Christmas Open House Highlights

Did you make it to the Christmas Open House?  If you didn't, you missed a HUGE party!  I took a bunch of pictures and I'm gonna share them with you, just so you'll know what you missed...in case you're one of the ones who missed out.

These photos aren't in any particular order...totally random.  Sit back and enjoy!

This is the cutest darn idea.  They took a white iron tiered stand and placed the plates and punch cups in it. Functional and pretty, too!

Renate, one of the vendors, made these classy pine cones.  Who knew you could glam up plain old pine cones????

This is a pic of the archway that separates the two levels...actually it's just a pic of the underneath of the arch.  I had to stand on my mouse-head in order to take this pic!

There were tons of these guys around...all dressed in red and white Santa suits.  

This is a pic of the top of the arch---told ya the pics were gonna be random.  :>)  Beautiful Santa on top and he's dressed all in white, rather than the customary red and white.

Here's another pic of the arch...

Bet you can't guess what this is!  It's an old bedspring hanging from the ceiling and filled with Christmas lights.

These slipcovers are so snazzy!  The picture doesn't show it well, but there are glittery thingies on the skirt, which makes it even more snazzy!

The lighting wasn't the best on this next shot...and, yes, I know the poor quality of the pic is due to the mouse behind the lens.  :>) Plates for Santa's cookies in a really vibrant red and white, despite the photographer's inadequacies with dealing with lighting.

This is a pic of the tables...and, yes, that is plural.  There were FOUR tables of goodies and beverages.  Oh, the grazing that took place that night!

This is the most dee-licious punch!  It's made out of ice cream and coffee.  Sounds awful, especially if you don't like coffee, but I can promise you it is scrumptious!!

And to end this little slideshow, here is a pic of Brenda and Mike, the owners of Paply's Gifts & Antiques, toasting each other on the back porch, following a very busy evening.

Brenda and Mike worked for days getting ready for the Open House, and all the vendors fluffed up their booths and filled them with seasonal decorations AND contributed to the food and drinks served that night.  What a great bunch of people that make up Paply's!!

You're invited!

It's true.  YOU are invited to a party at Paply's Gifts & Antiques!  I saw this invitation on Mike's desk, so I'm sending it out to all my blogger friends.  You gotta come!!!  They've been decorating for days and there is going to be some great desserts and beverages.  I saw the list of food and drinks to be served and I've been salivating ever since.  Consider this your personal invitation to join the fun....

You are cordially invited to our Holiday Open House at

PAPLY'S GIFTS & ANTIQUE MALL

Thursday December 2^nd from

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Holiday Desserts and Beverages

will be served.

5505 S. Fort Hood St (HWY 195), Killeen, TX 76542

(On HWY 195, ½ Mile South of Stan Schlueter Loop)

Phone: (254) 634-5679 or (254) 462-7631

·       Most Major Credit / Debit Cards Accepted

·       Lay-away Available

Secret peek at CALENDAR!

Since I consider all of you my best buds, I'm going to share my secret-spy discovery I found while snooping on Mike's desk...his calendar!  

Closed Thanksgiving Day

Black Friday Sale

and the best secret-spy discovery of all...

HOLIDAY PARTY

DECEMBER 2

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Gobble, gobble to all you Thanksgiving

celebrators in blogland!

Catchin' up

Have you missed me?  Well, I've missed you, too!!  I know you're wondering about my long hiatus from blog world, and I plan to tell you all about it...just not right now.  It's a surprise.  A big one!  I promise not to keep you in suspense too long.  That would be really mean, and I have to be good...at least until December 25.  :>)  

Until I'm ready to reveal my really, really big, super neat surprise, I thought I'd entertain you with a few pics of the shop that I found on Mike's desk.  I can't verify their age, since I haven't been inside the shop since...oh!  I can't tell you how long it's been 'cause that might ruin my surprise!  

Until the next time, it's Vinnie Mouse saying, "Au Revoire!"

Where ya been Vinnie???

I'll tell you where I've been...trying to stay cool, just like everybody else in Texas!  Can you believe this heat?  I don't know if you realize it or not, but mice sweat, too, and I've been all but swimming in it!

While I've been sweating, Brenda and Mike have been busy.  There's a new section to check out at the store...The Bargain Barn.  It's directly out the back door.  You can't miss it.  Here's the sign that marks the place...

Here's a peek inside the front door...

