Came home with some Christmas stuff tonight.

[putrid]

Went to the auction tonight and came home with a couple of Christmas items. The Santa and reindeer don't appear to have a makers mark. The mouse is marked Empire 1970.

http://www.christmasfanclub.com/picture.php?albumid=2&pictureid=42

Also up for auction was 2 Evergleem aluminum Christmas trees. One four foot the other a three footer. A color wheel and some old ornaments. The ornaments were in real bad shape. But they went high. Way more than there worth for the condition they're in. The trees were sold for $45 and $30 and the color wheel sold for $40. To rich for my wallet.

I also won 4 duck decoys. Spent a whopping $2 for the lot. There in bad shape. Seems the hunter shot more decoys than ducks. LOL Got them in a row in the front yard. Going to move them around everyday. Wonder how many folks will drive by and think there real? LOL

Hey for $10 and some time I got more Christmas stuff and a way to teas my neighbors. LOL

[Sickie Ickie]

I love that mouse. I've never seen one like it before.

[Elvira]

You did good! I love the mouse to. Very cute.

[Mistress Muffy]

Its always fun to go to those auctions especially when you come across stuff like you got here Putrid! Moving the ducks around ....sounds like fun.

We have a heard of geese that live here on our properties and no kidding they are like pets I mean we all feed them & the neighbor she can touch them. They have all their babies here on the ponds behind the houses. SO we have babies coming too. The other day I was feeding them marshmellows & could not believe how close they brought those tiny chicks by me. Very trusting.

Its wonderful having them around we have about 21 that come all the time. They sit on the lawns & they are just beautiful. Or you'll be sitting on your porch and they will be flying low and all fly by & they are just so graceful.

Muf

[Carrie]

Putrid, those are great finds! Congratulations. The sleigh, Santa and reindeer were made by Poloron. Poloron went out of business many years ago, so you have a very nice harder to find set! Your mouse is also on the hard to find side, you did really well!

[putrid]

Thank you very much for the info Carrie. Totally cool! I'm an accidental collector. I have no idea what I'm buying but I'm good at it! LOL

[bethene]

Great find Putrid, they both are cool,I kinda remember the santa sleigh, I really like that. The mouse is very cute too!! getting new things like that is SOOOO much fun!
The decoys are a fun idea!! Keep the neighbors guessing!
Mummy, I am so jealous that you get so close to the geese, especially the babies!!

[Elvira]

I found these and bought them, just not sure what I will do with them yet. LOL I guess I could maybe use them on the side of Lizzies tombstone... hmm.. the unfinished tombstone.

http://christmasfanclub.com/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=43

[Carrie]

OOH! Elvira! Those are great! Are they really marble?

[Elvira]

Nope, just cheap pottery I think. But I thought they looked funky. For a buck a piece I couldn't leave them behind, maybe I'll toss some black roses in them or something.

[Carrie]

Black roses and some twisty bare branches..like dead trees. Maybe string them with some orange or purple lights..a big black velvet bow..oh! The possibiliies and both for a buck! You really got lucky! I love those!

[Elvira]

Thanks for the idea! Maybe I should go back and buy 10 more! LOL
In my album I added the unfinished tombstones, they might look nice on either side of lizzies. once I build her tombstone base, and use Carries idea!

[putrid]

Here's a pic of my ducks this morning. Going to move them to the other side of the driveway tomorrow. LOL

http://www.christmasfanclub.com/picture.php?albumid=8&pictureid=46

Totally cool find Elvira. Add a bit of 'worn off' gold trim and you could use them for Christmas as well. Just dry brush some gold on the rims and detailing and add some flowers and stuff.

[Mistress Muffy]

Man that is so cool Carrie that you knew what that stuff was that Putrid got!!

Elvira.....I'd buy all of those urns....those are terrific!


HAHHAHAHHAAA....Putrid.....I love the ducks!!!HAHAHHAHAHHAAH You are one craaaazzzzyyyy guy!! Member when Steve Martin used that line on Saturday Night Live?? Ooppss You might be to young to remember that. ( All the times in my life when people said>>>"You might be to young to remember that!" ....man I never thought I'd be using that line!!lol)

Muf PS...hey guys I'm getting worried about Mummy...where she been lately?

