Out Early

 When I wake up I often feel old! Specially if it's been a disturbed night - traffic, heat, aching knees etc. But if the sun's shining I don't have a problem getting up and Sunday morning I was at the car boot sale at 7am - It was the most glorious morning for being out early. The rain on Friday night and the breeze on Saturday had cleared the air, so all was fresh and lovely.

The car boot bargains were  minimal - nothing unusual nowadays - I'm definitely counting car boot sales as an early morning walk rather than a treasure hunt. 

My "what to look for list" in March included a plate for Spring to make a change for the seasonal display. I was thinking of something a bit bigger than this little Spring Brambly Hedge plate but as it was only 30p it seemed a good idea.

The very pretty birthday card on the left was 10p from the same seller and the cards above are a pack of 6 Christmas cards. I paid just 20p for these. The design is by Carry Ackroyd whose illustrations from her book "A Sparrows Life as Sweet as Ours" I often put on the blog because they are so good.

Now I've got to look out for a very small plate stand for this very small plate as it's too small for the one I have -  it wasn't the plan to Add to the 'looking-for' list!

Later in the morning I went over to son's village to look round the garage/yard sales there and to see how they were getting on with selling their unwanted stuff. Unfortunately there were only 18 houses selling and they were spread out all around what is now a large village. The family were hoping for buyers but the morning got more overcast, hot and humid as I was walking round, there was  nothing I needed or wanted anywhere, so back to son's house to get the car and then home.

Back Soon

 

Carboot and Yard Sale Finds

 Last week one of the house clearance people had lots of gardening stuff , although I didn't need tools or flower pots I found these things that will be useful.......... 2 trays that are for holding and watering pots as they don't have holes and a big plastic pot saucer for the greenhouse plus a roll of fleece which will be handy. Paid £4 for those things.

The small clay saucer, to replace one of the ones that broke when the plant stand crashed and the pack of  baking paper sheets came from other sellers at 50p each.

Saturday morning I went to the next village to look around the yard sales. Not many people had things for sale and they were very spread out around two villages but I bought this gi-normous box of Playmobil bits  in the hope there would be something useful among them for youngest granddaughter for part of her birthday present.

 

There were lots of bits that didn't seem to go together or make a set but several horses and jumps that must have come from a showjumping set. Plus another set that that seemed to be an underwater shark set.Took me all the rest of the day to sort and I chucked lots and put many teeny tiny pieces in a bag.

I'm sure the storage box will come in handy too - that alone was worth a bit.

 Also in the box were some dinosaurs and zoo animals that weren't Playmobil but brilliant for middle grandson. The only other thing I picked up, also for middle grandson was a big fire engine and roadway floor puzzle.

My total spend was £5.50 

I wasted diesel going to the first boot-sale of the season at Stonham Barns........ good thing it isn't far away........because I came home with nothing. Many of the people selling were the same as those at Needham Market and as yet no sign of the one-off private sellers - too cold for them I think.

Back Tomorrow

Sue

Sitting Outside All Day Is..........................

.................. Hard Work!

There was fine and warm weather for the village yard sales on Sunday, so well before the advertised start time of 10am I had set up my stall out the front. I was glad I'd got it sorted early because people stopped to look and I'd already sold a rug and the old kick stool by the time I remembered to get my camera for this photo.

Even got rid of old tools from Colin's workshop, they've already moved house three times! - luckily most sold for a few £.

By 2pm it didn't seem likely that anyone else would be round so I packed up. The chair and shelves didn't sell and went back in the garage, one box-full of small things went straight into the car ready for a charity shop. I also put some things in the car to take to BiL who can burn them.

My next door neighbour had a stall too with a ton of children's toys from her two who are 10 and 7 but I  was very good and didn't look too hard and it was good to chat to her as she and her husband are always so busy. I also spoke to someone who I'd last seen in 1978!

And  it was worth  hauling everything out of the garage because I got rid of quite a lot of unwanted bits and pieces and ended up with £56. 

