Today is Friday. Here in North Adams, it's known to many of us as Sanford & Kidd day, a day for "Junktiquing".
There is this wonderfully chaotic "shop" in town called Sanford & Kidd (I always think of Sanford & Son when I go). The proprietor, Tim, a fantastically friendly and good-hearted man, is what one might refer to as an estate dealer. He clears out spaces for those who have passed, moved, don't want to deal with it, etc. He then takes these finds to his shop, prices it all to move, and opens the doors every weekend.
There is a dollar shelf in the back and let me tell you, people wait in line to get in there first. They scrabble to the back, pulling and stacking anything they see that might be good for something. Many of these first-ins pile their things on a table and tell you they're spoken for, only to put them back on the shelves after they've taken their time going through it all.
But, be that as it may, my friends and I make a morning of it. We trek down and squish our way through everyone else, seeing what we can find that we can't go home without. In the past, we've found crock-pots, old wooden phone tables, carpets, fabric, basket balls, base ball gloves, etc. All for a dollar. On one trip, I found a Kenmore Elite High Efficiency washer & dryer. Now, they weren't a dollar (unfortunately). But retailing at nearly $1800 each, S&K's price of $800 for the pair seemed like a deal. It was enough of a bargain that my husband came down, bought them, and arranged for delivery and disposal of our old ones.
Lately, the pickings have been slimmer. I suppose, that's really a good thing. Today, I found a great folding cart, only to discover it's part of a dining set from the 50's maybe, and Tim doesn't want to break up the set. So, if anyone out there needs a table, chairs and a hutch, kind of retro, and you don't need the cart, look me up.
I did find a large spoon with lots of holes. I thought it would be good for making latkes, fried potato pancakes. Or for any other draining issues I might suddenly come across. 
I must confess that I am a total point of purchase buyer. I am a marketers dream. If it's sitting in front of me at a counter, I am so much more likely to take it home with me. Such is the case with the other item I purchased today. While waiting to purchase my spoon, for a dollar, I noticed a large box of various scarves. You know the kind, silky but not silk, very 70's, tie them around your neck and voila, instant retro.
There in the box was this cravat-type thing. Not quite a scarf, not quite a tie. Well, you see below.
An interesting paisley pattern, longer and wider at the bottom. Feels like a tie. Whispers in your ear, "I really wanted to be a tie when I grew up but no one encouraged my dreams."
My thought, it could make an interesting headband. I recently cut my hair much shorter than I intended to. It's growing on me (no pun intended) and I figure I might as well make the best of it. My husband would tell you I have a very 70's sensibility so this seems to fit right in.
You know that saying, one man's trash is another man's treasure? Well, it's true. I mean, how you look at something determines what it looks like. Is it valuable? Is it junk? In this age of greening our world and our lives, it pays to look at a hose roller with hose attached for a dollar. Or at the old ladder that could be a magazine or towel holder.
So, here's to "junktiquing" and breakfast with the girls, our weekly tradition. Who knows what treasures we'll find next week...
Yours in Creativity!
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