We'll be doing some Flashback Friday Imagery in this Post... why not? It's 12-12 and December seems to be flying by!!! Along with some recent escapades in this Post and what we Plan to do in coming days before Christmas is here already. So, this was the Bowl of Vintage 1950's Knee Hugger Elves made in Japan that one of my favorite Vendors had, I liked the slightly Larger Tan one, but he wasn't in the best shape and no longer hugged his Knees. So, I chose the one Below which was Tan & Green, slightly Smaller. If she'd had a cheaper price on each of them I might have just bought them all. Online they're way more expensive than she was asking tho', so she had a reasonable price point.
Considering he's probably Older than me and made of Felt & Plastic, he's in remarkable almost Mint Condition really, just a bit faded. Well, better shape than me anyway, I'm a lot faded. *Bwahahahaha* This Rose is fading fast, what can I say? *Le Sigh and Winks* Ironically a New Vendor whose also Old, introduced himself at Work on Wednesday Night's Shift. He made a comment about the Seventies and asked what I was doing way back then? I said I barely remember now. And he said, "Oh, you don't remember who HE was then?" And I joked back instantly, "You asked WHAT I was doing in the Seventies, not WHO I was doing!" He burst out Laughing, both of us having same Sic sense of humor, clearly.
I still haven't downloaded Images from my Old School Camera. But, I haven't been Slothful, I got the rest of the Christmas Cards done and Mailed. We had 21 total, I added a couple of New more recent Friends I wanted to send one to. Then I made a huge batch of Fresh Salsa. I still have to make that big batch of fresh Chex Party Mix that takes 5-6 Minutes in the Microwave. I found Containers to put it in, which was the main intentional delay in making it... Storage that would be appropriate. It's gorgeous Outside Today and 74 Degrees, perfect Arizona Winter Weather, which is why Snowbirds & Tourists flock here.
I also added Christmas Candy to my Silver Lazy Susan Server that rotates. All of it from the Dollar Store, my 1st Image Panoramic was blurry when I downloaded it, so then I took another a Day later and it revealed how much the Family had already eaten. *LOL* It's what it's there for and I don't eat any of it, since most are Chocolate, so I don't mind, it's just funny to me how quickly they get into it all. There's about 10 different kinds of Chocolates in the outer Ring. The Dollar Store has a good selection and for the price, can't be beat, even tho' now it's up to $1.25 or $1.50 at most Dollar Stores and no longer 99 Cents.
There was a Big Sized Anna Lee Christmas Mouse at SAVERS when I went to pick Princess T up from Work, so I got him... it was Military Discount Day too, so, he was reduced even more than his low price. I used to have enuf Anna Lee Christmas Ornaments to Decorate a whole Tree but Sold them for a lot Years ago at our Antique Mall. Don't regret it, not like I can't find more, they're still highly Collectible. I do regret Selling my Huge Size Anna Lee Christmas Reindeer tho', they fetch so much more now and mine was the largest Size they ever made. I didn't ask enuf for it really.
I tidied up the Showroom and our Locked Case when I went in on Wednesday. I need to swap out Merch on my Shelving, sometimes moving the Displays of it around Stimulates Trade. It looks fresher even if it's all still the same stuff, but at different Eye Levels, Locations and Vignettes looking different with it. The Toys especially need to be Showcased for Christmas pressy options. I don't have a lot of Vintage Christmas and it's been too busy to get a big reorganization Project going in the Showroom to update and re-display everything. Once Customers pack in there it's too crowded to Work in there comfortably and they get too Curious about what you're doing.
The Daughter just got back from her re-scheduled Housecleaning Job, I guess the Clients Kiddos were only Sick for that One Day and out of School. She said it went really well and the Client was happy, she's Cleaned for them before when they Moved and needed to ensure they got their Apartment Deposit back, so Hired her to Deep Clean it. Not that they are dirty folks, they're not, but, she Cleans like the Pros would do it and is Cheaper than Hiring "Merry Maids" or people you can't/don't know and Trust. People know The Daughter is Trustworthy, very Wealthy Clients in Mexico Hired her and Trusted her with Keys to their Homes.
I got a couple of hard to find Vintage Tupperware Storage Containers at SAVERS and it was 30% Off Customer Appreciation Day too, so they were both under $4 each. Retail they are Selling for around $25 each at our Antique Mall from Vendors that Specialize in Vintage Tupperware and Vintage Corelle. One is a Chicken/Ham Keeper, the other is a very large 1970's Salad Bowl with Lid. I got a Vintage Picnic Basket, woven, with Wooden Lid and Metal Handles, I Collect those and stack them to use as Storage in The RV Garage Mahal. The Weave on every one is completely different and often various Colors and Woven in a Pattern. I'm sure you've seen them, they come in different Sizes and stack well like Old Suitcases for Storage and a nice Look. Below are a trio of Pixs of Booth #502 we used to have, further down in this Post is another Booth #317 we used to have too.
