Category: costumes

The Dress-up Box

Posted in actor, antique store, costumes, dress-up, Little House on the Prairie, memoir, play, Succession, EmmiesLeave a comment

(re-run) In my shop, I sold pioneer outfits for field-trip-bound 3rd graders along with tea cups, signs, and all things vintage. Think Little House on the Prairie. Most of the parents were happy to drop $75.00 on a well-made cotton outfit of dress, shirt, apron and bonnet. Some, however, were not. “Does she have a… Continue reading The Dress-up Box

A Memorial and a Party

Posted in California, costumes, drinking, election, Halloween, humor, Meet-up, memoir, memorial service, October, party, South Dakota, Sweden, thrift store, World War IILeave a comment

I got invited to a memorial service for a woman who lived to be 99. It’s hard to be sad when someone has had such a good long life.  We were encouraged to wear hats since the woman loved hats. I spoke into the mike about my friend from my antique shop days (she covered… Continue reading A Memorial and a Party

Good Thing for the Rat

Posted in costumes, donations, Facebook Marketplace, income tax, inventory, memoir, rats, vintageLeave a comment

When I went to the garage the other day to get something from the second refrigerator, I noticed the white top of my blue rolling cooler (ice chest) had rat droppings on it. OMG! I’ve lived here thirteen years and have never seen a rat in the garage. Long story short, I got busy finding… Continue reading Good Thing for the Rat

Pioneer Lady

Posted in California, clothing, costumes, Gold Rush, history, memoir, Oakland, parking, photographs, pioneers, relationships, seniors, sewing, store, ticket, triviaLeave a comment

Every year I drive to Oakland for the most awesome day at the White Elephant Sale.  The women’s board of the Oakland Museum own a warehouse in Fruitvale, and they fill it up for their annual event. If you know someone who works the sale, they can give you passes so that you can get… Continue reading Pioneer Lady

Secrets to a Successful Shop

Posted in antique, bathroom, brick and mortar, California, children, costumes, coupons, dreams, employees, gift shop, humor, Karma, Sully, tea cups, Vistaprint.com, wooden signsLeave a comment

It’s true — people shop online more and more each year. So how does a brick and mortar shop make it in today’s world? I was downtown in my town of 40,000 people (in a commuter corridor of the Bay Area) the other day, and parked on the main street in front of a little… Continue reading Secrets to a Successful Shop

It’s Not Rocket Science

Posted in antique, best, books, business, California, costumes, EBay, firsts, helpful strangers, humor, last, linens, memoir, relationships, restaurant, retail, vintage, worstLeave a comment

The woman who works for me, eleven years my junior and twice as strong, told me that when her hot tub broke, she told a man at her community pool that she needed a rocket scientist to figure out what was wrong with it. “I’m a rocket scientist,” the guy said. A good pick-up line?… Continue reading It’s Not Rocket Science