A Trip to the Charity Shop

 As a precursor to the weekend and bearing in mind that I have not been to the CS for nearly three weeks I popped in to see a friend who works there as I hadn't seen her for a while as she wasn't there the last time I went.  I had a look whilst I was present and came across a couple of hand-worked cross stitch Sampler pictures which took my fancy for £3.50 each.  They have unusually both been worked by the same lady and she has worked her name into both pieces. I am not too enamoured of the frames they are in, however I do have a selection of frames to re-frame them with.  I am going to see what is available with them and find the best fit for each individual piece.  

I also found a beautiful picture of a ginger cat which was £5. When I looked on the back the piece has the Artist's name and label on and it originally cost £60.  It looks like an original as I cannot see a numbered item on the piece.  Equally it could be a print. The find is in a beautiful frame which was a lot heavier than it looked. Very substantial.

In the last 30 years or so I have had two ginger cats.  The first was Jessie who I re-homed at 12 years old and had only been re-homed as her original owner had her from a kitten when she was single; she had subsequently married and had children and the children were allergic to her fur.  She was a beauty and only had half a tail. Unusual in that she was pure ginger and female. She was the first cat I had who was very vocal and talked incessantly.  She used to follow me around the house chuntering.  We lost her to Cancer when she was 18-1/2 years old. I was heartbroken after I lost her. 

The second was Tyson, a stray who found  us and made himself at home. We lost him at a similar age.  He was found outside of the pub as it was at the top of the street. He had not been hit, just had laid down and simply slipped away. I was heartbroken over him. The picture however really reminds me more of Jessie.

I also have been after a particular type of storage jar.  The large glass ones that have a lid and which have been very popular recently.  I found one today, and this will also be ideal to store items in on the Dresser. I hope to get some more in due course price was £3.

As most of you will be aware I started renovating the under-stair cupboard or the Little cupboard under the stairs but that has come to a stop.  I hope to start that off again soon especially since the nicer weather appears to be with us.  However I have been looking for useful pieces in which to store things.  I already have two wooden wine racks but saw another one for £3.50 and that has therefore been snapped up too.  Useful for not only wine but bottles of vinegar and oil, water and squashes which I also keep in-house.

As time has gone on, and I have picked up items here and there for under the stairs, I have realised that the whole of the Fireside cupboard needs to be dedicated to Preserves.  Like under the stairs, the cupboards keep cool it would therefore be a waste not to use the cupboard in this way.

I have also obtained another stock pot second hand, but still eminently useful for £7. I intend to make more stock and get that squirrelled away onto the Pantry shelf as well once I have the new electric water bath that I have been after for a little while.  I am hoping to purchase that next month.  It will make my life so much easier.  This will be the replacement for the one that I lost in the fire about five years ago.

I also had a look at the glass section and found several little crystal dishes in the shape of hearts and five small round dishes which I had intentionally bought for making candles.  I may end up using these on the table though as they are very pretty.

A couple of cream matching Lampshades also made it home.  Both a slightly unusual shape.  Both very clean.  However, there is a double reason for buying these.  I intend to use them in the house with a couple of lamps that I have, but equally if that does not work out I can use the frames to create my own covers, or indeed keep the shade material as a support for using strips of fabric for covering.  Once you have the wire frame, you can create from scratch; however the frame gives  you the base.  Prettier metal frames tend to go in seasons and you cannot always get them when you want them.

And a couple of books.  Pillars of Wisdom and a Pam Gregory book about Henry VIII.

Some nice practical finds that have not cost the earth but which will be very useful once everything is collated together and finished.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan.

P.S. Photos to follow later.