This was originally a Facebook post from February 2023 and is not a full “issue” of It’s Kind of a Long Story…
A lot of people have asked me how they can help when it comes time to downsize and move. It occurred to me that what I'm going to need is for people to listen to the story of the thing before I have to give it away.
I'm a treasure hunter. A gleaner. I love garage sales, thrift stores and free stuff on the side of the road. There's a story behind almost everything I own about how it came into my life. I've often joked, "Anyone can just go to the store and buy a shirt. Where's the fun in that?"
This FB memory popped up. My table set for the since-disbanded cookbook club. As I looked it over, the memories came flooding back.
- I got the IKEA table and chairs from Craigslist. $200. The fellow selling them was a Cal professor, a British chap who lived in an Arts & Crafts house that I walk by on my way to work. At one point a chair broke and one year when my mom asked us what we wanted for Christmas, we asked her to replace it.
- I found the matching sideboard at Goodwill for $40. I was excited to find the matching piece, but remember thinking at the time that $40 was a lot for Goodwill. I use it to store my good dishes and special occasion dessert plates.
- I got the dishes on deep discount at Macy's. Service for 8 also for about $200. I bought them about a year after John died. I could just buy them without having to check in with anyone else to see if I should or if they liked them. I could have people over to eat on them whenever I wanted. I was on the edge of a pivotal year and making plans for filling it with fun and friendship.
- The napkins were a gift from a friend, who always gives slightly kooky and thoughtful gifts. I'm not sure why she thought I needed a set of napkins. It's kind of a specific thing. Possible it was a regift. I used them all the time.
- The candle holders were found in a free box on the side of the road.
- Napkin basket was a display for a picnic cookbook I worked on more than 25 years ago.
- On a trip to Ireland, John and I became enamored of the pressboard placemats that were common there. So pretty and easy to clean! I'm struggling to remember where I got these. It's either from Tuesday Morning or through a family friend who is a rep for the manufacturer.
- Silverware is wedding gifts from our registry.
- Straw placemats were bought on sale at Pottery Barn. Many years ago I used to walk by PB every day and was always on the lookout for good stuff on the sale table. The best scores were the candle holders and pear garland we used as centerpieces for our wedding, and a graduated set of serving baskets/platters I use all the time.
- Glasses were bought full price from Crate and Barrel. As as become apparent, it's rare for me to pay full retail, but they are inexpensive, sturdy and good looking. I bought my ex boyfriend a set because he was always breaking glasses. He blamed it on his cleaning lady, but I have my doubts.