New tea pot and other things

I bought a new teapot the other day.  It's the Aspen teapot from Tea Forte.

I wanted a teapot with the option of using loose tea or tea bags.  This one comes with a removable filter.

The other day when I was in the city I had a few minutes to spare so I called into a thrift store that I have been too before.  As I was parking the car in the car park, a woman driving a newer model Jaguar pulled in beside me.  The woman got out and was very well dressed.  She followed me into the thrift store and I saw her looking through the clothes rack's.   This thrift store does not have good quality items to my mind, and found it surprising that someone who obviously had money would shop at a thrift store?  Though maybe that's why she does drive an expensive car, as she saves money by buying clothes at a thrift store?  By the way I spent a total of 57 cents for a brand new Christmas mug to add to a gift.

I managed to get all my Christmas cards written and all the international ones mailed out on Thursday.  I did have a parcel to mail which was just over $17, but the stamps itself for the cards came to $40.  Now I will have a couple of local stamps left over, but overall I used them all.

I have nearly finished the Christmas shopping.  I ordered some more things from Amazon as all my Swagbuck's Amazon gift cards came through.  I had $40 this month, and with what I ordered, I only had to put just over $4 to the total.

On Wednesday night I went to "Ladies Night," at our local Home Hardware.  I actually thought it was just a figure of speech, but they really meant it was Ladies only and turned away men.  I picked up some things, all Christmas gifts and my scratch and save card was worth 10% off, so that was better than nothing.

I can't believe it is Friday already.  I am determined I am NOT leaving the house today, as I have been out of the house every day.

I think I have got all my tea cups and saucers now..

While out and about on the weekend I purchased some more cups, saucers and side plates.  

I got two of these along with two dinner plates and a bowl for $5.  As the woman said the plates and bowl could be used at Christmas?  I love the colour red but am not overly fond of these...but do agree that I could use the plates and bowl at Christmas.

I got a great deal on the following sets.  I paid 75 cents for a set (cup, saucer and side plate).  I got four of the sets in the background, and six sets in the foreground.

I paid $10 for this whole set.  I didn't really want all the pieces, but it also included the platter and milk jug and I know I can use the rest of the things at the baby shower.

Here is a closer view of the pattern on the cups.

I have been on the look out for a pair of sugar tongs, but not in silver, as I wanted to use them to pick up slices of lemon for the tea.  No one really keeps or sells them anymore.  I called in at "From the Kitchen to the Table," in Orangeville and they had a pair, and they cost less than $4 and are perfect for what I want.

They have a lot of really good quality things in there and a lot of different things.  I need to pop back in there when I have more time for a really good look around.

Visiting thrift stores is addictive!!!!

We went for a ride out to Stayner on Saturday afternoon, to visit my favourite thrift store.  The lady is very helpful in there and even though I only got this platter this time, she hunted out a pile of other stuff in the back room for me to look at.  The platter is Snowhite Regency by Johnson Brothers and I paid $3 for it, so was happy with that.  I was trying to find this exact pattern on the internet, as it was also made without the pattern as well.

We then went to this "Antique Store," where I have bought from before and I picked up this pair of cups, saucers and side plates.  They cost me $3 per set, which I thought was high, but never mind.  It seems to be like a Corningware/Corelle type of product, and not fine china, but sometimes you have to take what you can find!!

This is my favourite set so far and again I paid $3 for it and it is Moyatt Staffordshire "Medici."  I think it is the Turquoise colour?  She has more pieces of this and I think I will go back next week to see what I have to pay for the platter she had.  The longer I was in the store, the more friendlier she got.  I think this is stunning:

This last set is Blue Bow by Crown Staffordshire and is very pretty as well.  She would only sell me the one set at $3 despite there being more.

I love going to these stores to see what I can spot.  The platters are not to give away, I will keep most of them for myself, so I will only buy what I truly like.