Okay.  So it's not much of a peek.  But it does give you an idea why I'm not too happy about the new Bargain Barn.  See the mouse perched on top of the blue toile fabric?  That's my bestest friend, Annie...short for Antiquity Mouse.  When things would get too crowded in the store---LIKE ON FIRST SATURDAYS!---I would slip out to the barn and hang out with Annie.  So what do Mike and Brenda do?  They EXPAND the store, taking over Annie's place and ruining my one and only spot to escape the crowds at Paply's, without having to call a taxi and head for the airport!  Sheesh. 

That sign says "Fill Up a Banana Box Only $5.00."  That probably doesn't make any sense, since you can't see what all is inside the Bargain Barn or the banana boxes you can fill.  The banana boxes are BIG and there's some really neat stuff you can fill your box with.  Here's a brief rundown:  all kinds of electrical accessories, like glass shades, fabric shades, glass domes, glass covers, chandeliers, and a whole bunch of other stuff.  Most of this stuff is brand-spanking new, so getting to fill a banana box and only having to pay $5.00 FOR THE ENTIRE CONTENTS, is a super deal!

Here's something else that is in the Bargain Barn...

In case you don't know what it is, it's a Paragon Kiln  You know, the contraption you use to fire ceramics and stuff. These things don't come cheap, but I heard Mike say he was willing to deal, so if you need one, head to Paply's and ask for Mike!

Besides the Bargain Barn, there are some other 'new' attractions at Paply's.  There is a new vendor who has all kinds of jewelry.  I took a quick pic, while noone was looking...

Necklaces, rings, bracelets...you name it, you'll find it in this booth.   Bling, bling, bling!  And there's another new booth that carries this stuff that I can't pronounce.  It's called Capodimonte.  Yeah, I know.  Sounds foreign.  And it is.  It's Italian home decor.  Here's a close-up pic of one of the larger pieces...

The picture looks ho-hum, but this stuff is really gorgeous!!  And there's lot of it, so come and check it out.

And then there is a display case that is full of the most bee-utiful dolls!  There is a newspaper article about the lady who made them.  Cool!  And there are all kind of dolls.  Big dolls like this one...

There are lots more.  Crawling baby dolls, and then there are these 'choir girls'...

These dolls are all captured singing their little hearts out.  Really cute...and highly collectible!

Okay.  So I guess you've figured out that tomorrow is the one day of the month that I really HATE. 

FIRST SATURDAY AT PAPLY'S GIFTS & ANTIQUES!!!!!!

There are going to be lots of people in the parking lot...I saw Mike marking off the spaces.  And a lot of vendors INSIDE the store have got really good sales going on this weekend.  15%, 20%. 25% and even some 50% off.  And there is one vendor, Cowpalace, who is having a CRAZY sale.  There's a calendar with prices on each day for a 3-piece desk set.  The price drops $5.00 every day until the desk set sells.  This started back in July and the price is still dropping.  A desk, hutch and tall bookcase make up this desk set.  College students and anyone is in the market for a place to study or work need to check this out.  It's like new and well made!

Well, I better get out of here.  Gotta get my beauty sleep, you know.  If you make it to Paply's this weekend, check out the Bargain Barn...and look for Annie.  She's the coolest friend ever!

Shhh. Mum's the word.

Do you know what this weekend is? No, not the Fourth of July.  I mean, yes, it is the Fourth of July, but that's not what I'm talking about.  It's First Saturday at Paply's! And you know how I feel about First Saturday at Paply's. (If you don't, then please read the previous post.) That's why I'm asking you to keep quiet about it. Rumor is there may not be as many vendors in the parking lot as usual, 'cause it's a holiday weekend and all. Hmph. As if that's gonna make my life any easier. I swear Paply's vendors have gone crazy. There isn't enough empty space in the store to turn around in. Every booth is filled to near bursting, and there are SALE signs everywhere! And FLAGS! Big flags, little flags...even things painted like flags.

I know. You're probably thinking I'm exaggerating. But I'm not.  Cross-heart-swear. Just get a load of this booth....

Have you ever seen so much stuff?  And that's only one wall in this vendor's booth.  I'd have to swing from the ceiling to get a picture of the whole space.  And then there's this one...

See anything you like?  Personally I heart that table and chair set...but don't worry.  I don't have room in my mouse hole for anything THAT big.  :>)

And then there's this row of shelves...

And everything on these shelves is FRAGILE!  I'm so afraid I'll break something, I tiptoe every time I pass by.  I tiptoe by the booth in the next pic, too.  Wanna know why?  Just check out who's crouched down in the bottom right corner, trying to hide behind the state of Texas.

Spider Man!!!!

