Friday, October 5
Several weeks ago when emptying the Best Little Trailer in preparation for her steam cleaning, I pull out my thrift store coat from the closet.
I bought this coat in Florence, Oregon.
Like all who love a bargain, I remember exactly what I paid for it.
Seven dollars.
A London Fog, perfect for the way I live and in excellent condition.
This coat has served me well for several winters.
A hard look at the present condition of the coat convinces me its days of service are over. The wrists are very dirty. Repeated washes and still dingy. Too dirty-looking to wear to the store. Even for me.
Time for a new coat!
Okay, that was weeks ago.
~ ~ ~
Today I’m poking around the thrift store. I find a nice flannel shirt in a pretty plaid.
I like plaid flannel, especially the plaids used for men’s shirts. This is a “men’s” shirt. Fine with me. Roomier and probably better made.
Oh, I should look for a coat!
Over at the circular coat rack, I whip apart the hangers.
No. No. No. Who would where a color like that? No. Oh-good-heavens-No. . . Hmm . . . What’s THIS?
I pull out the coat and see that it is clean, like new. I check the label. Eddie Bauer. YES. This is good. Size? Medium, petite. Bingo!
I drop the shirt and try on the coat.
Fits just right! Zipper works! Lots of pockets! Snuggy warm! Hmm . . . No price tag.
I ask the woman at the register.
“Did you get it off the circle rack? All those coats are two dollars.”
Wow. What a deal . . .
“And today we’re having a store-wide, half-price sale so it’s a dollar.”
Oh, oh, happy day . . .
Look at the neat vest I got, too!
I’m all set for winter!
Besides the shirt for a dollar, the coat for another dollar, and the vest for a dollar, I purchase a little food chopper for $1.50 (half off $3 price).
~ ~ ~
Back at the house . . .
The crew and I eat up the drumsticks and wings of the rotisserie chicken still warm from the grocery store.
After lunch I go online and find the regular price of a Black + Decker1.5-Cup Electric Food Chopper
Using my new toy to chop up celery and onion, I put together a chicken salad with the rotisserie chicken breasts.
Later, while on the front porch reading . . .
Neighbor Dan and Buddy come along and stop to visit over the fence. Reg and Rog race to say hi to their buddy, Buddy. This is Buddy:
I attempt photos and Buddy immediately tries to leave.
“Buddy doesn’t like the camera,” Don says.
“Oh, Buddy, sweetie. Come back. I won’t take photos. Promise.” I place the camera on the porch and Buddy returns to the fence.
Dan and I chat.
I tell him about my bargain coat.
” . . . so I got an Eddie Bauer coat, perfect fit, just what I needed, for a dollar.”
“Well, good for you, Sue. That IS a bargain,” Dan remarks appreciatively.
“Not only that, when I got home I tried it on in front of a full mirror to have a better look. I stick my hands in the pockets and find fifty-two cents!
Dan laughs. “Quite a deal!”
“Yeah, can you believe it?” I gush. “A quality coat in perfect condition for forty-eight cents!”
Dan says he has a great bargain story, too.
“Actually it’s Mary’s story.” (Mary is Dan’s late wife.)
“She bought a purse at the thrift store. When she got it home, she unzipped a compartment inside the purse, down at the bottom. In it she found fifty-seven dollars.”
“Wow! I gotta’ say, Dan, that beats my 48-cent coat!
rvsue
NOTE: What’s your best bargain story? Tell us about it! — Sue
~ ~ ~
FLASHBACK!
In the fall of 2012 the original canine crew and I camp at Slab City, Niland, California.
“So this is the Slabs, our new home in the desert” — November 2012
~ ~ ~
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!
The links below will take you to products that readers recently ordered from Amazon.
These would make great gifts for the coming holidays!
Clarks Womens Low Boot
Dickies 5-Pocket Work Apron
Catnip Sticks, Teeth Cleaning Chew Toy
Keyboard w/Mini-Sized Keys and 100 Tones
Fitness Tracker Watch w/Heart Rate Monitor
Cobalt Steel Short Length 60-piece Drill Bit Set
RVSue and her canine crew is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
First???
YAY FOR KEN CANADA! HE’S FIRST TODAY!
Second?
You almost made first, Robin! 🙂
WOWEE…those are great bargains Sue!! I love thrift shops too!!
Hi, Elizabeth,
I love the thrill of the hunt… for bargains!
Oh yes, I agree Sue…the thrill of the hunt!! I think my best deal so far is my awesome Farberware electric skillet that I got a couple years ago…that is the best one I have ever had and it was only $3 too!!
I got on this pretty quickly, but Robin (and maybe others) beat me to the comments.
I don’t know if I have one “best” thrift store deal. Much of what I own comes from those, and a good shopper can accumulate stories, as you have. Also, thanks for the reminder. I need to go thrifting again because I’ve lost enough weight to get another round of clothes.
