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Yard Sale, Thrift Store, Junk Heap Shopping (Part 1)


Rachel Perlow

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Final chapter on the mustard yellow enamel "pate" pan from last summer. Decided to turn it into a (huge) bread pan now that I am baking a lot. It will hold at least a 6 cup of flour loaf, neat and square and nice for slicing.

yellow pan1.jpg

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In the last couple of weeks, I've gotten several cool things at my local thrift stores, including two coffee presses, one Bodum and one no-name, for $2 each, a neat glass measuring cup with embossed measurements and three spouts, a crock with lid that I can use for kosher salt, a stack of 9 large linen napkins (all white) for a total of $2 for the stack, and today, a BRAND NEW set of Tramontina tri-ply (2- and 4-quart sauce pans with lids, 5 qt Dutch oven with lid, 12-qt stock pot with lid, and two skillets) for $130. Now I don't know whether to get rid of my Revereware, or keep it. I can see myself using the Tramontina most often, but I'm torn between selling the Revereware on Craigslist to recoup the $$$ for the Tramontina, and hanging on to it. I might get rid of the Revereware Dutch oven, as it has plastic handles, and I don't really use it that much, and the skillets, but the sauce pans might come in too handy. And I don't want to get rid of the really little ones unless and until I find replacements. Thoughts?

Tracy

Lenexa, KS, USA

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  • 1 month later...

Last week at the dump - er, I mean, the reuse centre - a beautiful, clean, working 14-cup (DLC-7) Cuisinart with work bowl, shredding blade and steel knife blade. Problem is that the bowl is a bit cracked, which I assume is why someone left it there. I will replace the bowl and cover at a cost of approx. $75 (or less if I can find one on ebay) and it's a terrific back-up processor for when my ancient DLC-8 dies. This is the third - and best - Cuisinart I've picked up from there. What's going on with these people?

Edited by Nyleve Baar (log)
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Best yard sale find ever: a Cooktek induction burner.

Nifty find, Chris. I'm sure you will find many uses for it.

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!" Terry Pratchett

 

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Last week at the dump - er, I mean, the reuse centre - a beautiful, clean, working 14-cup (DLC-7) Cuisinart with work bowl, shredding blade and steel knife blade. Problem is that the bowl is a bit cracked, which I assume is why someone left it there. I will replace the bowl and cover at a cost of approx. $75 (or less if I can find one on ebay) and it's a terrific back-up processor for when my ancient DLC-8 dies. This is the third - and best - Cuisinart I've picked up from there. What's going on with these people?

You and I are obviously not going to the 'mall' at the same time. :raz:

Darienne

 

learn, learn, learn...

 

We live in hope. 

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And for the 14 cup you can get the "flat top" cover, which is great when using the bowl with just the blade.

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!" Terry Pratchett

 

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Not thrift store or yard sale, but we have a salvage store here called Cargo Largo. I went on Friday, and passed up full sheet pans for $8. My oven isn't big enough for them, and try as I did, I couldn't think of where I could use them, even though I wanted them.

I picked up 4 1000 ml Pyrex beakers for $5 each, though, and a bunch of Starbucks vanilla syrup, $2/qt. (SO loves this stuff).

But my best "buy," recently, was 114 half-pint canning jars for zero dollars, a little poison ivy, and some elbow grease liberating them from their rusted-on rings. Still not finished with the latter task, but I'll be splitting these with my neighbor, as it was she who located them.

Tracy

Lenexa, KS, USA

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I was invited to dinner at friends who live on a little ranch in Rosamond, a few miles north of here.

While taking a post dinner stroll, I noted the folks next door were having a "barn" sale and was given a ride over on one of my friend's golf carts.

They were selling a lot of great stuff but all I bought were these two Denby mugs :wub: (England) and this "bubble-bottom" glass from the Sahara Casino - not the one in Las Vegas, this one was in Lake Elsinore before the Indian casinos were legalized.

HPIM4047.JPG

The lady said she didn't like the Denby mugs because they are too "clunky."

There is just no accounting for taste.

I paid $1.50 for all three items.

Edited by andiesenji (log)

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!" Terry Pratchett

 

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I'm jealous of those that have found enameled cast iron recently - what a score! I'll never forget the time I found a complete set of blue Le Creuset at a thrift shop when I was in college, for maybe $30 for the whole set - and left it there and didn't buy it! I rejected it because it was dirty (couldn't been cleaned up with some elbow grease) and because the knobs were cracked (if only I had known Le Creuset sells replacement knobs for fairly cheap). Talk about the one that got away. That one haunts my dreams to this day.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Brand new, never opened enameled fondue pot. We like our melted cheese.

Did you get the cool long forks with it as well? Love the ones that have different colored tips on the handle so you can ID your fork in the pot

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Brand new, never opened enameled fondue pot. We like our melted cheese.

Did you get the cool long forks with it as well? Love the ones that have different colored tips on the handle so you can ID your fork in the pot

We did and they have the different colored buttons on the end. Much fun. :smile:

"You dont know everything in the world! You just know how to read!" -an ah-hah! moment for 6-yr old Miss O.

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Best find EVER!

med_gallery_7409_476_75555.jpg

A vintage martini lamp at a thrift shop in North Wildwood, NJ. It was marked at $15 but I ended up talking the guy down to $10. It's fabulous. I have to figure out just the right spot for it. It needs to have the martini pick glued down with some Super Glue or Gorilla Glue so I can cut off the ugly plastic tie that's holding it in place, but otherwise it's perfect in every way. I'm half tempted to make it my desk lamp but the bulb isn't really bright enough for that. Nonetheless, I love it. I need to find its home in a suitable place of honor.

