Tuesday, December 30, 2008

LOOK WHAT I FOUND & I WON CAMI'S GIVEAWAY!!



Yesterday noon, the grand kids were fussing at each other; Uncle Mike, the teacher, was mediating; the noise level was just a tad above my tolerance level. I had this uncontrollable urge to escape! So, I announced, " I HAVE to go to the grocery store!" Men accept that as an emergency. I left the house, knowing full well I was headed to Goodwill to see if there were any bargains. As I entered the store, I spotted clear across the building some pink on the dish shelves. I quickly surveyed the competition - no one was fondling the plates, yet; but I better not dawdle. There was no time to untangle a shopping cart. I'm hoping that what I see will be the usual Goodwill price of $1 or less per dish. Oh my, my blood pressure is rising - could it be? Yes, it is pink transferware; and it's Johnson Bros. Old Britain Castles. There are 16 pieces; but, oh no, the price is $24 for the lot of 16. Still, that's a bargain price, isn't it?? Reconsider, Sally, do you really need them? Of course not, I already have service for 12 of this very pattern. Do I want them? Of course I do!! Did I buy them? Naturally. How could I leave them there? These beauties had already been abandoned by their former owner on the cold doorstep of Goodwill during the Christmas season. I couldn't just leave them there; they must come home with me to join their brothers and sisters.


P.S.: I did go to the grocery store and spent much more there than at Goodwill.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I WON CAMI'S GIVEAWAY!



The first part of December, Cami at Creating Myself had a giveaway for a beautiful painting of pansies in a basket. And, I, who has never won anything, was the lucky winner. My friendly postman in his Santa hat delivered it to me on Christmas Eve. I was knee-deep in cooking green chile for Christmas Eve supper, but was so excited to receive this special gift from Cami!! It came all wrapped in red and green with a luscious white lace bow and with this Christmas Joy card.


And look how special this painting is with it's green hanging ribbon
.


This is what my pansies looked like outside - poor things!



Now, I can have pansies year around.



Thank you, Cami, for this special gift!

27 comments:

Marie said...

You are lucky, lucky, lucky!!!! LOVE those dishes. I've been eyeballing them for years and have yet to buy a single dish. :o) That was an awesome find today. You kind of got me in the mood to hit Goodwill...I haven't been in weeks..months! maybe. Congrats on winning the giveaway!

onlymehere said...

You lucky lady you! To find those beautiful dishes and then to win a give-away!! Congrats to you! What a way to end a year!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

I simply must have some British Castles...you have shown them one too many times (just kidding)

Now though, I am confused...blue or pink? I guess it will depend which finds me first at Marshalls or TJ Max!

Lisa (aka) French said...

What a great find;) Gotta love that grocery store visit;) French

Bo said...

Congratulations on winning Cami's lovely giveaway AND on finding more JB dishes...one can never have too many! Happy New Year!
;-) Bo

SmilingSally said...

I'm so glad that you gave those dishes a good home. (Poor things!)

That's a special piece of art from Cami. It looks good where you've got it. I can hardly believe it came with lace and in one piece. Our mail gets chewed to bits.

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

wOW!! These finds are incredible...luck was definetly on your side..some retail therapy, some alone time...and treasures on top of it...our Goodwill "never" has anything like this... Congrats on winning the giveaway!!
Happy New Year!! hugs ~lynne~

nikkicrumpet said...

First...good for you rescuing those poor, cold, sad, abandoned dishes. LOL you cracked me up with that! And congrats on winning such a lovely prize!! I hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve. And I hope 2009 brings health, happiness, and loads of good times to you and yours!!!

Carrie said...

Great buy on those dishes! Lovely painting.
Happy New Year to you!

Rattlebridge Farm said...

What a great buy! I'm so happy for you.
(hugs)
And Happy New Year!!

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

Oh Sally, you are going to think I'm silly but I got such a rush of pleasure, seeing the pansy painting in it's new home. Y'all were meant to be w/ each other!

What a lucky, lucky find on the dishes!

lvroftiques said...

Wow Sally! There must have been something in the air yesterday!! I too went to the Goodwill, and I TOO found a set of pink trnasferware!! What are the chances?? Mine are Thames river scenes by Palissy. I was thrilled to pieces to find it! However that is where the similarity ends because I had to pay $50 for 20 pieces *sniffle sniffle* You got an amazing deal! And how perfect that you already collect them! You lucky ducky! And a big congrats on winning that beautiful painting. What a great way to cap off 2008! Vanna

Cindy said...

What a great deal you found at the Goodwill and what a lucky day to win the giveaway!

The plate you liked on my blog with the birds is actually a metal (tin?) plate. I've never seen anything like it and I love it!

Elaine said...

I love that dish pattern- quite the find! I never go to the Goodwill store but friends have told me to check it out.

So happy to have "met" you this year. Enjoy your blog.

Have a Happy New Year!

Myrna said...

Oh my gosh! What an amazing deal on those dishes!! (covet-covet)
Okay, I'll take the high road and tell you that I'm happy you found them...and then to win the giveaway--wow! What a blessing!
Cheers and Blessings to you in the New Year dear Sally!

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Congrats on those great dishes...can't believe someone gave those to Goodwill!!! And congrats on winning Cami's give-a-way! :-) Susan

Tardevil said...

I know a lucky duck...I'm thinking you might want to buy a lottery ticket w/ all that luck you've been having! Congrats!!! It's ironic that you found those gorgeous dishes b/c I was in an antique store today & a lady was looking for a set of those exact dishes b/c her mother use to have a set, and now they're gone. It amazes me that anyone would part w/ something so pretty! What a deal you got! Your Goodwill is way cheaper than mine! :O) Have a Happy New Year!

Tootsie said...

I LOVE THOSE PLATES!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIEND!

Rue said...

Good morning Sally!

What great finds!! Wonderful giveaway too :)

Yep, those were my new white dishes. I wanted to use them instead of my china so I could just throw them in the dishwasher and be done with it for the night ;)

Happy New Year,
rue

Miss Gracie's House said...

WE all understand the battle! And of course, they came home with you-that is a steal!
Rene'

Anonymous said...

What an awesome find! I have a few odd pieces in that pattern that I too found at a Goodwill, but never have I seen as many as you found. Congrats on winning the giveaway too. xoxo

Maison Douce said...

Sounds like my kind of outing!! You scored on those transferware pieces, I love red (pink) transferware too!! And congrats on your giveaway, it's beautiful! Have a wonderful new year!
Isabel

Anonymous said...

What a lovely set of dishes!!! Won't those look pretty next Christmas with greenery- I have a friend who has these dishes and I just love them!

Well it looks like the perfect person won the pansy picture- how perfect it goes with all you other little pansy things!!

Happy New year!!

mary

Anonymous said...

Oh I would have been wrestling you for those dishes! What a lucky find!

Manuela

Susie Q said...

Oh but the dishes are wonderful! I have some from that pattern and can imagine your reaction when you spotted them! : )

Congratulations on winning the giveaway! You are on a very lucky streak!!

Love,
Sue

Anonymous said...

LOL at 'knowing full well going to the Goodwill'. What a find! I love the Goodwill stores.

Enjoying your blog, thanks for sharing.

JudyBug said...

I think you would have been INSANE if you had left those gorgeous dishes behind. You got a steal and beautiful dishes to boot. I'm so envious I could just die.

Thanks for visiting my blog. We do have a lot in common on collecting pretties don't we? Hubby bought me an antique set of Noritake for Christmas that I'll post when I get caught up.
Blessings for the new year!