I can’t quit talkin’ about the big *adventure* that I went on with my friend Tricia this summer!  We played blog games and Marsha was the winner of all those treasures we collected along the way!

Here are a few pics of her box of goodies just before I sealed it and got that happy mail on its way!

Wanna know what’s in those packages?  You’ll have to hop over to Marsha’s blog and see her pictures!

You could be a winner too!  Just leave a comment and I’ll enter your name in the SweetTalk Thanksgiving Package give-away!

Good Gosh!  September 1st…is it possible?  YES.IT.IS.

No worries, I’m on board!  Marburger Farm opens September 28 and I’m a pricing-packing fool!  The sleepless nights have started as I get so-so excited!  A place where creativity flows!  And so many friends I can’t wait to see!  Theresa’s blog party!  oh my stars!

As usual, I’m getting ahead of myself!  First, a winner has been picked and that winner is ANGELA!  She stopped over during the big *adventure* this summer and played blog games! 

It paid off!  Angela will be receiving a SweetTalk Halloween Package in the mail!  Oh how I love hap-hap-happy mail!  Congrats Angela and thanks so much for hanging out on my blog!

up  next…the September give-away!  A SweetTalk Thanksgiving Package!

BURIED - IN – JUNK!

After getting home from the big *adventure* it took me a few days to recover!  Coming down from a shopping-high is far worse than coming down from a sugar-high!  phew!

Once I got my feet under me…I dove in!  Here are a few pictures of the abyss…ahem, the dining room!  I have a workroom upstairs, but I couldn’t fit all this JUNK any one place! 

plan of attack…upstairs with the Ironstone and downstairs with everything else!

Some of the Ironstone and boy don’t I just love it when I have like-a gazillion butterpats to price!

My little helper, cookie-cat, and the fabulous motel blanket that started all that sneezing!

I’ve managed to work my way through most of it!  I bet you can even see me smiling!

Don’t forget…last chance to leave a comment to be entered in the SweetTalk Halloween Package give-away!  A winner will be picked…tomorrow!  So…hurry…leave a comment!

But I have permanence issues!  There.  I said it!

That’s why there’s no wallpaper in my house!  I figured the second that glue dried I’d be sick-to-death of it!  It’s also why I’ve never owned a RED car!

Weeks of contemplating a major purchase…RED CAR swimming in my head…visualizing myself in a RED CAR…does my wardrobe match a RED CAR…how long will I LOVE a RED CAR?  It’s too much!

I simply have no ability to commit to something like that.  Something that I’m stuck with for a long period of time.  Something that’s expensive to replace.

Hey, this is the *wisdom* part of the aging process!  Just one of the invaluable things I’ve learned about myself!  uh-huh.

I was looking through pics from the yard sale *adventure* and stumbled across this one…

It’s not just a RED CAR…it’s a PINTO!  holy moly!

I just gotta tell you about my friend Shelley!  She was one of my bff’s in high school and her parents bought a green Pinto in 1977.  Now, we didn’t exactly think that a Pinto was a hot car…why they didn’t buy a baby-blue Camaro…to this day…defies logic!

But, nevertheless, when you’re sixteen and you need wheels you are not one bit picky!  So green Pinto it was!

On a typical night out we would head for the neighborhood Church’s Fried Chicken for a large Dr. Pepper.  Not because the DP was anything to get excited about, but because the ice was that shaved ice and we loved to crunch ice!

Back in those days…man I feel old (sometimes)…the official drink holder was between your legs!  That left Shelley to manage the driving duties + shift gears + hold her drink + be on the lookout for boys + look cute doing it ALL!

These two girls put their blonde heads together and came up with a plan…I actually worked the gear shift from the passenger seat!  That freed Shelley up to perform her other duties exceptionally and, really, my only job was to hang on to my drink and look for boys…well…I was happy to help!  We made a great team!

As if one green Pinto wasn’t enough, Shelley’s parents liked the first one so much, they bought another one!  The exact same color only it was a Pinto Station Wagon!  o.m.g.

I think I have finally come down from the high of shopping for double-digit days!  Not sayin’ I like it, just sayin’!

I am, however, buried alive in the bottomless-pit-of-pricing! 

I don’t care what anybody says…this is the fun part…right.

In very disturbing news…I immediately rushed cookie-cat to the
Vet thinking she was coming down with a cold…yes it’s possible…only to discover that every time she lays on the fabulous, vintage pinky-peachy motel blanket (in the middle of the abyss) she sneezes her little furry head off!

