Friday, March 25, 2016

Friday Smiles 163: the NOT plastic bags



I'm joining Annie at A Stitch in Time, where she hosts Friday Smiles each week.

There has been a lot  fair amount of talk about people (mainly in Europe, and some cities in the US) taking their own bags with them in their purses when they go shopping.   I always laugh when I think about MY bags I take with me to the grocery store/market.

The truth is, my purse is small by choice, and I would never ever be able to get even one of these bags in my purse.  This may not make you smile, but it certainly did ME. 

Last week lots of people asked about my rocking horses.  First, I showed about 1/2 of the rocking horses I have because the photos were quickly available to me.  All my rocking horses live in my home in every room.  I have them on many walls, too.  I only put the Christmas rocking horses away.  All others stay where they are, although I move a few around on occasion.

I started collecting rocking horses in the mid-1980s when I was in CA (USA).  A friend collects vintage perfume bottles and they were in every room of her home.  When I complimented her on them, she said I should collect something I was passionate about.  I got to thinking about how much I liked the look of rocking horses, but (at least here in the US) one seldom sees them except at Christmas.  That's when I decided to hunt for ones that were not Christmas related.  By the following Christmas others were giving me rocking horses and my collection grew and grew.  Now the only time I buy them is in thrift stores.  In fact, the last time I bought a rocking horse was in 2013.  The rest have come from friends who have sent or given them to me.  My most recent one came from Hettie, a fellow Friday Smiler (or Smilee).

Now I'll leave you with these words of wisdom sent to me by a dear friend:

Be sure to visit Annie at A Stitch in Time for some Friday Smiles that will get your weekend started off with a smile.

14 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

I also have a tiny purse, one which goes round my not so tiny waist, but I have nylon bags that fold so small that they fit inside! Love the words of wisdom. Have a good day Eizabth, take care of yourself, hugs, Valerie

voodoo vixen said...

How nice to know how the rocking horse collection started and when... that's a long time and a lotta rocking horses! I started collecting owls back in the 70's and had hundreds of them in all formats and shapes but then decided that I had too many and boxed the lot up and sent them off to the charity shop keeping a few really meaningful ones. I have found that I get overwhelmed by too much or too many at certain points in my life.... which probably stops my house from exploding with the amount of stuff! LOL
I have thin fold up bags that live in my purse for when I am out and about every day and a lovely neat stack of grocery specific reusable bags for the supermarket shop... been using my own bags since we lived in South Africa and they starting charging for plastic bags in supermarkets to reduce the amount in landfill.

froebelsternchen said...

Your bags are a fashion assesoire on their own - made me smile when I saw them!
I have bags that fold very small and fit fabulous into my handbag - but nevertheless I use them seldom - grocery shopping I have to do by car here ..and for this I have always big boxes with me in the car and at shopping other things I like get bags - I can use for other things - so I take them if they are free....
Maybe not the perfect green earth thinking girl - but frugal ....I am always frugal- that's for sure-lol!
The poem is wonderful - fits you perfectly!

Happy EASTER my friend!
You are a ROCKING(horse)♥ WOMAN !

oxo
Susi

pearshapedcrafting said...

I have bags for grocery shopping - either big bags for life types or jute ones then a few fabric ones for other shopping. Confession here. ..I'm not a handbag and shoe person but I have always been a shopping bag lover...although they don't always get used for shopping! Love the little cardinal guarding your bags! Hugs, Chrisx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Elizabeth and Bleu, I have to admit I scheduled the post at mine because I know that some of my friends live by a slightly different time line to me Lol! Anyhow! You set me thinking that I have a rocking horse stamp somewhere and I must find it and make something soon. I will also have to pop back to look at your rusting as it looks scrummy. The bag business here has become big business! for some companies who are now producing some very useful fold-up fabric bags which would fit brilliantly into your purse (we call them Handbags and the purse is what we keep our money in. I could send you one if you like Elizabeth. Happy Friday, Angela x

My name is Erika. said...

I LOVE your quote. Words to live by definitely. Occasionally things throw the confidence part-at least for me-but luckily I bounce right back pretty quick- so someone who doesn't lose it is someone to admire for sure. I think it describes you, or what I know of you from these last few months of blogging. You seem very confident and content with your world. Great bags too. I also keep my purse small (who wants to lug a giant bag?) and my other bags look like yours. Nice way to save on those plastic bags though. Have a great weekend! And if you celebrate- happy Easter. Hugs-Erika

Jeanie said...

It made me smile! And your words of wisdom are wonderful!

Krisha said...

Yes, your shopping bags made me smile.
I have quite a few fabric shopping bags to use. I say to use 'cause I have to remember to return them to the car and then remember to take them into the store with me....LOL! I am getting much better about it. I do have two that are insulated, that are a necessity here in the summer, to get ice cream, and anything that has to be kept cool or cold home, since I shop a good 20 minutes from here.
I do stuff all the soft fabric ones into the insulated one.....there is no way any of them would fit on my purse......like you, I like a smaller purse.

Thanks for the Friday morning smiles with my coffee.

Happy Easter.

Cappuccinoandartjournal.blogspot.com said...

Well, San Francisco is one of those places where you have to supply your own bags -- or they charge you for each bag you use. At least the clerks at the grocery stores still actually fill the bags for you. In Europe they just scan your items and you have to fill your own bags and pay at the same time -- a system that doesn't seem to work very well to me since it often holds up the check-out line.

sheila 77 said...

Hello Elizabeth, I never know what I will find when I come here. So today it is a story about shopping bags and your rocking horses, what fun.
I am a small bag user too, very small, but they do hold a squashed up fold-up bag like the others above describe. But do I always have it with me? - no!
Happy Easter!

Meggymay said...

A lovely post Elizabeth. I always have some sort of small bag folded in a pocket, but grocery shopping is an event for me as we have to use the car, so this is where you would find my assorted sized bags.
Have a good weekend and I send you Easter time wishes.
Yvonne xx

AiyanaKalyna said...

I live in the third biggest city in my State. I am trying so hard to get them to bring your own shopping bags. They did try it for awhile but many of the stores seemed to frown on it and acted like you were shoplifting. I can Isay that I saw a few people who did this and the police escorts from the stores. I am trying really hard for my town to go green with this. I have a lovely collection in my hallway closet for when that dream day comes true. I carry a small bag that folds up like a little strawberry in my purse. I use that when I go thrifting. Least thrift stores appreciate bring your own bag. :) I love your rocking horse story. I think your collection is just beautiful. I collect dolls.

Anonymous said...

Small purse, lets of bags, me too. Some of mine fold up but after I put my glasses, wallet and phone in the purse, lucky I can get my handin, never mind a bag, ha ha. Happy Easter. Xox

Divers and Sundry said...

I always end up with a cart full of groceries in the check-out lane before realizing that my bags are in the car. :(