[putrid]

I remember when Saturday Night live first came one. (Remember 'Friday Night Live'? I remember the name but not the show LOL) And Laughin and He-haw, and when Giligan's Island was in black and white. And when they came out with close-a-ble plastic lunch bags " My sandwich is as dry as the Sahara desert." When breakfast cereal was sold in waxed boxes without the inner bag. When Prangle's was sold with fluted cardboard in the can to protect the potato chips from getting broke. I remember Flipper, The Flying Nun and when Dark Shadows was new. Let's face it. I've either spent WAY to much time in front of the TV or I'm an old fart. LOL

I've already moved the ducks. There now about 5 feet deeper into the yard and bunched together. Think I'll do this all weekend long. LOL

[putrid]

Yes and thank you again Carrie for the info. That was totally cool!

[Mistress Muffy]

Putrid....make sure you don't let anyone see you moving them......thats what really makes it.....MYSTERIOUS!!!

Yes we are "Old Farts" if you remember all that!! Dark Shadows.....not sure if you caught all my posts on the halloween forum in reference to that. My web site story line is built around Dark Shadows. I always claim to have been terrorized as a child cause I was one of 8 irish children that went to an all polish school. That is where I say I developed my sense of humor. My maiden name is Collins so they drove me nuts in school asking me if I was related to Barnabus and was I a vampire. I had 2 teeth in front that were very pointed...try explaining theses things to grade school children. We all rushed home everyday to watch the show & the next day I had to explain why my family did what they did!! Its left a devastating mark on my life!lol


Muf

[Carrie]

So many nice memories..I guess I'm an old fart (but I'm a happy one!)

Who remembers:

Television: when TVs were in black and white and you had to get up to change the channel? "Don't touch that dial..we'll be right back after a word from our sponsors!" The national anthem playing and the Indian head when tv would go off the air for the night? Channels 2, 5, 7, 9, and 11 were all there were. Watching Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Peter Gunn..good old Westerns were family fare back when I was a kid. PBS was pretty dull and boring, Mr. Wizard! Kukla, Fran and Ollie! Not even thinking about watching tv until Saturday morning..that was the only time you could see cartoons like Beanie & Cecil and they would end around noon..


Remember records? The vinyl kind? Going to a record store, looking at all the albums but only having enough money to buy a 45?

Food: Butoni toaster pizzas..they were so gross and always leaked inside the toaster. McDonalds still was counting how many burgers were sold and would change the numbers on the signs. Being able to stick a raw egg into something and not worrying about dying a horrible death..same with steak tartare..raw meat. TV dinners in foil containers with aluminum foil over the top. Jiffy Pop popcorn..it always would burn no matter what we did. Taking turns on the ice cream freezer crank; Chicken that actually had a flavor..it tasted like, well Chicken!; Real milkshakes, made with milk, sugar, and home made ice cream..yummy! Coke in those cool little green glass bottles. You had to have a bottle opener and cans didn't have pull tabs.

Recreation: going outside and rounding up all the kids in the neighborhood, playing kick the can, red rover, Ghost in the Graveyard..catching fireflies and letting em go, playing baseball til it got too dark to see; coasting our bikes down steep hills; getting sunburn and not knowing about the damaging effects of UV rays!

CHRISTMAS! Making as many gifts as possible for family and friends and they did that for you too! c-9 lights were the only kind of lights and if you used too many, all the fuses would blow; Sears, JC Penney and Montgomery Ward catalogues (being able to order blow molds..I was 12 when I got my first one; buying Italian lights (minis) boy they were expensive when they first came out; cameras on Christmas morning with flash bulbs or a light bar that was blinding; bulky cloth snow suits; boots that had those metal tab things to close them; Christmas trees that weren't perfect, lots of room for ornaments because they weren't as full as they are today; making glitter angels; going to Lincolnwood or Candy Cane Lane to see lights (for you Chicagoans); nativity sets, Santa Claus and deer on municipal buildings; people saying "Merry Christmas" and not worring about offending anyone; going caroling because it was normal;

Sorry, everyone..I got carried away!

