Laura, I have no clue what that thing is,saw it at the goodwill,liked the looks and texture of it and for .50cents,just couldn't let it stay there.That ivy that's in it I found at the 99 cent store didn't realize that was paint on the leaves until I got home and was transplanting it,i got 4 of them,2 for me and 2 for my bff.We still like them though. Linda, thought that was some kind of candle holder,didn't match anything inside my house,but I like it among my plants. g2g that cone shaped thing is attached to the planter.I though of the earth when I saw it as well,but like you I couldn't figure out what that coneshape thing is. Kathi

It's great to find something new at a thrift store. I've gone there to buy dishes because I generally only buy pairs of settings, and that's easy enough to find. As for the silver - I found a set of sterling silver dessert forks and spoons at an antique shop on La Brea that had just come in from an estate sale and were all tarnished. I took my glasses off to read the sterling mark, but the seller did not and sold them to me for the price of silver plate. I weighed them after I bought them and found that the silver alone was worth more than twice what I paid for them. San Francisco is a terrible place for thrift stores because the antique dealers swarm on them at 5:00 a.m. on delivery days and pick through all the good stuff. I found a lot of good stuff in free boxes in S.F., however, and didn't pay a cent for it. One year I did my Christmas shopping at free boxes and got presents that my sister and SIL both loved. I couldn't tell them where I got them, however. I need to make some donations to thrift stores now - we usually go to Out of the Closet, which is very close by. Kevin finds some good vinyl there usually. Lars

Sunnyca, The bells are not musical but are in great shape, I plan on using them for one of my large Chrismas Swag. I grow a lot of my own plants for the house, but it is nice to have some silk ones to fill in spots.. I usually go to the Good Will store at least twice a month just to look. I love books on tapes or disc and sometimes can come across some good one there too. I got my bowling balls there for my gazing balls. Now is the time to find silk Christmas flowers for my swags too.. So happy hunting Jan..

Oh, don't be afraid of the electronic kind! Even Elmo could use it. most will have a safety clip that you can wear. The clip immediately stops the tread if you fall. Here is a link to Elmo on the treadmill- he lasted a full 2 minutes. Seems pretty good for a 12 pound cat!!!! We tried to teach Stewie to use it but every time Stewie would get on the treadmill, Elmo would get jealous and knock him off (even growled at Stewie once!). Cannot find that video clip right now. Here is a link that might be useful: Elmo on the treadmill