Back Tomorrow

Sue

Two-thirds of the Way Through

Regarding my Saturday post about the auction and that WWII sign I would have loved to own? It sold for £420!! Needless to say it wasn't me that bought it.

 As usual September is whizzing by, it's always a good month when I seem to get re-energised to do things. I'm sure it's a hangover from all the years when it was time for the 3 children to go back to school and I'd be home alone again with a chance to get things done and the harvesting and storing for winter urge re-appears.

A late in the year but first-of-the-year spot - Small Copper on the Coreopsis in the front garden last week.

 "Widespread and common" according to my Butterfly book, that's as maybe, but only if you are in the right place at the right moment!

I thought it was time to get the Autumn seasonal bits on display. No Mantel-piece so they are going to go on top of the bookshelves.

 The top of the bookshelves isn't as long as the Clay Cottage mantel-piece, so just a few autumnal bits - I like how it looks.

The only new thing is the plate and plate stand. You'll guess the plate came from a boot-sale for 50p and I sent for the plate stand from amazon so I can display those gorgeous Summer and Winter Villeroy and Boch plates that I found in August. It's the 5th year for the Autumn leaf swag - it's lasting well.The mushrooms on the right were a gift, the acorn  was made by one of the children when they were at Middle School in the late 80's, the other wooden mushroom thing and the jug from boot sales a few years ago. I've got some Halloween related bits to swap in for late October. 

 

The village yard/garage sales at Finningham didn't yield any treasures except these 4 books for £1.

 

 It turns out we have yard sales here in the village next Sunday - no mention of it in the Parish Magazine and I wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't seen a poster on the notice board by the postbox but I'm taking my entry fee to the school today to get included on the map.(It's a Friends of the Primary School Fundraiser) I've written a sign for out the front and will haul all my unwanted stuff out of the garage and see what I can get rid off. It's mostly things that got brought here and are now not needed.

 

I've brought in the last of the big orange dahlias to enjoy them close up this week. Not many

 flowers left to bring in now. There were no Asters and Sedums here, I've planted both but it will take a long while for them to produce enough flowers to bring any indoors.

The Launch of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night was a good programme. Lovely to see everyone so enthusiastic to get going and hopefully no painful to watch dancers although the way Dan Walker was 'moving' in the group dance he might be out sooner than later! But it's good to know my Saturday nights will be entertaining right through 'til Christmas. 

Back Tomorrow

Sue

 

 

Thorndon Church and Garage/Yard Sales

 The church of All Saints at Thorndon isn't one of those featured in the 100 Treasures in 100 Suffolk Churches book so despite it being so close to home I'd not visited until the Saturday the village had a garage/yard sale event.

Most villages in Suffolk (and many other counties) have fascinating village signs .......maybe I should start another new hobby!

I couldn't get a good photo because of the trees but the tower of the church is on the south side rather than at the west end. So the bottom of the tower forms the entrance porch 

The Lych Gate is very large and doubles up as the village war memorial

 The church was open as they were doing refreshments while the garage sale event was happening. I didn't really need a cuppa - being only 10 minutes from home -  so as my donation to the church I bought a couple of cup-cakes to take home.

 The church is unusually wide compared to many others in Suffolk yet only has a centre aisle. Just one  stained glass window which is also unusual.

 

 This magnificent reredos wood carving of The last Supper behind the altar  was lit up from inside, which made it really stand out on a gloomy morning. I looked at the Suffolk Churches website which says the carving was done in Belgium and paid for by the Poet Laureate(1913-1930) Robert Bridges which is odd as I didn't know he had any connections with this area.

Before the church visit  I went round most of the houses that were selling stuff - probably about 15, spread out through the whole length of the village, but didn't find much of interest. Came home with just a brand new window bird feeder and this basket with lift up lids on each side for £2 each.

 Seems I've decided I will be feeding the birds here after all! and I thought the basket would do for one of the Christmas Hampers but I'd rather keep it myself!.......need to find a really good use for it to stop the guilt (although at £2 there isn't an awful lot of guilt!)

Back Tomorrow

Sue