Some Perks of the Hunt

Our end of week activities are largely centered around Estate Sales and Yard Sales. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the norm as we are smack in the middle of the Bible Belt. So, as opposed to the majority of the country, there is little to nothing happening on Sundays. There is a methodology to all of this, usually involving "scouting" by Bob (if it's in town) on Thursday to scope out the goods, and then going back on Saturday for purchases. This not only enables us the best deals, but allows us to see what was already sold and therefore what is trending. Thursday and Friday purchases are selective, but Saturdays are the big fun days! We plan where we are going, sometimes several estate sales in a day, and fill in where we may happen upon an unadvertised yard sign. What I love is the opportunity to meet so many different people in their homes and yards. Our travels take us all around our town as well as the small towns and beautiful countryside of southwest Oklahoma.

On the way to an Estate Sale in  Walters, Oklahoma

        This old building caught my eye because of the interesting slats used in boarding the windows.

Leaving a sale near Geronimo. Even though this part of the country is still considered the South as opposed to the Southwest,ranch gates are very common.  Pipe was commonly used years ago when there was more oil well drilling.
 The old pipe was re-purposed for fencing, was more cost effective, and withstood the wind better.

Best Laid Plans

How does that saying go?  "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."  A valuable lesson learned in Blog world - probably not a good idea to say I'll write tomorrow! Inevitably, life's little happenings stir up the day. Better to use the word, LATER lol! I have come to understand that it's ok not to have this blog set up exactly as I want it before I post. I see it as a work in progress that will evolve a bit before I'm happy, so please bear with me as I navigate thought tabs, lists and labels! 

I'm still settling in to the house on top of everything else, but am starting to look forward to the Easter Holiday. For me, having been raised in a traditional Polish home, that means two things: Food and Church!  Specifically, baking on Holy Thursday, Roasting and cooking meats and coloring eggs on Good Friday, and basket blessing on Holy Saturday. Over the last 11 years or so, I have had the privilege of singing on the church choir, so I'm also in church those three days. The culmination of course is Easter Sunday. I grew up going to Sunrise Mass at 6am but these last 15 years or so both my old church in NJ and my new church in Oklahoma have Saturday night Vigil as their main service. It starts outside with a small bonfire and prayer and lighting a small torch from the bonfire to bring into the church. Everyone then processes into the dark church, the Pascal candle is lit from the small torch, and the church explodes with music! In addition to the pipe organ and choir, extra musicians lend their talent in the form of trumpet, violin and harp, making the most glorious sound! I have a music list that's several pages. I have yet to conquer my worst habit where this is concerned - I procrastinate. There, I said it. Having studied piano since I was 5, I sight read really well ( at least for voice!) So, I leave it go till the last minute. I have the best intentions, but it always gets pushed aside. This is my first year on this new choir and I am one of two soprano's. So.... sometime between now and next Saturday, I have to get down to business!

Easter Traditions

Swieconka is the basket of  food that will be eaten for Easter breakfast. It is lovingly prepared by the woman of the house and laid in the basket that has been carefully lined with a white cloth. This is a very special cloth because she has either woven it herself, or crocheted, embroidered or handed down from mother or grandmothers. The basket is usually decorated with a piece of boxwood and ribbon and brought to the church to be blessed by the priest on Saturday morning. Roasted ham, kielbasa, decorated eggs, salt, horseradish with beets, babka, chocolate, and a pascal lamb are the traditional offerings in the basket, all with their own significance. I make my pascal lamb out of butter, but it can be made from sugar, or even a decorative one from plaster.

I have never not celebrated this tradition. This year, my daughter is deep into her career 1500 miles away in Florida. My family and friends are 1500 miles away in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland and South Carolina. It's just me and Bob but I look forward to it as if I had a house full.

If I were alone, I would do this. It's part of my fabric

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A New Adventure!

Hello and welcome to my blog and very first post! I am excited and looking forward to meeting other bloggers and readers, and dusting off my writing cob webs as we go through this crazy life! To me, everything in life is an adventure. It doesn't have to be an exotic vacation or a major happening. Testing a recipe, digging a new garden or having a good glass of wine will do. I'm pretty low maintenance lol!

I have lived in New Jersey the majority of my life, save for a six month externship in Williamsburg, Va. while a student  in upstate New York. After school, I spent a year living in beautiful Bucks County, PA and commuting to my job in Philadelphia. I grew up 25 minutes on the Jersey side of Lower Manhattan and consider myself a New York metropolitan. I have spent time in the South visiting family, and twice as a teen, did a cross country road trip with my parents. Twenty eight years ago, I migrated to South Jersey where I raised my daughter. But almost six months ago, I made a colossal decision. After selling most of my worldly belongings, I packed up my piano and what was left of my things into a sixteen foot rental truck and drove myself to a new life in Oklahoma! So yes, that's a biggie! The drive alone was exciting and fun. I took some pictures to chronicle my trip, although they were taken through the windshield while driving - so you can imagine. I only wish that I had kept a travel journal! I will write about it tomorrow before I totally forget!

Why Oklahoma? What's In A Name? My Little Love Story

Many, many moons ago, just a few months out of high school, I married my soul mate. Our first home was an apartment in a lovely, older two family home on Stone Street -and boy do we have stories! Suffice to say youth and circumstance got in the way, and a few years later we went our separate ways. We lived our grown up lives and then found each other again! Very quickly we realized that our bond and love was still there and the spark became the flame. Happily, our former love of flea markets and all things vintage individually blossomed as well. Over the years, he had become an avid collector but didn't really sell. I was more into the buying and selling. He has become a bit of an expert (in my eyes) on vintage glassware among other things. I have risen to the occasion. Together we share the passion of the hunt! Our "work" is scouting estate and yard sales, picking, photographing and listing on our Etsy site. We literally have thousands of items yet to photo and list, so it's a blissful full time job.

Everyone, and therefore everything, has a story. The old cracked china teacup - was it a daily favorite? Did it's warm brew sooth someone's melancholy, or help its pensive sipper make an important life decision? Perhaps it took part in a celebratory gathering of friends. Everyone and everything has a story to tell, some more evident than others. So when I started the Etsy site a few years ago, and this blog today, the name Stone Street Stories made the most sense.

I look forward to a quiet life, focusing on organizing and integrating my favorite things in my already established new home, spending more time writing, cooking and baking, and sharing little adventures with Bob and his Husky, Nick. My piano beckons and I really want to see a garden in Nick's backyard. Hopefully, we can form a symbiotic outdoor relationship!

I can't wait to write again, but will end here for today. I still have more "do-dads" to learn about on this blog site! I would love you to leave a comment , ask any questions, or make any suggestions - all are appreciated!

Thank you so much for stopping by, hope to see you soon!

Enjoy your day,

Stephanie