Congratulations on the weight loss, Calvin, and good luck at the thrift store!
Since my spouse and I are avid garage/yard/estate sale attendees, we have had numerous fabulous finds but right now I can’t quite remember our best deal! I’ll have to think if we can top a 48 cent Eddie Bauer coat…
One interesting note about finding $ or valuable metals in pockets or jewelry. A few years ago we had someone check out my deceased mother’s jewelry for gold. He told us that the Goodwill receives so much donated jewelry with gold that they were able to open their own smelter near Portland, OR! Now that’s a lot of gold in them thar donation bins!
That’s incredible, Robin! I guess they check all the jewelry for gold and gems before putting it out for sale.
Blogorinos…. It’s a cool, windy day here in southern Arizona. Long sleeves and long pants weather.
The crew and I are going to town. The chicken salad is gone and I’m not interested in anything I have here for lunch. “Mind the store” for me, okay? Enjoy each other’s company without me butting in. Share your stories, updates, news, travels, activities, memories, whatever! Oh, and welcome anyone new…
🙂
Bye for now,
Sue
I hope you enjoyed your trip to town. We’re having typical July weather here in Ohio this October. I’m stuck at home due to the humidity.
Found a Canada Goose parka at a thrift ft store for CAD 33.00….. new around CAD 850.00
Could have bought Roland electric piano for CAD 550.00…. new they start at CAD 4000.00… but have no room
Great deals at the thrift store! We once lived near an upscale community in San Diego. I found scads if items, including my dining room table and chairs at a “thrift “ store there. Not such bargains in the CO communities near us now. Times, “they are a changin”
I need a winter coat too. Guess I should try Goodwill.
OMG Thrift Store scores!!
That flannel!! Great find Sue. Love it!!!
xo suzi
Love your stories😎
I have had some good thrift store deals, but they are escaping my memory right now. Once, when Goodwill shopping, I found a pair of purple leather pants in just my size. They were only $5. I would have loved to gotten them for a joke, but the price to have them cleaned would have ruined the deal! Oh well! I just imagine the expression on friends’ and families’ faces if I showed up wearing that!
Oh haha Dawn…sometimes shocking folks in that way might be worth the price tag eh?? When I was a teen, I made my teen brother some of the craziest striped pants you ever saw for his birthday one year…he chose the fabric and he LOVED wearing them. They ended up eventually in the dress up play clothes for my kids who always loved them too…and it gave me joy watching them play in them.
I once bought a coat at a storage auction because it was colder then I expected. I spent two dollars on the coat. It was camel hair and long and wonderful. I kept it for many years. What makes it such a good deal was I put it on and a guy at the auction offered me two hundred for the pin that was on the coat. So my best deal was a coat I got plus 198 dollars.
Sue I followed you for the last couple years. I was always so excited to get the emails to see where you was today. I finally did it, i left home sept 12 this year and headed west. I had breast cancer and had to get released to hit the road. So i was late for the northwestern area. I am in Utah now then doing Arizona with my cousin in Tuscon. Then heading back east till the next chance comes along. I just wanted to say what a great inspiration you have been to me. Glad your enjoying your home.
And what a great inspiration you are to others by writing your story here! Thank you for riding with us these past years.
Best wishes in your travels, Susie!
Congrats on cancer survivor. Me, too.
Where are you in Utah? That’s on my bucket list for next spring. I’m in Durango, CO now. Left my home in Mobile Sept 18th.
I just hemmed a Jones of New York dress for my 17 yo granddaughter to wear in a school play. The director got it at Good Will for $5.oo. I’d guess it originally sold for approx. $200.!!
Great find on the coat Sue. I’ve never gotten a clothing deal that great, but I did find a good deal at retail on a full length, Lands End 100% down Commuter Coat. I think at the time they were retailing for somewhere around $150 and I got it at the Lands End Outlet in town for $40. That was probably a least twenty years ago…I am still wearing it…although now that I’m in NC, maybe only once or twice a year!!
For my best thrift store find, I found a Breadman Bread Machine for $5.99. It didn’t have any instructions, but Google to the rescue and I found a PDF of the instruction manual for that exact machine…score!!
Works great, I’ve used it many times, my favorite recipe makes the delicious bread that I used to get at Outback Steakhouse, those delicious warm, brown mini loaves…yumm…plus lots of other great recipes. Mediterranean Herb Bread comes to mind…time to get that machine out again!!
I love watercolor paintings and bought a beautiful one at a thrift store for $25.00. Kind of expensive for a thrift store, but I loved the painting and it even had a pretty frame. I googled the artist’s name and found out that he was a contemporary of Norman Rockwall and studied with him. Paintings by this artists sell starting at $700. While it is worth much more than I paid for it, I would never sell it as now I have a piece of art I just love looking at.
