Thanks are in Order

Who doesn't love to get fun mail and it's even better when it's surprise mail - that's the best! I had a package from one of my blogging friends, Astrid from Fab and Thirty Something - we have traded back and forth a couple of times, she sent me this with no hint that it was coming. This is what I found when I opened up the box....

Vintage butter melters that were made in Japan!  Perfect for us!!  At first I didn't notice that they were a souvenir of Prince Edward Island, even more perfect!!!!  That is two vintage souvenirs from PEI that I've received in the past couple of weeks - oh, no, is this a new collection starting???  I'm anxious to try these, we have melters that require a tea light, they flicker and go out and the butter spits all over the place when it gets really hot, these ones use hot water - they'll be right on the table the next time we have some lobster, snow crab or PEI mussels...

Give us some of this wonderful seafood and we're happy!!

Thanks, Astrid - it was sweet of you to think of me!  I love them!!

The Goods

I noticed that I don't do as many thrift finds posts as I used to, I just don't see things that I really want and at the height of the Pyrex craze, I was buying just about every piece of Pyrex that I saw, but now I have more than enough and am even trying to unload a few pieces, I just don't have the space for it and how much can I really use?  I'm sure that will put off a few of you that are still hard core collectors, but, this could very well happen to you, but, with that said, I still will pick up something that I really like and that is a special piece.   I was away this week and Saturday was the first real yard sale day for me, I went around town to just about every one, most had junk but I was lucky at a couple, real lucky, I think!!  I'll start with the yard sales and see what you think...

I have been pinning these cake carriers on Pinterest and wanting one so bad.  I can't believe my luck - to find this at a yard sale - just what I wanted.  I paid $5, I would have paid more, I wanted one so much!   Love it!!

I don't really know what these tin cans are, they have nursery rhymes all over them, they're so cute  - also at the yard sale.

This little plastic manger scene was in the original box, 29 cents was the original price.

You know I like buttons and old buttons on cards, what luck!!  Look at the sweet little baby ones.. I found all those items at the same sale, it was a good day!!    I know I found some neat stuff but that might be it for the whole summer, I'm never very hopeful!

These weren't marked, I asked the lady how much, she took a quick look - $1 - sold to me!!  I have quite a stash of shiny brites now but you can't pass them up when you see them for that price.  There are a few in the box that aren't so old but the majority are and I think what took my eye were the tiny ones, I haven't seen any like that.

Another sale - another $1 purchase - I bought these for SMASHing

I know anybody that loves blow molds is going to love this one!!  $2.  I almost didn't get out of the car, I don't like going to sales where there are people sitting around staring at you in lawn chairs, but, it's a good thing I did -because now I own Santa and his reindeer!   They had two more too - I left them there as I already have a Santa and snowman.  This is going to look so cute on the roof of the shed!

This little guy and the rest of the items I bought when I was at Carla's last week,  he's made in Japan, the Giftcraft sticker is still on him.  I didn't notice there's a little chip on the back, but nobody is going to see that where I'm going to place him - and after all, he was only $1.

I didn't notice the flaw on this little guy either - somebody has already used glue on him, but once again, nobody will notice, another made in Japan cutie, with the Giftcraft sticker still attached.

I remember these.....

I'm always interested in the old catalogues, just wish I could find a Christmas one.

Some of these came from yard sales, some from a thrift store - I really hit the jackpot - there's some great old ones there.  I found some Eloise Wilkin books which I already have, but I can't leave them behind, they're good for sharing.

I am on a dry spell for Vera scarves so I was really happy to find one - an old one and a ladybug - even better!

This is one of those Pyrex items that I meant I would buy if it was special - of course, turquoise is, and it's a 404 - it cost me $3.  Another lady had it in her hands, she put it down, I swooped in!!  

I had a great week with some special finds - I also found some scarves for resale, an old Monopoly game for SMASHing - wouldn't it be nice if all outings were so great!!

Check out all things thrifty over at Thriftasaurus, Thrifty Things Friday and Junkin Joe

Pinned! Made!! Best Brownies!!

I thought I had a great brownie recipe - they were good but they don't compare to this recipe - it is soooo  good!!  I made them on the weekend when the kids were here - everybody loved them, I'm going away tomorrow and taking a pan with me - they're that good, I have to make them again....  I didn't change anything in the recipe, except I added nuts. also a bit of milk in the icing and didn't cook them too long, they were just perfect!    The original pin came from All Recipes - click right here for the recipe.  I'm linking to the blog hop at Adorned from Above.

No fancy name - they're just called "Best Brownies" 

Mom's Cinnamon Loaf on Mother's Day

It felt odd this year to not be looking at the Mother's Day cards - no gifts to buy, no packages to send - it has been nine months since Mom passed away and eight   months for my mother in law.... 

But, when your kids are home for the weekend, well, that's just about perfect!

  

Darcy, Carla and her beau - Darcy! 

In honor of Mom, I decided to make her cinnmaon loaf recipe - from her recipe box.  Mom was such a great baker -I'm sure she often had baking disasters like we all do but I can only remember everything tasted so delicious!   I really should be making more of her recipes...

It's in there somewhere..

I used her Colonial Mist bowls, that's Pyrex, for those who don't know!

Cinnamon Loaf

1/2 c. margarine(the recipe called for shortening, I substituted)

1 c. white sugar

2 eggs

2 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. sour milk ( I used buttermilk because I had some)

Cream margarine and sugar, add eggs.  In another bowl, mix together the flour, b. soda, b. powder and salt.  Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture.

