I'm sure you're totally worn out tongiht. From our home to yours a Happy Thanksgiving..hugs ~lynne~

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Laurie, I think I'm speechless!! I am in awe of the wonderful things you found at such awesome prices. Wow is all I can say!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Wow! You really got some great deals. My problem - If I was to buy any dishes, they would have to stay in the boxes - no more room.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are having our family dinner tomorrow and I am already tired. Ready to make it a "brown bag" event next year. :D
Have a great weekend.

Karen said...

All I can say is, you must drink a pot of coffee every 6 hours! I don't have half the energy you have... but I sure wish I did. Glad you got all those goodies.
Get some rest. You deserve it.
Karen
Ladybug Creek

vignette design said...

Hi Laurie,
I was hanging on your every word! I would have gone to that auction too. How much fun! So what if you had to stay up until midnight cooking! haha. You got some fabulous finds too!. Hope your Thanksgiving was great! ~Delores

Linda in AZ * said...

**** HAPPY THANKSGIVING, old friend (well actually, it was technically "over" 15 minutes ago, as it's 12:15 a.m., but the THOUGHT is here anyway!!!)...

Couldn't sleep (just like ALOT of folks tonite, probably... "I can't believe I ate the WHOLE THING!"... remember that add???)...

ANYhoooo, I reeeeally enjoyed just reading your blog AND seeing all the incredibly priced "treats" the aution held in store for you~~~ I envy your talent, kiddo... I USED to be so good at that (and had SOOOO MUCH F*U*N!)... Guess things have changed, as the LASSSST time *I* went to a flea market, alll *I* "found" were crummy ol' FLEAS!!!! Wow, YER GOOD, Laurie!

Hugs n' best wishes,
Linda in AZ * (And as you know, AKA: "Mom of a German Shorthair" when I was at RMS!)

Anonymous said...

I would have loved to have been at that auction Laurie! Beautiful!!

Debbie said...

It's official. I have a bargain hunting sickness with acute manifestations of dish disease.

I know that this is true because I was just a little giddy for you as you opened each box for us and was imagining the table before it was even set.

Oy!

I think it's grand! What a great table full of wonderful treasures.

(BTW, I was on blog hiatus as well, but I didn't have to feel 30 people. I just had to enjoy two college people with undivided attention.)

Sevenbeads said...

You would have been insane NOT to buy those platters for such a great price. I think those new pieces are beautiful. Keep collecting!

Kristen White said...

You found some smokin good deals! I gasped out loud when I saw the those four platters....they are stunning! Great finds :o)
Kristen

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

What great bargains! Love all the treasures you found (time well spent)! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Sarah said...

Laurie, I hung on every word to see what would be the next treasure that went home with you. What a sweetheart of a husband to "encourage" and "abet" this activity. LOL
I love the idea of using the platters as chargers. This may give all of us in Blogville license to begin collecting platters for chargers. Hee Hee! Of course you know I'm green with envy over the one with the rooster and chickens. You know where you can send it should you find there just isn't a spot on the shelf, or table, or wall. You get the idea! You might even decide to auction it off yourself. ;-)
I don't yet have my "favorite things" post ready. Hope to have something later to day.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Hope you can get some rest!
Hugs to you ~ Sarah

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I get tired just listening to all that you do. Wow. Love all of your treasures and yes of course I definitely think you need another cloche. 100 sounds like a good number and you aren't quite there yet. Hope your day was the best. Hugs, Marty

Marigene said...

Laurie, those platters are gorgeous, especially the one with the rooster/chickens...so glad that you found a clever use, immediately, for them. What was your husband's comment on the new charger plates? I can't pass up a bargain when it comes to dishes...my poor kids are going to hate me when they have to go through my "stuff"!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Looks like you hit the jackpot! What beautiful items you found. I actually had to tell my husband about this because he still thinks it's crazy that I now have a third set of dishes! I told him how your husband went over, he couldn't believe it.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

You amaze me Laurie!
You always find the best stuff at the best auctions etc. I love those platters and I can see why you took all 4!
Sounds like you had an awesome Thanksgiving but my dear you must be worn to the bone.
Tell me your secret? Please, Please!!
Hugs Friend,
Cindy

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

What a fun post to read, and what a beautiful collection of goodies. I particularly like the platters with the wild game.

The Charm of Home said...

Laurie, You should open an vintage Etsy store. You have the best "junk"! Love the platters. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sherry

bj said...

You found a lot of good stuff but WHERE on earth will you put it all?
Your dining table looks just fabulous.

I am ready to move on to other things than cloches...never have been a big fan but I laughed about your cheese dish..I have one, too,..(I don't even own a REAL cloche) and have it in my post today. hahhahaa...don't we have a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

The treasures you found are all beautiful, Laurie! Those four platters are especially beautiful! You just can't pass up deals like that! :)

Anonymous said...

The treasures you found are all beautiful, Laurie! Those four platters are especially beautiful! You just can't pass up deals like that! :)

xinex said...

