Before Christmas, we were doing some post-dentist shopping at a new-to-us thrift store. They had two vintage accordions in the store. I was able to go back to the store in January with Christmas money and some savings. The brown accordion I was thinking of buying was no longer there, but the other one was. So now I have a pearly-blue accordion, in good-enough condition. It is both easy and challenging to play. Previous musical experience with piano and school band is helping, along with a couple of beginner videos.
My husband around that time brought home very large cardboard boxes from work; enough for each of the children to have one of their own. It was hard to traverse the living room for a while. Some of the cardboard became cardboard armor and airplanes and rockets. The armorer has developed some rather advanced techniques for making helmets and workable elbow joints.
We also made an excursion to the Axman Surplus store. Some of the kids wanted motors, one wanted plastic clips, and I was pleased to find that they still had some airline china, as I wanted a couple of mini-plates.
I was reluctantly beginning to sew new cushion covers for our glider rocker when several of its joints came unglued and I found that a bushing? was missing. I found the bushing later, and for now we are enjoying having some extra space in the living room.
