Thanks so much for all the nice comments -- yes, countrygrl, it does justify hoarding stuff - you never know when it will all come together --- always wanted to use the posts inside the house, but it never worked out - this way everyone gets to enjoy them -- thanks also robolady - honored that you would put this on your site - and luvstocraft - they are bolted to a long (6ft) 2x6 and that is 4ft in the ground - no cement - very sturdy - we have had a lot of wind this year and it doesn't move ---

It is difficult to tell when something comes from the era of macramé hanging baskets. I am so glad that everyone thinks they are a treasure. The colors are so wonderful in person. Cooper, I am sure what the bouquet was from. When she gets back from vacation I will have to be sure to ask about that one. She had live so I know they weren't for her wedding. I really like the box idea, but I am going to have to find a place for it first. I have a couple of shadow boxes of my treasures, like the first roses HE sent me, so my walls are a bit boxed out. Setting them IN a box is a wonderful idea. Thanks, Oakley for that one! They might be hand rolled, but I don't know. There is a roll to it, but not like any made-in-China ribbon I have ever seen. The edges have a thread-like wire in them that the ribbon wraps around. Goody! Goody! I deserve it for the day it took me to sort through those old boxes. : D No other treasures I am afraid.

That sounds like a whole lot of fun! But it doesn't really reduce your "stuff", does it? LOL My guild used to do an auction once a year...people brought in quilty stuff they didn't want any more, and people bid on stuff. It was a fundraiser for the guild. The last year we did it someone brought in a treadle machine in the cabinet and it went for $15! I almost bid on it, then thought DH would have a fit at more furniture in the house. I told him about it afterwards and he scolded me for not getting it! Men. Donna

There are many bargains at auctions, estate and yard sales, etc. I got several part-balls of wool (and other material) in a bag at one for $1.00 that I'll use during this winter to darn some heavy work socks, etc. And some others that I can't remember at the moment. Careful when you're at an auction, though ... don't get into a bidding war and end up paying about double what you would have paid in a store! That happens sometimes ... and a person feels really stupid when thinking what a dumb trick one played on one's self! The best deal, though, is shoopping at the roadside clearance place. I've picked up cupboards, shelves, wood, running shoes, etc. Plus a good crib blanket on the street in town last Sunday and some good sheets on the freeway ... in fact, I picked up a light jacket (CVS logo - and "Donnell"), almost new in northern Ohio on the freeway about 4 years ago - that I'm wearing at the moment, as a matter of fact: it's 60 degrees in here. There's a U.S. flag at the top of one sleeve, that I've never bothered to remove, though I can't qualify, being true-blue Canadian ... but my kids can, as they have dual citizenship, their late Mom having been an Iowan ... and daughter has worked in AZ for several recent years. Some folks on this thread got a good laugh about six years ago when I told how I found a good chesterfield a couple of blocks away, went to son's apt. downtown and pressed him into service to come out to carry the other end as I slowly drove home with one end in the back of the car, with the hatch open ... ... asking him several times whether I was driving too quickly. And he answered ... that I wasn't ... between puffs of breathing. I took a vanload of pop cans, most intact, when I helped a friend move a trailerload of scrap iron to the scrap metal dealer's about three years ago, yielding $90.00, most of them picked up on the roadside, at summer festivals, fall fairs and other joyous gatherings, when I took my son to be an entertainer. Plus quite a few dollsrs' worth on other occasions. And I've taken a bunch of beer cans and bottles, about 1/3 - 1/2 of them originating at a friend's house who likes to drink but has no vehicle, to the beer store, where they pay me 10 cents each for them, that has netted a number of dollars, as well. Being cheap - pays!! Enjoy your weekend, everyone. One of the perquisites of retirement is - every day is weekend! ole joyful ... thankful to be in good health at 80