We liked both Booths but, Post-Pandemic we did have to Downsize Space becoz the Economy after COVID was a mess and Businesses were in Crisis. The Mall had Closed down during the entire Pandemic. We weren't an Essential Business so we couldn't open until it was over and our Spaces were frozen in Time during that whole uncertain Time Period. After we Re-Opened The Mall did do Right by us and graduated Rents slowly back to normal so everyone wouldn't give Notice and just leave. We didn't know if the Economy would recover or how long it might take? So, we've been thru some hairy times before and toughed it out, we'll do the same now during this shitty ReTrumplican Crashed Economy that Donnie Two Dolls & his Cabal of Vulgarians have caused America.
Vendors I don't even know are coming up and asking me about the Situation of Soft Sales at the Mall. And all I can tell them is the whole Economy is Soft and in Crisis right now. Probably not a good time to start doing something, but, if you're already doing something, you have to decide whether to try to ride it out or not? I don't know some of them can, even if they wanted to, without it really costing them. But Holiday Sales are just not what they usually would be at all. Sales are as Soft right now as they usually are in our Slowest Summer Months, which, we expect and prepare for, so, it is concerning. No idea what 2026 will bring or look like? Unless they impeach this Senile Idiot in the White House and replace him, it doesn't look promising tho'.
Tho' it was a gorgeous Day Outside I didn't spend much time out there, I had a Headache for most of the day and didn't feel great. I didn't feel Sick, I'm just dog Tired and had the Headache, so just took it easy and only picked The Granddaughter up from Work, that's all I had it in me to do. I get up very early to take Princess T to Work, so, it's understandable that I get Tired later in the day. I did put some more Wishing Stones bordering our RV Garage Mahal near the Pool Side. And we have some Baby Palm Trees we're nurturing and hoping will grow. Most were planted by Nature so aren't in ideal locations, but, whatever, it'll do, it's where they wanted to grow and thrive. The transplanted Palm is starting to look like it's recovering from being transplanted now. I liked it's Parent Palm Grove so will be Happy to have that Species of Palm growing Poolside now.
I did get all small To Do List Things done Today, mostly things I'd put off and procrastinated on too long. I think this Weekend we'll also go see Lights on either Friday Night or Saturday Night. We have the Tamale Festival on Sunday Afternoon. I just finished making the 5-6 Minute Microwave Chex Party Mix, it's so fragrant the whole House now has the Aroma and it turns out pretty damned good for something so quick and easy, compared to the lengthy time consuming Traditional Method. So, now I know I can easily make it in my new big Vintage Tupperware Bowl and Store it in it too, I can make it anytime, not just for the Holidays.
Now more Booth and Showroom Pixs that are Blasts From The Past of Spaces we had at one time in the 13 Years we've been at our Antique Mall Location that I dredged up from the Photo Archives Tonight for this Flashback Friday Post:
I'm sure there's more in the Photo Archives I could dredge up, but I'm Tired now and trying to wrap up this Post. It was Nostalgic to look back and I will Share for Flashbacks of being a Vendor at an Antique Mall and the Friends you'll make there.
I have zero regrets about becoming an Antique Mall Vendor and it was a good Retirement decision to make to do something that would prove to be not only a good Hobby, a great way to Downsize, but also a great way to meet new Friends who'd be Kindred Spirits and make Memories with. When you're getting rid of things you've spent a Lifetime Collecting there's so many Memories that go along with the Objects, and Stories. I'm not Selling the Memories and the Stories can be Shared even when the Objects are long gone.
The Letting Go part was initially a Process for me, and still can be, depending upon the Objects I'm Editing and Purging. You develop Attachments and you never know how strong they'll be until you decide, should I Let this Go, or am I not ready to yet? I start usually by sorting Objects into Three distinct piles of Donate, Keep, Sell. The Donation Boxes go out usually the same day so nobody has a chance to start digging thru them and getting Re-Attached. *LOL* The Keep can be a Solid Permanent one or a Temporary one. And the Sell Objects are best not revisited too often until they go out the Door and into our Spaces at the Antique Mall. It is very rare I change my Mind and bring something back. And sometimes I've bought things with the sole intention of Selling them and not Keeping them. Not often, coz I got plenty of Inventory and the Downsizing is The Point.
If ONLY this Tie Dye Beatles Yellow Submarine T-Shirt had been my Size I wouldda Kept it and wore it, alas, it was a Medium, dammit, so, it's up For Sale in Showroom #140. Our Young Customers Love our Fashion Sense and Style Sensibilities, so we are attracting Kindred Spirits that are Teens thru about their 30's as our main Clientele now at the Antique Mall. Princess T rotates out her Wardrobe there too, and uses the proceeds to Buy her Newer Used Wardrobe, mostly from where she Works, but we go Trawling Together for Used/Vintage/Trendy Fashions and it's something we enjoy doing as a Gramma/Granddaughter Duo. The Daughter now goes with us and it's 3 Generational, which is Special. The Young Prince will as well when he returns, he too Shares our Aesthetic. The Son is the only one who doesn't, of the Kiddos, he's got his own Aesthetic/Fashion Tastes, far different than ours, he likes "Dixxon" Clothing now. The Man likes anything with Military Graphics.
