Recent Pics . . .

No, this isn't snow or hail.  Ornamental pear blossom petals were falling and the wind was just right to make them look like a snow drift.  


I was lucky enough to be hiking through Goll's Woods when the trilliums were at their peak.  The trillium is Ohio's state wildflower.


The Tiffin River flows through the north side of Goll's Woods.  It snakes it way down from Michigan to the Maumee River at Defiance.


Goll's Woods is a state nature preserve.  The only tree maintenance is clearing fallen and damaged trees away from the paths.  Don't know if this is wind damage or lightning damage.






These are a few of the many wild flowers I saw that day.

May Garage Sales . . .

The first weekend of May brought some pretty vicious garage sales. I spotted some Pyrex bowls while walkin up the drive and had to fight the urge to run. If I run or even walk fast, those dreaded little white haired ladies seem to know what I'm lookin for and get in my way.  So I nonchalantly parked myself in front of them and inspected them. One of those dreaded, little blue-haired ladies spotted them too. She was lookin over my shoulder, well maybe more under my shoulder cause she was on the short side of things, but not so little. I decided to buy all 5. That lady with just a 'hint' of sarcasm asked me if I was takin up cookin. I said yep.

At the next sale, the garage door went up as I parked. It was a 'bum rush' to the garage. If there had been 'Baltimore Like' police lines they would have retreated too. I made sure I was in the second wave.   One lady started grabbing bowls. I'm thinkin she knew they were there, They weren't the kind I was interested in. I did find a piece of Corning Ware hidden behind a box.
Sometimes I wish my HS had football way back then. That way I would know how to block and play off blocks . . . .

Then there was a neighborhood garage sale . . . The newspaper ad said they were to begin at 8 AM.  I was walkin up the drive of one at about 7:50.  It was all set up.  I could see the cash box on the table.  They guy standing there said he wasn't open till 8 and to come back.  I've had people not open the garage door till exactly 8 or 9, but I've never had anyone run me off when they were all set up.  

Sales were very scarce last weekend.  Only 5 or 6 in town.  Nothing to buy and one of those dreaded, little blue-haired ladies was in top form.  It was a two car garage and that means a fairly wide drive.  She was a bit ahead of me while we were leaving.  She was taking her good old time going to her full size, light color Buick, Chevy or Ford.  That's what they all drive, so they can clog up the streets easier.  Anyway, since I don't exactly take my time at these things, I tried to get around her.  I couldn't!  It is like they have eyes in the back of their heads.  Which ever direction I would head to, so would she block me.  I wonder if Kylie Irving, with his hesitation dribble would have any luck . . . .

 

Some New Pens . . .

I finished up three more pens this PM.  The first two are a new pen.  It is a lever action click pen.  It comes with an antique brass finish with lots of embellishments.  The supply right now is pretty tight.  I was lucky enough to get a couple at an introductory price.  I put alligator jawbone on the first and deer antler on the second.  The antler has a lot of color variations with a fair amount of exterior shell.  I also has a significant "bend."  It has been a while since I've been able to come up with an antler shell of this quality.  The last has deer antler on a replica 30 caliber twist pen with a gun metal finish. 

I will list them in my ETSY shop tomorrow when the light will be better so I can get better photos. 

What A Grump . . .

The Blosser Rd. Garage Sales were yesterday.  I checked out over 20 locations.  It seems like Blosser Rd. has pretty much the same people each year with a bit less to sell. The pickens were pretty slim for me.  

At one sale myself and an older than me gentleman were walkin up to the garage.  The lady in charge (one of those dreaded, not so little blue-haired types) said very firmly that she didn't have anything for guys.  This slowed down the other guy.  I went into the garage to look anyway.  I'm figgerin she is more scared of me than I am of her.  Anyway, I found a glass lid for a quarter.  It is one of the sizes that I never have enough of.  When I offered the lady my quarter, she asked very seriously and sternly if I had a pan to fit it.  I answered in the affirmative.  In fact I have several Corning Ware pans that need that lid.  If I had not been in the process of giving her my quarter, I would have offered  twenty cents just to give her something to be grumpy about.  Jeeezzzz!   

As it turned out, that was the only purchase I made all morning . . . a quarter for an 8 inch square pyrex lid, which is a deal.  I'm glad to pay up to a dollar for a lid.  

At another sale, a grandpa, mom and a probably less than two year old little girl were leaving.  The little girl found a huge, stuffed pony type animal.  She latched onto it and wouldn't give it up.  It seemed as big or bigger than she.  Mom couldn't talk her out of it.  Her and grandpa couldn't pry her little fingers loose.  Mom picked her up and tried to shake the stuffed pony loose.  Grandpa grabbed hold of the pony and pulled while mom held onto the little girl.  She was determined to take that animal home.  Mom finally pried her loose somehow and convince her to leave it.   I thought the little girl was going to be going to the car screaming.  But to my amazement and the people in charge of the sale, she went quietly.  It is amazing at times at how little kids are attracted to stuffed animals. 

What The . . . . . . .

I'm was doing my usual Thursday AM stuff -- checkin out garage sales and the local thrift shops for stuff to sell on eBay.  At the local Goodwill, I spot an aluminum Louisville Slugger softball bat.  It has been a long time since I've seen a Lousiville Slugger anywhere, so I picked it up.  It says "Big Bend" on the barrel.  A split second later I understand why they call this bat "Big Bend" . . . Have you noticed the big bend in the handle yet???????  I'm thinkin someone there has a sense of humor and they slippped it past the bosses.

Taken with my cell phone camera of which I very seldom get a clear, sharp shot.  Maybe if I used a tripod . . . .

Whiteout ! ! !

Up until February, the winter weather wasn't that bad.  February reminds me of most of last winter.  


Last Saturday, we started getting snow bands all the way from Lake Michigan.  This was the worst.  I got suddenly dark . . . like turning off the light switch at dusk.  This was taken from my front door toward the house across the street.  


And this is a photo taken from the same front door toward the same house 10-15 minutes later.  This went on most of the day.

Tractor Supply Company

Bryan is getting a Tractor Supply Co. Store.  They expect to open sometime in March.  It is in the north part of the old Kmart store.  

A couple weeks ago they installed the hac units on the roof.  It was pretty windy at the time and they were swinging like a pendulum.  

The sign was finished earlier this week.  They were out there installing it no matter how low the temps were or how windy it was.  Those guys earned their money ! ! ! 

Black Pyrex

 

On one of my almost daily visits to the local Goodwill store, I spotted this.  It is a Pyrex 0503 refrigerator bowl.  Paint was pretty decent and I knew I had a lid at home to fit it, so I flashed my Golden Buckeye card and paid 97 cents for it. 

 I have never seen solid black Pyrex anywhere till that day.  I did some internet research and checked my reference books and there was nothing about black Pyrex.  I wondered if it was a 'promotional' piece.  I decided to price it about the same as the other 0503's on eBay.  Thirteen minutes later it was sold and paid for!  One of my quicker sales. 

Now I'm wonderin if that guy, yes it was a guy who bought it, got himself too good of a deal.  Oh, well.  I had a total of about a buck seventy five in it and got 10.95 for it.  

I'm hopin the rest of the set finds it way to the shelves when I am there.