Fresh Home Made Ice Cream!

Yeah, yeah, I know. It's like freezing outside and you want to talk about ice cream????? BBBBbrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!! I've always loved ice cream makers, in particular the electric ones. Who wants to do all that hand cranking anyway? When I was growing up in the 70's and 80's my parents owned one of these electric versions. It had a big green bucket I believe with an American Eagle on the side. And Oh, Dad was passionate about ice cream. He used to tell us stories of how his Dad too loved ice cream but was very particular about how much each kid got. I think too he told me something about a chart on the side of the freezer where his Dad would mark off who had what and how much. Thank goodness Dad didn't adopt that same concept for us! I remember it being a big ordeal that Dad made vanilla ice cream. The ice and the rock salt, as a kid I couldn't figure out WHY you needed to put salt on ice. Now I've figured out why. But it all still is magical! Well, those of you who know me know I frequently go out in search of my treasures I list at my online store http://www.etsy.com/shop/HoleyGwackamoley . Just the other day I came about a brand new in box vintage ice cream maker. Now anyone who visits vintage shops on Etsy must know that Etsy considers anything 20 years old or older as "vintage". So, I brought it home to offer buyers the opportunity to own one of these working and wonderful ice cream machines. Usually the items hang out in my kitchen or dining room for a few days while I find out all it's pertinent information, photograph and package it up. My youngest son asked me if this ice cream maker was "ours" or was I going to sell it on my shop site. He was soooooooo dissappointed that I was selling it. HE said that I get all the cool stuff and just sell it. Well, my thinking is that I have enjoyed these items in the past. Even though it may be a different style or maker I still appreciate them the same. And being a recycling Queen I'm all for using an item that has had a life before and give it a new life in a recycling kind of way. The sad part about this one is that it really never had a life before. It looks brand new and never even used. So, it will be loved in a 2nd chance and better kind of way. That one is up for sale on my shop site: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88540139/you-scream-i-scream-we-all-scream-for . So, after considering all my son said, and that I too LOVE ice cream, I tucked the notion of finding one just for us if I should ever meet up with another again. Well, lo and behold, what found me today was a newer version of these machines. It is brand new in the box and PINK! HA! Throw it in your face....Mom brought home a hot pink ice cream maker for US! So, there, you have it!
Off to drool over ice cream recipes....and if you got the notion for some too I've got one ready to ship off for you!
Julie~
Holey Gwackamoley!

Most of my outings are a miss, but sometimes they are a HIT!

You just never know what you are going to find. That statement often runs through my mind as I go to different yard sales, thrift stores, or even off the beaten path antique stores. One in particular antique store I patron about 2-3 times a year. It just so happened that a couple weeks ago when I decided to go that there was a sale going on. This antique store had recently moved things around and cleaned it up a bit. There are half a dozen  "booths" if you will with different sellers. Oh, and this place goes on like forever! Rooms that lead to more rooms. I have my method of madness to hunt and dig through all nooks and crannies. If I don;t then that is when I miss the best items. So, I'm coming toward the last room. The last wall. There, lo and behold, were a pair of old vintage clear glass swag lamps. One had damaged glass but were being sold as the pair. Found out that the sale price would fit into my budget as a vintage resaler (and reworker of lamp wiring), so I jumped on them (not literally). I carefully carried them to the counter and purchased them. So, with what I got I was able to clean up the one good one and extract it's innards for new wiring, socket, chain and light bulb. Oh la la! What a beauty it is! And since I was only able to make one I had other parts and put together one more piece completely different in look and feel. These are now listed on my shop site Holey Gwackamoley! So, really, just one more stop along the way and you CAN find an item that you may just cherish. I do but now I put them up for sale in my shop so you can enjoy the benefits of vintage in your home too.
Julie~

Holey Gwackamoley!