How in the world did I end up with a cat that’s allergic to JUNK?  thud.

RED FRIDAY, oh how I’ve missed you!  Once again combining
my love of words with my love of the great minds that put them together!

Tricia and I put together a montage of our BIG yard sale *adventure*!  Hidden some where in the video is the name of the give-away winner! 

watch closely…..

Game #5 was a little tricky!  I said “NO” to all of it!

It’s a stumper…but…the doll hutch (as much as I wanted it) was literally the first stop!  Hard to pull the trigger on a hundred-spot right out of the gate! 

Y’all didn’t think I was serious about that barrel bar, didya?  That’s even a little crazy for me and I’m pretty darn crazy!  I think Debbie got it right…if I had been shopping for my brother it would have been a YES!  And I loved the point Sherry made…it would have been a space eater in Mighty, she knows me too well!

The band hats…man…I struggled!  But that’s the kinda thing I totally heart and no one on this earth would ever buy from me!

The shabby stool…what was not to love?   But there was no room in it to make a few dollars!

The elf…another struggle, but kinda the same as the band hats, so I passed on him too!

Since no one got it totally right…and since I’m in charge of the RULES…for everyone that said *NO* on the barrel bar you get THREE, everyone else gets one!

I’d like to say a gigantic THANKS to everyone for playing!  Tricia and I sat up til the wee hours most every night to get our posts up!  We giggled lots and wondered who would stop by and what your guesses would be!

It has meant the WORLD to us!

You can continue to comment through Wednesday!  Someone WILL have a lucky Friday the 13th!  We will be doing a special post to announce the WINNER! 

And, whether you knew it or not, every time you commented you were also entered in the SweetTalk Halloween Package give-away!  I’ll be picking a winner for that later this month!  So keep those comments coming!

It’s one heck-of-a-lucky month!

I can’t end without a coupla more Fun-Fun-FUNNY signs!

in case you can’t see it too well, it says: hollow for don or arlene

yes, folks, that’s “hollow”!  say it in your bestest twang!

seriously!  even i’m at a loss for words…

In closing this big *adventure* I have to say thanks from the bottom of my Texas-sized-heart to my sweet friend Tricia…btw…be sure to check out her post…she and her bald guy ROCK!  They are gracious, generous and a ton-o-fun! 

I am so blessed to know them and each of you!  It’s been a benefit of blogging I never anticipated! 

me and the bald guy!

me and precious tricia…this morning…our teary-eyed good-bye!

Jane-T signing off on the big *adventure* of twentyten!

I gotta tell y’all…that was a fun-filled, action-packed, bargain-hunting bonanza!  We’re a little dinged up tonight!  But…man…was that ever a BLAST!

Congrats to Lisa!  The penny rug was $450!  Needless to say, it is not wrapped, packed and headed to Texas!

Next up, the fifth and final give-away game of Janet & Tricia’s big *adventure*!   

Get in on this one so you don’t miss a chance at the grand-daddy of prizes!

We have shopped on your behalf putting together a package of goodies you will hope you win…PROMISE!

For the last game you will be guessing whether or not I did or did not purchase these treasures I stumbled across in our journey! 

Of course, there was more to buy than even I could imagine…decisions had to be made…hard choices!  But I pushed through!  Pulled the trigger a few (well, a lot) of times and actually managed to walk away a time or two!

#1. i’m crazy for it’s-not-the-size-it’s-suppose-to-be!  found this doll hutch early in the game…not only is it adorable BUT it’s PINK and green!  the price?  $100!

#2.  who doesn’t need a good barrel bar?  padded, in stylish brown AND it closes!  sweet!  it could be that unusual piece that’s perfect for Marburger Farm!  this one was on the market for $95!

#3.  next up, this adorable white, shabby step stool!  meets all my *look* criteria and just $25!

#4.  love me a good bargain…two for the price of one!  these band hats are just quirky enough for me, but would anyone else like them?  hmmm.  a mere $20! 

#5.  last, this cute little elf!  who wouldn’t want to take this little guy home for a quick $20!

Keep in mind that I’m (trying!) to buy wholesale…I have to weigh whether or not I can make a little money on the flip and would anyone else love it enough to pay me for it!  Always a challenge!

yes or no..get to GUESSING!

