Unbridled Passion

 I just can't help myself.

I have over 300 vintage items in my Etsy shop, (not to mention the collection I have in my drafts, expired and inactive files) plus the hundreds of items around my home that I decorate with and am not parting with!

But when Friday and Saturday come around this time of year, I just have to see what is out there. I have to decide whether to go to the garage sales, or thrift stores, or both? Yard sales or flea markets?

Today I went to the most unlikely place you'd ever find myself and especially my husband, ever on a Saturday afternoon.......

The Pioneer Gas Engine 48th Annual Show in Marion, NY.

You see, I recently joined the Rusty Dusty Treasury Team on Etsy which is all about vintage and rusty, recycled and upcycled and just plain fabulous items. It has helped increase my passion for all of that and more!

So when my daughter called me saying "Mom, you gotta get here, there is a lot of rusty, old stuff", I had to go. I was going to hit just a few garage sales anyways.....wink, wink.

As soon as we got there my husband felt out of his element. He joined me because I didn't want to go alone not knowing what I was walking into, and then we ran into an old friend, Dean.

That's my husband Frank on the left near Dean's booth with all the mammoth chain saws. Frank is from Spanish Harlem in New York City. There were tractors and engines and rusty farm tools, long beards, John Deere shirts and a few missing teeth! Yeah, out of his element!

I had a great time! There was a lot of old, rusty, greasy, oily stuff around to buy. Most too high priced for me but I did get some things.

The large bucket is a cardboard and metal candy bucket from the Bunte Brothers of Chicago. It was once filled with 15 pounds of Extra Fine Early American Chocolate Drops. It is a great vintage advertising piece for display, from the early 1950's.

I have a thing for oil cans. Especially the small, cute ones with the long spout. I actually sold one once suggesting to use it as a ring holder. Very cute idea!

These would fall into the rusty, oily category of vintage!

 

 

I am not totally sure of what this next item is, but it is so unique and rusty that I had to have it. It must be some kind of percussion instrument. It has a cow bell sound, each side having a different tone.

 

 

There was so much more I wanted to buy, but the last item I got was this coal shovel, probably from the 1930's. Very unique decoration for near a wood stove or fireplace.

 

 

So I did really good, right? I must mention that my husband didn't get anything! He likes to go thrifting for props for the community theatre we run. No luck here!

I really wanted to hit at least one of the garage sales on my list so we went. It was a memorable time because of the cute elderly couple that was holding the sale.

 

The husband was sitting outside the garage with a friend and the wife was inside the garage with her grandson. I asked him about the age of the cow jar and he said "You have to ask my wife, that's her department".

 

 

Then I was looking at the old tool box and he cut the price in half without me even asking!

 

I asked her for the price on the framed picture and she said "You have to ask my husband, it's his". He told me the price and then mentioned that it was a relative of his. I asked him if he was sure he wanted to sell it to me and he said, no problem, he had others! Relatives or pictures?!

 

I almost walked away from the prize item of the day. I was halfway down the driveway when I just had to go back for the big, red, chippy, rusty gas can. The husband ran over to make sure he told me that it didn't leak and showed me the bottom. I asked him how old it was and he said he bought it in 1968. The wife was giggling that I came back and her grandson looked at me like I was crazy for wanting all this stuff!

 

Days like these make thrifting all the more fun. Sometimes it is just in and out of the car, from garage sale to garage sale with no luck and no fun included.

Now I get to photograph and list all these great items in my NaNa's Things shop. Which is part of the fun too!

What did you do on this beautiful Saturday afternoon?

AnnMarie  :)

P.S. I have this same unbridled passion for that guy on the left in the picture too!!

 I'm linking up to these great blog parties!
Freedom Fridays Blog Hop
Weekend Wonders
Strut Your Stuff Saturday Link Party
I Love My Post Blog Hop
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Raising Imperfection Sunday Link Party
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Have a Merry Vintage Christmas In July 12 Hour Sale!

 

Wouldn't it be fun to REALLY have Christmas in July?

Do you know the origins of it? There are conflicting stories and you can read up on it here. Seems the Australians had a lot to do with it.