In small bowl mix - 

3 tbsp. white sugar

1 tbsp. cinnamon.

Grease 9 x 5 loaf pan.  Cover bottom with batter, spoon 1/4 of cinnamon mixture, add more batter, more cinnamon mixture, remainder of batter and remainder of cinnamon.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Wouldn't you like to have a bite of this loaf??    I'm linking this great recipe up with Scrumptious Sunday Recipe Link Party ,  the Creative Bloggers Party at Homemaker on a Dime and the party at Melt in Your Mouth Monday

I'll miss Mom always.....

Potato Salad for Two

The nice weather is finally here, actually it has been hot here for the last week, so that means BBQ's and cold suppers.  Cold suppers at our house mean a BBQ chicken from the grocery store and a salad of some sort - yesterday it was potato salad and it was so good!  I haven't made it since last summer, I just don't make it in the winter, do you? it really is the perfect summer meal!!

I used to make potato salad so plain and it wasn't very exciting.  This is the greatest little recipe - and it is little, it's just for two, perfect if you're cooking for yourself or your children have flown the nest and it's just the two of you.   The recipe is from Company's Coming - Cooking for Two.

Potato Salad

1 1/2 c. diced cooked potatoes

Hard boiled egg, chopped - the recipe called for 1/2 an egg, I used the whole egg.  I cooked two eggs, reserving one for the garnish.

2 tsp. minced onion, I used red onion, for some colour

Put ingredients in bowl.

Dressing

1/4 c. salad dressing or mayonnaise ( I used Miracle Whip)

1 tbsp. coleslaw dressing

1/4 tsp. prepared mustard

1 tbsp. milk

1/4 tsp. celery salt

1/4 tsp. parsley flakes

Salt, sprinkle

Pepper, sprinkle

Mix these 8 ingredients in small bowl.  Reserve 2 tsp.  Pour remaining dressing over potato mixture in bowl.  Toss.

Garnish with egg wedges.  Drizzle with reserved dressing.  Sprinkle with paprika.  

Potato Salad for 2 in Butterprint

I'm loving taking pictures with my iPhone and Instagram - follow me - mackaypj

I'm joining in today at Fluster's Creative Muster Party and the blog hop at Adorned from Above

A Thrifty Package and More...

Getting mail that isn't bills or flyers is a treat these days, so when a parcel arrives, it's a good day, and when it's a package full of thrifty vintage goods, it's even better.  Holly and I look out for things that we both like and trade back and forth, she really found special things for me -thanks so much, Holly!

It's too bad this guy has to be put away now until Christmas!

Perfect for me - vintage Prince Edward Island souvenirs - the cream and sugar were made by ManorWare in England.  I know I've seen this pixie before, I have to look around when I get back home, I may have another piece there.  I love the pin - I'll be wearing it!!

A vintage apron with such a delicate pattern.

After finding wrapping paper the other week, I have quite a stash now, I better get busy and do something with it!

It was so nice of Holly to share her vintage greeting cards with me!

I'm always on the hunt for Eloise Wilkin books.

This book is chock full of old ads from the British Good Housekeeping magazine - so neat to go through.

Holly made this apron - it is made from a vintage sheet.  She asked me which one I would like, I picked this, with no hesitation, because I had this very exact same sheet set on my bed when I was a little girl.  I remember I picked them out from the Sears catalogue, they were my favourites, the bottom sheet became so threadbare, I always wanted them on my bed  - this piece of fabric is in perfect condition and so bright, she did a beautiful job on it!

Do you have a little girl that plays with dolls - she just might need an apron - Holly makes those too and they're for sale right now in her Etsy shop - check them out because if you use this discount code(for aprons only) alittlebit25 you can take 25% off your apron and shipping is free for Canada and the US until the end of May - there couldn't be a better deal than that!  Check out these sweet little aprons  here at GidgetSews.  She also has a draw happening on her Facebook page - all you have to do is like it and share - click here for that - it's a very generous draw!

Today I'm joining in with Thriftasaurus and The Nifty Thrifty

Keep Your Berries Fresh - Pinned from Pinterest

How do you keep your berries fresh?  I never really did anything, just tried to eat them in time, but often, I have to throw them out - this method is all over the internet, I had pinned it a while ago but forgot about it.  Wednesday I was at Costco, they were selling a 908 gram package for less than $3 - that is a lot of berries for a really good price.  While I was standing there trying to make up my mind, a lady asked me if I knew about the vinegar rinse, then, I remembered my pin.  She said it really works and you can't taste the vinegar, I knew right then I was going to give it a try.   The vinegar destroys bacteria and mold spores on the berries -  you can do it with any kind of berry.   The original pin came from thekitchn.com - I don't feel like I've been keeping up with my pinned from pinterest project, I have to get back on track!!

I bathed them just like it said - three parts water, one part vinegar - don't they look nice in the Pyrex hostess bowl?

A good rinse was next - the original pin called for a salad spinner but I don't have one of those so I just used the sprayer on the faucet.  

Next,  I laid them out on a paper towel lined cookie sheet -they rested there until they were completely dry.   

I lined the plastic container with paper towels and they were ready to go back in the refrigerator.   

We're still eating the strawberries, I'll be using this method again, I was skeptical about the vinegar but there really is no taste at all!  It really does work!!  Have you ever tried this handy hint?