From Vintage Versace To Baby Chickens

 The Daughter's Yard Sale of her Dad's Wardrobe is going very well, she's making Bank with it.  He had a slew of T-Shirts and Baseball Style Hats she helped him purge.  Most of her Customers are Mexican Nationals and she laughs becoz if a Shirt or Hat looks Cool, they don't Care what it says on it, they'll Buy it.  She said it's the same in Mexico and always Amused her. So, a lot of Immigrant Men will be walking around with Marine Corps. Shirts and Hats becoz they liked the Graphics.  *Bwahahaha*  {Sidenote: Above are my Two Altered Art Cherub Rosary Old Bottles I will speak of further Below in the Storyline.}

  She said, of coarse, if they're wearing a USMC Shirt and Hat they bought from her, it gives the Illusion they're fighting for America and might not get Deported, so, it makes Sense.  *LMAOROTF*   Especially right now when this Regime is rounding up random folks off the Streets, while wearing plain clothes and ski masks, and without Due Process or an arrest, and shipping you off to a Banana Republic Death Camp Gulag from a Country you're not even from... you wanna blend in and not have a Target on your Back.  So, on a Serious Note, it's Safer for them to look American and as Patriotic as possible.  {Sidenote: Above is my large Antique Nun's Crucifix I also bought and speak of further Below in the Storyline.}

So, they're Selling fast and if it's keeping our Immigrant Friends and Neighbors Safer from this Gestapo Like illegal roundup, we're doing our part for Justice and protection of Constitutional Law.   Due Process is a Right here in America, and it's being violated.   You're Innocent until Proven Guilty by a Court of Law in America, it's not up to One Man to decide your Guilt or Innocence based solely on his biases, whims, Political Theater, or Mood Swings.  Every American should be very concerned that Due Process is being ignored and innocent people are being sent to Death Camps.  Especially if the Administration admits they fucked up and shouldn't have sent some of them, but won't bring them back and defy and ignore Supreme Courts Orders to!  {Sidenote: The Antique Metal Cash Register Price Signs I bought Two of, I got the 70 Cent and the 7 Cent, coz I like the No. 7... LOL}

A Two Year Old American Citizen has been deported and sent to a Country she's not even from, so, now they're Targeting Children!  He did say he'd be doing it to Americans next, the ones he called the Home Grown.  When he says something, we should Believe his intent to do it, coz he has a Track Record of saying it first, then finding ways to Act upon it even while breaking the Law to do it.  The Supreme Court really fucked up giving him Blanket Immunity from committing Crimes, coz now he's running with that and escalating his Crimes.   Next he'll be Killing folks himself for the Sport of it, like the Nazis did.  {Sidenote: My Vintage 1990's Versace Miami Collection Shirt I bought from my Friend Beau.}

LATER ON:  The Man and I had a great day, it was not too hot and very breezy, so perfect weather to be out and about in.  We went to a favorite Antique Mall and an Event that has gone from being Monthly, to being every Weekend now.  My Friends are Designers there and opened it as a Co-Op.   I got a couple of Art Bottles that had Antique Rosaries incorporated in the Creation of them and Metal Antique Cherub Toppers soldered onto the Old Bottles... an Antique Carving Set Trio of Carving Knife, Carving Fork and Knife Sharpener with Deer Antler Handles... a large 1800's Nun's Antique Crucifix... some Antique Metal Price Signs from an Old Cash Register... and an early 1990's Vintage Versace Miami Collection Shirt for only $45 that Retails for around Two Grand!!!   The Man got some Vintage Fishing Lures.

We hit a couple GOODWILL Stores since it was Military Discount Day.  I found some Shirts and Baseball Style Caps for Resale, and a great Vietnam Veteran's Jersey for The Man that is brand new with Tags.   Got some Cookbooks {One is a Bollywood Cookbook with East Indian Recipes}, an Antique Porcelain Doll with Teeth that looks to be from the 1920's by her Bob Hairstyle and Silk Outfit, and a 1976 Walking Doll, a Virgin of Guadalupe Vintage Altar Light with Seashell Lotus Blossom she's in the Middle of.  I also got a Disney Edition Monopoly Game and the Metal Game Pieces are various Disney Characters.