[Mistress Muffy]

THERE IT IS!!! THERE IT IS GUYS!!!! CANDY CANE LANE!!! Remember me telling you all about that place we went when I was a kid where the Pink Santa was in that big box playing a piano!!!! Oh My God someone else remembers Candy Cane Lane........oh Carrie please write everything you remember about that.......we went every year!!!

Oh don't forget our old Chicago Bozo!!

the catalogs......waiting for those xmas ones w/ all the toys!!

Muf

[Carrie]

Muffy! LOL I guess I touched a fond memory? If you want to rekindle that childhood memory, buy this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Christmas-Decorations-Chicagoland/dp/0964279924

I know the author and she has a lot of information in there about Candy Cane Lane. Remember those canes? I sure do! The pink Santa..all of it. Mary's book has pictures too you'll love it. (In fact, I have to toot my horn a little, my home is going to be in the sequel which will be coming out this fall!)

[Sickie Ickie]

Nope, don't remember any of that. *whistles innocently"

[Mistress Muffy]

Thats cause our little Sickie is a Baby!!!lol

Carrie hang on I think just recently I finally found that book. I bought 2 of them in Chicago at some big xmas store, one for me , one for the cousins son & I moved right after that to NC & it got packed before I took a good look at it. I just recently found it in one of those boxes in my garage & forgot about it till I saw that picture of it!!! SO yes I see Candy Cane Lane on the 20's pages!!! I remember now screaming to Aunt in the store......oh look theres stuff in here about Candy Cane Lane!!!lol Its funny how my mind remembers nothing anymore!!!!lolI'm a gonna cuddle up w/ this tonight!!

Now what was at Lincolnwood........maybe I don't remember that but I will tell ya that I come from a family that use to do everything & go everywhere & eat in off the wall joints! DO you remember Santa's Village & Kiddieland on Harlem?

Muf


Muffy

[putrid]

My mom is from Joliet. Just south of Chicago. I can remember walking around down town Joliet and seeing all the Christmas lights and displays in the storefronts. My brother and I road our first escalator just before Christmas.

I've moved those ducks 5 times now. Saw one truck slow down to take a good look. Watched them go down the street. As soon as they were out of site I ran out and moved them again. A bit later here comes that same truck. Folks, it doesn't get any better than this! LOL

[Mistress Muffy]

I'm sitting here laughing like hell Putrid!!!

Muf

[Elvira]

I've already moved the ducks. There now about 5 feet deeper into the yard and bunched together. Think I'll do this all weekend long. LOL


OMG! I can't stop laughing, you totally crack me up putrid! I would love you for a neighbor!

[putrid]

I put the ducks to bed. They'll be back out in the front yard in the morning. The best two bucks I've spent in a long time. LOL

[Carrie]

OMG! Muffy! Yes yes, I remember Santa's Village, out in Elgin..I was so unhappy when it closed down a few years ago, but at least my son was able to go a few times before it closed. And Kiddieland! Its still there, right across from Maywood Park Racetrack. I haven't been there in a long time. Bozo's Circus is on the Air! LOL I am having so much fun going down memory lane..

Muffy, Lincolnwood sometimes called Sauganash had house after house of fantastic displays. It was bumper to bumper traffic every year there. Does anyone else remember? There was one house there, in fact, they are still doing the decorations as in years gone by. Had elves making candy canes, a little donkey, sitting down, wearing paniers with candy canes in it and an animated elf trying sooo hard to make him stand up. Another house had a girl on a swing, on their front portico, she was wearing a beautiful white gown, lots of gold trim, swinging back and forth. Another had this awesome choir, with a pipe organ (bought from Bronner's in Frankenmuth I later learned), music piped outside. When I was a kid, my Mom and I would go there a couple of times during every Christmas season..the people of Lincolnwood were truly our inspiration. Because of what they did, my Mom and I, I was 12 or so, started decorating in a BIG way..and I have never stopped. Making memories and living them..so darn nice!:)

[Mistress Muffy]

My Aunt called last night.......shes a pretty sick woman & so we keep in touch everyday or at least every other day so when she called last night I asked her.....did we ever go to Lincolnwood to look at xmas decorations. She said we went there every xmas. That is what she said Carrie.......don't you remember the cars all being lined up? lol See I did not remember Lincolnwood until you mentioned it! As Bob Hope would say>>>>>" Thanks for the Memory!"

