Summer Lovin' Event ~ Highland Yard Vintage

 

While we were at the Event a Vendor who crafts Homemade Soaps had some of the Prettiest Soaps I've ever seen.  I've had some allergies so I couldn't say how fragrant they probably were.  My Sniffer was impaired this day, due to it being a high pollution advisory kinda day, which aggravates allergens you might suffer from.   I probably should have bought at least one, perhaps the next Event when I can smell the Aromas of each.   I Photographed some of them anyway becoz they were so Editorial and Attractive for a Photo Op as Eye Candy Blog Fodder.

This was my Altered Yard Art Angel, wearing a Dragonfly Crown and an attractive Necklace.   The Vendor had a 25% Off Sale and she happens to be one of my favorite Artisans/Vendors, she's so Creative and has Unique Merch.   He's heavy as a Boat Anchor and I think it is Terra Cotta with a Metallic Paint, and is quite large... Loved his Crown and Necklace.  I have a similar one around the Pool that I might Pimp Out to match this one, spray it with Metallic Spray Paint and put some Vintage Jewelry on it too.   I've had my other one for Decades, my Dad bought it for me, so, it's got Sentimental Value.

This is the Vintage Suitcase I bought, it's a small size one, smaller than most I have in my Collection that are similar.   So, it intrigued me since I didn't know they made them this Small.   The Vendor had a good price on it too.   The Fabric Vintage Butterscotch Striped Suitcases from the 1920-1930 Eras are my all time Favorites to Collect.  The price of them has gone way up in recent Years so it's getting harder to Source them at a decent price now.   I'm glad I got most of mine before people began Collecting Vintage Suitcases and they weren't Trending in those days, so, you could get them on the Cheap back then.

I got this Altered Art Luggage Tag too from a Paper Arts Vendor.  They were Selling a lot of Crafting Supplies, but had made up some Tags and had them priced inexpensively.   I use Tags like these on my Storage and put what the Contents are on the backside on a Post-It Note that can be changed without damaging the Tags.   It's a Pretty way to Organize and Label your Storage items in Vintage Suitcases and Industrial Style Baskets or Lockers.   I enjoy making my own Altered Art Tags as enjoyable Craft Projects, but haven't had a lot of time to do it lately.  So when I see some I like pre-made and inexpensive, in a Style I'd do my own in, I always Buy them to use too.

 

More of those Pretty Homemade Soaps.   I've been fascinated by Soap Making and at one time thought I might like to learn how to do it as a Hobby.   I've bought Handmade Soaps at Specialty Shops before and have some Brands and Fragrances we use.   One time I got Princess T a Bath Bomb Making Kit and it was just so messy we wouldn't do it again tho'.  I'm thinking Soap Making might be similar?  The Idea of doing it being more Romanticized than the actual production mess Reality?  *LOL*  So, we've never pursued it and prefer to just Buy both now.  We have quite a Cache of Bath Bombs in various fragrances, Soaps, Incense and Candles.  We use all of them frequently enuf to need a Stash of each.

Here's something I'd never seen before, a Captain Kangaroo Game, it was expensive tho'... but, when I looked them up Online this Vendor had it for half the Cost of it Online.   It was produced in 1956... I remember the Show, which aired from 1955-1984, and I remember Mister Green Jeans being a Character on the Show.   When we lived in Great Britain I remember Miss Rosalyn of a Show called Romper Room.  I remember she used to have a Mirror without a Glass that she'd look thru and pretend to see all the Kids in the TV Audience thru and say, "I see _____", and call out Kid Names.  I'd always wait for her to call out my Name and she never did becoz my Mom gave me a Name that was very Bohemian for my Era.   The Boys Name of Don was common, but not the Girls Name of Dawn back then.

Mom being very Bohemian and my Dad being Native American, they Named me becoz I was Born at the break of Dawn and it seemed therefore fitting.   By the Hippie Era, of coarse unusual Names became more commonplace and I'd finally meet other Gals with my Name who were Born of that Era.  And nowadays it seems people are more creative in Naming their Children too.   When I was growing up it seemed the Girls Names I recall being commonplace were Mary, Deborah, Susan, Linda, Karen, Patricia, Barbara, Donna, Cynthia, Nancy and such.  For a long time you'd have several Girls with the same Name in every Class at School.  *LOL*

I gave my Kids Unusual Names and they were the only ones with their Name at School.  Where, Popular Names still dominated their Classmates, tho' Popularity of certain Names for various Eras always changes.   I remember The Daughter had so many Friends Named Nicole, Brandy, Jennifer, Christina, Crystal, Amber, Ashley, Lindsay and Courtney, that we started giving some of them Nicknames to differentiate them!!!!!  *LOL*   I've never used The Family's Real Names on my Blog, but, The Daughter said she wouldn't mind if I did for her. So, I can throw it out there that I Named her Talana, which means Wild Flower... and, she has lived up to that definition and Name.  *LOL*  