Katie M. Loeb
Booze Muse, Spiritual Advisor

Author: Shake, Stir, Pour:Fresh Homegrown Cocktails

Cheers!
Bartendrix,Intoxicologist, Beverage Consultant, Philadelphia, PA
Captain Liberty of the Good Varietals, Aphrodite of Alcohol

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Best find EVER!

med_gallery_7409_476_75555.jpg

A vintage martini lamp at a thrift shop in North Wildwood, NJ. It was marked at $15 but I ended up talking the guy down to $10. It's fabulous. I have to figure out just the right spot for it. It needs to have the martini pick glued down with some Super Glue or Gorilla Glue so I can cut off the ugly plastic tie that's holding it in place, but otherwise it's perfect in every way. I'm half tempted to make it my desk lamp but the bulb isn't really bright enough for that. Nonetheless, I love it. I need to find its home in a suitable place of honor.

DAY-UM, Katie ! That simply rocks. Congratulations !!

--Roberta--

"Let's slip out of these wet clothes, and into a dry Martini" - Robert Benchley

Pierogi's eG Foodblog

My *outside* blog, "A Pound Of Yeast"

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Best find EVER!

med_gallery_7409_476_75555.jpg

A vintage martini lamp at a thrift shop in North Wildwood, NJ. It was marked at $15 but I ended up talking the guy down to $10. It's fabulous. I have to figure out just the right spot for it. It needs to have the martini pick glued down with some Super Glue or Gorilla Glue so I can cut off the ugly plastic tie that's holding it in place, but otherwise it's perfect in every way. I'm half tempted to make it my desk lamp but the bulb isn't really bright enough for that. Nonetheless, I love it. I need to find its home in a suitable place of honor.

That may be the coolest thing ever. Great find, Katie. And you got it for 10 bucks? I'd have given more than that for it

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That is one awesome lamp!

not nearly as awesome, but still bringing smiles to me:

2 tupperware sandwich keepers for $0.25 each

a 'new' condition old-style tupperware jello mold with all the bits.

I was so happy to see it I forgot to haggle, so paid $5.

I bought a new TW jello mold last year and the thing is HUGE, and lacks the

cool lids (star, heart, etc). This old style one is a much more reasonable

size, has the plate, and everything.

:happiness:

Also scored 4 ricebowls for $1.

"You dont know everything in the world! You just know how to read!" -an ah-hah! moment for 6-yr old Miss O.

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Thanks everyone. I'm still stunned that this thing fell into my orbit. I really do love it. Surprisingly, this objet d'art is found on eBay and there's 10 of them available at $15.00 or your Best Offer (+shipping, of course). Who knew? Heck, I'd have bought one new in the box but didn't even realize this design existed until I stumbled upon it. So now you don't all have to fight each other for them or go on the endless search for the needle in the haystack. Kitchensqueen, I think I know what your in-laws are getting for next Christmas...

I also went barware a-thrifting a couple of weeks ago to find a nice set of snifters to accompany a fine bottle of sipping rum for a friend's birthday. I did find him a nice set of snifters but ended up with a set of 6 pretty etched glasses and some hollow stemmed champagne coupes as well as some snifters/tasting glasses for myself. Have no idea where I'll store all this stuff, but I figure I'll find a use for it at a cocktail competition or a photo shoot or something so I can make an excuse for myself that way. :blush: I'll try take some pictures of those and post them when I can.

edited to add:

It seems if you search for "Martini Lamp" on eBay these are all over the place, but seem to be mostly battery operated and vary in price from the $15 or Best Offer stated above to about $68 or so for one with the electrical cord like mine has. I kind of like the "Old School" look of mine with the cord running down through the stem of the glass and the small switch on the cord, but others might prefer the cleaner lines of one without the tether. I'll have to measure my lamp as well. I think it might be slightly taller than the "mini martini lamps" my eBay search uncovered. I'm guessing it's definitely over a foot tall. Will report back...

Edited by KatieLoeb (log)

Katie M. Loeb
Booze Muse, Spiritual Advisor

Author: Shake, Stir, Pour:Fresh Homegrown Cocktails

Cheers!
Bartendrix,Intoxicologist, Beverage Consultant, Philadelphia, PA
Captain Liberty of the Good Varietals, Aphrodite of Alcohol

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Earlier I walked down the road to a neighbor's yard sale.

I found a Hazel Atlas jelly jar with glass top (presently soaking to get gunk off)

and this........

How often do you come across a late Victorian/Edwardian, hand-painted majolica sauce boat for 50¢?

No chips, cracks or even a fleabite.

It's not terribly valuable as Shorter & Son produced a lot of majolica. They are most famous for an extensive line of Toby jugs.

HPIM4152.JPG

HPIM4153.JPG

HPIM4165.JPG

It was made prior to 1909 when they began machine dipping the wares - this has no glaze on the foot.

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!" Terry Pratchett

 

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The thrift store this weekend was a total bust - an old favorite has really turned into a serious trash dump. They literally had junk just strewn on the floors, and were selling broken things... so diappointing when a good hunting ground deteriorates.

But, my favorite used bookstore was having a killer sale - a grocery sack of books for $20. I managed to cram in 42 before my husband pulled me out of the store, so I got them all for a little under fifty cents each. Most of them are books for my son (35 vintage Golden Books!) but I did find some cookbooks/food books for myself too -

Christmastime Treats: Recipes & Crafts for the Whole Family by Sara Perry

Easter Treats: Recipes & Crafts for the Whole Family by Jill O’Connor

Mommy Made: Home Cooking for a Healthy Baby & Toddler by Martha & David Kimmel

Learning From Soup to Nuts: Food Activities & Recipes by Vickie Rochelle Barkman (circa 1978 so awesome kitsch factor)

Pretend Soup And Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up by Mollie Katzen

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