We went to "Five & Diner" for Sunday Brunch and had their Meatloaf Meal, which is excellent.   The Man always gives me his Veggies coz it's hard to get him to eat any, he only wanted some of the Pearl Onions in it.  *Le Sigh*   He was having a good day tho' so he did pretty well eating more of his food than usual.   We were out so long we also ate Dinner out and went to "Long John Silvers" and he ate all of his Grilled Salmon.   They have a new Grilled Menu there and it was quite good for the price, he really enjoyed his Salmon.   I don't usually cook Fish at Home coz it stinks up the House, so if we want Fish, we usually eat out.

Below is a Toy we bought at SAVERS coz it has The Man's first Name and is called "Ron's Gone Wrong" which we thought was hilarious.   We were having a really good day all day, so it felt productive and uplifting.  But, when we were at the Antique Mall, one of my Fav Vendors, "Rusty Saturday", has once again given up more Space.  They used to have their own Brick and Mortar Store which Closed, then Rented Two Booths at the Antique Mall and Closed One, then reduced to One Booth, now they've reduced to a single Wall!   I asked Owner Nan about it and I guess they've got a lot going on and couldn't devote as much Time and Energy to the Antiquing Business.  I'm really Sad about that as they've always been a Fav and I have bought a lot from them over the Years.

I personally also feel that even the best Vendors are just not making the Money at doing it as they used to, so have had to move on to other things for a stream of Income that is more reliable.   Another regular Customer of "Rusty Saturday" came all the way from Cali and bought up the balance of some Altered Art Displays that she and I always buy from them and they're not making anymore.   So, she got the last Two.  They Fabricated a lot of things out of Salvaged Vintage and Antique Items that were OOAK and unique.   I will miss not being able to Source them from their Creations.   I have all the Supplies to make them ourselves, so now will have to do that.  The Daughter's Boyfriend is handy like that so perhaps he'll enjoy Creating some?

There used to be Vendors that Fabricated a lot of things out of Salvaged Vintage items, including Wardrobe Created out of Doilies and Crocheted Tablecloths.   Now it's getting harder to find Fabricators bothering since it is Labor Intensive and Handmade objects cost more due to it and most Customers just won't pay for what Handwork costs.   This is why we'll never, ever, be competing with China, India, or other Foreign Producers of anything.   Few even know how to do Handwork in America or Produce anything that would be affordable to the average American Consumer.  And that is the crossroads we're now at as a Country and we will have to look within ourselves as to what we're willing to Pay for... or do without now?

While we were out we also stopped at a Tack and Feed Store to get our Wild Bird Seed in bulk and some Fresh Heirloom Eggs in the various Colors.  They had Baby Chicks and Baby Ducks in, of various Breeds, $6.95 each, Adorable, all Colors and Cheeping their little Heads off.   A lot of people are getting Chickens, even in Residential Neighborhoods.  The City restriction now for Residential is that you just cannot have Roosters.  Mini Farms are Zoned Agricultural so we can have any Livestock, including Roosters and Horses.   But becoz of the Egg and Bird Flu Crisis, people are now being encouraged to have their own Chickens and the Cities have eased up on restricting it, tho' any with an HOA may have some resistance depending on how much of a Devil their HOA Board is?   Most of them are The Devil IMO.

The Industry has shrunk a lot in recent Years so there's less of us doing it now and even fewer who are actually Selling Antiques, Vintage, Transportation related, Pawn Jewelry, Salvage Architectural and Industrial items at Resale.   Now most of the Antique Stores and Malls have Vendors Selling Modern Collectibles, mass produced used Merch, cheap Jewelry, or just what you'd find at a Yard Sale.  Customers  are partly responsible for that, since that's what they're choosing to Buy instead of the Good Stuff.  Mostly becoz it's just Cheap or they like it and Geek out on Modern Collectibles like Pokemon or new Disney Products.  They used to have a Pokemon Store and a Disney Store in the Big Malls but those have Closed and now our Antique Malls is where they can Buy it, unless they go to Disneyland or Disneyworld.

Even at the Events, the Demographic shopping now isn't looking for the Good Stuff, they're Buying what we used to call the Filler Items.  No Event could usually Source enuf of the Good Stuff and Real Deal Merch in a mere Month between each Themed Event, so, they'd use Fillers.  Well, now the Fillers dominate, becoz, that's easier to Source and that's what the Customers are now mostly Buying too and can afford.   It's why Princess T and I changed our whole business model in our new Showroom location to Sell mostly Vintage and Specialty T-Shirts and Accessories, Tiki Collectibles and Mid Century Modern Merch, coz it's what the Customers are clamoring for now.  I'm only gonna be able to Sell what they're willing to Buy.

Our Demographic of Customer now is mostly under 25 Years Old and I had to adjust for that.   I don't mind at all Selling to a more Youthful Client, they're the ones who are willing to spend the Money and have it now.  They're the ones setting Trends and if Princess T and I can come up with a Trend, and she's brilliant at doing that, then we Sell even more.  She's a Trend Setter and her own best Model and Muse of what we Sell, and I'm an Old Hippie and always dress that way, and right now that's Trending too, so, it's Working for us and we're attracting our Customer.   Even other Vendors know where to direct someone if they ask for certain Merch they know we carry.  *LOL*

Now that The Daughter is gonna do Weekly Sales from the RV Side Driveway and set up Racks and Tables, I can give her any Stale Merch that isn't Selling and she'll Sell it at a reduced price.   Over the Weekend she made as much Money in Two Days as I made in Two Weeks at the Antique Mall!   We have good Main Road Exposure from here, so a lot of Traffic passing by.   Almost every Community now is doing regular Yard Sales too, becoz, people need extra Money now with the Economy wrecked by this Administration.   And it's gonna get worse, so folks are buckling down and doing whatever they can to get by.  Most Retirees and even Working folks with a Retirement 401K are screwed now he's tanked the Stock Market, so their Retirements are uncertain or completely wiped out and will never recover in their Lifetimes.

My DA Pension is tied to the Stock Market and so far this Month I haven't gotten a Check and don't know if I'll even get one!?!  Ever since he's been President the Checks from the County Retirement System have been greatly delayed, but at least they eventually hit, better late than never.  Now, I'm not even so sure they will!?!   I have to make up that Loss of what Earned Retirement Income I Invested in during my Working Years, so, I'm pivoting to ensure a stream of Income to replace it comes in.   If they start fucking with our Social Security and other Government Pensions, we're really screwed tho' coz that's our entire Livable Income we Count on and Earned and Paid into.   We're not Billionaires and don't have Kids who are... and that's most Americans situation.

I'll be Working tonight filling in for Mark, the Retired Cop.  I don't know if he's having Medical Problems, Surgery or what, but he hasn't done his own Shift for Weeks now and had his Kid and DIL filling in for him.   I knew Eve really missed being at Home with their new Baby so it's why I agreed to fill in for her FIL... coz I like her and his Son, even tho' I have no time for Mark, he's a Jerk.   I'm Civil and Cordial towards him, his personality is what it just is, I don't personalize that, but, I don't like him.   Most people there seem impressed enuf that he is a Retired Cop that they put up with his disposition.   That's not so unusual, but whatever you used to do for a Living, or still do for a Living, doesn't impress me nor make up for your bad personality with me.  An Asshole in any Career Field is still an Asshole.

Anyway, I don't expect Monday Nights to be that busy, but, lately we have been busy.   They're just mostly Buying Pokemon tho', so Sales are suffering unless you're the Pokemon Hawkers.  Good for them, they're killing it, High Five if you're making Money in this Economy, I Respect that.  I do have some Pokemon Merch that my Kiddos had stashed away and just told me to put in the Locked Case, but, I know nothing about Pokemon Collectibles.   I just know it Sells and I price ours to Turn Quick, so I have some Pokemon Cards, a Pokemon Board Game and various Pokemon Plush Toys of various sizes.   Princess T still Collects the Pokemon Plush Toys but she had duplicates she's Selling.

We had a shitload of the Vintage Pokemon Cards that belonged to The Young Prince that we could have Sold.  But we gave them back to him when we found them.  He promptly turned them into a fucking Art Project, ruining the Value!   I almost had a Heart Attack when I saw the Mural of them on the Wall, glued together!!!  *Le Sigh and LOL*   I reminded him he could have Sold them for a considerable profit, some were worth a lot of Money, but, his Art is more important to him than Money.  So, whaddya gonna do, he's one of those Beautiful Mind People and he's in his own World most of the time and on Planet Young Prince where he resides and then just visits us from time to time here on Planet Earth. 

 Who knows mebbe he'll Sell the Pokemon Art for a fortune someday?   Mebbe I should convince him to Frame it and put it on an Art Wall in the Antique Mall For Sale?!   It's massive.  *Smiles*  I still haven't had a response from The Young Prince about the 28th being a No Go and it's the 28th in Real Time.  I don't know if The Niece told him she was gonna inform us or not?  He might be struggling a lot with his Mental Health too and when he is you just never hear from him.   With Schizophrenics it's always complicated to have meaningful interactions at times.   Whenever he is more lucid I'll hear more from him.   With the Personal Pressures he's up under right now with a failing Marriage, it's made his Mental State worse.

