I had a Very Good Shopping Day yesterday. I mean it. Please don’t hate me.
First of all, I got lots o’plants. Lots of ‘em. That’s what I like most about a convertible. Technically, it’s a car. But in reality, it’s an SUV, a Super Unique Vehicle. You pop that top down and you can haul tons of stuff around. Here’s the front of the car, taken with the camera phone. What you can’t see is the five bags of potting soil and four more boxes of flowers and veggies in the back.
Then I went to the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, an amazing repository of JUNK. I got a ton of old pots and an old wooden ironing board for my outside gardening table. I got some tiles and low tables for adding various heights to the plants (which I’m going to keep in pots until I commit to their placement).
But hold your breath. This is where the magic starts. The Depot always has some yarn in the back bins, crap piles of half balls of acrylic. You know the kind. Red Heart sticking to clumps of fifties mohair.
Yesterday I hit the jackpot. Here’s my bag:
And what was inside the bag:
That, people, is EIGHTEEN skeins of Crystal Palace Sierra in the softest wool ever, 95 yds/skein. I did an internet search on it, and the only stuff they make now called Sierra is undyed wool, so I think this was discontinued before the online yarn revolution. I can’t even find another reference to it. Anyone know it? Used it?
I also scored those two skeins of Scottish wool and that lovely green merino from Italy, Lana Borgosesia dal 1850 (okay, I really got it for the sheep graphic). Socks anyone?
This is where it gets CRAZY. I carried a couple of skeins up to the counter, heart beating fast, and asked how much. He shrugged and said, “Fifty cents each?”
Oh, lord.
I took my twenty-two skeins up and said emphatically, “I have twenty-two skeins. You said fifty cents each. That’s eleven dollars!” This was in case he had forgotten me from the minute before or couldn’t do the tricky math.
He shrugged again and I think he felt sorry for me. “We can call it ten.”
You know that look you get on your face when something really good has happened but you’re trying not to overreact? I almost ran out of the store, the bag clutched to my chest, fighting my face. It wanted SO much to beam, but I played it cool, man. Yeah. It wasn’t till I got to my car that I did the happy dance, punching the air, hopping a little. People walked WAY around me.
TEN DOLLARS for a lovely (someday) sweater and two pair of wool socks. I’m tellin’ you.
And you’re right, that was a little much for one day. So I rested for the rest of it, only tidying the yard a tiny bit and leaving all the potting for today. Tonight I go back to midnight shift, so I’ve got to take it pretty easy today, and make sure I get a nap in (I’m SO bad at naps).
Still beaming. Woot! as La Brainy would say.
Way to celebrate your victory over that nasty ol’ pneumonia! Woo hoo! I used that Lane Borgosesia for the baby berry cap/booties. Good stuff. But the blue looks extra yummers~
Oh, Rachael, you crack me up! I can just see you “happy dancing” around your car with that great yarn score!! Now, go take that nap!
Oh. My. Yarn.
That is so awesome! TEN dollars! I have never had that kind of luck…The skeins I find are always nasty acrylic in bright green.
Yay for garden stuff too! Can’t wait to see pics of all the stuff you plant…
Rest up and do another happy dance! yay!
OMG. You’re my hero.
Does anyone here believe that Rach really played it cool, and wasn’t beaming until she got to the car?
I bow before your math skillz, um, I mean thrifting karma, darlin’.
oh man, that’s sweet. poor bastard didn’t have a clue …
It’s knitting karma and it’s mighty impressive. I keep hoping for the day I make a fiber find in a thrift store but alas, it hasn’t happened it yet. But I don’t think I will be able to top your treasure!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! (insert Tiger Woods fist pump HERE) You rescued that luscious fiber from captivity! Yarn karma inDEED! Do try to at least pretend you are napping…
and wow? a wooden.ironing.board.
PERFECT!
Way to go. Definately karmic payback for the pneumonia!
YAY for YUMMY yarn!! Loved the happy dance & the fact that you scored LOVELY yarn for such a cool price!
I just can’t fathom being bad at naps. I’m a champion, and I come from long lines of champion nappers on both sides. I can pretty much sleep any time, anywhere, and I’ve even been known to take a nap as a way to pass the time when stuck without anything to read. You just need more practice.
What great luck! It’s great when the seller has no idea what he has!
I hope you are going to show us some garden pics when it starts to come together. I have garden envy!
Yippee skipee! I LOVE that trying-hard-not-to-pop-as-you-walk-outta-the-store-with-an-awesome-score feeling! Good for you.
SCORE!!!!!
Woohoo! Can’t wait to see the finished products.
I hope to post some pictures of my finished stole tonight. It is just perfect for this quirky Texas spring weather and I have gotten tons of compliments on it this week.
Thanks for a great Knit-a-long!
I love how yarn can bring such joy.
🙂
You go, girl! Finding awesome yarn for an awesome price, is, well, awesome. 🙂 Makes you feel a little better, I bet. *grin*
Ten dollars? TEN DOLLARS?! Holy CRAP!! That rocks so hard, Rachael!
And I must give props to Becky, who’s been WOOTing for ages! (Ha, look at me, givin’ props to my peeps. Word.)
Woo Hoo! You get to stay on the island! Great score! Yarn is such a joyous thing, and even better when you get it for a song.
Peace
I am horribly green with envy.. what a score!!!
Have fun gardening.. wonderfully addictive and results orientating isn’t it??
Results ORIENTATED!! oops!
Love gardening as I feel I have DONE something which brought me pleasure and will in the future.. Much more rewarding than say, cleaning the house which will be messy again in moments.. Vow to get out there tomorrow and pull weeds weather permitting..
Excellent catch! Nice job.
TEN DOLLARS! I would have a hard time keeping a poker face as well and I think you showed admirable restraint. Ten dollars! And you got lots of gardening stuff as well. How excellent. What an excellent day. now go take a nap.
*happy dance* !big cheesy grin! I have them at your good fortune. I’m glad you’re feeling better, now NAP!! 🙂
I know just what you mean. That’s exactly how I reacted when I found a copy of POK for $7. I was teetering in the verge of giggling maniacly at the cashier. SCORE!!
I LOVE stories like that! And you know, your face is usually beaming, so I think you should stay away from poker.
Crystal Palace Sierra was a fantastic yarn. It was discontinued around ’96 or so. I used in between (I think) ’93 and ’97. It was soft, knit up easily and beautifully, held up great under washing, and was especially good for textured patterns. It’s one of those yarns that I wished would have continued to be available forever. Sadly, that was not to be. Check out the yarn reviews at http://www.wiseneedle.com/yarndetail.asp?id=238
Congrats on your scoring some!