Dinner on Johnson

For many months there has been little activity on the op shop front as my work hours are the same as theirs. However, whilst running motherly errands for the evil twins on Sunday, I came across something which I did not know existed outside the realm of fantasy- it was a Sunday oppy and it was good.

There was a jolly red suitcase which I moved by swiftly.

Some gorgeously tomato red pyrex tempted but did not engage me.

 $18 for chipped pyrex?! I think not.

Living in a 1930's farmhouse I was drawn to this sweet old light fitting for $4 but wasn't sure about it. Foolish in retrospect.

Then I discovered the retirement home for old ceramic kettles. What a booty! The one on the top shelf in the middle is just lovely but unnecessary. The endless replacement of elements in these kettles is a deterrent...but it was so pretty. Still I showed steely resolve and moved on.

Time was a ticking for me to get away and purchase the back to school bits when I found a jackpot of old silver. There just wasn't time to sift through it but I did get a big silver tablespoon- the sort you can serve dinner with or eat ice cream with to make it seem a tiny amount. I'll be back, silverware.

As I rounded the corner to leave, the skies parted and I heard choirs of angels or it may have been the other customer's phone ringtone. There, stacked on a  table, was the motherload of Johnson dinnerware. This is the stuff I have always regretted not getting when they revamped

the convent or primary school I grew up with. From the age of seven till fifteen, I observed this dinnerware carrying scones and pikelets and delicious left overs baked by floury little old nuns too ancient to teach. They were relegated instead to a grand old kitchen full of warm smells and towering ceilings like something out of a Bronte novel. Maybe it was actually very poky but in my memory it was everything I would love a kitchen to be..and it housed THIS crockery.

So I bought it. Not all of it but enough for a roast for the family or scones with a friend or...

a burnt mandarin cake for the boys and their friends.

The knitting needles were an afterthought and I restricted myself to one set of each colour. I do love these old knitting needles. They must be full of very good nanna karma like little rainbow wands of kindness and caring. In my mind, elderly hands held these and gently coaxed cuddly garments and toys for beloved small people. I am assuming they were elderly hands because of the age and style of the needles. I have a bouquet of them and they radiate warmth and goodwill from the yellow jug in the sunroom.

You may remember this photo from a long time ago. Rainbow, knitting, nanna-ness...what's not to love?

Four

There has been much cause for celebration around here this week. Four years ago this little surprise appeared out of the universal ether. It may have seemed like I had a day off to spend it with her but her Tuesday carer was away and I was a bit of a wreck after Monday so it was meant to be.

There was supposed to be a party but one thing I've learnt after five is that it takes very little to make them truly happy at this age. Time alone with Mum is high on the agenda.

Anyhow she had several celebrations in her birthday frock from Aunty Kath.

Cake 1

Location: Playgroup

Cake type:  Choc fudge with freckles and 30 second flag.

We followed playgroup with a quick run to the shops to buy some birthday paper, sushi and Irish Princess crown from the dollar shop.

She got a ride on some wildlife. Amazingly this is the first time in months we have found a shopping centre ride that wasn't "broken"!

 There may have been a quick stop at the oppy on the way home. It's been weeks I tell you! Op shop kharma had accrued. The Universe threw me a bone.

She really does love it there as much as I do. Really! She is my BEST op shop buddy.

Somehow I walked away from this immaculate 1975 setting with original spotless white leather and teak chairs and extendable table. $100!!! Somebody got a bargain!

 Cake 2

Location: Home

Type: Other half of choc fudge cake with strawberry crushed into whipped cream on top.

She was so happy that her Irish Princess crown fell off, a tendency which proved to be a problem later when she was having a quiet moment on her Irish Princess throne and the crown fell in. One of those pleasant motherhood jobbies.

Happy Days. There were another thirty pink sprinkly cupcakes for kindergarten next day and she did wear her crown there too. I refrained from telling them where it had been. There may be hygiene rules about crowns de toilette.

 The Universe threw us a very big bone with this one. Thanks, lovely Maya for joining us four years ago and making every day a delight. You made joy since the day you were  born. 

Happy Birthday!

0ppy House

 On the way home from the Radio Gaga treatment I called in on a new oppy that had been brought to my attention. It was a bit of a treasure. Not so much in what it had although there were a few goodies.

Rather, it was the layout of the place that was fascinating.

It is a typical Queenslander early twentieth century worker's cottage but was also a proper corner store. It has the wide front windows but was used as two flats for years. Now it is all opened up and has about eight rooms. I got confused as every time I rounded a corner to find another series of rooms leading in different directions.

The back verandah housed all the old linen and sheets. They were quite reasonable by local oppy standards too. 

This is the children's wing. I could put a child or two in that end room and make the front one into their private playroom and study. Just saying. My lot could actually fit in this oppy as a big roomy house!

There were some enticing bits and bobs but, nay, I said! No more sheets or suitcases to hide them in until you make something out of the ones you've already got squirrelled away all over the farmhouse.

I could live in this too. It was a school long ago but is now a kindy. I used to live opposite it when I was a student but they have knocked all those great old houses down and put up unpleasant blonde brick units. This one though would make a very nice house for  five children, a Big Fella and me. 

AND it's just across the road from an op shop!