I never seem to have much luck in thrift stores, so I don’t have any great stories. However, when we used to live in Laguna Beach, my neighbor and I would scour the “Penny Saver” (do they still exist?) for advertised garage and estate sales, plan our route efficiently, and then set out early on Saturday mornings. I furnished much of my Laguna house with other people’s cast-offs and have many of them to this day. My neighbor was an artist and always saw the “possibility” in an object intended for another use. I remember walking into this one estate sale where two twin wrought iron headboards were being sold super cheap. My friend suggested that she buy one and I buy one. “Why?” I asked, since I didn’t have a twin bed. She said, “We’ll lean ’em up against our wall and grow vines on them!” Two homes later, I still have that headboard and I’m still growing vines on it!
Buddy is very cute. My dogs don’t really like having the camera pointed at them either – it’s something I’ve never been able to understand. Has anyone else noticed that about their dogs?
Ba-wa!! I typed a long reply and then the captcha at the bottom malfunctioned and I lost it!!
Dry your tears, Cynthia. I found it in the spam bin. Don’t know why it went there!
Thanks for letting me know Sue. It was wierd – the font on the comment/reply area was different than usual. Computer gremlins!!!
I very rarely find a great bargain! I usually show up the day after a wonderful sale or something I was looking at gets snapped up when I turned around. LOL. I guess my favorite find was in Vermont. I found a terry cloth Muu-muu , a loose fitting lounge dress. It was $45. so I passed it up. 10 minutes down the road at a consignment shop….the same gown…$10!!! I got 2 of them!!!
I love plaid flannel!!! In fact I love just about plaid anything. I do have a man’s plaid shirt that a friend found for me in a “bundle sale” She paid $1.00 for it.
Hope everyone is having a good day!!!
When my daughter was an infant a neighbor introduced me to The Free Store. It’s hard to beat free but I think the -$198 coat did.
Stopped at a yard sale a few years ago with my husband….had some kids items. I saw a doll & picked it up. American Girl doll. I asked the people how much–50 cents. I paid for it & my hubby didn’t get why I was so excited. I told him the doll retailed for over $100 and our granddaughter has a very nice doll for 50 cents. Liz-Boise, ID
My older daughter loves shopping thrift stores and online sites. That’s where she found her beautiful wedding gown. Last year she found a coat loved at an online site and asked if I’d consider if for her combination birthday / Christmas present (December baby). She has the neatest sense of style and finds cool and gorgeous things. Me, not so much. But I did once manage to haul home in my little Elantra an upholstered arm chair I found at a Salvation Army store. It served me well for a long time.
Hi, Sue,
Our absolute favorite activity when we are RVing is to browse through thrift shops and flea markets. Helen (adorable wife) found a nearly new designer jacket in Panama City, FL for $5 that would retail for several hundred off the rack. I found an Apple TV in the box and unopened in Cherokee, NC for $50.
You did very well on your finds. Thanks for sharing!
When my sister moved here a year and a half ago her rental had Pergo floors. She had wall to wall carpeting in Lakewood, Ca. where she moved from so we went to all the thrift stores around looking for a rug for her living room. At the VA thrift store we found a large 100% wool rug out in front all wrapped up. We asked if we could roll it out and check it out. Looked like it had never been used. Most likely in some wealthy person’s music room that never got used. I went in and asked how much and the gal said $10.00. That was my best find. It was too big for my house but I sure admire it every time I visit her.
If I bought a used purse at a thrift store and found $57 inside, I’d let the store know in case the original owner realized they had lost it. That might be a lot of money to someone who really needed it more than I did. If after a week no one claimed it, then I’d consider it mine.
Very considerate of you, Donna. It’s also unlikely that a needy person would forget where they put $57.
I left out that it was an all leather purse, not a cheapo item.
Also very unlikely the owner could be found really!!…just sayin…
Several years ago bought a brand name men’s suit jacket thrifting for $5. Student deconstructed it and sewed it back together with new lining and altered design for an art project. At the end of the art show items were put up for auction as a fund raiser for the art program. The winning bid on the jacket was $250 after active bidding. …not just a charity bid–the winner wore the jacket at many functions and always looked sharp! Glad my $5 purchase plus about $10 supplies for fixing it up resulted in a generous gift to the program and a happy patron to the arts!
I really don’t like thrift store or garage sales shopping. So when a friend or sister suggests going. I make a game of it. I think of the most bizzare item I can think of and try and find it. If I find it, of course it cost too much. Or if my sister finds something she really wants but puts it back. Before we leave I go and buy it and give it to her when we get home.
Buddy is such a cute dog. He looks like he has some golden retriever in him. Angel is not camera shy at all. Seems like she just wants to look her cutest.
