Nifty Thrifty

My sourcing focus for selling on eBay has changed to decks of cards. These next two listed were recent finds found after digging through the kids toys bins full of Old Maid and flashcards. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188783114580

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188783168791

That rustic barn fabric used in the background? One of my last retail fabric splurges - 5 yards of it available if I need to photograph larger items. 

I have also been replacing our stoneware dinner and dessert plates. When my daughter got married, I kept at least 6 patterns of fine China from that event. Those plates cannot be placed in a microwave, but stoneware can. 

At thrift, I also check for CDs that are unique or unusual. This Mingo Fishtrap, From the Private Bag, caught my eye. Not only was the CD in great condition, it appears each the band members signed the CD insert. If I didn't list it for so much, I would keep it. Such a fun listen. 20 other Christmas CDs were also listed. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188783260057

Glad I had the foresight to hold back from sending all of my former eBay product to thrift. Here is the tub o' needlekits, 30 of them are those formerly listed for sale and those I had kept for myself. My days of hand-crafting are severely limited. The neddlekits are queued up next for an eBay listing session. 

I have upgraded to picnicing and camping on the back deck. Fleas found their way into my indoor tent, so the tent technique ultimately failed. As long as it isn't 100 degree days, it is OK sleep outside. One advantage to a cot is the ability to move it around. 

Before you know it, fall will be here. Next month, I start preparing my Countdown to Christmas posts. In November, we will begin decorating the front yard for Christmas. 

Final Fantasy Flash #12

Yet another cool beans background in this Final Fantasy realm. Greercourt upgraded legwear to Ascetic's Tights, with a mucho magic defense of 50. 

Healed a sick unicorn, guess he likes me, I get to ride all over the place now. Because I am a conjurer, that mount is special to our class of character and each one has a different soundtrack. This guy also trails stars and makes the clippy cloppy hoof sounds along the way. A delightful discovery. I've also seen during game play a unicorn with a rainbow mane and tail.  

There is an inventory tab that needs to be checked from time to time to activitate the different items earned during game play. 

What fascinates me is that other players can see you move through the game and you can see them. I still can't get over that. I wonder what other players are thinking when they pause and turn to look at your character. Or if they are even looking that way. IDK

There are nearly 500 minions one can choose from to follow you around in the game. This floating airship is one of them. My son has a Welsh Corgi minion. 

Dungeons continue to be most fun, when I stumble on them. I haven't linked up with any other real players so I enter the dungeon with NPCs (non-player characters). At first, I couldn't figure out why the NPCs were following me around.😛They sure are helpful when you have to battle the cave critters.

Now at level 36, hoping to be at level 50 by the end of this month if not sooner. What else is there to do during 100 degree summer heat waves?👹

15 Year Blogiversary

Fifteen years ago I started this blog posting my thrift shop finds. Over the years, I joined in numerous blog hops, writing and photo challenges. There was a stint where I linked up with other bloggers who highlighted their thrifted outfits. Those are some of my most popular posts. It was time to include one for this blog anniversary. 

Outfit photo shoots really are fun. I would set the camera on a 10-second timer and hobble back in stilleto heels for each shot. For this one, my iPhone only allowed a 3 second timer so it meant running back and forth to the tent. Outfit details: thrifted black wig and Hell Bunny black velvet dress. Retail - Hidden leopard print vest, Pokemon socks, and Doc Marten shoes. 

The reason for the indoor camping - it has been a brutal season for insects. My delicate system reacts to each and every bite. Because we had such a mild winter in Northern California, all the bugs overwintered to wreck havoc on us. I've gone to extreme measures to avoid being bit. 

My page views really took off when I branded myself a "Grandfluencer" and ran my posts through Facebook. 

An additional audience joined me when I started playing the online game Final Fantasy XIV. 

Thrifting continues to be a true love💖💙💚 activity. Since I am back to selling on eBay, that means I can source for product. Having taken a six-month hiatus from selling, I am still sourcing from my own collectible inventory. 

Then there are the collectibles that will be with me until I leave this realm - Monster High Dolls. 

The three dolls to the left are years-old thrift shop rescues. The remaining four were found at hospice thrift on August 1st for $1 each. 

