Past Bargains

 Do you, like me, feel a little thrill when you find an unexpected bargain? Some really nice things can be found at garage sales and rummage sales; of course there is also a lot of junk. Sometimes it is a discount coupon that allows you to buy something you probably would not buy at the regular price. I do not make it a practice to go to garage sales, but once in a while I will go to those nearby.

This set of two Lenox Winter Greetings bowls I bought at a church rummage sale. They appeared to be unused as they sat in the original box. I paid $2 for the set. I had gone to a sale in the North Webster community center, and somebody from a church in that community had posted at the exits information about a rummage sale close by. I mostly use these bowls at Christmas, but sometimes I continue using them for several more weeks since they have a winter theme. They came with lids for storage or to use vented in a microwave. 

A few years ago, I went to a community garage sale in a nearby neighborhood. It was starting to rain lightly when I perused some items. They lady saw me looking at a hammered aluminum basket; she said, "We are not getting many customers because of the weather. We are cold and tired and ready to close up our sale. If you want that, you can have it for fifty cents." I have a few other hammered aluminum items, and yes, I did want it at that bargain price. 

Another item I purchased for fifty cents was a Pfaltzgraff Yorktowne trivet. I had to work to find this item. We had an "antique"/consignment store on Winona Avenue in Warsaw that had been divided up into lots of different rooms. I was about to leave with nothing when I talked myself into going down into the dimly lit basement on a rickety staircase. I held tightly to the railing. It was spooky down there. Here was the flotsam and jetsam of the store, things they had taken in but didn't feel were worthy of a nice display. I have two small bowls, a sauce/gravy bowl, and a pitcher in the Yorktowne pattern. The trivet fit right in. Recently, I searched eBay to verify this was Yorktowne. All of the Yorktowne trivets had the company blue and white logo badge, but otherwise they were pure white. Somebody had painted the basket and flowers of the trivet I bought. It is unique. I like its rustic nature, and blue is my favorite color.

When I lived in Mesquite, Texas, the Hobby Lobby issued a coupon for $10 off anything in the store. I did not have anything in mind, just walked around the store browsing. Then I met Ellie. I found her tennis shoes worn with her Sunday-best dress and her hat hanging down her back by its ribbons charming. I think she was $12. I never would have spent $12 on a frivolous trinket, but $2 sealed the deal and she became part of our home.

Through the years I have worked to down-size our home and get rid of stuff, but I am not beyond the temptation of a bargain. I enjoy all of these things. What kind of bargains make you smile?