We were all in a bit of a funk yesterday, after too many days cooped up being sick in our PJs, so we decided to make a run to our favorite thrift store, just down the street.  I was feeling pretty nauseated, and trips out and about are  daunting right now (being sick in public is no fun), and we almost didn’t go, but the kids were begging and begging, and I knew they needed an outing.

And let me tell you, I am SO glad they talked me into it – we had our best thrifting expedition ever!

Little Hen found the old paper star above ($0.75!), and we also picked up:

An old but unused Mancala-type game, still in the box, $2.50 (for my hubby for Christmas, since he collects games).

Several dishes – $0.25-$1.00 each, including this ceramic fish box (for jewelry?) and the floral bowl.

A little wooden tractor-trailer for TumTum, $0.50.

We had several other good finds, too, but here’s the real treasure.  I almost fell over when I saw them in the case up front:

SHUTTLES FOR MY LOOM!!  I have been looking for affordable used shuttles since I was given my large floor loom, since new shuttles run $30-$50 each!  And today I found them!  $5 for rag shuttles, and

beautiful boat shuttles with extra bobbins, $8!!

Apparently, the thrift store received an entire estate, including two floor looms (one large, one medium, made by Schacht), and many other weaving supplies (which I wish I could have afforded!  Including more shuttles, yarn-meters, yarn winders, etc).  If you’re interested, or know of a serious weaver, who might like a large loom for a good deal (and in great shape), contact the PACS Thrift Store in Northeast Portland.   This thrift store has a wonderful ministry, and it’s a very select group of folks who are in the market for a loom, much less two, so I hope a weaver who needs a loom will be able to connect with them!

All in all, a great thrifting trip, and if, when the smaller loom goes on sale (eventually 75% off, if no one purchases it before then), I may have to consider it as a Christmas + birthday gift for Little Hen, but if it finds a new home before then, that would be just fine by me, too.   And, when I’m feeling better, I can’t wait to get a weaving up on the loom and use my new shuttles!

A morning spent baking a pecan pie thank-you.

An early afternoon spent planting hyacinths and digging earthworms with the girls.

A late afternoon of immense blessing – We have been given an enormous maple loom, made right here in Oregon.   We spent about two hours getting it dissassembled, carried up our narrow stairway, and reassembled.

It will need a good bath, a shuttle, some new pegs, but it is a beautiful, beautiful thing – an amazingly generous and precious gift.  The girls and I can’t wait to get her in working order and teach ourselves how to weave shawls and rugs and coverlets – our minds are full of anticipation and possibilities!  (Firecracker would like a superhero cape!)

And now we are off to our homeschool co-op’s end of the semester Open House.   We have been looking forward to it for weeks (Little Hen is in the theatre class, and Firecracker will be singing in the choir).   We’re so glad Grandma and Aunties and Cousin can come down and join us.

Altogether, a truly blessed Saturday – every piece.