The Son could give a shit about his Name being on my Blog either, his Name has now gained Popularity these days.   But, when he was Born, here in America, there were few Boys Named Liam, which is the Gaelic version of William, the meaning being Warrior.   Of coarse in Wales and Ireland you have more Males Named Liam.   I gave my Daughter a Native American Name and my Son a Gaelic Name to Honor the Cultures and Ethnicity of my Parents.   The Oldest Daughter's Name was chosen by The Man and I couldn't Believe it when he told me he Named her after an Old Girlfriend... since, I don't even know if his Ex knows that Fact?!   How could he?!!!!!!!!   Holy Crap Honey, what WERE you thinking?  Who does that???!!!   Men!!!!!!!   *Bwahahahaha*   I don't think his Ex or the Grandkids back East read the Blog to know that... whew.   *LOL* 

I know when one of the Granddaughters back East Named one of her Daughters I thought it an Odd choice for a Modern Child and mentioned it to The Man.   I wondered why she gave the Great-Grand-Kid what I consider an Old Lady's Name of a bygone Era long past?   I'm glad I didn't say anything to the Granddaughter about it tho' and risk offending her, since, apparently her Beloved Maternal Grandma had just Passed before the Baby was Born and so it was a Namesake!   The Man is like, "Oh, that was my Ex-MIL's Name Honey..."  Jeeeeesus, well, yikes, dodged a bullet there by not mentioning the Name being Archaic then... Whew!!!!!   Pretty damned sure she'll be the only one with that Name of her entire Generation tho'.  Since it hasn't been used in like Four Generations now and probably fell out of Popularity Circa 1930 or so!  *LMAO*

   

I remember my Younger Brother Dating a lot of Hippie Era Gals with names like Rainbow, Sky, Autumn, Willow, India, Indigo, Saffron, Karma and such.   He has an Ex whose name was actually Misty Delight, I Kid you not!!!!!   Her Parents were highly Educated Hippies, her Dad became an Admiral in the Navy and her Mom became a University Professor, but, when they were Young Adults in College, they were Hippies to their Cores and Named their Kids accordingly... and, probably when High I suspect?  *LOL*    And The Young Prince's Dad also Named the Younger Brother and Sister some definite Modern Hippie Names.  I remember asking my Grandson, was your Dad and his Girlfriend High when they Named your Siblings?   

Okay, I'm throwing it out there, when he told me his Little Sister's Name after she was Born, I'm like, "Isn't that a Strain of Weed?"   And, yep, it is... pretty sounding, but, just sayin'... most people would know even if they don't partake, that Indica is...  *LOL*   And The Daughter laughed her Ass off when I told her about what her Ex had Named his Daughter and said, "Shit, that's as messed up as if I'd Named one of my Daughters Crystal..."   {ie: she used to be a Meth using Tweaker before she got Clean...}   Okay, so that's funny in a Dark Gallow's Humor way and I Laughed my Ass off too.  But, I countered with at least now your Ex only partakes of Weed... he used to be a Hard Drug user before he got Clean too.  So... to his Credit he's making some Positive Progress and being a better Parent now than he was when you had your Son together and nobody could Parent him. 

And now we've discussed Names... on to Food Porn of the day.  *Winks*  And No, I did not partake, becoz Thankfully, before we got to the Event, The Man and I had stopped at "The Tipsy Egg" for Brunch and had a lovely Breakfast of Healthier Fare, pictured Below.   I tried something different, often hard for a Creature of Habit like myself when it comes to Meals.   At certain Restaurants I tend to get stuck on my Favorite Dishes they make and don't branch out as often as I should to try other things on their Menu.   But, I'm glad that I did since their Southwestern Style Omelet was Divine... and called The Whole Enchilada, or something like that.  *LOL*

It came with a Side of Cheesy Potatoes, also Divine, and some Homemade Rye Bread with Homemade Berry Jam, also Divine.  There was so much Food it will Serve me for Two Breakfast Meals and I'll eat the other half of it this Morning actually.  I think I may make a Breakfast Burrito out the Leftovers in fact.   The Omelet had some fabulous Chorizo in it, along with other yummy ingredients, and looked as good as it tasted.  Their Presentation at "The Tipsy Egg" is very Bougee and Upscale, but I really like that when I eat out.  If they have unusual flavor profiles in their Menu, that's a Bonus with me... I HATE Boring Food... Yawn.  