Tricia is at it again!  Type-Type-Typing!  Check out her post tonight and see what game she’s got goin’ on!

It’s the last chance to get your name in the hat, so you best leave a comment!  The winner will be picked Friday the 13th…Good Luck!

Okay, Angela, you got it goin’ on girlfriend for guessing the shovel with the stupendous plastic (no less) floral arrangement!  Once I picked myself up off the floor…through watery eyes and laughter…the only thing I could think to say was: you can’t be serious! 

Angela gets FIVE and everybody else gets ONE in the hat!

Thanks for your comments…it was a tough one!  They ALL qualified!

Game #4 in the big *adventure* give-away is multiple choice!  My personal favorite from my school days!

So, have you ever seen a penny rug?  I found a dealer the other day that had some fabulous penny rugs!  I don’t see them too often and I stood there mesmerized by one in particular….pink and gray…which were the colors I happened to be wearing that day!

First I’ll give you a little background…not that I know anything about them…I just did the Google thing and learned a fact or two myself! 

They were made around the time of the Civil War from scraps of wool or felted wool from old clothing, blankets and hats.  They used coins as templates, thus the name!  They weren’t made to be actual rugs, but rather used as decorative coverings for beds, tables, dressers and mantles.  Sometimes they were made into pillows or used as wall hangings.  Do I sound like an encyclopedia?

cool…huh?

You get to guess how much this one cost!  Sadly, in my awe, I only snapped one picture, but it’ll do…

Your choices:
A. $100 – $200
B.  $201 – $300
C.  $301 – $400
D.  $401 – $500
E.  more than $500

It was a beauty!  Get Ready…Get Set…Go!  Guess…Now!

Tricia is sitting next to me typing away!  Be sure to jump over to her blog and see what she’s up too!  I know…it’s FUN cuz she’s FUN!

New?  No worries…check out the rules!  Friday, August 13 we are pickin’ a winner!  We have one day left to add to the goodie bag that the lucky duck will receive!  We have been gathering treasures all along our travels and you absolutely want to WIN!

I can’t close without showing you the sign we saw today…really…I knew there was no way you would believe it if I didn’t show you…prepare to laugh ~ out ~ loud!

Careful.  I can’t tell you how many times today we have said “slaw down“!  In just a few short hours it became part of our vocabulary and I have no doubt it will be for the ages!

The shopping theme for the day was: INSIDE!  I was draggin’ a tiny bit…that is, until we got to the first stop and then I was ready to go!  But Tricia and I were a worn out with the sun beating down on us!

Today we looked for shade trees, pavilions and inside malls!

My second theme for the day was: $5!  Whatever I was considering needed to be $5 or less cuz taking that backpack off my sweaty back took lots of energy!  If it was 5 or less it was a heck-of-a-deal and worth the effort!

Now for the important news….Marsha is the winner of yesterday’s post ~ game on…here’s your sign!  She was the first to guess the *load limit* sign, but I have to tell ya’ the *fried chicken lonely women* was a very close second!  Marsha gets her name in the hat FIVE times and everyone else gets their name thrown in too!

I hope y’all are having fun with this cuz I’m having a blast!

If you’re a JUNK shopper then you know you see some pretty crazy things along the way!  Although I could pack this post with a zillion pics, I picked my favs!  Like last night…your guess tonight is for the one that when I saw it I said: YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!

is there really anything to say about this?

yes, that’s a shovel…with a plastic (attached) floral arrangement…for $19.95!

i just have one question…when was the last time you went to an antique mall for your feminine products?  that’s what I thought!

throw the diaper genie away…that’s gross!

speechless…

janet…you’re not in Texas anymore! thanks Tricia-the-trooper for holding up the “hillbilly brief case”!  

this dealer took on the tedious task of taping down each of these pieces of doll furniture!  man.  would i love to meet the mind behind that idea!

and when you throw out the diaper genie toss the old bras with it…i don’t want my own old worn-out bra…why would i want one of these?

and when you pick up your feminine products…at the antique mall…don’t forget to grab the country ham!

stop.  please donate your clothes…if i see another rack of clothes i’m going home!  well, maybe nothing that drastic but you get the idea!

There you go!  A mere sampling of the *you can’t be serious* things I’ve seen in the past few days!

Tricia has a great gig on her blog…check it out!

Want in on the game?  Check out the rules!  And then start guessing!