Doors, Doll Chests and an X-Rated Chalkboard

These were my finds from two weekends ago. It was a whirlwind trip to two township-wide yard sales and one barn sale. I had the kids with me, which meant less room for furniture purchases, and a greater need for random crappy toy bribes to keep them occupied. But the upside is that they always provide some comic relief.

I paid $56 for everything in this photo (not the black bench on the right - that's all mine!). I bought the chippy blue door at a barn sale, which happened to be the same place where I bought that black bench last year.

I love this green McCoy Windowpane bowl. It has a hairline crack in the side and it was only five bucks. I might keep it for myself.

I still can't figure out this tole painted wreath with a metal bow and leaves. It looks old, and is a little chipped, but I don't know its origin. The flowers seem to be sculpted of clay, but the rest of it is metal. Has anyone seen this before? I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day because it matches her decor. Oh - that's right, I already said that all of these things cost me a total of $56 dollars. Just so you know, Mom - this cost me $55. Everything else in these pictures cost a dime each.

These two charts are from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, circa 1965: Birds of Prey and Marsh and Water Birds.

That brown lamp is a Dazor Floating Fixture, and it super heavy. I bought it for two bucks, because it needs re-wiring.

Yeah, I realize now that the door is upside down in this photo.

This light blue wooden box has a paper-covered insert. When Lisa from Brandywine View Antiques saw it, she said it was a doll chest. And it would be worth over $100 if someone didn't paint it light blue.

What do you think was the first thing that my 8-year-old, Finn, noticed when he looked at this chalkboard?

"Ass Toys", of course. Which is really Cass Toys. I can't wait to see the Google Search traffic from that phrase.

I've sold a few of these letter holders in the past. This is a neat-o way to organize papers and magazines.

I had all of my stuff on the front porch when I took the photos that I just showed you.

I am planning to leave the blue door right there, to distract and confuse the Jehovah's Witnesses who visit us every few months. I am hoping that they will knock on the blue door, and no one will answer. And they will take their pamphlets and leave. The odd thing is that they don't knock on any of our neighbors' doors. It's like they have our names on a special list that has the phrase "MUST BE SAVED" rubber-stamped across the top.

Dear Whomever Bought the Cement Blessed Mary Statue: Please return ASAP! We need to put her on our porch so that people think we are saved. Thank you.

Comments

[Charlene Austin]

You totally crack me up every time I visit here. You should keep the McCoy. It's amazing and I'd kill to find that. I can't imagine I'll find such awesome things when I go garage sale'n tomorrow but I'll have fun trying.

[Rosemary]

haha, um i think you scare them off by telling them how to get saved because they really don't know :)

[lisa]

good luck with the confusion technique! :) loved that wreath as well but no idea who or what it is.

[Cassandra]

I love your finds! We're going on the hunt tomorrow at some estate sales and new (to us) shops - hope to find some goodies.

About the JW's - my mom was one for a while and she raised us that way for a bit when we were growing up (omg, it sucked). Little insider tip - supposedly if you tell them in no uncertain terms not to come back to your door - they have to take you off their "list" and shouldn't come back. Worth a shot. Good luck!

[France Geek]

Hilarious as usual! What were they thinking with that blackboard? It got all the way through the design drafts and production without anyone vetoing the graphics? Was ass toy or even ass so far out of the realm of what people could concieve? I'm sure folks had ass in the vernacular, so to speak. I'm trying to picture June Cleaver coming across this in a store - would she see it?

[Simply Bungalow]

Love your finds! And my kids would have seen the same thing on the chalkboard...too funny!

[Emma]

Some lovely things here - I particularly like the chalkboard and the wreath. Emma

[Anabelle O'Malley]

I love your posts! The blue door is amazing and it cracks me up that you want to use it to scare away the JWs!! Maybe when they see the 'ass toys' they'll run away anyway. :) Thanks for the great Lancaster tips. We had an awesome time yesterday. Pheasant Run is FABULOUS. Can't wait to head back! (Oh, and your toy bribe comment - about bringing the kids with you- is so true. I have to do that all the time!)

[meghan]

I love that chalkboard! Love it! Love it! Love it!

[Cathy]

You are so NOT a Mormon Mommie....I just love you!!! Always good for an out loud laugh and also great "finds". I had a long running Bible study with a couple of JW while living in Germany....no phone, no car, no money....so that is what I did. One day I told Barbara and Rosie (nice girls btw) that I knew I was going to heaven....never saw them again! So, my advice, get a sign for out front that says something like....Positively Heaven-bound, see if that works!