 I don't like predictable Food I could easily make at Home myself.  I want something that Tastes like a Master Chef Created it.  Since my Dad was a Master Chef, I grew up Spoiled like that and am a Food Snob to my Core.  *LOL*   And, I think Food, if Presented well, is Beautiful and Photogenic.  Which is Why everyone on Social Media always Loves my Food Porn.   It's funny coz now most of my Friends and Family have begun Photographing their Food becoz of me.  *Bwahahahahha*  I've formed rather a Cult of doing it now and we compete for whose Photographing the BEST Food Porn?   My Niece asks me how mine always looks better than hers?   I joke now that it's coz I'm in the Food Mecca of Urban Metro Phoenix and she's in some Bumfuck Town in Rural Oklahoma.  She said I could be Right... *LMAOROTF*

So, I was Photographing this for The Book of Faces Wall and she was Photographing the Meal she was eating Below.   She said I Won the Battle of the Foods, but, I thought hers looked pretty Tasty actually and she did a good Job of Pathological Picture Taking of her own Food Porn.   I'm Surprised, given her Options there, that her Meal actually looked that good... and Ethnic.   Since, I've been to Oklahoma... and well... never had any reason to wanna ever go back!   Even tho' all my Dad's People still live there... but on the Rez... which is a whole other Culture Shock if you're a City Lovin' Gal and Lifelong Global Nomad like me.  *Bwahahahaha*  I remember when I was 16 and first Visited my Paternal Native American Relatives and saw how my Dad likely grew up.  It was like something I'd seen on National Geographic Documentaries!

Okay, so, this was the Niece's Dueling Food Porn... pretty Good I thought.   Looks like they might have a Greek or Two in Rural Oklahoma giving it some Flavor?  *LMAO*   But, she Confesses that they don't have near the selection she was used to in Phoenix... and... that does not Surprise me in the least.  In many States we've been to there has been some Cultural Deprivation evident.   Yet, in others, there is Rich diversity or distinctions, so, you often just have to look for it and what an area is Known for.   I'm one of those Foodies that will seek out whatever an area is Known for and try it at least once, twice or more if I like it.  *winks*   I will try almost anything at least once, even some Fear Factor shit... since, you just never know.  I saw a Show the other day where they were in the Jungles of Southeast Asia and a Local talked them into Tasting some live Jungle Ants.  Turns out the Film Crew Loved them and said they tasted like Lime Doritos.  Who knew? *LOL*

Anyway, suffice to say I was all the more Grateful for how our Parents gave us the Opportunities they did and Traveled the World, so we had exposure to ever so much more in Life than either of them ever had.  Variety is indeed the Spice of Life.  I didn't mind my Mom's Country and where she grew up, it was very different and a Culture Shock too, of a different kind.  But Quaint and not impoverished like the Reservations of America.  The Hills of North Wales was a switch from what I was used to, I was about 13 the first time I visited my Mom's Country again, even tho' I was actually Born there.   She always went Home to give Birth to her Children, mostly due to how Intercultural/Interracial Unions were treated in America in those days.   But, in her Country we were always treated very well, people Loved my Dad and of coarse he was quite an Attraction, being a "Red Indian" as the Welsh called him.  *LOL*

 

Dad also Loved Wales and almost every International Assignment he ever had.   He always said if it hadn't been for it being a War in Vietnam, the Country itself and it's People, were a Rich and Beautiful Culture he easily Bonded and fell in Love with.   He, unlike a lot of American GI's of the Vietnam Era, came Home and Befriended many Vietnamese who now live here.   In fact, I've told the Story before, but most Asians just assumed that my Dad was Asian too.   Becoz a great many of them had never met a Tribal Native American and assumed he was an Indigenous Person of Southeast Asia's Tribal Ancestry, which, they do have there too.   He always Laughed and said he never corrected them when clearly they thought he was a "Jungle Native" and not a "Reservation Indian of America".  *Bwahahaha*

I'm pretty damned sure I get my Twisted Sic Dark Sense of Humor from my Dad in fact.  *LOL*   My Dear Mom always Joked that we had a Heathen's Sense of Humor, since, Mom could be Funny as Hell, and Naughty, but in a more Proper and Refined way.  *Bwahahahahahaha*  Okay, so I don't think anyone has EVER described me as either Proper or Refined... so, clearly I don't get any of that from her.  *LMAO*   Mom was a Lady thru and thru, even tho' she was very Bohemian in Spirit and Aesthetic, so not your Garden Variety Woman of her Era at all.   When everyone else's Mom looked like Leave it to Beaver's June Cleaver, my Mom looked like Carmen Miranda on Steroids.   Yes, the Brazilian Bombshell reminded me of my Mom so much when I was a Kid. *Smiles*  And in her Youth, my Mom was a Dancer and could have gone Professional, doing everything from Ballet to Ballroom Dance, she was that good.