I have always threatened to change my end of January birthday to July just so there is something to do to celebrate in the warmer weather. But, just like not having snow at Christmas wouldn't feel right for a lifetime northerner, having my winter birthday in summer wouldn't feel right either.

Either way, I have decided to join in the "festivities" and have a 12 hour sale on all my Christmas and holiday items in my Etsy shop NaNa's Things. 

On July 25th at 8 a.m. all of the vintage ornaments, nativities, trees, etc. will be marked 20% off until 8 p.m. (EST).

Here's a sampling of the vintage treasures you will find under the Vintage Holiday section....

Start the cold season with a bit of nostalgia by pinning this cute ice skate pin on your winter coat. I remember having one of these in the 60's. Very primitive and vintage, it is made from felt, sparkles, yarn and large paper clips.



These pink flocked ornaments are so pretty for a Victorian Christmas tree. There are 8 teardrop and 8 round ornaments, all in excellent condition.

 

 

I have three vintage Made in Italy Nativity Creche's in my shop right now....from small and simple....

 

 

to medium sized.....

 

 to large and ornate....

 

 

I also have small and large retro ceramic Christmas trees. These were very popular last year!

 

 

 

There are angels and garland and Christmas plates all at 20% off for 12 hours on July 25th starting at 8 a.m. (EST).



 

 

Have a Merry Vintage (shopping for) Christmas in July!

 

AnnMarie :)





Summer Salads.......Italian Style

I know that there are a lot of recipes out there for pasta salad and potato salad, especially this time of year.

And I know that a lot of them are called Italian pasta salad.....I have never seen one for Italian potato salad.

I think mine are different.

I have been making the pasta salad for about 30 years and it is really good, without using bottled, flavor-enhanced-with-preservatives Italian dressing. This one has a fresher, lighter dressing.

The potato salad is Italian/Puerto Rican and has been my favorite for the past couple years. The olive oil and the "a little of this-a and a little of that-a" ingredients make it Italian; a Puerto Rican friend made it up and shared her recipe with me!

I will start with the pasta salad, which has some a little of this-a and a little of that-a......

Italian Pasta Salad
(Make this recipe in enough time ahead of serving for the flavors to marry, up to a day before)

1 (16 oz.) box of tri-color pasta or pasta of your choice
1/2 cup romano or parmesan grated cheese
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
handful of sliced black olives
handful of pepperoni slices, quartered
handful of grape tomatoes, halved
broccoli crowns, chopped
8 oz. chunk mozzarella, cut into small chunks
fresh basil to taste, chopped or 1 tablespoon dry basil

Cook pasta according to package directions. Add romano, oil and vinegar. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Refrigerate till served.

 

 

 

 

Italian/Puerto Rican Potato Salad

 

(this salad also tastes best a day or two after it is made)

 

Russet potatoes

hard boiled eggs

olive oil (use the good stuff - the 100% Virgin Olive Oil - it has the most taste)

mayonnaise

salt and pepper to taste

 

Peel, chop and boil enough potatoes for the amount of people you are serving. For my husband and I, I use 4 large russet potatoes to two hard boiled eggs. I put the eggs in with the potatoes and let them all boil together. I just time the eggs for 10 minutes when the water is boiling and then pull them out when done.

 

Cook the potatoes till soft and drain. Chop the eggs and add to the potatoes. Add seasonings. Mix together using a pastry blender or large fork. Add mayo ( I used 3/4 cup) and then add olive oil. Either drizzle it or pour it in until you taste it in the salad (that means you have to keep taste-testing!)

 

Keep mixing till it is the consistency you want....either smooth or with a little bit of chunk. I think this recipe tastes best smooth but my husband likes some chunks so here is my finished salad.....kinda looks like chunky mashed potatoes!

 

 

Refrigerate for several hours before serving. I like this best a day or two after it is made. It is so good! It is a nice change from the typical potato salad.

I know we can all get caught up in the rut of making the same pan of beans, pasta salad and potato salads all summer for dinner and as a dish to pass for all the picnics we attend. They are summers' comfort foods and they keep us feeling like it's summer and in our comfort zone.

I don't think you will be disappointed if you try my version of the two most popular summer salads.....

You will still be within that zone.....

AnnMarie :)

Linking up with these great blog hop parties this week....

Let's Get Social Sunday
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