Something Old (Memories) and Something New (To Me)

~Window display at Kirkland's on the Landing in Branson~

Do you have your Christmas shopping done?  I'm not a big fan of shopping, other than flea market/antique browsing, but I do enjoy looking around during the Christmas season.  The pretty displays, the colors, the lights, and the scents of Christmas help to make it a beautiful time of year.  

 ~Dick's 5 & 10 in downtown Branson~

When I was a youngster, I was always excited to get to go to town at Christmas and look at all the displays and boxes of toys at the dime store.  This was, of course, before the time of the big box stores.  The variety store that we once had in our small town was called Mattingly's.

There were several aisles in Mattingly's much like the ones in this photo I snapped in Dick's 5 & 10 last week.  A little wave of nostalgia always hits me when I visit this store in Branson.  I think about the selection of toys for kids when I was young and what there is to choose from today.  Back then it was a treat to get a new board game, or coloring books, or a new doll.  When I outgrew the dolls, I got clip-on roller skates for my shoes to sail around on in the basement.  What fun my younger brother and I had racing around the corners.  I was also excited one year to get some new, snowy white ice skates!   

 ~My grandmother holding my cousin, my mother holding my

younger brother, my older bother, and me holding my new doll~.

Today's shopping is often an overwhelming experience.  There is almost too much to choose from that even adults have a hard time making up their minds.  Maybe that's why I'm not a fan of shopping.  :)  

I ventured out yesterday to do a little shopping.  Actually, the real reason I went to our nearest big city was because the adapter for my laptop went kaput.  I have a desktop computer, but the laptop is the one I seem to use most.  It must have something to do with being able to recline in the LazyGirl LazyBoy.  

  ~The Market Place~

Once I had the new adapter in my little hands, I headed to one of my favorite flea markets/antique shops.  The adapter was free because I'd just gotten one in August and they told me it shouldn't have gone out so soon.  So I thought, hey, I've saved myself some money that I could use for shopping!  Don't you like the way I think?

I spotted this pretty Pfaltzgraff Winterberry platter that was in perfect condition for a few bucks.  Winterberry is one of my favorite Christmas patterns and I have the plates, mugs and other pieces, so I just had to bring it home with me.

Callie liked my find, too.  What am I going to do with her?  She is into everything.  The platter is 16 1/2 inches long, so you can see how she's grown.  I'll be happy when she outgrows some of her curiosity.  She has to investigate every single thing that's brought into the house.  Note:  I just finished soaking the platter in bleach before it's put in the dishwasher. 

After a bit of browsing at my favorite shops, I headed to WallyWorld to buy a few essentials.  While there, I also picked up some needed ingredients for our Christmas dinner.  The turkey and ham are already in the freezer ready to bake.  I have most everything I'll need except for the salad fixings so my grocery shopping for Christmas is mostly done.  

While stopping for a nature call at WallyWorld, I still had my camera in my pocket and, on a whim, I thought "why not"?  No one was around and the lighting was good.  So, here is my "selfie" with dark circles around the eyes, hair askew and all.  Remember, I'd been shopping all afternoon.  I'm not sure why I was bending down.  My hair is normally tucked behind my ears, but what you see is what you get.  My left hand holding my jacket looks deformed, but I was only trying to hold it closed.

I'm so behind this year.  Hopefully this weekend I'll get some help and get the house decorated.  If not, at least I have a new platter and food to put on it!  

Until next time...