In fact, on my Maternal Nanna's side of the Family they came from a very long line of Entertainers who were Musically and Artistically inclined.  Just about all of Nanna's Family had fabulous Singing Voices, could play any Instrument, Dance and did Theater.   In fact, her Dad, my Great-Grandfather, was a Professional Musician and Singer all his Life.  My Mom's Older Brother could sing Opera and her Younger Sister had a Voice like Judy Garland.  Alas, my Mom was the only one in her entire Family who didn't get Blessed with a Singing Voice, but she could Dance up a Storm.  And, the Young Prince can play any Instrument, and is madly Artistic and Theatrical, so, he Inherited some of the Talent from that side of the Family, clearly, since, he didn't have to be Taught any of it, it came Naturally.

 

But, I digress, back to the Event.  *Smiles*   Forgive me, I got a Sick Kid Home from School Today, Princess T feels really ill.  Her Mom does too but doesn't want to miss any more Work.   Her Boss really needs her right now, she's organizing some of the Office for him in preparation of them soon getting a larger Location.    Anyway, back at the Event, they were giving Customers Free Refreshments and the Strawberry Lemonade on the Right was some of the best I've ever had!!!   In fact, I had Wished they'd been Selling whatever they made it with, I would have bought some to make it at Home.   I do like Cucumber Water too, it's very refreshing on a Hot Day and it's getting Hot now.  I think Spring was brief and we warped right into Summer now... it's in the 90's already and getting toastier.  That's not unusual for the Desert, but, we haven't had Usual Weather, so, you never know for sure anymore.

For Sure I'll be Working from Home Today tho' with having a Sick Kiddo.  So, I'm Glad that The Man and I had our Day Out the other day, since, we'll be Anchored here Today and I'll devote that time to pricing and sorting more Inventory to bring in when I have to stock up with Fresh Merch in the New Showroom.   I'm trying to empty out the Old Showroom now and wrap that up by next Week.   I did get to see Ken, who Vacated my New Showroom.  He's looking more like himself and said he feels good now, has recovered from his Catastrophic Injuries, and only has one more Surgery to endure now.  I'm so glad, he LOOKS good now, I'd been very concerned for him last time I'd seen him and when I saw the Pixs he showed me of him in ICU after his Injuries, it was horrific!!!   It's a Wonder he Survived and his Injuries were indeed catastrophic and Life Threatening and potentially Life Altering too.  His Recovery is Miraculous and I'm so Glad.

 

We joked like we always have and it's evident to me he suffered no long term Brain Injury from his Catastrophic Head Trauma from the Fall, whew.   He said he is Grateful he didn't end up like The Man, since, Ken knew The Man before the Catastrophic Head Injuries my Husband sustained in his Accident.  So, Ken knows all too well how Life Altering that was for us all.  He said he's Grateful his Wife only had to endure his Recovery Period, which was Months long, but Brief by comparison to what our Family went thru and still goes thru.   I'm so Glad, his Wife is a Dear Woman and he's a Vibrant Senior, so it would surely have altered their Life so much had he not made such a remarkable Recovery and fully gotten back to himself within a matter of Months.  Not that it was probably easy and without some risks and challenges.

  

Ken did give up most of his Spaces there and all of his Shifts.  But he told me the Accident was just a handy excuse to, it was Time, and he's enjoying now having just some Locked Cases and Wall Space there to hawk his Mantiques.   He's concentrating now on just the Smalls, which is the Bread and Butter there anyway and a lot less riskier on some many levels.   I'd been warning him even before his Accident that just becoz he COULD still do some things, doesn't mean he SHOULD at our Season of Life.  He's my Age, and I'd forewarned him and he didn't heed it.  He did joke that he should have heeded his Old Gypsy Friend's Forewarnings, as they were eerily accurate, even tho' he didn't used to Believe in such things until he met me and has Witnessed Predictions come to Pass over the Years of knowing me.   Had our Friend Tom heeded my Warning NOT to have his Surgery, which was supposed to be low risk, he wouldn't have Died directly after it from unexpected complications.

Ken and I had actually Worked with Tom the Night before that Surgery.   Tom had been talking to me about it and I'd told him since it was an Elective Surgery, and neither of us had a Peace about it, perhaps he should Cancel.   But, his Wife wanted him to go thru with it and I didn't wanna get in the middle of such a personal Family decision.  But, after Tom left to go Home I told Ken, he's not gonna make it if he has that Surgery, and it's troubling me that he's going to do it anyway.  Sure, enuf, in the Morning we got Word that he'd Died shortly after coming out of Surgery, of unexpected complications.  I wasn't Surprised and it really Creeped Ken Out that I'd Known, but couldn't exactly explain to him how I Know sometimes, just that I do.  

But, that some Predictions, if Forewarnings, can be Avoided if you heed them.  You can have a different Outcome if a Premonition is merely a Warning to Avoid something.  That was one of them.  If I Feel a Premonition can't be Avoided, I won't even tell it, you're not supposed to... and my Mom always told me to keep those ones to yourself.  Or don't tell it to the Person involved anyway.  Like when someone's Time is Close, don't fucking say it even if you 'See' it... and sometimes I do, and I Hate it actually.  Especially if I know the Person and Care about them.   When I was a Kid I didn't know everyone couldn't Know some things like that and I'd blurt out to my Mom that someone was near their Time.  Since she had that uncanny ability to, she'd shush me and tell me never to Voice it even if I Knew it and Saw it.  

