House and Home

Remember me? My apologies to those of you who have faithfully checked up on me these last few weeks. I've fallen into the habit of falling asleep on the couch while watching Alfred Hitchcock or reruns of Law & Order...lame... Anyway, while I see nothing wrong with any of us taking a much needed break from time to time, a word of "check back later" might have been in order on my part. Tonight Mrs. G. casually said "I can't believe you've given up on your readers". Ouch. I'll try to get back on the stick, and I thank each of you who have been checking in despite my absence.

Part of the reason for my dropping off the face of the Earth was this: without a job or school to attend, I find myself slipping into a uniform of khakis and tennis shirt, the perfect playground attire. As such I haven't been picking up many thrifty clothes lately. But clothes aren't the only things to be found cheap. Subtilte this post "Orange, part 2" (see "Orange").

The following items were all "scored" in one afternoon.

First, a wonderfully comfortable if slightly formal chair:
In a color listed as "Cameron Gold". The wife and I have a penchant for a selective version of the 1970's when it comes to home furnishings, and as such we have a lot of brown and orange. "Cameron Gold" makes a nice accent color.originally hailing from the long gone Jordan Marsh department store. I have only the vaguest memory of actual department stores, where you could buy furniture, suits, perfume, kitchenwares and appliances under the same roof, all with store brand name. (The madras plaid sport coat in the previous post "Buttons" is also from Jordan Marsh.)

I found this at a big thrift on the highway that I don't get to often. It was raining like hell, and the kids were both especially fussy ( and loud). I went to pay for it, and the fellow at the desk said I needed to go get the tag and bring it up front. As I returned to the chair, a woman and her young daughter were considering it for the girls new college apartment. "Sorry, too late, I'm just buying it." I said. To which mom replied "technically we have posession of it." I said "I've got two fussy young kids with me. If you're gonna be that way about it, you can have the damn chair." The daughter, mortified, melted into the ground. As I walked away, mom stopped me and said "go ahead, take it." Shocking, I thought I lost that one. $15 later and it was mine.

Then we have this mystery cookware:

enamelled cast iron, matching trivet plate. A splurge at $5. I'm still not sure if you're supposed to cook in this thing or if its just a serving piece. No matter, it looks good.

And the leftovers go in this $0.99 (my keyboard doesn't have a 'cent' key...my typewriter has fraction keys) Tupperware container:I remember we had a whole set of this exact stuff when I was a kid.

And after supper, coffee is served in these new but matching cups, $0.99 each:And lastly, this AM transistor radio by Channel Master, $ 3:Perfect for listening to Red Sox games on the front porch or at the beach, which is exactly what I intend to do with it. I'm not one of these types who buys old stuff so I can look at it. If I can't use something, what good is it to me?

When asked to think of home design in the late 1960's and early 1970's, most people think of ugly brown and orange and yellow stuff. It's true that a lot of what passed for taste at that time was downright awful. But there was a lot of stuff that was extremely well built and wonderfully designed. Taken selectively and mixed in with a modern sensibility, I bet a lot of these things look better now than they did then. Succesfull thrifting is really all about seeing new potential in old stuff, rather than settling for junk only because its new.

Ephemera:

I found this next to a dumpster behind a university dorm:that's right, its a vendor tricycle...very European. It's dirty and it needs work, but I can fix it up. The box is rotten, but with the help of carpenter friend Pasquale I plan to build it into an Italian sandwich and fruit cart. Not a bad Summer business if I can get it going. And yes, I am crazy.

I know I married the right girl. Mrs. G. loves this thing.