Another Crazy Teapot

When you do something every single day of your life, like drinking tea, a little variety helps. Even if I'm not sure I want to be reminded of asparagus at teatime.

What is he supposed to look like?

Isn't it funny how we expect certain people to look a certain way?  This guy just doesn't look like a celebrity chef. The glasses are all wrong.



   
                

MEGA RETRO

These two-piece serving dishes are a statement if I ever saw one.

But a statement of what?

FOLK ART PIGGY BANK

Homemade, funky, folkarty. Who can resist this? This see-through boat-bank has to be one-of-a-kind. Tell me if it isn't!

Gorgeous mugs!

Rustic but sleek, cool, understated. These mugs are the most beautiful things to come into the Gift House in awhile. It's been kind of slow . . .  Everybody is gone to the beach. 

PUCCI COMPOTES ?

I think it says something pretty bad about me that I was able to immediately identified these cups as "Pucci compotes" without missing a beat.  They aren't real Pucci, by the way.

DOG CLOTHES

One of the great things about working at the Gift House is getting to break the rules. Like I just can't say "no" to a pair of skiis.  I don't care how old they are. I just love carrying skiis to the back of the house and hoping that somebody will show up and ski away on them. I have never turned away a book either, unless it was really wet and soggy. 

Technically we aren't suppose to allow "clothes" in the Gift House. But what about dog clothes? Thankfully, volunteer Nancy Munson was working when this sweater set arrived -- with fur, no less -- and she didn't refuse them. Even better, she took a photo of the get-up with her IPhone. Here they are!  

The Scarecrow and G.L. "Chris" Cristofels

You've probably seen Chris at the Gift House. He volunteers on Tuesday mornings and usually dispenses gardening tips and other wisdom collected during his 89 years of life from his command post, a wicker chair on the Gift House deck. Chris has taught me to bury banana peels around my roses and get rid of spider mites on cedar trees by spraying them with plain old water from the garden hose. Gardeners know all about recycling, reuse, resourcefulness and frugality. Sometimes I wonder if that isn't why the Gift House was built next to the free piles of town compost and wood chips. 

I love the card that his daughter Donna sent him recently. It shows the photo of Chris and his scarecrow trading hats on the front, and inside says, "A man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season. . . Thanks for being a great Dad!" 

Encyclopedia of Home Decorating

 A classic! Hardcover with hilarious color photos that will carry you back in time.  It was nabbed quickly by Helene, a follower of this blog, who took it home as a present for another loyal follower, Carol.
Gift House Serendipity! 

                                                               

NECCHI SEWING MACHINE

Very nice and (I have to say) handsome sewing machine by Necchi. The carrying case is lovely and the instruction manuel came with it. The only thing missing is the power cord. But from what I hear, one wouldn't be hard to come by.   

Uh oh!  The daughter of one of our volunteers came by at the end of the day and nabbed it. She's having it reconditioned and powered up with a new cord.  

Enough Glasses for a Party

The shelves are full of nice wine glasses. Borrow them for a week and throw a party!  Think how impressed your friends will be when you tell them that they're drinking out of a Gift House glass. 

Stairway to the Stars!!

A kindly Gift House browser identified this strange wall sculpture as a "Stairway to the Stars." Ordinarily there's a wooden star hanging next to it. But this stairway arrived without one.

 If there is no star, where does the stairway lead you?

Trophies For the Insecure

Trophies are always coming into the Gift House.For small children and other people in need of reminders of self-worth, they are an easy way to boost morale.The fact that they are plastic and cheap gold paint doesn't seem to keep them from doing their job.

ALWAYS SURPRISED

Sparkly. Upbeat. Googly-eyed dangling ornament of strange origin and purpose. Golden dragon?

 Could it really be for Christmas?  He looks so perplexed.

SORRY, I TOOK THIS HOME

Very nice sound!  A small classical guitar that arrived in tune!

Somethings are just irresistable to me. How 'bout you?

Jonathan Livingston Plant-Holder

Very lifelike!

Summer Snowman

Very sweet snowman who is a spoon rest.

He has a nice cool face for a hot day.

Alcoholics Anonymous!

Lotta drinkers on the Cape who wind up at meetings.

Squeegie and Sponge and Sprayer -- 3 in One

Am I the last person on earth to discover the 3-in-one combo for window cleaning, the sponge and squeegie with a handle that is a skinny container for window cleaning liquid?  With a sprayer!  GENIUS,

YELLOW PEPPER TEAPOT

Hard to believe.  Almost unimaginable.  But yes. A yellow pepper teapot -- sitting on a shelf right by the door of the Gift House.                                                                                 

COLD WEATHER ATTITUDE

This nesting doll is missing all her insides. Her friends are gone, or lost. She's an empty babooshka lady waiting for a new home. Rescue her. 

THE RING MOLD

What happened to the ring salad? Why do some foods go out of style, like some hairdos and skirts, and never come back? This ring, in any case, is 16 inches wide. Spectacular!  

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MAKE POPCORN AT YOUR NEXT BEACH BONFIRE

I love all the camping-kitchen stuff that comes into the Gift House. Sometimes just looking at a tent puts me in a good mood.  Lately I've been thinking that life should be more like camping.

TRUMP AT THE DUMP

Here's your chance to learn the great wisdom of Donald Trump.

 America is crowded with big dreams.  

TOILET ON WHEELS

How easy! The store tag is still on it. Practically new!