Love your thrift shop bargain finds. I’m like Pauline, I always seem to hit the thrift store at the wrong day or time. My neighbor finds some really nice things at them. I think to, that I have a tendency to be looking for something in particular and skip a lot of potential bargains. As I have gotten older, I don’t really shop like I used to. If I don’t need it, I don’t look at it, saves a lot of money that way.
I have missed a couple of days of comment reading. Has anyone heard from Rusty or Desert Ginger?
Hi, Barbara, not long ago some comments mentioned that Rusty and Desert Ginger were alright, I don’t remember the exact details involved, just wanted you to know that there doesn’t seem to be a reason to worry about them.
Great thrift store finds! My best was a 18ct gold circle pin with six small pearls. I have no idea what it is worth but to me…priceless.
I got two large watercolors at an auction, beautifully framed, paid a hundred….then got them appraised. Watercolors by Dan Muller. Some come up for sale occasionally and generally go for three to four thousand..gulp ….who knew…I just liked them…so,score! These days I couldn’t afford the hundred I paid for them, just will pass them on to my son!
I love these stories, keep them coming!
Geri (and anyone else in the FL panhandle)….be safe as Michael heads your way!
The best 2 finds I can think of was not at a thrift store, but at work one day. My library staff was checking in books one morning before we opened and one of the ladies picked up a book out of the bin and scanned it in the computer and a hundred dollar bill fell out. Someone was using it as a bookmark! We held on to it for a few days, then it went in the booksale fund. Another “find” at work. Before we opened, we saw a paper box sitting in front of the doors. We retrieved it, opened it up, and it was FULL of kittens! They were all given away by the end of the day! We had them climbing all over the checkout counter! “Would you like a kitten with your books? No return required!”. Worked great!
What a great camp you had in the header photo, Sue, is that the one at Lower Gray Canyon campground by Green River, Utah? It looks very familiar, and just beautiful, wherever it is.
Your finding an Eddie Bauer coat for 48 cents is amazing! You really do manage to get some great deals from thrift stores. I still smile whenever I think about how much comfort and happiness you gave Bridget with a $5 stroller.
Though a bit more money was involved this story has a happy ending, so I will tell it. An annual outdoor sales event in a village I live near is usually only held on the last weekend of September. This year it was unusually cold out with occasional rain so only a few people went to it. On Saturday I bought 4 books, and paid $2. Hoping to draw more people in on Sunday they put out a sign saying they were charging half of whatever price was on the tags. I bought a complete set of matching sheets, pillowcase, dust ruffle, winterweight comforter and window curtain for my bedroom, and paid $5. They didn’t want to pack away whatever had not been sold for another year so they opened on Monday and sold whatever would fit in a bag for $1. I chose a winter coat, 2 vests, and 3 shirts(yep, men’s) thinking that clothing would fit into 3 bags.
The gentleman at the counter pulled out a large bag and put all I had placed in front of him into it. He smiled and said ” That will be one dollar.” The thing I love about that event is it’s being held in front of a church that helps the less fortunate, and they have the sale to give them the money raised. People donate items sold there that are new (or close to it) believing they are making a significant difference in the life of someone without the means to buy essential things. So I sent the fair market value of everything I’d gotten to the Christmas Shoe Project.
Thank you for the link to the post about your stay at the Slabs. I find that place’s story so intriguing. When I saw that you had declined Rudy’s invitation to Thanksgiving dinner,at first I thought perhaps I would have joined the group for a meal. Really, I doubt that I would have though. Folks around here invite me to join them for “happy hour” by their places on a regular basis and I don’t go. By that part of the early evening most of them have been drinking enough to make it more like a bar scene than I’m comfortable with. I’m glad that our one-on-one visits have allowed some of us to become good friends.
Good morning, weather, and all blogorinos!
Yes, that camp was Lower Gray Canyon near Green River, Utah, where we slept to the sound of the river and I ate the best melons ever! 🙂 It’s also known as Swayse’s Beach and is popular with the river rafting people.
You point out another benefit of thrift stores for those of us who find great bargains — With the money we save, we can help others! Thank you for sharing your personal, thoughtful choices. In my younger days I wondered what was meant by the advice, “be true to yourself.” Your comment gives us examples of how one does that, such as knowing when to say, “no thank you.” 🙂
Sandy goes to the thrift store and buys a pair of boots without trying them on for 50 cents. She puts them in the trunk of the car and forgets all about them.Two weeks later she remembers them. One won’t go on. It has $950.00 stuffed in the toe.
Big moral questions arise. What to do? What if???
True and recent.
Just quick howdy! We are busy packing up for this hurricane!!! Say a prayer for us please, we are right in the center of landing zone!🙏🙏🙏
Praying for you as I type, with hopes for all to be safe and well.
Thank you weather!
Good to hear from you, Geri! I’ve been worried! Almost emailed you but figured you had enough to deal with during these critical hours. God help you and keep you safe!