Here's to another 15 years! 

Final Fantasy Flash #11

I completed the Hero quest in Final Fantasy XIV and joined a company - Twin Adders. That emblem shown on the Chocobo saddlebag. No more running around! Trying for the unicorn now🦄

I switch back and forth between the character's costumes. This pink Thanalian one (my fav) and the battle-gear gray one. 

The creators of this game have quite the sense of humor. One of the new realms is called Hringhorni. Of course, comments and reactions exploded. 

"Hoping for a horni housing district"

"They knew"

On another subject, your character can hire a "retainer," a customizable non-player character to essentially do your bidding while you play the game or not. The retainer is summoned by ringing the bell. 

There is also player on player conflict PVP. I have not entered that realm, and probably will avoid it. As a lowly conjurer, I would be an easy kill target. 

Summer Hot Fits

Using my grammasonacid logo for this lead-off image. 

It is a thing - the Summer Hot Fits. Seems I just missed a fight that broke out at the local recycle center. Here in Amerika we pay a deposit for our plastic bottles and aluminum cans. A month's worth of recycle redemption for our family is around $20. 

Back to the fight story. The recycle center gates open at 9:00 a.m. More cars than there were spaces tried to fit in the miniscule parking lot. People started yelling at each other. One woman left. This all told to me by the recycle center guy. I arrived at 9:06 a.m. and missed the entire conflagration. Damn. 

Tamisplaining (like mansplaining only better) the Summer Hot Fits. It is the mental and sometimes physical condition you get in when it is way too hot outside. I get them. I get cranky. I get hangry (hungry and angry). I get downright mean. 

Best thing to do blah blah blah cool off, hydrate, etc. I think the only REAL solution is to be somewhere WHERE IT IS NOT HOT.🔥

My preference is the North Coast of California, somewhere near Mendocino and the like. 

Final Fantasy Flash #10

Grandfluencer sprout player present! Danced in front of Copperbell Mines before I made it through with NPCs earning about five treasure chests. 

On another quest I earned an emerald by dying numerous times. What cracks me up is each time you "die" you make a sighing sound. Like WTF just happened? 

Seems you can engage in Light Duty. 

• Light duty refers to lower-level content designed for casual players.
• It typically includes dungeons, trials, and raids that are less challenging.
• Players can queue for light duty content using the Duty Finder.
• Light duty is ideal for leveling up and gaining experience points.
• It often features simpler mechanics and shorter completion times.
• Engaging in light duty can help players prepare for more difficult content.

Another term is Dailies. Repeating a quest daily to get the most out of the game. I don't have the patience for that. 

From time to time, you need to review your battle gear. I started out with a stick. Pretty sure that was ineffective on bigger monsters. I upgraded to some stolen walking cane or something like that. When you look at each weapon's description, it will list it's level of power. 

Surprised by another sprout player that assisted me in critter battle. The critters are getting bigger and more complex as I progress through the game. I thanked the other player through chat but couldn’t talk to him since we were in trial version.

Catching screenshots of the interesting mounts in the game. This one is quite the TANK! 

Home Office Arrangement and Where Did that Money Come From?

My office setup has changed so much over time. The comfortable orange leather chair is from my remote working days. The touchscreen laptop well worth the money spent. I am already up to 27 active listings on eBay. 

Deathpile books have been listed. Christmas CDs are next. For those in the know, Christmas sells year around. 

Hold UP! I would think anyone who blogs would be interested in their stats. Daily page views hover around one thousand per day. As of the writing around 7 a.m. on 7/24, page views were 5,000+ by day's end 10,000. 

Weird and wacky sometimes show up at thrift. There was this lamp duo at hospice thrift in Cameron Park, California. Slightly out of focus because of the iPhone 12 camera. 

Upgraded my iPhone from a 12 to a 17e. It is pale pink with a pink Otter box on its way. Back to taking in-focus images. 

One good thing about retirement accounts, you forget about them until ... you are retired. I opted for a Savings Plus account while I worked for the State of California. This is an account I made 100% contributions. Thought there might be a couple of hundred, turns out it was $16,000. Took out some to pay off moving debt but left most of it in there for a rainy day.☔

Until next time,

Tami