Thrift store pick of the week

Have you ever watched "American Pickers" on the History channel?

This show makes me want to pack up and move to Iowa. I know I could hang with those guys and hike all over people's property, make offers, get excited about a pile of junk and load up a truck. That is my dream job. Well, one of them anyway. Anybody wanna come with?

Today they were tromping through the farm of an 88 year-old American WWII Veteran. I love our WWII vets. I always have. This gentleman was frail and walked slowly; his voice raspy with age and at times barely audible. But he was so lovely in his hat and a buttoned up shirt tucked into his belted trousers. He looked like the perfect grandpa tinkering around his farm, enjoying 60 years of collections in the many barns on his property. I found myself wishing I had a grandpa like that.

Two of my favorite finds of the episode were an antique Harley Davidson bicycle crank and a vintage carnival ride. The crank was made of iron and was very architectural and would look great on a shelf. The carnival ride was a small 5 car ride with old, heavy kiddie cars and was stored in a fold up track on its own trailer. It was awesome. I would love to have that and cart it around to birthday parties.

But since I only go picking in Flea markets and thrift shops, I'll have to settle for this week's find of a vintage Westclox alarm clock. It was front and center on a little out-of-the-way shelf and when I picked it up and wound it, the familiar 'tick, tick' sound made me smile. I think the sound is soothing at night. The little gold doors were an extra surprise. I never hesitated and into my cart it went.

Each week I will be doing a round up of my finds and maybe even show you what I plan on doing with them -once I find out what that will be exactly.

Ooh, now I have more of a real reason to go hunting - yeah. (Like I really needed one...)