I would like to encourage all of you thrifty families out there to keep on hanging in there...and developing the crafty skills and know-how that are not only so enjoyable...but are very relevant for today! Along with thriftiness comes some ingenuity...and patience! We never can tell where or when we're going to find stuff at thrift stores and clearance racks. Sometimes it requires waiting until that good bargain comes along...which isn't always an easy thing to do!
So, to cheer us along in our thrift-conscious, creative, let's-just-be-patient endeavors, here are a few of our recent examples and experiences where thriftiness and patience pays...and now plays!! Ready? Here we go!!
We had yet to find Caitlyn her 'Big Gift' for her birthday. Everything was just too expensive...or the wrong size...or just not quite right in some form or fashion. So we were patient...and she was patient...and we kept our eyes out for just the right thing. This week on our trip to Portland, we had time to stop in at the local thrift store and would you believe...?? We found an L.L. Bean brand
...essentially new set of X-country skis and poles! The clencher was that some L.L. Bean basically new XC ski boots...which happened to be way over in the shoe section...not only fit Caitlyn perfectly but the skis, too....and the entire set boots and all for only $28!
And as you can see, she's having a blast with them! She's a quick learner...must be a natural....and has even gotten Mommy motivated to get her pair of X-country skis on! Yes! The ones that I bought ages ago and have only used...like...twice...maybe! Yippee!! : D
Now let's talk boots! We LOVE the winter in Maine with all the snow...however, there is a caveat. One must dress for the cold in order to actually enjoy the cold! Otherwise, let's just say, cold can become more pain than play!
My poor husband has been making do with some rubber boots...with numerous holes in them...that he's continued to plaster with duct tape. We've been on the hunt for good winter boots for all of us...especially for him! But these babies are expensive...even at the outlet stores!!
The boots above were found for us by our friend, Mary, who volunteers to sort clothes for a charity organization (any wool, damaged, stained, etc. items are bagged up as 'rags' and gotten rid of...foreign charities refuse to take them). As you can probably guess, many of the items that are 'refused as rags' are actually still in good shape...or just in need of a little mending. She says, "Just tell me what you need and I'll try to find it for you! I'm always finding stuff for people!" We didn't even tell her about the boots...the next day she had bags and bags of stuff for us....and guess what! These boots she had pulled out just in case they might fit someone. They fit Andrew perfectly!! And he has a very difficult time finding boots that fit right (hence all the duct tape)! Cool or what?? Patience pays!
Our children have been making do with the cheapo winter boots we bought on sale at Wal-Mart for only $5 (marked up later to $20). We found our son a good pair on sale at Reny's around Christmas...but the search had yet been unfruitful for the others. Our daughter, Heather, has been oh so patient with the lack of insulation in her winter boots...and her very cold feet most of the time lately. Well, after her toes nearly froze on our outdoor excursion this week, we happened onto a boot sale at Reny's where we got her a very expensive pair of boots...rated for -30 degrees...marked clear (40% off 40%!) down to $18. And she now exclaims over and over how snuggy her feet are!
At the same time as we found Caitlyn's X-country skis, we also landed these ice skates...3 pair between $3-5 and one of them even fit moi! So now I have NO EXCUSE not to go ice skating! The other 2 pair fit the girls...we already have a small pair for Asheley that we found on sale when we first moved to Maine. Now we're just on the lookout for a pair of skates for our son...and Daddy, too, if he so desires! Hint: He skates in theory...not exactly in practice! ; )
SO now let's go play!!! The Pinnacle in Pittsfield is a wonderful place to try out the new winter stuff! It's free during the week...you just have to hike yourself up to the top...
We made it there not long before dusk...but I think there's still enough light to show you around a bit...
This is the little lodge at the base of the hill...
And of course the big stone chimney is what every quaint ski lodge must have...or it's just not as quaint...
More sledders and sliders...and were they ever whizzin' down fast!
Beautiful winter sky!
Our visit was a little short...but it was a great taste of more to come!