Yes I was sad to hear they could not save Santa's Village too, but they still have a nice web site with photos on it! I had been there many a times!

Well kids I gotta run.....yesterday & today we are getting some orders done & also getting these sample bags ready!

Muf

[bethene]

Putrid, LMAO, that is too funny, I too wish I were your nieighbor, I would be watching the reaction of folks when you move them!

[Sickie Ickie]

...DO you remember Santa's Village & Kiddieland on Harlem?

Muf


Muffy

I remember seeing the commercials for Santa's Village, but never went. My family used to do a small biz on the weekends selling inflatables and balloons at Sauzer's Kiddieland. Then we stopped, Sauzer's was renamed and taken over by a different people.

[Thomas Steiner]

putrid, Here is my Poloron Santa, Sleigh and Reindeer. I paid $500 for mine locally. You got a good deal on yours though. But it's value is between $299 -$500. Thought you would like to know that. I have been collecting blow molds sinse I was 8 years old and I am now 101 years old. LOL. JK on the old age.:)

[putrid]

$$????? and I thought 7 bucks was a bit high. LOL Didn't show it in the first pic but the antlers are missing most of there gold paint.The deer have a flat gold cord that goes form one deer to the other in a big loop threw the hoops in there backs. Don't know if that's original or not. There is a small hole in the center top of Santa's hand. Is he supposed to be holding something? Took a shot of the flat gold cord and will post it soon. Thanks for letting me know the value of the Christmas decorations. Wont part with it and now I wont put it out in the yard either. LOL

Paid a whole dollar for the mouse and got a ragity ann doll and a small green John Deer plastic watering can with it. Gave them two things away at the auction.

[Carrie]

Putrid, $7 was a definate steal! I've seen them go for all kinds of prices on eBay, but never as low as $7 (and you didn't have to pay shipping either! Good job!) Woot!

[bethene]

Yeah, Putrid, you got a deal!! You are good at finding great deals! I have gotten a few, but you are the king!

[Sickie Ickie]

Gee, now that we have blowmold gurus here, I'm going to have to dig some blowmolds out and ask their value. :)

[Thomas Steiner]

$$????? and I thought 7 bucks was a bit high. LOL Didn't show it in the first pic but the antlers are missing most of there gold paint.The deer have a flat gold cord that goes form one deer to the other in a big loop threw the hoops in there backs. Don't know if that's original or not. There is a small hole in the center top of Santa's hand. Is he supposed to be holding something? Took a shot of the flat gold cord and will post it soon. Thanks for letting me know the value of the Christmas decorations. Wont part with it and now I wont put it out in the yard either. LOL

Paid a whole dollar for the mouse and got a ragity ann doll and a small green John Deer plastic watering can with it. Gave them two things away at the auction.

putrid, That was a great deal for $7. Some people just don't know the value of something they are selling cheap. My reindeer are missing their antlers. I have them, but they are in broken condition and I have not taken the time to repair them. I like the reindeer without the antlers better. I am not sure of the gold cord loops if that is original for the reindeer or not. I'll have to investigate on that question for you. Do you know anything about the cord Carrie? I have 3 cords that go with my set (see my photo) and they are original as what I was told when I bought the set. I even got the box with mine. Never noticed the center hole in Santa's hand. I'll have to check mine to see.

Very good price for the mouse. I had 2 of the mice, but sold them a few years ago and now wish I had them both back. Value of the mouse is $10 - $25.

Can you show a photo of the Raggedy Ann and the John Deer plastic watering can please. I am curious on those items. Thanks a million.

[Thomas Steiner]

Gee, now that we have blowmold gurus here, I'm going to have to dig some blowmolds out and ask their value. :)

Sickie Ickie, I believe Carrie and I can tell you the value of your blow molds. Please post what you have and we will do our best to get you the value of your blow molds. I would love to see what you have. I know I have to many blow molds. Hehehehe...........:)

[putrid]

Gave the Raggedy Ann and the John Deer plastic watering can away to some friends at the auction that night. One has a little girl and the other is a house plant fanatic. Both of those items were new. Figured they could get more use out of them than I could. They'd end up as Halloween props had I kept them. LOL

Perhaps calling it a cord was misleading. Not electrical just to flat to call it a rope and to wide to call it a string. Don't have the box but other than missing some gold the antlers are in good shape. Took the shot but having uploaded it to my box.

[Carrie]

Sickie Ickie and Putrid, valuing blow molds can be kinda fun, but its also tricky. I think a lot of the perceptions people have about their value come from eBay. I think Thomas would agree with that statement.

I have some molds in my collection that I paid squat for, but have seen them go off on eBay for hundreds of dollars..I think anyone who is a collector would agree with that. A lot of the value depends on how badly you want it, how hard to find or rare it is, and the age and condition of the blow mold itself. I know I've paid some ridiculous amounts of money for some that I really wanted (I won't even mention how much because my husband may one day come on here and see it! LOL)

Putrid, the Raggedy Ann you had is a fairly desireable mold, not being made any more. I have two of them, one still brand new in its shrink wrap..only paid $1 for it at a garage sale. But I've seen them on eBay for as much as $50 or so.

I know I would love to hear about what kinds of blow molds some of you have (if any) cause they are the heart and soul of my Christmas decorations.

[putrid]

Sorry to be misleading Carrie and Thomas. Should of stated that the raggedy ann and the watering can were both toys. Not blowmolds. Sorry folks. And what's wrong with Ebay??? I get my value for EVERYthing off of Ebay. JK LOL We got some folks around here who's yard sale prices are off of Ebay. They don't sell much. LOL

Here's the shots of the gold cord and antlers.

http://www.christmasfanclub.com/picture.php?albumid=8&pictureid=50

http://www.christmasfanclub.com/picture.php?albumid=8&pictureid=51

Thanks again folks for the info.

[Sickie Ickie]

It will be awhile before I'm able to post pics of the blowmolds. They're put away and I have to finish some projects first. :sigh:

[Mistress Muffy]

Same here I have some too. I still have my talking skeleton sitting in the garage instead of in his box cause remember we were gonna try & figure out what was wrong with his talk box?

I should probably mention at this time that yesterday was a glorious day as I finally found that darn plastic fence I bought at Walmart the year before last. Its one of those plastic fences that you put around your flower beds. I had bought enough sections to frame in a grave in my cemetery. Mysteriously....(hahahah) the thing disappeared....I hunted high & low for that thing. Knew I bought it but clueless as to where I stashed it.

Yesterday I had to shoot some photos of some wine candies & I went in my walk in cooler...(its not hooked up yet, gotta have more business to run that thing) to find some material to set up a small set to shoot photos & low & behold there it was behind the crate in there that holds my big candy case. See I'm not nuts!!lol

Muf

[Sickie Ickie]

Anyone would put a fence in the cooler. It makes perfect sense. :D

[IshWitch]

I'm really getting into the blow molds, the Halloween ones I just got are all marked Empire except for one, which is quite new.
Makes me want to find out how old they are!
:)

Told ya I was on here Sickie! I had joined but never jumped into the fray.
:D

[Sickie Ickie]

Well, don't just toe the water, jump in full force! I know you have great stuff to share! :D

[Mistress Muffy]

GREETINGS ISHWITCH!!!!

Muf

[Carrie]

I'm really getting into the blow molds, the Halloween ones I just got are all marked Empire except for one, which is quite new.
Makes me want to find out how old they are!
:)

Told ya I was on here Sickie! I had joined but never jumped into the fray.
:D

IshWitch, I'd love to see some pictures of your blow molds or know more about which Empire pieces you have? Also the "quite new" one, I'm sure we can help with identifying it.