Oh I wish I was there having so much fun with you, Laurie. Cause that is surely what I call fun. I am glad you did not miss that auction and what great buys you got. They are so pretty too....Christine

Jeanne said...

LOL your post made me laugh. Your husband must be very in love with you. He encouraged you to do something you love after you had decided not to go! There is no way he was surprised that you bought stuff. (Ok, maybe you can still surprise him. I think it is great you said - All 4!)

Happy Thanksgiving (from a retail therapy bargain hunter) to you! (Another bargain hunter)

Sonia said...

What a fabulous collection of things you bought at the auction! Love everything you bought. I know what you mean about the cloches...I have enough now too! LOL. Love your tablesetting and what a great hostess you must be to have 30 people for dinner! I am sure they loved being in your beautiful home with your gracious hospitality! Happy Holidays!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Wow, Laurie! I love all of your new finds...but my favorites are those gorgeous fall platters! Love them! I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving!...hugs...Debbie

Rebecca said...

The details on the bird dishes is amazing-so intricate-great bargain hunting!

Unknown said...

Thirty people for Thanksgiving!!!!! Now that is a huge entertaining. One thing I know is that you set the tables looking gorgeous. You have such an eye for detail, and your tablescapes are beautiful. I know that you will use every item that you purchased from your auction. I can't wait to see them on your table.

Karen

Sue said...

You're not a hoarder because you use your purchases, so take pride in saying you are, indeed, a bargain hunter! LOL
I want to come play in your neck of the woods.... The sales have all but stopped here. :-( Love all of your goodies- they looked wonderful on your table. I hope you enjoyed your company. I am trying to get my holiday decorating done, and I snuck in a little blog break a few minutes ago. tee hee Now, it's back to the grind... hugs, Sue

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Laurie,
WOW I so enjoyed this Thanksgiving story of cooking dinner for 30 and going to the auction. You sure struck some wonderful finds. Everything is gorgeous on the table, as you always set the most amazing combinations together. I would have loved to been there. I could have found some treasures to paint on!!

Hope you are enjoying a little down time this weekend after all the dish washing and path making!!
Love to you sweet friend.

Celestina Marie
p.s. I am having a giveaway if you'd like to enter!

Kathleen said...

Oh my! Good thing we don't have those around here! The sad thing is, when we go to the big dish closet in the sky, our kids will be loading up our treasures and selling them for 2.00!
You are amazing.
I was in WSonoma outlet Wed evening. The big sale started at midnight, and I mean BIG! But I couldn't go, so I paid a little more!

Sweet European Dreams said...

oh my. a sale like that is truly a dream come true for me!!! I LOVE how you layered the Turkey platters - genius! You will make good use out of every piece (spoken from one hoarder to another!). -diane

Unknown said...

I really laughed at your new ability to acquire yet more; I really limit myself because I am beyond overflow..I especially love those big platters! You got such bargains, too hard to resist. I admit to being an overindulged collector and I love seeing others in the same fix...I really do miss the fun of auctions and estate sales, because of how much we have amassed from our relatives...your husband is a good sport to tell you about those things too! Mine would keep mum! Keeping me from temptation.

Marlis said...

I am SO going with you the next time. You found the most wonderful treasures. I love that the platters became chargers.. I laughed so hard.. Your table turned out great. Me too, I'd have had to have all 4 platters. Oh gosh. thank you for a wonderful post and making laugh so hard..

Lady Katherine said...

What a great fun day! Love all your treasures and loved seeing them on the table! I adore the chicken platter! I love Prescut Crystal! I wanted to see the hat box? I do so love hat boxes! The Indian is great in the cheese cloche. I should have used my Indians for my Thanksgiving Table! What was I thinking? lol

Entertaining Women said...

The minute you said that you bought all four of those platters, I KNEW that you you were going to use them as chargers! What a great idea. Great gets...especially the pressed glass pieces. Thank you for sharing your charming finds and your lovely table design. Cherry Kay

The Tablescaper said...

First of all, I am so sorry to get here so late. Life is currently beyond busy.

I LOVE the bird platters. You got some amazing finds, but honestly what I love more is that your husband went without you and called to tell you to come. True love! Particularly since he knows better than any of us that you don't need another thing!!!!! LOL!


- The Tablescaper

Sue said...

Hi Laurie...I have to say I have never seen such a haul...amazing.
I would have done the exact same thing with those fabulous platters, they are gorgeous!! And believe me when I say I spent the day today with A La Carte Linda and it takes alot to make her speechless!!

Anonymous said...

I’ve meant to post about something like this on my webpage and you gave me an idea. Cheers.

Kitty Deschanel said...

You're quite the deal hunter! I can't believe how many beautiful photos you have on your blog. I think I'm going to be here awhile :)

Mitzi said...

LOVED reading about your auction treasures. I want to bargain shop with you. Happy Holidays.