Scraps

Last week I spent cleaning and clearing. I must say I am getting rather fond of empty space - very Zen, very peaceful - as I continue tossing, displaying/using, inheriting forward, and (of course) preparing for the "The World Is Not Ending Dammit" online sale (hm, better but still not there).  I actually fasted hunting the whole week so I could focus on the Purge.  I figured once I did my duty I would step out and magically find amazing things that would thrill my Diva and fill my retirement coffers.

Not so much.

I found things for the Big Lug (this Gordie Howe action figure, among other things):

as well as several bits for grandkids and home.  I ended at our First Saturday flea, looking at everything as I always do, even as I greeted and talked with several of my dealer friends.  I started and ended with my newest treasure, a really nice (and funny!) guy I connected with a few months back.  He asked what I'd found, and since I'm superstitious about looking too closely when I didn't spend much ($5 altogether at the flea) I shrugged and said "bits and pieces."  Normally, I'd wait until I got home, but I was done for the day, and he hasn't heard all my jokes yet so I gathered my finds.

He spotted the not-silver necklace, but I raised an eyebrow and pointed to its companion bracelet (sterling).  He said the ring was copper (I agree - looked good in the sun) but it was dark in the garage, and it was cheap, so while I was disappointed I knew my daughter might still wear it.  He saw the necklace bit and immediately said "that's gold" for the clasp (yep, 14K, and really, really nice cultured pearls), which I bought along with the watch movement.  And then the pendant came out, and he asked me why I'd bought it (good question) - "because that's a pretty lively opal for plate" was my response.  Okay, there was also the "we tested everything and sold all the gold yesterday" from the vendor - that kind of arrogance always makes me want to prove him wrong! And since I then talked him down from $1 each to $1 for the opal and the Shakespeare stamp and that cool (non-silver) religious medal, how could I lose?  (And, yes, the pendant is 14K with o!pal and diamond.)

Scraps.  Bits and pieces.  Things some people would've tossed in the trash.

Not me!

And maybe not you anymore, too, huh?