{SIDENOTE: I want The Young Prince to Paint a Cactus Mannequin like this one.}  But I digress... back on Topic:  Becoz it's not something you can Avoid, it will just happen, so there's no Benefit or Kindness to the inevitable on those Predictions and it would just be upsetting to everyone.   But, if a Person might Die due to a Plane Crash, they could Avoid getting on THAT Flight... things like that, Okay to Tell and Warn.   I knew my Dad's Time was Close when it was, even tho' his Docs had given different Western Medical Timelines.   Which can be accurate or woefully inadequate and erroneous in fact.   So, I don't Receive them as Gospel for your Expiration Date... just sayin'.   You're really not Dead 'til God says so in actuality.

 I told my Mom, but didn't have to tell Dad since he Knew too and told me it was Okay, he knew when it would be a Good Time to Die... and, he Called it spot on actually.   He Voiced it to me that Day at his Bedside, that the Day was the Good Time to Die, looked out his Window, and passed soon afterwards, giving up The Ghost as they say, on his own Terms really.  I don't know I'd have the wherewithal to do that when it's my Time, but I Hope so, it was Peaceful.   Opposed to Mom's, who fought it tooth and nail and stubbornly held on past Time.  Not Peaceful at all. 

*********

Even if our Past hasn't been necessarily Peaceful, may our Present be Peaceful... and our End... Dawn... The Bohemian

Fugglers And Girl's Day Out

 

Princess T and I had our Girl's Day Out on Wednesday.   We went to both of our Antique Mall locations, ours to put some fresh Merch in, the one in Downtown Phoenix to Shop.   She got some adorable Plush Toys she wanted, Hello Kitty and Pokemon Characters.  I ended up finding out that Wal-Mart had Fugglers on Sale, so picked up some to add to my Collection.  It's officially a Collection now that I have more than Three.  *Smiles*  They are pictured lower in the Post, either you'll think they're whimsically creepy or just hideously grotesque?  *LOL*   

I have a British Vintage one and adding to it with some of the new Line that has become popular now on this side of the Pond, was so much fun.   The Wal-Mart I went to had them for only just over Seven Bucks each, a Bargain, since, Online or in Antique Malls, they're usually over Twenty.   So, I picked up a few of my favorites.  I'll trawl some other Wal-Marts around the City to see what others they carry, since, Online, not only are they expensive to order by Mail, but Postage would be more than I paid for mine.   They have some of the Line with Three Eyes and I'd like one of those if I can Score one locally?

 

And speaking of Weird and Wonderful Scores, I Scored a Pair of Taxidermy Turtles whilst Goodwill Hunting for a mere Two Bucks each!  I don't think they realized they were Real?  *LOL*   Another Customer happened to peer into my Cart and say, "Those look so Realistic, don't they?"  *Bwahahahaha*  I'm sure she would have been Freaked Out and shit her Pants had she known that's coz they WERE Real.  *Smiles*  Anyway, Princess T were out so long we had Brunch and then Dinner out, my choice for the first Restaurant, hers for the second.  At the Downtown Brass Armadillo Antique Mall several of my Friends were working and they weren't very busy, so we had time to visit.  Our location was very busy by comparison.

 

Tomorrow is Two Events, but I'm still boycotting the one due to my Negative Experience in February, so, we'll be attending and covering their Competitors in the East Valley instead.   I prefer spending our time and money where I don't have to put up with the risk of Negative Energy from anyone who doesn't know how to treat people Right.   I still don't Trust myself not to get confrontational with the Woman responsible for Offending and Insulting us in February at the other Event.  Becoz too many others there are my Friends and I have mad Respect for them and they can't be held responsible for how she behaved, I wouldn't wanna cause a Scene or a Situation, so, better I just not go.

 

I've already had some Friends there contact me privately and they know what happened and hope that eventually, I might return.  But for now, I told them I have no desire to and I can't say how long I'll boycott on account of that Woman?   I can always do business with anyone I want to Privately, they know how to contact me and I know how to contact them.  There's so many other Options that it doesn't matter if I ever return or not really, we'll wait and see how I feel about it as Time passes?    I'm one of those people that fully Believes that if you Treat me Badly Once, shame on YOU, but if you Treat me Badly Twice, shame on ME.   Nobody has to or should EVER put up with mistreatment by anyone, period.

