Black Friday My Way

Spent Thanksgiving and the so-called Black Friday in Bakersfield with my brother's family. Me go near the malls?  Never.  But I did go shopping at the local Goodwill, which I always drop into when I visit.  I have gotten great things there over the years. 

Having somehow left all my jackets behind when we rushed off, I told my husband that I had a good excuse to go to a thrift shop and buy a jacket - & I found a nice fleecy one in a marigold color for $4 or so.  (How much would that be retail?  $40-50?? & even my sister-in-law said that it looks brand new.) And I also found some rose silk chiffon - for $2.50 - which I will use as a shawl/scarf, or make something out of it.  Then, of course, I looked at the books and found a few at 80 cents each.  (How did they get to the price of 80 cents, I wonder?)

It's funny the difference - I have been doing the same thing for years, and it was considered very eccentric, if not downright odd - and now, all of a sudden, I am admirable.  There was an article in the local paper about homo prudensis trumping homo imprudensis - who had been ascendent in the last few years (especially in California, where I live.)

I have always been prudent - and made a virtue out of a necessity even when th imprudent ruled. And discovered it was green, to boot.  I actually got favorable comments from the younger generation on my 40-year-old Middle Eastern glass beads, which I had gotten in high school, now back in fashion.  

So, if you have a style that suits you - keep with it - and only tweak as a nod to keeping current.  You will need large closets - but you can also keep quality items - like your various beads and so on - and silk scarves and purses and the like - to bring in and out. 

Also shifted to a rusty red suede bucket purse for the winter - it's marked "Spain" but frankly I don't remember where I got it or even what I paid for it.  Not a lot, I know that.   I don't spend a lot on bags these days - just pick up thrift shop steals!

No pix until I get back to the home front & my picture stash - I am on my hubby's laptop right now...

Oh- my birthday presents for my brother were a grand success - mostly old books which I got at Bart's Bookstore in Ojai on their bargain racks for 50 cents each! The book on Robert Burns from 1911 was the biggest hit.

And I have forgotten my contribution to the holiday table.  II collected brilliant fall leaves from a local neighborhood where I walk and I taped them to twigs to form an arrangement. They were put into a ceramic vase I had paid $1 at a rummage sale, but which was a nice piece of ceramic in autumnal colors.  Then I sprayed the arrangement and the excess leaves several times with high-powered  hair spray to lacquer them.  The  vase was the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving table, and I piled the lacquered leaves around the middle of the table.  Quite Martha Stewart, if I do say so myself!

And cost? $1 plus my labor!  I am getting more and more crafty as I try to be ultimately frugal.  As I have said, I made a Halloween wreath and a decoration the door for Thanksgiving.  Found some squares of foam board, and think I will make some collages, as I used to - I certainly have a pile of the free magazines I have been getting!

So, I am creating a small circle of peace around me with family for the holidays.  And as the world goes on in its craziness and displays it blow by blow on TV - for me, the warmth of home is more important than ever...Peace be with you.

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