"What is IT?" at Lake Cachuma

OK, so here it goes: Family and I head out and arrive at Lake Cachuma Campgrounds the 4th of July weekend. As soon as we pull in I notice a sign saying that there will be a garage sale the next day (Saturday)to benefit the Nature Center there. I thought, "Alright, something fun to do!" (All collectors and vintage enthusiasts get their kicks off of digging through stuff and finding great deals.) So, I set in my mind that THAT was what I was going to do Saturday morning. So, hubs was so kind as to come with me. He's one of those husbands who would be waiting outside a store while the wifey shops. So, there's a method to my madness. Look at everything to the right and go the perimeter. That way I shouldn't miss a thing! After all hunting and digging through stuff is how one finds things. First off I find this wonderful little sewing machine item. I did not know what exactly what it was. Through some research and a wonderful plethora of knowledge over at Etsy Vintage Lovers Team I got what I was looking for. Turns out that this is a Jewel Antique Hook Rug Needle Loom Shuttle, used for making rugs. Looks like now it would be a beautiful decorative object for that sewing business or sewing room. Finding relics like this makes me appreciate the rugs and carpet I have now. So I will be listing that later today at my shop site Holey Gwackamoley! Now here comes the interesting part. Now IF you were at a garage sale and there are mostly older men and women working it whom also donated items wouldn't you think that someone would know about one particular item? Well, as I neared the end of my garage sale-ing I saw guy things like tools and fishing gear. One item was just sitting there begging me to be curious. I thought, "Hum, I wonder what IT is?" Then after picking it up one older gentleman chimed in and asked, "So, what is IT?" I looked at him, shrugged my shoulders and answered, " I don't know. You mean you don't know?" Then another volunteer worked would ask the same thing of me. Then another, then another. Someone said, "Oh, that's the item everyone has been talking about and wondering what IT is. I thought that if so many older people don't know what it is then I was going to find out. I picked it up and proceeded to check out. (They had a wonderful organized set up that made garage sale-ing FUN!) Even the check out lady asked me what it was. I was laughing inside. Proud of myself and wondering what knew things I was going to find out about this item. I had some speculation. So, I buy the two items and hubs and we head off to the general store to get something to quench our thirst on that HOT day. As soon as we walked it (items in hand) the younger gentleman there asked me what IT was since he and the volunteer workers were talking about it the day before. I was amazed that it was such a conversation piece in such a small and friendly community. (I was so glad that I bought it!) I thought to myself, "Now I have to write about this in my blog" So, here it is. So, just after that the older gentleman who worked at the general store said, "Oh, that's a hod." What??? HE KNOWS WHAT THIS IS????? WHAT????!!!! So I asked more about it. He said that it is used to carry prepared plaster to the workers who actually plaster buildings. It totally made sense then!!!! IT is a "plaster hod" carried by plaster hod carriers who then hand it off to the plasterers, sometimes up a ladder or scaffolding. For some reason Popeye the Sailor Man comes to mind....(I think in one of his cartoons there was a plaster hod in it.).. I digress.....So, sure enough IT is a plaster hod. Looks good enough to use today but really it looks like it would make a great home decor planter inside or out in the garden. OK, so there you have it. If you want to check it out just click on this link to my shop: Holey Gwackamoley! I still have to list it.
Thanks for reading and thanks to the volunteers at Lake Cachuma Nature Center!
Julie~
Holey Gwackamoley!

Nope, I'm not going to any garage sales today!

Yep, that's what I thought as I headed out the door Saturday morning to get my weekly box of organic produce from Abundant Harvest Organics. Well, on the way I saw flags (like the kind you see advertising brand new homes) but these said "garage sale" on them. WOW, never seen that used as garage sale marketing before. So, as I searched  found that it was for a local storage facility. I thought, humm, must be like an auction probably only one or two units doing this. Got my organics box then pulled into the parking lot of this storage facility. As I went in found out that it was to raise money for a local adoption/foster home agency. Here is the article about it: Storage Express and Childrens Bureau The employees of the Childrens Bureau rented out spaces to bring their garage sale items but they kept their proceeds and the rental monies went to the agency. What a GRAND idea. Win win for all I say! And as one who really enjoys a good garage sale it was even better because it was a one stop shop or one stop garage sale- inside, AIR CONDITIONED, and organized! NOW I say that IS the way to do garage sales, no stop and go, stop and go, stop and go. Well, I had a fabulous time, but only found two items that I now have listed in my shop A Hoot in the Woods at Holey Gwackamoley!, a perfect item to get anyones day started. Ok, so where is that cup of coffee I need? Oh yeah, had one already!
Have a wonderful day!
Holey Gwackamoley!

Happy 2 days AFTER...

If any of you are like me I'm certain you are still getting back in the groove of after holiday stuff. I must eat humble apple patriotic pie and say, "I calculated WRONG on our countries Birthday." My youngest son says I'm not modern. So here I can honestly say I was fives years off on the date. (I cannot trust my brain the do math-mental note: MUST use calculator at all times!!) So, any of you reading my blog, thank you for not publicly humiliating me. I seem to eat crow all by myself! ;~}

Ok, so I'll be listing a couple new items later today on my shop site One item is a set of dove drinking glasses from Libbey. I always love the place I found these came from. The gentleman is a hippies era rancher dude. Always enjoy hearing his stories and about his lifestyle. Another item I will be listing is an old oil can for a SKS Russian Rifle. This one is interesting because it's Chinese and came from the Vietnam Nam era. Don't know if it was in the war itself. I'm sure some collector wants or needs it though. I scored that find from a yard sale close to my Moms house. The guy who sold it to me has had this sale at least twice a year and markets it as "Cool Guy Stuff". He's got mostly military and vintage car stuff-a collector just liquidating. He's another one I love to talk to because he has so much knowledge.

