vacation thrift store finds

I'm pretty sure this is the last post that is vacation related.

Whew.

Sorry if I dragged it all out.

But not only do I post all this to share with you, but to document it for myself.

It's like my very own electronic scrapbook.

Anyways,  here's the last of it...

I wanted to share my Idahoan thrift store finds!

I found this teal and ivory zig zag afghan in an antique store in downtown Coeur d'Alene for only $4.50!  You can't buy the yarn to make one for that cheap.  Total steal.

I picked up these two vintage quilt blocks at an antique store in Sandpoint, ID, for about $6.50 a piece.  I love that every time I look at them, I will be reminded of the beautiful, little city on gorgeous Lake Pend Orielle.  They are soooo soft, and hand quilted.  They've already been washed and sewn into pillow covers for our bed; I just need to pick up some 16x16 pillow inserts.  They might be my favorite find of the trip.

I found some really great vintage-y pillow cases at a Hospice Thrift Store in Post Falls - two of the golden stripe (for $1.50) and one blue floral (for $.50).   One of the striped pillow cases was sacrificed for the back of the quilt squares to make the pillow covers.  They look pretty darn cute.

A perfect little mug for twenty-three cents.

All of my finds look so pretty together.

Callan got lots of books on this trip.  He got this (nearly complete) set of books from Goodwill, in Post Falls.  Both Travis and I had these as kids, so, clearly, our kiddo needs to have them, too.  :)

And you can't go wrong with $2 Dr. Seuss books (antique store prices), The Stinky Cheese Man for $3 (hardcover, antique store price), and a random $.10 book for when he's a bit older (thrift store price).

And I picked up a sweater, plaid, button-down shirt, and zip-up hoodie for Callan.  All in great shape.

The thrift store prices were pretty fantastic and hard to beat.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be craving a return trip to each of these stores in a month or two.
But I certainly won't be craving the 1630 mile road trip to get there.

vintage cameras

Yesterday, my little vintage camera collection grew by two.  I received a care package from my parents, full of goodies.  These two beauties were rolled up, safely, inside.  

The Bosley was my grandfather's.  The Kodak was my great grandfather's.  I can only imagine the places these cameras have been and the pictures they have taken.  They captured moments in my family's history, they celebrated birthdays and holidays in the hands of two great men, they recorded vacations and good times, they provided us with images to look back on with love and with great pride.  They help us to remember times passed. 

It has been almost a year since my grandpa entered heavens' pearly white gates, was reunited with loved ones (many of whom I only know through photos that these cameras have taken), and met our Savior, face to face.

  

This Christmas, we will rejoice in the fact that my grandpa is celebrating his first Christmas in the presence of our Savior - the very reason we celebrate this holiday season.  He will be singing "Joy to the World" with the herald angels!  He will be rejoicing with the heavenly host; the same heavenly host that appeared to the shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night, praising God and announcing the birth of Jesus Christ!

What a celebration Christmas, in heaven, must be!

As much as my grandpa loved and cherished his family, and we him, I'm pretty sure he's having the best Christmas ever.

Despite missing him dearly, his heavenly presence overwhelms my heart with joy.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  Luke 2:13-14

I'm honored to have these bits of family history in my home, displayed proudly on a shelf.  They belonged to two very special men - one that I can't wait to meet, and one that I can't wait to see again.  The pictures that these cameras took, introduce me to family life before I was born.  I never got to meet my great grandpa, but because of photographs taken with his Kodak, I can say I know what he looks like.  And I think that's pretty special.

Because of pictures, I'll never forget how rare it was to get a photo of my grandpa with his mouth closed, I'll never forget his bright, blue eyes...these pictures cue the sound of his laughter, his smell, his fierce, love-filled hugs, the sound of candy being stirred in the crystal candy dish by his strong hand grabbing a fistful of m&m's...

I'm so thankful for the memories that pictures evoke.

These cameras are something special.