Item 99: Candles

In a previous post I believe I mentioned we don't burn candles very often. These are some candles we had in our fireplace.

Dave's cousin Patsy makes candles every year and gives them as Christmas gifts. The candle on the left in the rear is one she made for us. It's at least ten years old. We burned it a few times but as you can see it's fairly faded and not particularly attractive. The other larger candles are in the same boat (burned and unattractive).

The two small candles are brand new and still in their wrappers. Guess where they're from? KMart! I found these candles at KMart! I bought these and several others to use with centerpieces on the dining room table. I went a little overboard and bought more than I needed. I have five others that have been used a few times. They may last the rest of our lives so I think I can safely get rid of the two that are unopened.

I want to clarify something: I don't spend a lot of time at KMart although several of my posts may give you that impression. I'm not a shopper. I spend as little time as possible in stores. There's a problem with that though: when I need something I don't know where to get it. So inevitably I go to KMart which is only a few miles from my house. They're building a Target about a mile from my house. It's supposed to open later this year. Perhaps Target will become my new nemesis.

Item 98: Another beach chair

This chair is no longer used by us. It's one of those that sits very low in the sand. Actually, by the time you settle the chair into the sand and get it situated evenly, you're sitting on the sand. It's better than no chair at all but not by much. Notice the seat? It's pushed way back on the frame. That is one of the annoying things about this chair. The seat is always slipping back on the frame. You have to struggle with the fabric to get it back in place. The other annoying thing about it is you're sitting in the sand. The purpose of a beach chair is to allow you to sit somewhere other than in the sand. This chair doesn't succeed at that purpose.

Item 97: Curtain panels and clips

When Mimi moved from her dungeon-like apartment at the Personal Care Home to her new, bright and cheery apartment at the Personal Care Home, there weren't any curtains or blinds on the french doors.

There's a KMart near her facility. (Yes, another attempt to buy something at KMart.) My sister and I drove over there to find some basic curtains for the doors.

My shopping experiences at KMart are living proof that their just in time delivery system is out of whack. As is usually my luck at that store (doesn't matter which location), they didn't have much in stock. So my sister and I stood in the curtain department for ten minutes willing curtains to appear. Nothing happened. We settled for these three panels and clips.

The three of us jerry-rigged them onto the rods and they were acceptable and at least provided some privacy for her. We're not sure when it occurred but sometime within the first week, the people at the Home took our panels and clips down and hung sheer panels and drapes. Apparently they had them out to be cleaned but didn't tell us. Ten minutes of agony at KMart, the drive there and back, the time to hang these panels up and the time spent convincing Mimi they looked nice were all for naught.

Item 96: A resistance band

I think that is what this object is called. Obviously it's not something I've used since I don't even know the correct label for it or its intended use. I think this came in a kit with the Reebok Stepper or maybe with my ab ball. It's a dust collector.

Item 95: Cookie tins and boxes

Over the years I've collected quite a few cookie tins. When we were younger, and when the kids were at home, we baked quite a variety of cookies for the Christmas holidays. Now that we're older, we can't afford to eat the cookies like we used to (too many calories). The kids are out on their own and not here to help us eat them. As a result, I have many tins and boxes that haven't been used in quite some time. Some of them are sort of tarnished/worn so they'll likely be discarded but others are in good shape so perhaps someone else can use them.

Item 94: A pasta bowl

We're in the home stretch!

I've been fairly busy and out of town 5 of the last 14 days so I didn't have items lined up for these last seven posts. I was a little worried about being able to find seven items that I don't want or use but my worries were unfounded. In less than 15 minutes I had rounded up the last handful of items.

This bowl is one of them. My ex-husband and I received this bowl as a wedding gift nearly 31 years ago. I'm fairly certain I could count on one hand the number of times it has been used. I like this bowl and I know I used it once for its intended purpose. That was over 20 years ago. I may have used it once or twice for something else but I don't remember what or when. I plan to donate this, along with the items of clothing, to a local non-profit, consignment shop.

Item 93: Cat Scratchers

The problem: a cat with all of his claws who lives indoors.

Solution #1: a hanging cat scratch object. I don't know if he ever touched this.

Solution #2: an inclined/climbable cat scratch object. He touched this; once.

Solution #3: a cardboard box. He LOVES this cat scratch object!
It's a simple cardboard box stuffed with newspaper. He tears up one side. I flip it over. He tears up the other side. I find a new box, stuff it and he goes at it again.
Ta da! Lands' End, LL Bean, Amazon etc. They all 'sell' this product. Find a box, stuff it and soon you'll have a happy household!

Item 92: Hand knitted scarves and a hat

About four years ago when I started knitting again, I made scarves for about a year. Then I decided it was time to branch out because how long can you knit long rectangular items? For another year I made hats. These scarves and this hat are from those early years. They're going to Goodwill.