Bazaar-o-Rama

It’s hard to believe that Bazaar-o-Rama has come to an end. Why, it seems like only four weeks ago that I set out on my month-long journey to discover the bazaar world around me. And what a time it's been! I got to explore different areas of my city, bought some date squares (among other things) and even made a few friends along the way.

I hope I've encouraged some of you to check out your local bazaars. They really are a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

Here are some of my bazaar buys.

Shot Glasses
Most bazaars have a table where people sell their junk treasures. It's called a "White Elephant Table." Why? I don't know, although I've dealt with a few pink elephants in my day. I bought these shot glasses for $1. Do I need them? No.

Beaded Doll Thingie
This was only $1 and came with a handmade box made out of magazine pages. But my box has mussels and scallops on it which doesn’t really say “Happy Holidays.”

Dish Cloth
These handmade crochet cloths are the best things ever. Just don’t wash your knives with them. I paid $2.50 for this.

Turkey Pies
I don’t mind buying things you have to cook because heat kills cooties. These turkey pies were delicious. They were $3.50 each.

Tea Cosy
I don’t drink tea, but I bought this because the senior woman selling them was a helluva good saleswoman. It was $25. She custom-makes them and told me she’ll call when mine is ready. "We can meet for a coffee," she said. I think this is a date.

Silver heels
No bazaar is complete without an assortment of silver heels. Sadly, none were my size.

Santa statue
I had to hide this in the garage. Mainly because I live with someone who sees a spoon on the kitchen counter and screams, "I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS CLUTTER!"

Knitted Slippers
I think these slippers were specifically made for people with one foot two sizes bigger than the other. These cost $3.50. If you ever see me in public wearing them, please call for help.

Paperback
I guess if you think these types of books are "hystory novels," you tend to spell history that way. I paid 25 cents for this.

Speaking of paperbacks...
My sister was at a bazaar this weekend and found my book. How do you like them apples? I'd signed it for someone with the caption "Here's to small towns." I have no recollection of this. The name of the person I signed it to has White Out over it. Was this to protect their privacy or to disassociate themselves from a book about a fat kid with talking nipples? Anyway, it's a career-high as far as I'm concerned. You haven't hit it big until you're in a bazaar. My sister paid 50 cents for this. I thought that was a fair price.

Aluminum plate
I bought this because pine cones are all the rage right now, according to The Pine Cone Times. It was $1.

Country Woman Christmas magazine
We're all country women at heart. Especially around the holidays. Has anyone seen my hairspray? This was a quarter.

Perogies
I got these at a Ukrainian bazaar. I thought $10 was a little dear, but I'll likely hear from my Ukrainian uncle about how much work goes into making these. The perogies were good, by the way. But $10 good? Meh.

Coffee and muffin
I bought this raisin bran muffin and coffee to see if church coffee has improved over the years. It hasn't. And my muffin didn't have any raisins in it. The only thing more depressing than a raisinless bran muffin is....well, there's nothing more depressing. I paid $1.50.

Pot scourer
When I saw this homemade pot scourer came with a free poem, I had to snatch it up. It cost $1.25. Good poetry doesn't come cheaper than this. I hope it do clean my pots good.

I'm a pot scourer, watch me scrub
If I get dirty, Pop me in the "TUB"
Also you can bleach me, 
And I come out clean as new
If you don't want me
Give me to someone who "DO"

Saskatoon Berry Jam
I bought this because Saskatoon berries remind me of my dad and I miss him. I paid $2.

Rice Krispies Balls
I bought these before realizing that some unknown stranger had rolled these balls in their bare hands. That's a little too much skin contact for me. I'll give them to the dog. I paid 50 cents.

Date Squares
It'd be criminal to spend an entire month bazaaring and not pick up the holiest of bazaar baking. These were $3. A little dear, but tasty nonetheless.

Manual Typewriter
I found this at St. Margaret's Anglican Church bazaar. It was the final stop of my Bazaar-o-Rama journey, so I took it as a "thumbs up" from St. Margaret herself. The older woman selling it was wearing funky red eyeglasses and people in funky glasses always know their stuff. So when she asked me to make an offer, I said $10. (If she didn't have funky glasses, I would've offered a toonie.) She hemmed and hawed but sold it to me for that price. I think we both walked away happy.