Anyway, well look out for those listings later today. Try to stay cool out there.
Julie~
Holey Gwackamoley!

Happy 230th Birthday America!

Yep, had to calculate that one up! I do remember 1976 and our countries Bi-centennial. Seems like yesterday. Our founding Fathers sure went through a lot to even get to the Declaration of Independence. Thank God for them and their families to state and live their convictions, even writing them down for this GRAND new world as they saw it. We need to remember why we have these freedoms. They, along with thousands upon thousands of citizens have defended those freedoms by fighting for us and the good of others to ensure it. To these brave souls, whether past or present, whether men or women, no matter what color, race or heritage, I give honor to. They enable this country to continue on. Thank them today, thank them anyday. Because of that we are able to take the day or weekend off. We relax, vacation, BBQ, go to the beach, swim, and play with our toys and kids. After this day is through it's highlighted and ends with a grandiose fireworks display. Let us not forget.

While I myself was away celebrating was able to sneak a Yard Sale at the campground I was staying at. Because it was at a dam they had a Nature Center there. This yard sale was to benefit that center, so I was even more happy to oblige! I scored some cool finds that I plan to share with you very soon. There was one find I wanted to bring home, but with all our camping gear it would not fit. So the items I have were perfect travel size. Keep posted and you'll soon see those very finds.
Well, happy 230th Birthday America! Be safe with the fireworks.

Holey Gwackamoley!

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Good Morning! Well, ok, I've been up for awhile--up and out for my 2+ mile walk (Thank you Valerie!). They say we are supposed to be in the triple digits from Friday through Monday so this mornings walk was grand because it was soooo nice and cool! I want to put a plug in for this because it's something that has been on my heart for awhile. The place my friends and I walk is really a neat place. BUT, after all the money they put into other things there you would think that it would have a nice path. I see others out there walking, running or riding their bikes. They walk their dogs and have conversations with friends or family. The path needs replacing and I often say, "They need to fix this path!" The perimeter is just over a mile so it's great for people that walk or run distance without the scenery getting monotonous. There are man-made lakes with "islands" in the middle of some. Ducks and Geese live there year round. You see Egrets, Herons, even Cormorants. There is a Barn Owl that lives in the trees and there are some sort of fowl that sounds like a barking dog. Today my friend saw a sign that wants to know how our park experience was. (She had seen the sign the previous week only after walking in the opposite direction.) So, today she stopped and took down the information. Really, all I want to see is that they fix the path so more people could enjoy it. That particular path seems to have never had work done on it for 30 years. (Yes, I've been to that park for 30 years!) If any of you have been and know what I am talking about I'd appreciate it if you would go and take the survey. Here is the link: Apollo Park Reportcard

Thank you gals for all the nice and warm fuzzies! Oh yeah, no warm fuzzies, only cool fuzzies, please. I hope to have some stories soon of the items I've found that I end up listing in my shop. Maybe past items to start out with. But for this morning I keep thinking, ok, got to list a few more items today on my shop site Holey Gwackamoley! It's a pre-vacation day and hubs is home, so kind of a not as normal day for me.

Well, got to get the move on! If you don't see me here it's only because I'm celebrating our countries Independence from England. Be safe my friends and let the professionals handle the fireworks! Don't need to make the firemen work more in the heat.
Oh yeah, and go and make it a great day.
Holey Gwackamoley!

Good Afternoon!

Well, here I am. I'm asking myself, "...and why?" Well, because a fellow Etsian (efinegifts) complimented me on my shop site. You see, they sell vintage items online just like I do. I had recently joined another Team there called Vintage Lovers Team (VL Team Vintage Lovers Team). I had started out on California Chit Chat Team (CCC Team) and decided to venture a bit to one that is more fitting to the items I sell. I love the CCC Team and have become online friends with a lot of them there. They always make me feel welcome and encouraged day in and day out and I too hope that I do the same for them. If you happen to sell on Etsy and live in California come on by and check us out! But with others sellers that have more of the same issues I have I find the VL Team has given me additional ways to better my shop and expand my horizons on the vintage pathway. I am getting to know the faithful few that post there and throw me tidbits of info to expand on. This entire experience has been and continues to be a learning adventure. So, that is why I am here, learning along the way. I will do my best to post frequently (however many that means I don't know).
Visit me if you'd like over at Holey Gwackamoley! You'll see the goodies in my shop that you may just have to have. Thank you Marc & Shannon for pushing me over to the blogger edge. It just took one suggestion but I guess it was in the back of my mind anyways. A gentle nudge I say. And as I say at the end of my listings, "A good attitude is a decision so go and make a great day." I know, sometimes that can be a difficult thing, but why not try it on for size?
Julie~
Holey Gwackamoley!