~HIGH END DEPARTMENT STORES~

When the children were all grown and gone...I discovered department stores such as Nordstrom's.  I mean I knew they were around..but Mervyn's was where I went..it was more affordable.  You see, I had not discovered garage sales back then and even if I had, I would have been too proud to go to them.  My how the times have changed. 

Not that I didn't use second hand things...heavens yes!  Grandma, Mom, friends who were tired of what they had would sell their things to me...or..as was usually the case, I baby sat the cost of the item off. 

Ever did that?  I did.

You see, even back then I was drawn to women who were talented in interior design...learned about design centers..and warehouses where you had to have a "resale" card to shop there. 

My labor was free to my friends...but I watched and learned a bit...not much, but enough.

I could never afford the things they bought...and I remember the ache when we would all go shopping in those adorable little exclusive shops with all the things for your home..and I would watch as they filled up their trays with adorble things..

I usually had, if I was lucky, five or ten dollars on me and I remember pretending that I could just "could not find a thing I liked".. HO!  That was a joke! :)

You see...some people have children and some people have things.  If you are most fortunate and not married to a Military man from age 17 in the 1950's, perhaps you are one of those people.  I was not. 

Groceries, school clothes etc. came first...so I learned to use what I could find.

But I had fun.  I was with women I enjoyed..and even if I could only look, it was fun!  But how I longed for those pretty things!

But..my babies grew up..one by one and slowly or fastly, depending on the day, they went out on their own.

Most went early and I didn't blame them but they all came back at least once for short stays...and then they were established and gone for good.  And I had memories.

Some years ago I bought this...at a high end department store.

It's a tray on a stand and originally it was gorgeous..but..I used it out on the patio and it got caught in a rainstorm.  My patio back then was not covered..just with slats...and the water sat...and sat..I had forgotten it was even out there.

And..you can see the results. 

At one time I painted little roses on the sides...but after the standing water ruined this tray..I put it and it's stand away..intending to do something with it one day.

Today I finally did it.  I dug it out..spray painted the legs "Apple Green" and sanded the tray down just enough to get rid of the sharp edges of peeling paint. 

I could not find the exact color of the orignial paint..but I did find this and it's fine.

Patient husband is going to add little brackets on the corners...bless his heart..

Hugs!

Mona