I don't know what to tell you, but the Terre Haute Goodwill is back after a dismal slump. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. It's good in that it's fun to shop there again, but it's bad in that my china cabinet, hutch, closet, other closet and storage are packed. But, I could not pass up these finds.
And they happened on a Sunday.
That's right, the worst thrift shopping day of the week. Sunday is the worst because: it's after everything as been picked over on Friday night when everyone is on the way home from work; Saturday has seen people come and go and come and go and come and go; it's the day employees at Goodwill are hung over and doesn't do any restocking; there is nothing left but the odds and ends.
But this has happened before. And it happened again.
Exhibit A.
These lovely little lotus bowls are some of my favorite things and I have a huge collection. My grandmother had them in white, but I eschew those in favor of a myriad of colors I can mix and match.
These are a wonderful addition to the collection, but I was sad as there was also an orange one, but it had a chip I could not ignore. Yes I have....(one, two....seven....thirteen..)....twenty-one of the larger bowls in various colors and three smaller one in red and green, but you never know when I might need them for a dinner or emergency. I mean, what if a busload of Buddhist monks broke down en route to St. Louis and they called me to help serve dinner but they HAD to have rice bowls. Buddhist monks cannot be served dinner without rice bowls. I would be ready. Would you?And one more orange would have helped too!
However, my sadness was lifted by...
Exhibit B.
This light wood salad bowl, imported from Japan, has the look of American modern. It made me think of Russel Wright or Eva Zeisel. Wonderful shape and color. And made me feel better about the loss of the orange lotus bowl. Until I saw...Exhibit C.
A stack of white dishes that intrigued me and upon closer inspection, proved to be solid white Contempri designed for Jackson China International by Paul McCobb. You are asking yourself, "Does he really need another set of china?" And I am telling you, "Yes!" In a qualified way. Reader, I already own this set of china, it is just slowly being delivered to my house over the course of several years. I originally purchased an open vegetable and platter at an estate sale in Wichita, KS. Then earlier this year, I found a second open vegetable and covered casserole right here in Terre Haute which inspired a paradigm shift in the china cabinet. And now service for four? I think you can see where this is going. Someday, service for twelve with all of the accoutrement. Dost though scoff? My collection of Temporama began with only a gravy point and a dream.
Name it and claim it, that is what Oprah says!Anyway, I think you can see that Sunday is not a bad day to thrift shop. Challenging, yes. But it still can yield a china cabinet full of treasures. Or two china cabinets full.