Jumble Sale Finds

One of the first things that I noticed when I came back from the States, was the change in the charity shops. I used to love rummaging around in those old untidy shops run by the blue rinse brigade. You just never knew what you were going to find. The shops used to sell everything that had been donated, there was no presorting and cleaning goods before they went out on sale.

Imagine my disappointment to come back and find that most of the charity shops just resemble every other retail shop. The range of merchandise has been reduced down to mainly clothes, books, cd's, and dvd's, etc. I have found an odd shop that still resembles my idea of a charity shop, but they are few and far between.


I was nearly hysterical with joy when I spotted a poster for a jumble sale. I was so eager that I even arrived 15 minutes early! This was only a small church jumble,  but only 20p entrance fee and everything priced at 20p to 25p YIPEE!

 

Can you believe 20 pence for this? I felt like I was stealing it!

 

And this is just perfect on my hall dresser for keeping my  keys safe.

 

My range of ceramics are a bit eclectic, but basically if it's before the 60's I buy it, having said that I do have some Hornsea potteries storage canisters from that era.

 

On a recent trip to town I visited he local bric-a-brac market and found a selection of lovely dishes, well I like them!  I only wanted the smallest one but I think the stall holder wanted five pounds or I could have four dishes for twelve pounds. I didn't really want to part with that much money so throwing caution to the wind I offered seven for the lot, and held my breath. he said 'just for being a bare faced cheeky monkey I could have them for that price!' I didn't know whether to feel pleased or insulted.  Well here's a couple of photos of the dishes there were two large and two small ones.

 

 Thought I would show you a close up so you can see the lovely detail. The two small dishes are Beswick ware.

 This is one of the larger dishes, the two are nearly the same, but one is 'Beswick ware' and the other is 'Carlton ware"

 

I think it's a case of you either love these or you hate them, but I have a thing about green anyway.

could look fun laid out on a table with different salads in them.

 

Well tomorrow is the last Saturday in the month so it's jumble sale day . . Yea!!  So lets hope it doesn't chuck it down with rain as I like to walk the two miles to the event , being too cheap to pay for the bus fair. I should just add that We haven't bought a car yet, but that's another story.

Anyone else found any good bargains out there?

Bye for now

Jane 

 

Time to repot the tomato plants

How to repot seedlings

This is my kitchen window sill where I have been growing my garden plants.
As you can see I have got a rather tall spindly specimen, and a pot of very crowded little seedlings. they are probably all shouting 'let me out, let me out!'

First thing to do is to get all your supplies together. I am going to use a large pot for the bigger plant and 10cm pots for the seedlings. The reason I have chosen a large pot is that I need to plant it deep. The great thing about tomato plants is that they will put out new roots anywhere along their stem, so although I have let it get a bit leggy, I can rescue it!

I've taken the poor devil outside as the light is a bit better. He has a nice root ball which I won't disturb, but I'm going to be a bit ruthless and take off the lower three leaves. I placed the plant in a deep pot and decided that I could take off the leaves as they would be below the compost. Some people will do this up to three times, but I let this one get away from me! It wont grow so fast to begin with as it will put more energy into growing roots. In the long run you get a much healthier plant that produces more fruit. . . Hopefully.

This is Lola getting in on the action . . .trust a cat.
The plant at the front is one I grew earlier, and looks more like a 'proper' tomato plant.

 Next job, repotting the tomato seedlings.

 I left them a bit dry as I find it easier to tease them apart.

 I thought six plants should be enough as I already have three more mature plants outside. It is hard throwing good plants away but just pick out the strongest looking ones. I'm using 10cm plastic pot which were quite a bargain at a pound for twenty (all the pound stores are selling them) Put a few pebbles or broken crocks in the bottom for drainage.

 Add a little all purpose compost in the bottom, dangle the plant over the bottom, fill up, press plant in firmly. Stand them in saved washed out meat trays.

Water well and hey presto another chore completed. I will be bringing these in at night for about a week and then they can stop outside permanently.
I 'll keep you updated with their progress, or failure as the case may be.
 Thought I had better note that I am using varieties of tomatoes that will grow outdoors and not the greenhouse types.