Sad Thrift Shopping

 I know many of you have been cleaning out your places and downsizing.  I have been doing the same.  I also know how you can get into a real tug-of-war with some of your things.  I have made a valiant efforts these past few years to give away as much as I possibly can and today's post is an example of why.  I found someone's long loved Easter collection at one shop yesterday.  These cute vintage Lefton (well loved) porcelain figures were 29 and 49 cents each.
Compared to what you can find to put in an Easter basket these days, won't these be precious filled with treats for little kids?

 I had trouble getting them all in focus.

 The detail on them is wonderful and will make some of my little friends very happy.

 And these just broke my heart.  Someone spent a LOT of time blowing out these eggs, preparing them and lovingly painting and decorating each one. Only to end up, half broken, in a thrift store basket....4 for 99 cents.  Really?

 I carefully sorted through them and picked out the ones that weren't broken or religious.

 Someone put a lot of love and creativity into each one of these.

 I will pass them off to people who will hopefully appreciate them and take care of them and maybe they will grace an Easter branch or even a Xmas tree in some homes.

 Perhaps their lives will be extended a bit longer and they will be admired as well.

 This is a goose egg and the detail is remarkable.  This is all done with paint and glue and glitter. I have parted with some things that pained me to see them go but at least I can see someone else enjoy them while I am still sucking breath.  I really don't want to end up in a thrift store priced at 4 for 99!

 I also found this goofy little guy tossed in a pile of discards.  He still had the original tag and looks like he spent his life up until now sitting on a shelf somewhere.  I hope this Easter he will be held tightly and loved by sticky little candy eating hands. A stuffed animal life fulfilled.

 These vintage Easter baskets were 49 cents each.  These are the ones with the big loop handles that we carried as kids.  I wonder how many children these baskets made smile in the past on Easter morning.

Enough for nostalgia.  This was my next find!  I love vintage utensils.  They are made so much better than most that we can find today. The big spatulas in the middle are great for lasagna or for flipping fish.  I can't tell you how many spoons I've broken mixing pots filled with 18 quarts of food for the kids.  These spoons will stand up to the job. These ranged in price from 29 cents to 1.95.  A good day at the shops.