Thankfully there's a cop close by to keep me from getting 'webbed.'  In case you don't see him in this next shot, he's the guy dressed in blue and wearing a hat.

Here's another booth I have to tiptoe past.  Cowpalace's booth.   Again...FRAGILE!  And if you step inside the booth, there's even more fragile stuff.  China, porcelain, figurines, planters....  If it's breakable, you'll find it in there.

Some things in the store are not only breakable, they are rare....like the figurines in the glass case in the picture below.  Woohoo!  Get a load of the blond standing in front of the case.  Wonder who does her hair?  :>) 

Don't you just love this next piece of furniture?  I tear up every time I see it, 'cause it reminds me of my grandparents' home in Europe.  Granny and Papa, I miss you!!!

This next picture shows a hall tree.  Personally, I think it should be called a hat tree, 'cause that's what all the hooks are for.  Hats!

And just to give you a teeny-weeny peek at one of the thousands of US flags in the store, check out the one on top of this china hutch, which is filled with even more breakable stuff.

Well, I guess I better scoot.  I need to get to bed early tonight, 'cause the crowds are going to be here early in the morning and there sure won't be any sleeping then.
 

Until the next time, it's Vinnie Mouse, saying, "Au Revoire!"

I warned you!

Don't say I didn't warn you.  This is what Paply's Gifts & Antiques parking lot looked like on June 5.  And these pics WEREN'T taken when the BIGGEST crowd was there.  And I didn't take a single pic of the people INSIDE the store.  You couldn't stir 'em with a stick, they were so thick.  If you STILL don't believe me after I've provided you with the proof, then you better make plans now to be there July 3 and see the madness for yourself.  And don't say I didn't warn you, 'cause I did.

This mouse is outta' here.  I'm still recovering from the invasion that occurred on First Saturday.  So until the next time, this is Vinnie Mouse saying, "Au Revoire!"

Help! The masses are coming!

Do you know what Saturday is?  FIRST SATURDAY AT PAPLY'S!  And, yes, I screamed that...and not in a nice way.  I bet you'd scream, too, if you lived here--or anywhere near here, for that matter.  I was eavesdropping--my favorite pastime--and heard Mike on the phone talking to someone who wanted to rent one of the spaces in the parking lot for the big Saturday sale, and he said, "Sorry.  We are already full." 

Full??  Oh, woe is me.  That means there's going to be people in the parking lot with stuff to sell, people in the parking lot wanting to buy the stuff for sale, cars everywhere, people everywhere, furniture being hauled in and out of the store all day long....  I will no sooner find a hiding place, than someone will be grabbing it and hauling it away.  I'll be scurrying and scurrying all day long, trying my darnedest to keep from being discovered.  Does anyone have an aspirin?  I feel a headache coming on. 

I'd tell you not to come Saturday to shop, but you might as well join the mob who'll be here.  Besides, I'd feel really guilty if you'd been eyeing a particular item and it sold and you weren't here to buy it, just because I told you not to come. 

I gotta go batten down the hatches, or whatever it is they say when they tie down everything they don't want to lose in a storm. 

This is Vinnie Mouse, saying, "Au revoir!"

New look for Paply's!!

Woohoo!  Paply's has a new look.  Get a load of this sign that was erected this week.

How fab is that?!  I heard Claudia, one of the vendors, say, "Now we don't have to explain to people about the Oma's Flea Market sign any more!"  (You'll have to imagine that said with a German accent, 'cause I don't know how to write with accents.  :>)

Seems it always confused people, when they were trying to find the store.  The store is called "Paply's Gifts and Antiques Mall", but the big sign on the pole said "Oma's Flea Market."  Well not now!  Here's another pic that shows part of the building and the new sign. 

Can you find the smiley face in the photo?  I'll give you a minute to look.  Found it yet?  Here's a clue...look for the white painted wall on the building, just to the right of the yellow front door.  That's it!  Mike made it, and it's formed out of wagon wheels and an old two-man saw.  And, no, the parts that make up the smiley face are NOT for sale.  Mike is so proud of his creation, he refuses to sell them! 

And there is a new arrival in the shop.  Take a look at this monster-big table!

I watched Claudia recover the seats on the chairs, then Mike put the chairs back together.  Really neat toile fabric.  Better grab it quick, 'cause this table and chairs set won't last long!

And then there's this thingy-majig.

I overheard someone call it a round-top trunk.  I thought trunks were the rear storage area in a car?  Hmmm.  Guess this old mouse has got some lingo to learn. 

Until the next time, this is Vinnie Mouse saying, "Au revoir!"