Everyone at our other Antique Mall Location was thrilled to hear I got a new Showroom in a better Location in our Mall and also a Locked Case.  They've had more openings at their Location and I know the Manager very well as a Friend too, but, it's too long a commute into Downtown Phoenix.   They're far Northeast from where we live.  I once had a Space there, before our Mall was built, but, it proved to be too far to properly Maintain it.   It was good to see everyone, since, I don't get out that way very often and it had been a while since I'd been there.  They had a lot of New Vendors and some of my Favorite Old ones had unfortunately left.   Turnover happens, it's not unusual, Sad when the good ones leave tho', I'll miss them.

One of my Favorite Paper Arts Vendors has left, I knew she was Retiring, I'll miss her a lot.   But, one of my long time Friends who Specializes in Paper Arts has moved in and now has a Space, which makes up for it Merchandise wise.  I bought some of her Tim Holtz Retired Line Merch Today while I was there.   Many of the Big Box Craft Stores quit carrying his Line due to Loss Prevention Issues.  Sadly apparently a lot of the Suburban Housewife Crafters were doing the Five Finger Discount of his Popular Line and fucked it all up for those of us who Pay for our Purchases... damn them Thieving fuckers!!!   I had asked Managers of several "Michael's" Big Box Craft Stores about the absence of his Line and was told the reason why they quit carrying it was due to excessive Theft. 

The Man will attend the Event in the East Valley with me Tomorrow.  He likes that Event a lot, and it's a Two-Fer with the Antique Mall being in front of where the Event is held in the Warehouse behind it.   The Theme for the Month is "Summer Lovin'" and the sneak preview images on Social Media look inspiring.  Unlike the Antique Mall Spaces, the Events have a Theme and only last Four Days a Month, then are completely different for each Month and Theme after that.   It's a lot of Work on behalf of those who participate, but, I've heard it's worth it since it does attract Shoppers who like the variety and Theme of an Occasional Sale.  

I happen to like them a lot myself, tho', I'd never be tempted to be part of one as a Designer/Vendor.  I have no delusions how much Work is involved to pull one off Month after Month.   I have a lot of Inventory at my disposal, but, not Theme Based or necessarily even Seasonally Based.  I wouldn't want to have to try to Source Inventory for Monthly Themes and Holidays, that would be a lot of pressure and expense I just don't want to bother with and be committed to.   I know a lot of Vendors who made a lot of Money doing it but then had to quit on account of the stress, pressure and expense involved.  With a Theme you risk having leftover Inventory not Sold and stuck with.  I never Buy anything to Sell that I wouldn't want to have to Keep if it doesn't Sell.

Even the Vintage and Specialty Wardrobe and Accessories we're Selling, someone in the Family could Keep and Wear if it doesn't Sell.   Plus, if we've enjoyed something a long time, I don't even mind Donating it to a Charity either.   I'm a Hobbyist tho', this isn't something we're trying to make a Living doing, it's something we mostly do to amuse ourselves and to Downsize.   There's a lot to Downsizing and it takes a long time, so you might as well make it enjoyable for the long haul of divesting yourself of objects that are now excess.   I found that doing that via Renting an Antique Mall Space was easier than constantly Hosting Tag Sales or Selling it Online, and drew a more suitable Demographic than the former, less Time invested than the latter.

Just about every Senior I know, and especially those who were/are Incurable Collectors, reach Critical Mass at some point and need to then Downsize what they have.   Many other factors are in play, especially if you're also Downsizing your Living Space, which, most of us also do as our Families grow up and we get Older and want to maintain less.   Not that maintaining a Mini Farm was the Vision I had for the Forever Home, but, in speaking with the extended Family, it just happened to be the Right decision given how the Future played out after we purchased it.  I couldn't have predicted we'd have Multigenerational Living long-term after The G-Kid Force were Raised and grew up.  I didn't expect Grown Kids to need to move back Home either.

 

While Princess T and I were out having our Girl's Day together, she even said how many of the Homes we looked at and tried to Buy, wouldn't have been as Ideal as this one once everyone moved back.  *LOL*   So, it was really Divine Intervention that none of those panned out and this one did.   Sometimes things just are as they should be and you realize that.   When Doors Close and things don't work out, there is usually a reason that you can recognize later on, that made it beneficial.   Sure, we Loved every Home we tried to Buy, and those we Sold too, but, at the end of the day, this one was the most perfect for how Life just played out after the Purchase of it.

I know I'm pleased with this being our Forever Home, the Location and everything about the Property and Community just suits us perfectly.  I feel fortunate that we bought it just before the Market exploded and it would make these Mini Farms far out of our economic reach now.  With VA Loans you are limited on how much you can pay for a VA Insured Loan and we knew we wanted to use The Man's Entitlement to fund the Purchase of this one.   And, at the time Rates were 2% so I also wanted to Close the Deal before that Window of Opportunity Closed and would never been seen again in our Lifetime.   I've had Paid off Real Estate several times.  I still Own some, we have 48 Acres in Northern Arizona that is Free and Clear.   But, with the Cost of Homes now, a Mortgage was more sensible and realistic than a Cash transaction.