I really don’t want to be here right now. But here we are! We are fairly well protected from the onslaught expected at the beach area since we are at the very back of the RV park. Chuck got the tarps off of the 2 portable garages and I got all my glass and beads taken care of. We still have areas that need our attention but now we are in eating a late lunch and then we go back out again to finish up! We will stay in our RV if it’s Cat 1 or Cat 2. If it goes to Cat 3 we will go stay with a friend. It is already windy today. Sheeeeesh! I love where we live, I just hate Florida hurricane seasons!😠
Having gone thru a couple of minor hurricanes inland in NC, you will be on my mind and in my prayers out there!! I so hope the forecasters are wrong!!
After scanning the internet I found an article reporting that Franklin county( where I believe Geri and Chuck live) is under mandatory evacuation. Unless they can manage to have a connection while on the move, we may have to wait until they arrive in a safe zone before they can let us know they’re safe and alright. I hope we do get news soon,until then I’ll pray that all’s well.
Watching reports this a.m. Doesn’t look good for folks in the Panhandle. I hope we get news soon, too.
Will pray for you Geri – let us know how you are, when you can.
Thank you Cynthia!
Prayers go out to you and Chuck, Geri. Take care and be safe.
My sister has been having wind issues all day in the Tampa area, too. So I’m concerned for her too.
I don’t even live there and hate hurricane season. I just have too many friends & family scattered around Florida.
Prayers for You nd Chuck, I hope you moved inland?
I have had lots of thrift store finds. But the best find so far for my travel trailer renovation projectt is when one of the people was moving out of the space and I got for free a Waeco/Dometic 40 quart portable fridge freezer, in great working condition. The unit cost $745.00 when it was new. It is larger capacity and size than I optimally want for a fridge but I can always sell it and then buy a smaller one and pocket a few $.
Best bargain I ever got was a mink lined trench coat, in new condition on http://www.shopgoodwill.com. Not much of a fur person, so I took the $50 coat and turned it into $300 on ebay. It was real mink!
Bought a vintage Vicuna coat in a beautiful tan. Fit perfectly, very 1950s with large tortoise buttons, hip length. Not one moth hole. I could not justify keeping it. I paid $12 at the Goodwill in Missoula, MT and sold it for $250 on ebay.
Bought a great camel hair Ralph Lauren tan blazer (camel color doh) for $7 at the Value Village in Seattle, WA. I still have it and LOVE IT!
Shout out to Geri and Chuck,
I hope you all were able to pack up and gather items to evacuate if necessary. Keeping you all and any other Blogorinos in the path’s storm in my thoughts and prayers. Please stay safe! Sending you warm thoughts and **hugs**. xo
So thankful that you have friends nearby where you can ride out the storm if necessary.
Hi, Sue!
Wow! You found some great items for an awesome price! Don’t you just love it when you stumble upon a good deal for something you need? I cannot top your bargain shopping spree! 🙂
I have always loved to roam antique malls, yard sales, and estate sales. Delicate, antique lead crystal stemware and kitchen glass from the 1930-40 era always call to me. Years ago, I was thrilled to outbid some dealers at an estate sale on a lead crystal water pitcher with 12 matching water glasses. I cannot remember what I paid for them, but at the time, I could not have bought two of my Lenox crystal pattern for what I paid for the whole lot.
At another estate sale, I had the winning bid for a service of 6 lead crystal water and wine glasses, with 2 matching cordials. It was a bundled deal, so I ‘had’ to take the water glasses. After I found these treasures, we (ex-husband) decided not purchase any of the new Lenox stemware. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, my treasures sparkle as part of my beautiful holiday dinner table. The downside of purchasing antique glassware is that if a piece gets broken, it is almost impossible to replace. Despite lots of research, the patterns still remain a mystery, other than they were probably from the late 1920s – early 1930s. Even Replacements could not help.
Like many blogorinos, I have been paring back on belongings and don’t actively shop for new items unless somehing is needed. One of the local church-based thrift stores was where I donated a bunch of milk glass, jadeite, and antique glassware. I purged many items, the store made some money to help fund their local projects, and a lucky person found a treasure or two. Win-win! 🙂
I am enjoying reading about the blogorinos super finds. Have a good evening, Sue! Sending you, Reggie, and Roger lots of love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! Hi to Nancy and Marg, too! 🙂
Keeping everyone in the path of the gulf storm in my thoughts and prayers.
Denise, You previously asked what sis used to get my kitchen vinyl so clean. She also used it on the bathroom tile/grout. She used Clorox Clean-up with bleach spray cleaner. She just sprayed it on, let sit for 5 minutes, and wiped it off. It did take some of the gloss off the vinyl so she told me to use Mop-N-Glow on it. Haven’t done that yet, but went over it with a wet mop to be sure there wasn’t any residue for Angel to get on her feet or in her system.
She also cleaned up all the appliances with it.