Now, when I met The Man in 1989 he was the Sharp Dressed Man that ZZ Top Wrote a Song about. *Winks* And, he looked mighty Swag in Uniform too. *Double Winks* I always liked a Sharp Dressed Man who had Style and Swagger. And, I also liked the Granola Guy Hippie Look too, I ain't gonna Lie, opposite ends of the spectrum. I may be the only Female that actually liked The Man Bun on a Handsome Young Man. *Smiles* I used to know some very Handsome Young 3HO {Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization Founded in 1969} Sikh Men too, who, with their Women, also taught Kundalini Yoga, and just their gentle ways of Being always appealed to me on a visceral level. I remember one of the Women was 69 at the time and looked like she was in her late 20's, and could still do difficult Yoga Poses, so the Healthful Living Practices over Time had Paid Off for her, for sure. I used to do Yoga a lot when Younger, not anymore. I'm still very limber tho' and could probably take it up again.
I found this Pre-COVID Pix of our Booth #317 which we had to let go during COVID. Some tacky Vendor Rented it and Painted over all this wonderful Paneling and Hand Painted Booth Number that my Friend Rhonda had spent a fortune doing when she had this Booth, in the most hideous Gawd-Awful Purple Cheap Paint you've ever seen, Gak, and hard on the Eyes! It almost made me Cry and Princess T asked if the Mother/Daughter Duo were Prostitutes to have that kind of Ghetto Aesthetic with Zero Taste and No Class? *Bwahahahaha*
They are both grossly overweight White Trash looking Gals, sloppy, dirty looking, greasy Hair and quite homely, so match their Ugly Booth, so I kinda doubt they were ever Hookers? But, it is Twenty-Dollar Crack Hooker Taste, or lack thereof, that they do have... Princess T Called it on that one. They mostly Sell Ugly Clothing and Accessories. Yes, I'm being a Mean Girl, I HATE how they molested this Booth we Loved and our Friend Rhonda spent so much Money Upgrading!!! *Growl and Spits on the Ground, LOL*
I was watching Holiday Baking Contests on TV and Holiday Beat Bobby Flay Episodes. We watch the Food Network a lot, I enjoy the Programming, especially during the Holidays when they make Holiday related Episodes. I feel like I've gotten to know most of the Food Network Personalities over the Years too. I didn't know that Chef Jet Tila owned the "Pei Wei" Restaurant Chain until Tonight's Episode tho'!
Here's a pix of my Friend Lesley with Celebrity Tim Holtz. Nice Guy, I've taken Pixs with him too, he knows he has some Older Lady Groupies that Adore him and his Line of Crafting Products. *LOL* He shops at some of the Local Events from time to time, so I've run into him fairly often at them... Rocker Alice Cooper too... and Designer Mary Emmerling... all such Nice folks and not at all pretentious due to being well known and Celebs.
While going down the Photo Archives Rabbit Hole I never know what Nostalgic Imagery I'm going to dredge up. I didn't take nearly enuf Pixs of some things, like this Home when we first moved in. But, I did Crib the Listing Pixs that drew me in and made me Schedule a Showing with our Realtor. Below are some of the Kitchen... and Kitchens and Bathrooms are what typically 'Sell' me on the Interior of any Property and what the Quality of Finishing they do in those Rooms in the way of Countertops, Cabinetry, Tiling, Flooring, Fixtures. This Home had all the Bells, Buzzers and Whistles for me. If I'd picked out the items to Remodel it myself, I would have probably chosen the exact same ones the previous Owner who did Update this Vintage Home did, to turn it into Urban Modern Farmhouse Style.
I LOVE my Granite Countertops in the Kitchen and Bathrooms. This is how my Kitchen should look when it's not cluttered, it's the Listing Pix and when we first moved in it looked like this for about a Year. The more Generations that moved in with us, the more it no longer looked like this tho'. *LOL and Le Sigh* But, I still do Love this Kitchen of our Home. Every so often we do try to declutter it, but, there's no Space to put what's presently on the Counters and we use a lot. We definitely aren't Minimalists in any Room of the Home, so it's rarely Editorial. But, when I do dive deep into my Photo Archives, I see that for a time, when we first move somewhere, it's Minimalistic for perhaps a Year or Two and we CAN Live that way, I don't mind it at all, I just no longer prefer to and I like my Stuff too much to keep it all packed up for more than 1-2 Years after a Big Move.
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Hope you enjoyed the freefall down the Flashback Friday Rabbit Hole... Dawn... The Bohemian
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