Sadly, gone are the Days of being able to pay Cash for a Home or a New Vehicle unless you are affluent... at least in Arizona and many other higher cost of living States.   And the places left where you still could, I wouldn't want to live, so, there's that.  *LOL*   The American Dream is shrinking rapidly for far too many people now.   I know that for Young People they don't think Home Ownership or even Renting is within reach anymore for most of them.   When the average crappy Rental is commanding more than I'm paying for a Mini Farm, or even a Half Million Dollar piece of any Real Estate Locally, I can see why they feel that way.  And I don't know too many Young Folk who can Qualify for a Million Dollar Listing to ensure being in a better Neighborhood now.

 

Even when trawling some of the Low Income Neighborhoods now I see Investors buying up all of the Homes that were For Sale and Flipping them.   So, your Average Home Buyer could never compete with the Cash Transactions of Investors like that when trying to find and Buy any Affordable Housing that might still be left.   Sometimes the Investors aren't even interested in Flipping.   They're busy Gentrifying and Buying Up entire Low Income area Real Estate, Razing it all, then building something nobody can afford who currently lives there, driving them out. It's all quite transactional and strategic, to make the Rich wealthier and displace the rest permanently. 

There is a ridiculous amount of Construction going on, but it's all Luxury Apartments and Homes, not Affordable Housing for Locals, at all.   And you see "Help Wanted" everywhere at Jobs not paying enuf to even make Rent at any of those Rentals, let alone someone who has Bought a Home and has a current Mortgage at what Homes Cost now and Interest Rates are.   So, there is a snowball effect to what's going on.   When they say there's lots of new Jobs unfilled, well, Yeah, if you want to Work for less than you can Live on, there is.   The Son has a good Job he's been at for Years, but he can't afford any Apartment Locally and would never Qualify to Buy a Home right now.  The Grandsons moved out of State for the same reasons.  So, Migration is happening at an accelerated pace, it's a shame so many are being displaced.

Of coarse part of the problem here is the Migration TO here by people escaping even more troubles where they're coming from.  Places where Urban Issues and Cost of Living are already spiraled way out of Control.  So, I don't blame those escaping, but, in turn, they're now displacing others becoz if they can escape, usually they have the means to move somewhere nicer.   Now, the nicer places are becoming scarce for the Middle Class, Retired and Low Income, to where they're being forced out of any place they'd actually want to live.   And I think that's so unfair, every part of America should have a place for everyone and not force out those who simply aren't affluent becoz of what the wealthy are doing to dominate space here.

And here in Arizona they turned back Women's Reproductive Rights to the 1800's recently!!!   Which is just alarming, dangerous and ridiculous... but, the direction the Far Right wanna go to take away Rights and it's a slippery slope.  The insanity of Modern Politics clearly knows no bounds, an 1864 Law being re-enacted in 2024 by Republicans of our State is a Moral Issue, not a Political one.   Since, nobody wants it except the Extremists who re-enacted it against the consent of the majority of the people.   And don't even get me started about Moscow Marjorie... I rather like her new Nickname.  It's fitting for that demented poorly educated Extremist Lunatic who has been given far more Power than she ever should be bestowed with. 

The Chaos Caucus has not Served the American People at all and shouldn't have as much Power as they assume they have.   The only way to do that of coarse is to have those who aren't Extremists, begin to be able to Work together for the Good of All and quit this whole Partisan Political bullshit.   It gets nothing done becoz they can't work together at all and have rendered our Government impotent and dysfunctional.   I personally abhor Partisan Politics becoz it's gotten so far gone now that Party over the Good of the Country seems to be their Mission anymore.  I want anyone who ever is in Leadership to properly represent ALL Americans and not just some Party or those who happened to Vote them in and do fuck all for the rest of us who didn't.

Okay, enough of that, since, there's not enuf Leadership Qualities I'm seeing and no Solutions that are sticking right now... it's total dysfunction and chaos.   Now, on to something Whimsical, even if you find them to be Creepy... they're the Funny Ugly Monsters called Fugglers.   At the Antique Mall Downtown they had a couple but a hefty price on them.   We always Google things we might want to Buy to see what the Market is bearing and who has the best Price Point for them.  Well, Wal-Mart did and some locations better than others, so we did find a location that had them at 1/4 to 1/3 of the Price, so, we bought ours from there instead.   I'm not gonna Buy something for Twenty-Five Bucks that I can Buy for Seven somewhere close by.