Thank you for the info, Barbara. 🙂
When I was a kid growing up in Florida, we all got so excited when a hurricane was coming. School would be out and we would hurry to the beach to watch the big waves. Well, once you grow up, that changes as you realize the seriousness of it all. Praying for you and all in this one’s path, Geri, for safety and strength for the days ahead. BTW, Sue. I just love that plaid shirt! I no longer go to thrift stores, as I can’t stop myself from buying, buying and buying! 🙄
Stay Safe Geri and Chuck!
Good morning, blogorinos!
Geri sent me an email to let us know she, Chuck, Radar, and Tater are okay and on their way to a friends’ house in southern Georgia. She reports a “forced evacuation” of their area of the Panhandle.
Unfortunately they had to leave behind “The Mothership” (their fifth wheel) at the RV park.
Hoping and praying for the safety of all those in Hurricane Michael’s path!
Sue
Thanks for the update, Sue. I had been busy,not checking in here, and concerned until l saw your comment just now. I’m so relieved to know they’re okay.
Thanks for update on them Sue…glad they will be out of harm’s way and we can hope and pray things are not so dire as expected!! At this time I see that the eye of the storm is projected to go over both of our kids’ in NC…again, hopefully it will play out by then!!
Later…
Another email from Geri. They made it to their friends’ house and are exhausted.
Sleep well…
Exhausted, yet safe, thanks, again for sharing good news.
Thanks for update…glad they made it that far and are ok!!
Thank you for the updates, Sue. I was wondering if Geri and Chuck were able to hitch up and take their 5th wheel. Glad that they are out of harm’s way. I hope their little slice of paradise and the mothership is spared. xo
Thanks for the update, Sue. Hope they have a place to come home to, that area got hit hard from the reports I’ve seen. I am praying for them.
My sister fared well, my neighbors condo at Panama City Beach has damages, but they can’t get in there yet for a complete evaluation.
I wanted to give a Chuck and Geri update. I sent her a text message yesterday to check on them. She said they were fine and their home was ok too. They were trying to head back there I think today.
Now I did see posted on Geri’s FB someone had reported that a limb had went through one of their windows but other than that their FW was fine.
Continuing to pray for them as utilities could be down for awhile and the area is quite a mess.
Thank you Sue for update…hoping the Mothership fares well, with the tales she could tell, let this Michael tale be just another good adventure yarn. Keeping all in my prayers and lots of positive thoughts flying from the southwest to the southeast.
Sue, thanks for the update from Geri, glad they are safe with friends. Would guess Chuck has the Mothership well secured as can be under the circumstances. You really made out with your thrift storefinds and you are correct, men’s clothes are better made and cheaper than woman’s as a rule, or used to be. Stay Well.
Hi again!
I woke up a little after 1 a.m. and decided to check on the status of the hurricane.
Category 4! Chuck and Geri are in Decatur County, Georgia.
Pray real hard for all the people and animals.
Sue
Been sending up extra prayers all day. I even asked co-workers to keep Chuck and Geri in their thoughts and prayers.
Having awakened quite early I checked that, too,then joined you and all those who are praying. I hope you slept peacefully after you left that note. I’m up for the day now, I had already slept for a few hours though.
Hi Everybody!
My thrift store goal is always the crochet thread I use to make my blankets. It’s been discontinued for years. Sells on ebay for way too much. When thrift stores have it, it is usually $1.00.
Getting ready for the farmer’s market Saturday. It’s supposed to be beautiful after the hurricane moves away. Currently, in central FL, it’s cloudy, gusty and humid. Mostly the coast, down by Tampa, will deal with storm surge at high tides. Also, may help to break-up/move the red tide away. We may get our humidity pulled away by the hurricane which makes it very pleasant. We don’t get much wind in the center of the state.
Found a cool site during Irma: https://earth.nullschool.net. It takes a little effort to figure it out, but cool to see real time wind. If you put the circle over the red bands of the hurricane it will tell the wind gust speed. Interesting to see the speed vary, always strongest on the east side or south of the eye wall. Refresh the page to keep it current.
Geri & Chuck, sending love, hugs, prayers & wishes for good luck!!! Thinking of you, your home & neighbors.
P.S. On the website, the default comes up as kilometers. You need to click on that to change to mph (MILES PER HOUR) I think the media reports the kilometers as mph. I have seen some gusts in the 90’s but NOT over 100 mph.
Michael is a Cat 4 hurricane. By definition that means winds 130-155 mph.
Thank you for sharing the link, Barb. I am glad your area is not having to deal with the brunt of the storm.
What kind/brand of crochet thread do you look for? 🙂
Hi Denise,
You’re welcome. We did get a pretty good rain today, twice. It was done by 3 pm. Still very cloudy @ 6:30 pm with a little less humidity and a breeze.
The thread I look for is Luster Sheen. It has had many forms. It came on a cardboard tube as Aunt Lydia’s LusterSheen. Then J&P Coats LusterSheen (1.75 oz). Changed to a skein by Coats & Clark with LusterSheen 3 times on the label (2 oz). Red Heart bought it and had the biggest skein (3.5 oz), but then discontinued it. It is a #2 Fine crochet thread, different than yarn. Ebay listings don’t care what size for sometimes $10 a skein!!! Plus shipping – I don’t think so. Not when grandma’s stash keeps showing up at the thrift stores. You also can’t tell if it’s musty, etc over the internet.
Mom taught me to make flannel receiving blankets with a crocheted edge. They are my best selling blankets. I also learned off youtube to make a self-binded baby blanket. Fun to make and no chrocheting. The best tutorial is by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
I will have to check out the tutorial on MSQCo. I don’t crochet, but am always interested to learn how handmade items are made. I have been having fun re-teaching myself to sew. Good luck in your thread hunt! I agree, sometimes Ebay purchases are a gamble.
🙂
Geri, Chuck and all others facing this hurricane, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you and your pets are in a safe place to ride this out.
I agree. Hope all is well.
While hiking around Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, my hiking tennis shoe fell apart…the soles were flapping by the time we reached Seattle. Off to the thrift stores in Seattle and I found two shoes, beautiful New Balance trail walking tennis shoe and Birkenstock sandals. At the airport, I tossed my old shoes into a trash bin and put on my new hiking tennis shoe worth $6.00 retailed at $99.99. The hiking shoes were barely used so sprayed Lysol into the shoes, let it sit until I got to airport before putting them on. I love them and are my fav hiking shoes. I also shop for souvenirs at thrift stores for tees, pins, hats, etc. One of my niece’s favorite find was ‘Seward road’ tee she found at thrift store in Anchorage, Alaska. All my thrift souvenir finds are my fav & wear them often i.e. a gauzy flowing sundress I found in Maui, HI with a turtle necklace…still have them 🙂
Shout out to Chuck and Geri. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. **hugs**
Prayers for Chuck and Geri…may that ole storm just pass right on over you and you be protected!!
Hi Sue and all our friends, I don’t know if any of you follow Carolyn’s RV Life (on youtube) her wonderful dog Capone passed away a few days ago. He was 13 1/2. He was the sweetest dog. She is grieving terribly as many of us are. I lost my little Beau back in May. I know you too Sue feel compassion for animal lovers who lose pets as you have also lost your sweet puppies Spike and Bridget. Though you all will keep Carolyn in your prayers.
Thanks for the note,Terry, I only view Carolyn’s episodes occasionally and didn’t know. May God send her, and you, comfort.
So sorry the loss of your sweet Beau. Take good care of yourself, Terry.
Once, while traveling with my 8 year old grandson, we were doing the state of Arkansas, top to bottom. We were tent camping, wait, almost tent camping, ( we actually slept in the van). Too, many sounds scurrying outside the tent for these novice campers. There was a distinct chill in the air one morning and we definitely needed more blankets. That morning I headed off to the local Goodwill to shop. We bought a couple of blankets and something special he spotted, a vest. What he a picked out was the rabbit hair and leather vest that covered him down to his thighs. He love it and I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was a ladies vest, so I bought it. He worn that vest the whole trip and coupled with his Arkansas walking stick we got at Petit Jean State Park, he looked like a regular Daniel Boone!
That “picture” is hilarious…aren’t kids funny though?? I am sure you will never forget that trip!!
You’ve really been on my mind the last few days. My CO journey has taken me through the San Luis Valley, over Wolf Creek Pass, through Pagosa Springs. I’m thrilled to think I might be driving over some of the same roads y’all traveled on when you stayed near Pagosa Springs a couple of smers ago. I saw some scatterings of boondockers in the valley, and lots of Natl Forest access roads.
CO is a beautiful state. I’m loving the yelliw aspens and cotton wood trees. We don’t get any fall foliage in Mobile.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AZ JIM!
Thanks Missy, I feel every minute of those 82 years! Take care, I am watching….
Happy Birthday 🎂🎊🎈🎉🎁 Jim!!!
Happy Birthday, Jim 🙂
Happy Birthday Jim.
How is Detta doing? How are you doing waiting on your surgery.
Hugs to you both.
Happy Birthday, Jim!! Enjoy your special day! 🎂 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday AZ Jim! The feeling is just as heartfelt now as two days ago. Hope you and Detta are doing well, hang in there.
Happy Birthday, AZ Jim.
Happy Birthday Jim.
Hugs to you and Detta.
Happy, Happy Birthday, Jim!
🎇🎈💐🎁🎉🎂🎆
Once in choir at church I just realized everything I had on was from a re-sale store except my underwear. I got to laughing and the lady next to me asked “what’s so funny?” Told her story. She laughed and said that’s only where she shops now. She and I shared hot shopping spots and the director finally shushed us. I haven’t been shushed in church for 60 some years.!
Hello Sue, Reggie, Roger, Nancy n Marg. Hope you are all happy and healthy and enjoying the Arizona fall. Will swap you for our whacky W. Ma soup any day.
Sue any word from Geri and Chuck lately? This cannot be good for their stress level. Cannot remember exactly where they were staying in the panhandle to see how that area fared. Thanks and as always, Be Well.
Hi, jazzlover,
Chuck and Geri (and their pups) evacuated their home and are staying with a friend in southern Georgia. They were not able to take their 5th wheel with them.
I have been very concerned about all of the added stress, especially so soon after Geri had the heart attacks. I am sure they will check in with Sue when they have news. We just need to continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. 🙏
Denise, knew they had to leave their rig, but was mainly concerned about Geri given the recent heart problems. Am sure Chuck is in our thoughts as well. They will remain in our prayers as are the folks that were impacted by that force of nature over which they had no control. Thanks for commenting, hope all is well with you.
UPDATE:
Geri sent me a brief email to let us know she, Chuck, and their crew are okay. She added that they received “word that the mothership is okay.” They are unable to confirm this in person because of trees down on the roads as well as other impediments.
Thank you for your prayers and concern. We have a lot to be thankful for!
Anyone affected by the hurricane, we welcome your report.
Stay safe everyone.
Sue
I’m glad to hear that Geri, Chuck, and their crew are well and safe. If the mothership is okay, I’m happy and surprised. I saw Eastpoint on a news clip, and the part they showed looked pretty much destroyed. I understand, though, that “okay” is not newsworthy and would not be shown on the news. The more “okay” people and property came through the storm, the better.
Thank you for the update, Sue! 🙂
Thanks for the update, Sue. So glad their home seems to be okay.
So happy for them.
Hi Sue, I followed you off and on since the beginning. I was wondering, any chance you would write a book about your years on the road and offer it as an ebook? I’d love to have it as reference for when I hit the road.
While walking on the shoreline I noticed a red-breasted merganser hadn’t moved for quite a while, and thought that may be due to his liking to rest in the grass, or that he may be hurt. I knelt beside him and said “I want to know if you’re alright, can you move?” He got into the water, swam a few feet away then came back and settled down again. The next time he saw me he dipped his head beneath the water’s surface to eat something as I watched. It really seemed as if he wanted me to know there was no reason to be concerned about him.
Many of us have had reason to be concerned about others in the path of storms, or anyone whose home, life or health has been damaged. A friend told me she felt frustrated because usually she can only afford to give a tiny amount of her time or money to help, and sometimes can only pray, and that often she feels that isn’t doing enough. I told her that I believe that any kindness given to a living creature is enough to cause a ripple effect that spreads love and goodness farther than we’ll ever know.
The comments from everyone here over time, and knowing my friend, have shown me that we all have practiced at least one thing embodied in quote I found in a book. I will share it with her and you.
Connected in Spirit, written by Richard Gutherie
” Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong. Sometime in your life you will have been all of these.” – Dr. Robert H. Goddard
So very true, Weather…in many ways, time is the great equalizer!! Thanks for sharing!! Today is a gorgeous fall day here…and the colors this year here are as gorgeous as any East Coast colors I ever saw!! We are grateful for that!!
Fall really is such a beautiful season, I’m glad it’s gorgeous this year for you, too, Elizabeth. Only about 30% of the leaves have changed color so far here, I’m excited wondering what the rest will look like.
Thank you for sharing your story and author’s quote, weather. 🙂
I hope you enjoy your day! 🙂
Just came in from a really nice walk in the rain,I am enjoying my day,Denise, I hope you are,too! 🙂
Oh, yes, weather, it has been an exceptionally nice day!
🙂
Dear Weather, Thank you for your words of wisdom and the quote at the end. I like to collect quotes and put them in a folder in my documents for future reference. They are my treasures. You have been so kind and you help make RVSue’s blog the best.
What a sweet note, Ruthie, thank you 🙂 . There are a lot of quotes I like, collecting them in a folder is a great idea, one I hadn’t thought of before.
Geri and Chuck are back home and the MotherShip is just perfect. A tree branch went thru the windshield of her car and dented the fender and hood; but she says it is driveable. She said it was worse up in GA where they were staying and possibly could have had a tornado. So glad to hear from her.
That’s such wonderful news, thank you, Emily!
Prayers have been answered! Thank you so much for sharing the wonderful news, EmilyO!
Thanks Emily for sharing this good news. Glad the mothership was spared and in good shape. Too bad about the car, though it sounds like it can be repaired.
Thank you Emily for sharing your news regarding Geri and Chuck, it was thoughtful of you.
Tare Care
great news indeed!!