A good deal in New York?

The summer break in New York is wrapping up, and soon it will be time to return to The House of Goodwill project.  But first, a few more New York shares, things I haven't taken time to post, because I've been a little too busy living life outside (and away from the screens).

As a former New Yorker - one who would not return as a permanent resident, due to the crazy high taxes here - a piece of my heart will always be here in this state.  As much as I love it, I have to admit, New York's reputation for being an expensive place to live is totally accurate, even if you are FAR from the city.  Which is sad.

New York is full of old houses, which I love.  The countryside here is beautiful too, though I think many people are unaware of this.  (I often meet people in other states who just assume I grew up in the city when I tell them I'm from New York.  And I realize many people think of the state as one big city.)

So yes, New York is expensive.  But one of my favorite things to do here is free.

In my home town, which is located on Lake Ontario (one of the Great Lakes), watching the sunset is an activity you plan your evenings around.  And the sunsets here are AMAZING.  Somehow, they're always different.  The variations of clouds, the flatness/waviness of the lake, the rain (or snow) - there are a million factors that can change it up daily.

Here are a few of my favorites this summer:

In this photo and the one below, the tiny black spot on the water is my husband, floating on a tube.

FYI, none of these photos were altered or enhanced.  God didn't need any assistance here.

The old cliche holds true - the best things in life are free.  Even in the “concrete jungle” of New York. 🙂

A flea market Fenton & another fantastic find

Well, I thought "with all this free time" I'd have this summer, I'd be posting pretty often.  But it turns out, with lots of free time came lots of fun opportunities, which is a situation I'm not going to complain about.

I spent last summer taking care of two foster kids I didn't expect to still have with us, while working nonstop on The House of Goodwill (while rarely leaving the house due to both those reasons plus Covid); so I can't say I feel too bad about having fun things to do this summer, and doing them.

We've been making up for lost time.

Shortly after we arrived in New York this summer, I visited my favorite local flea market, which I hadn't been to in a couple of years.  I had a great time looking around, and made a couple of great finds.

I keep a collection of blue glass in my New York cottage (all from thrift sources).  I've always loved colored glass (and vintage glass); when the sun shines shines through beautiful pieces of glass, I really think there's nothing lovelier.

When I first got to the flea market, I found this piece - I don't know what you call these, I need to learn the name - sitting on a table with a $12 price tag:

I have a few variations of this, in other colors.

But I have never seen one of these in this shape.

If you've never seen one of these, this is a "vase" with a built in flower frog to place flower stems in.

The clear glass piece lifts out so you can fill the bottom with water.

Kind of like a simple flower arranger - a centerpiece for dummies. 🙂

As you can see, each end has a larger opening for a pillar candle (or just another flower).

There are two larger openings for pillar candles in the center part as well.

When I was checking out, the man working the register told me he couldn't believe the price.  When I told him I'd never seen a piece quite like it, he said he hadn't either, and when he arrived at work that morning he'd spent time online trying to find something like it but couldn't.  And he agreed that it was probably worth much more than it's $12 price tag!

Here is my other find, this beautiful vase was sitting all dirty on top of a shelf:

When I spotted this, I thought it might be Fenton, and when I turned it over, under the dirt you could just barely make out the mark on the bottom.

I couldn't believe the $26 price tag - I NEVER see Fenton pieces marked this cheap, and I wondered if the seller knew what they had.

I don't think I own another piece of Fenton, so I bought it.

Maybe it wasn't cheap - but it is cheap for Fenton!

I came home, got an old toothbrush and some soapy water, and cleaned it up.

I couldn't believe how different it looked after it's cleaning.

SO, with two new pieces of art glass, I just couldn't let them sit!

Here it is, filled with pink carnations, and here it is in action!  (As our dinner centerpiece with my sister-in-law at the table.)

And here is my beautiful flea market Fenton, full of gladioli:

 

Even the non-flower noticers I know have noticed (and commented) on these happy-colored gladioli.

With so much world-wide tragedy currently unfolding, I am trying extra hard to be grateful for the simple pleasures.

I'm going to find out what these glass/candle/flower arranger things are called, and I'll get back to you.  BEFORE another month goes by!