Pre-Holiday Season 2024: Shopping with Noel

 Saturday, November 16, 2024

The second hand shops Noel and I frequent are starting to set out their holiday stuff.

                      

All of the above items were found at A Rare Bird.

We also stopped at Hunt and Gather.

And, of course, Victory.

I bought this little box at A Rare Bird.

And these trees at Brown & Greene.

Pre-Holiday Season 2023: Shopping with Noel - A Rare Bird

November 19, 2023

Noel and I had lunch at Heather's and then headed out to see what kind of Christmas tchotchkes the stores are setting out. 

Our first stop was A Rare Bird.

As usual, Kelly had set out a number of charming items.

I picked up a few things. Like I need more Xmas stuff. 

Pre-Holiday Season 2022: Shopping with Noel

Saturday, November 19, 2022

Noel picked me up at noon for our regular Saturday jaunt. Heather's for lunch. We ate outside in the heated tent. Next stop was A Rare Bird. I picked up a little angels box and and Santa Claus Christmas cracker. Kelly told me the cracker was filled with Italian candies. Bonus.

I also found the above pictured Santa ornament. I thought it was a little expensive for what it was but I liked it and thought it would fit rather well with other items in my American Santa collection. When I went to make the purchase Kelly told me the ornament actually came with the little living tree I had pulled it off. All the better.

At The Loft I picked up a cranberry scented candle for Thanksgiving. I like the brand they sell which don't smell overly sweet and also have a kind of smoky/spicy scent. 

I found a Nicole Sayre angel for only 25 bucks. Noel says they're going for at least $75 on eBay. Deal!

Also at the Loft I found a Waechtersbach Christmas tree coffee mug which I picked up for nostalgia's sake. I remember seeing them at the old Dayton's Department Store when they first appeared in the 1970s. I did a little internet search when I got home and discovered the pattern was produced from 1976 until 2012. 

Sylvester's curious.

Holiday Season 2021 - Holiday Shopping with Noel: Other Stops

Saturday, December 18, 2021

We also stopped at Hunt & Gather...

...and A Rare Bird but I didn't pick anything up at either place. Fun to look though.

Holiday Shopping with Noel

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Noel couldn't get together yesterday for our usual Saturday lunch and shopping expedition due to a workshop. We planned for today instead. We headed straight for 50th and Xerxes as we started to forgo lunch today. 

First stop, A Rare Bird Antiques. Kelly has been setting out a bunch of holiday stuff earlier than usual due to not knowing for sure whether the winter months will bring another shut down due to covid-19. Because of the current spike I wouldn't be surprised if it comes to that. 

I picked up a couple of little boxes.

And an ornament.

Kelly's got lots of vintage stuff that's always fun to look at. 

We also stopped by The Loft. I found these angels that are bigger versions of some ornaments I got as a kid in the early 70s at the old Lyndale Gardens in Richfield. 

We stopped by Victory next. We knew it was closed today but we thought we'd peek in the window to see what there might be. Noel was especially eager. 

Holiday Season 2019 - Shopping with Noel

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Noel came to this side of the river today. We had lunch at the Kenwood and checked out some of our favorite stores to see what's worth checking out for day after Christmas sales. Last time the gal from A Rare Bird told us she was getting one more shipment from the artist who supplied her with some unique items this year. I found a few cool things including the top hat ornament shown above. 

I thought the snowman box and gift tag were cute too so I picked those up as well. 

Found some other fun retro stuff which I didn't buy. Like I need more.

Pre-Holiday Season 2019: Shopping with Noel - A Rare Bird

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Our final stop at A Rare Bird was much more promising. 

The proprietor had the front room decorated and the back room semi-decorated. 

It seemed like she was at least trying to keep Christmas from looking like an afterthought.

The store looked very festive.

She had some unique and very small boxes that I rather fancied.

I ended up purchasing one of the boxes. Each one had a different Santa and I chose the one I liked best. 

I also bought some vintage Christmas cards. I remember ones just like these from back in the day.