So, here's the Reveal of my Fuggler Collection.   They just make me Smile and I like the Back Story of the British Woman who Invented them.   They were Created in 2010 by a British Woman who found some individual Dental Teeth available on E-Bay and envisioned them as looking Funny on Teddy Bears.   She started sewing her own Bears with Human Like Teeth and the Line was thus Born.   How a Bag of False Teeth found on Auction could evolve into a Whimsical Successful Line of Ugly yet Charmingly Creepy Plush Toys and Collectibles, well, I find that to be a great Back Story I can Connect to.   I like the Weird and the Wonderful, and when I found my 1st Vintage Fuggler Years ago, the Orange one, I was smitten.  They also have a hilarious button Butthole.  *LMAOROTF*

Okay, so, clearly they're not for everyone... and I suspect you either will Love 'em or Hate 'em.   I'm Okay with that when I Buy anything I happen to Connect to and Like, regardless of Popular Opinion.  The Weirder something is, and especially if it's Whimsical even if Creepy by some Standards, then the more likely I am to be Intrigued by it and want one.  *Smiles*   Princess T and I think they're hilarious and we had Fun picking out the Cheap new additions to my Collection.  Now I want to find at least one of the Three Eyed ones of the Budgie or Cuddler Edition of the Collection. 

I could just Order one Online and spare myself the Hunt for one, but the Postage is more than the item, which, I take Issue with on any Order.   Plus, the Price Point Online seems to be way higher than in the actual Store Locations, also something I take Issue with.    This little Three Eyed Guy is Sixteen Bucks Online PLUS high Postage... and in the same Store I found Fugglers on Sale for only $7.49 and of coarse no Postage Cost.  Pickup and Delivery were not available on the item at any Location if you Bought Online and the Postage they want is $8.00... more than the items even Cost AT the Locations that Sell them... so, it's price gouging IMO with the Online Orders.  These are things you always need to check out beforehand, unless you don't mind getting fleeced with Ordering Online.   The disparity pisses me off actually.

So, I do Hope I can find one Locally and not be forced to Buy Online and pay so much more.   It would be one thing to Buy Online a Retired part of any Line that can no longer be had Commercially any other way.  But, these are still being mass produced and the one I want is not part of any Retired item of the Line.   It is a Special Edition of the Current Line, so perhaps not available at every Store.  I know the Wal-Mart I got mine from it was part of the Edition called Laboratory Misfits and that's what the particular Store Location was carrying.  Often ordering Online at different sites can be complicated and I rarely Buy Online so don't always have an Account or Passwords set up or I'd even remember.  *LOL*

LATER:  My Friends at the Eastside Event knew it was in direct competition with the other Event I always used to attend, so, they asked why I was there instead, and of coarse I explained.   Turns out each and every one of them had a Negative Experience there too and never went back afterwards.  One had spent a lot on some Architectural Salvage Columns and the wrong ones were delivered and she said it was an Ordeal to get it corrected, so, she's never been back since.  It was very Telling that every single person had a Negative Experience Story to tell about, so, I didn't feel like the Lone Ranger.  But, I've gone for Years and never had anyone mistreat me there, so, for me, this was totally unexpected and a first.  But then again, I'd never dealt with that Woman who doesn't know how to treat people.  And, her Name keeps coming up.

Mike, the Owner of the Antique Mall and the Event in the Warehouse behind it, has made a new Garment District Area and it looks Awesome.  It used to be called Picker's Alley, but it's been transformed into an even better Space for all the Vendors who Sell Garments.   Mike really has his Finger on the Pulse and everything he does with the place is exceptional and inspirational.   He's a helluva nice Guy too and interacts with Customers and is very involved and knowledgeable about the Industry.  If it wasn't so far away I'd definitely be a Vendor there, he's asked me why I'm not and has told me I'm a good Ambassador for the Mall and the Event, and he knows that distance is the only factor for me, or, I would be.

I did end up getting a good Haul from there, which will be revealed in another Post, along with the Imagery I took there.  We had a really good time and got to visit with our Friends who Work there.   I got a Vintage Fabric Butterscotch Striped Suitcase, a Cement Altered Garden Art Angel, a Skookum Doll, an Altered Art Tag, Two Antique Silver Rosaries {The Daughter had been asking me to find one for her}, and a Package of some filled IGA Consumers Gift Stamps Books.  Remember those, Gold Bond and S&H Green Stamps?  I remember licking so many of those and putting them in the Books to Save Up for Trading the filled Loyalty Books in for Products.

    

I'd never seen the Graphics that were on this Package, which holds Two filled Books and some extra Stamps.   The Vendor also had some of the Packages of the more common Books I was familiar with, but, I chose this one becoz it was different and given out at Van's IGA and had Two Locations 619 Concannon and Hiway 634 South, which might be in the State of Missouri?   IGA was Founded in 1926 and I don't think they've ever gone out of Business, but I'm sure nobody does the Old Loyalty Stamps Program anymore now it's more High Tech with Frequent Shopper Cards scanned.   These were just Nostalgic and inexpensive, so, hadda get them for Old Times Sake as a Sentimental Collectible of Ephemera.

Anyway, more to come in another Post... so... stay tuned...

Below is a Carnival Gaff...

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Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian