Another Favorite: Globes

It was over 10 years ago that I brought home my first vintage metal globe bank. Dub Ingram had the cutest little junk store in an old house on Main Street in Holdenville, and that's where I spotted three globes in a grouping. They were marked $12 each. I took one home that day, then eventually collected the whole trio.

What I love about these metal banks is that they were so common. Most of mine are advertisement pieces, so they were probably given free to customers back in the day (1960s-70s?).

Another thing I love about globes...I'm a peacemaker. I love our earth and all the people on it. Seeing them just reminds me we're all in this thing together.

These days, I collect globes of all sizes, not just banks, but mostly the smaller globes appeal to me. (In other words, I'm running out of room.)

I ordered one from eBay and was especially pleased to find that it was WAY smaller than my smallest globe. I figure it's pretty rare. See him, right there in the middle on the bottom shelf?

Prices on these shabby little globes have steadily gone up since I started collecting them. My rule is $20 or less, and now that I have quite a few,  I have to be sure I don't have the exact globe.

One year I grouped all of them above our mantel in order to make room for the Christmas decor. Vaughn was aggravated when I split them all up again in the spring because he loved the way they looked up there. They DID look awesome as a "club".

Not long ago, I was in Joplin, MO, visiting with friends. Here we are in some funny hats at a super cool antique mall we all loved.

All this to say...this happened to be right after I did Marie Kondo's "tidying up" in my house. I told my friends I would love to go junking with them that day, but wouldn't be bringing anything home because I had just done all this organizing and clearing out of the excess at my house. Well, who was first to claim something for purchase that day? It was me! When a globe is available at a decent price, I just can't resist.

I even use two globe banks in my fourth grade classroom as my bathroom passes. No, they don't take my precious globes to the bathroom with them. If there's a globe on the shelf, students know they can put one on their desk as a sign to me that they're currently away from their desks for personal reasons. Works like a charm.

I got this awesome globe from Kirk at Gatsby's in Wewoka. Not a bank at all, but certainly worthy of my collection. Wonder how many people have a shabby globe with John Glenn's orbit around the earth on it? Very neat!

Collecting Toy Trucks Together

A few years ago, Vaughn and I decided we wanted to start a collection of something. We wanted to collect something we would gather together, which is quite different than it had been before. (He had not been all that interested in my tiny oil cans, plastic reindeer and globes.) Well, that year we opted to collect old toy trucks together, realizing sometimes they're pretty pricey, and sometimes our junking expeditions would be about the thrill of the hunt, and not the number of toy trucks we'd gather.

Off to the junk store I went that Christmas to get Vaughn a truck for under the tree. I was especially hunting a red one. Well, I don't know about you, but when I'm looking for something that's antique, I'm not always able to find it right off. And that's what happened. Instead, right in the place Vaughn's red truck should have been, there sat a PINK pickup truck with a camper. It was Christmas, it was time to get Vaughn his first truck from me, and there I was, WANTING that pink camper, BAD. So, I did what any junker wife would surely do...I bought that pink camper and wrapped it up and hid it under the tree, with a tag that read, "To Tracey, From Vaughn." (I later got on eBay and found a red truck for Vaughn for that Christmas.) But boy, was he surprised when he saw me opening a pink camper from him. 

This pink Tonka with a camper is still a favorite of mine.

We love Buddy L's too.

Wyandotte trucks have such a neat look.

This one is amazing, color-wise. 

This little dump truck was Vaughn's when he was little. 

We've chosen the office to display most of our trucks. So far we have Jeeps, Tonkas, 

Wyandottes, Buddy L's and a few other brands. 

Not sure how many more we'll collect, because we're running out of space. 

Most don't have a purpose, but once in awhile, I put one of these cuties to work, carrying a Christmas tree or ornaments or our remote controls. 

These toy trucks tickle me. They remind me of a time gone-by, when life was simpler. 

Spring Break Gladness

Although it's raining and will probably continue to rain most of the week, it's going to be a great Spring Break. Here are some things I accomplished in the first two days:

1. Bank statements. I admit it, they pile up on me. I did two at Vaughn's shop and one at our house. Consider this scratched from my list (at least until the first of April).

2. Cleaned the office at the shop. Maybe it's not really CLEAN but it's much better than when I walked in on Friday. We're getting ready to start a big remodel over there, so I "made do".

3. Made dinner. More than once. Oh my goodness.

4. Washed sheets. And rugs. And washed and dried and folded and put away, all in one setting. This. never. happens.

5. Taxes. I won't say anything else about this subject at this time.

6. Watched Ellen. I love to watch her. While watching Ellen I went through every item in my closet and decided yes or no. Most were no's. Some are too big (woo-hoo) and some I'm just tired of. When Vaughn got home I guilted him into doing the same and we got his side spruced up too.

7. No make up. I love those kinds of days.

8. Cleaned Gabby's "bedroom", the storage room off the garage. She appreciates this, I'm sure. Woof!

9. Oh! And Vaughn and I went junkin' in Stillwater Saturday. Just got two vintage hankies but so enjoyed the time together on the hunt. More to come when the weather clears...we're sure garage sales are just around the corner!

Ahead of me during this Spring Break...grandgirls! They're coming Wednesday! Oh happy days!

Barn Sale Bliss

Mom and I got up early Saturday morning and went to Shawnee for the best barn sale ever. We were there by 7:45 for the 8:00 opening of the big gate, which was draped in bunting made from vintage linens. It was chilly that morning, and a fire was burning in a pit by the barn. Ladies were gathering at the gate, chatting and shivering because of the temperature, but partly due to giddy anticipation of what was to come when the clock struck 8.

I don't know how many annual barn sales there have been at the home and barn of Faith Buss, but this was my second time to go. Last year Vaughn and I were traveling to Shawnee in the afternoon and just happened upon it. I was immediately smitten with the items she was selling, some homemade, some vintage. So my style. The barn looked like a Country Living Fair or something. I started following Faith's blog and found out about the date of this year's barn sale there.

http://faithbuss.blogspot.com/
Check her out. She's CUTE.

There were things inside and out of the barn. As Mom and I stood at the gate, we made a plan. When the big gate opened, she would go inside the barn and I would head for the tables outside.

Before I knew it, I had a giant armload of goodies from the tables outside.

My favorite pick: a Pretty Maid vintage child's stove...RED and WHITE! And complete with metal pans and pots. I. love. this.

Just look in that drop-down door...more cute little metal pots and pans.

A very 60's or 70's daisy tray. It has short legs so I'm thinking it's just right for the grandgirls to sit under and snack while watching a movie. Oh yes, they used to call them TV TRAYS.

This tissue box. Oh dear, it's cute, huh?

I am so pleased with my new tiered dish, made from repurposed pie pans and bottles. The top tier is a part from an old percolator, I think.

Red apron with kissing couple on it.

Apple and cherry art. These were .50 each.

A green wooden box with a neat latch. I'll use this to stack stuff on, probably.

I got a couple more items but I so quickly put them in their places once back home, I can't remember what they are right now.

I know THIS. The barn sale was a perfect way to spend a fall morning. I have some new inspiration along with my vintage finds.

Daisies

Daisies were in my little wedding bouquet 28 years ago. They've been in my heart ever since.

Lots of us love daisies. They're simple, but true.

Picked this old print last Saturday. It's big. And it's big time daisy. A real commitment. But isn't it AWESOME?

Junkin' at Gatsby's

Gatsby's in Wewoka, Oklahoma is a favorite junkin' spot.

The store is so beautifully decorated, arranged and categorized, you can feel yourself getting lost in Junk Heaven.

It's a sight for sore eyes, I tell ya.

Go when you're not hungry for junk or you'll come home with way too much. Just sayin'.

Talk about inspiration station. Sometimes I just go there for some junkin' fuel and go home to rearrange what I have.

Today's loot: a vintage cherry potholder and a tablecloth covered with apples that scream back-to-school. I had a 15% off coupon so I was happy with my purchases and the price.

A Few Things that Blew Me Away This Week

*This. Blew. Me. Away. Can't wait till it's planted with something lovely (and super drought resistant). 

*Parker came home for a couple of days and while he was here the family got together for Katy's birthday party so I got a family fix. I also enjoyed another day of just hanging out with Parker here at the house. He blew us away with a slide show of his world traveling this summer. What a neat experience for him (and all of us who followed it on his blog).

*This dreadful heat blew me away. We got back from mild, milk and honey Colorado Friday, a 108 degree Oklahoma day. All the extra red blood cells our bodies built up for the altitude (and often provide added energy for a day or two after we get home) have long since split the scene.

*Preparing for a garage sale in this dreadful heat and with so many fewer red blood cells. That blew me away.  But boy was I a happy girl when the closets were all cleaned out and the old stuff all disappeared (plenty of hangers now) AND I managed to make some fun money!

*This hibiscus blew me away this week. I love these saucer-sized flowers like crazy. Vaughn's mom grows them like they're going out of style. I'm going to transplant a small white one to my front yard for next year. Hibiscus loves me and I love Hibiscus.

What's blowing you away these days?