Since I'm Working Tonight I'll probably just Gel at Home and not do much else so I won't be spent by Evening to work my Shift.  *LOL*  Sad that I have to thus pace myself, but, it's necessary now, I've come to terms with my finite amount of Senior Energies.  *Le Sigh*   I don't even think I'd be capable of pulling a double Shift anymore without it wiping me out, not that I want to, but if I needed to, it would be problematic.  The Man cannot Work at all, so for him it's not even Optional to.  His VA 100% Disability Status is accurately assessed and has been for Years now.  He dislikes that he's incapable of doing much in his Golden Years, he imagined he'd be doing a lot of fun Recreational Activities and can't.  So, Retirement for him has been glum due to extent of Disability.

Princess T had Ordered some Furniture for her Room just in time before Tariffs affected the price or delivery of them.  *Whew*  It's a Vertical slender Bookcase and a Cube Unit in Black to match her new Desk.  So now her Room is kitted out with everything she needed and wanted.  She Buys a lot Online but now has to be Mindful of where it's coming from to avoid Tariff Drama and the Extortion this President is indulging in, to other Countries and the American Consumer.  He's blatantly shaking down Companies like a Syndicated Crime Ring Boss now, it's appalling and blatant coz he got that Blanket Immunity from Prosecution and consequences for any Crimes he commits, and he's committed plenty.  He needs to hurry up and FOAD so we're rid of him.

I'm supposed to be Pricing some more Inventory to take in Tonight, but, here I sit Blogging instead.  *Eye Roll*  Well, I got the French Doors open to our Room with the Screen shut and the Fresh Air blowing in with the sounds of the Birds and Livestock, so it's just so Calming and Restful that I don't wanna do any Work.  *LOL*  The Daughter cleaned up the Back Patio admirably, it's almost completely functional again and beautifully Organized.   They have their Smoking Area out there since I don't allow Smoking in our Home, never have.   The Antique Neon SMOKES Sign I got from a Vendor Friend at our Antique Mall.  Don't know if it still Lights Up, don't Care, it looks Cool over their Smoking Area.  *LOL*

We set the Back Patio and Pool Area up for Entertaining since we have a lot of Guests and that's the gathering area everyone likes best.  We have numerous Tables set up for BBQ's and Buffet Spreads all the time.  We used to take them down and set them up before and after each BBQ or Pot Luck Hosted, but it's too much Work to do that.  So, now we just leave them up out there, with all the Seating too.  That way if someone drops by and we decide to have an impromptu BBQ, we just can do one on The Fly with no Set Up or Take Down necessary.   By next Month we'll do Pool Parties, the Pool is pristine again, Brad the Hot Pool Guy Owner of the Company got his shit together in getting it straightened out.  I'm glad, we like Brad and have retained him for Years now.  He's a smaller Family Owned Biz so his Prices are good and we Support Small Businesses.

These Two Pixs Above and Below didn't turn out so good coz it's very Sunny Poolside and very Shady on the Back Patio... so, no amount of adjusting or using whatever Camera did any of it Justice.   The Daughter set up this Buffet Table with a Vignette of some of my Vintage Pestle and Mortar Collection.  Yes, I use them and think they're Cool, so have Collected various ones for Years and often given some as Gifts to Friends and Family that wanted one.   It's a long Buffet Spread and thus took Two Pixs to get all in and the Vignettes that The Daughter set up for me.  She Loves Decorating and has been finding a lot of my Collections and grouping them together now.  I didn't realize how many I had of some Genres until it's Grouped, which helps me in the Downsizing endeavor now as well.  I am Letting Go of some of the Collectibles I have a lot of.

And, she's having such Fun with it all that it's not like Work to her while she's doing it to help me out.  I get a kick out of how much Fun she's having and how Excited she gets to show me what she's done.  Since, I'm giving her Carte Blanche to go Wild with it.   She can change it up whenever she wants to, it all looks so good I don't Care how often she changes it.  I'm more inclined to make a Vignette and just leave it for a long time coz I'm too Lazy and too Busy to change it often.  *LOL*  Plus, if I get it just the way I want it, no need to change it.  So, my Vignettes I have the way I want them, she leaves alone knowing I'm Happy with the results I did.   So, it's worked out well to be a Team and I really needed the Help, as all long time Readers well know.  *Sigh and it seemed never ending when I was doing it alone!*

 

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Happy Spring from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian