From Cece: Lighting Fixture.

Several months ago, the overhead lighting fixture in our bedroom stopped working. My husband said he'd try to fix it, but he might need to order a part. The last time he replaced the part it took weeks for it to come. He thought the whole fixture should be replaced, which would be costly and time consuming. Not being sure, we put off making the decision of whether to fix or replace. Yesterday, I said that I wanted the light to be working by this Thursday, Thanksgiving. Last night at 2:30 AM, the light fixture suddenly went on by itself--pop!--and woke us both up. We were too tired to discuss what had just happened, so, after my husband got up and turned it off, we went back to sleep. The fixture must have tripped the electrical circuit when it went on, because this morning we noticed that all the displays on the electric clocks were flashing. We happily reset the clocks--and appreciated that the light is back, Thanksgiving is coming, and we are loved.

From Arita: Personal Shopper

I love my coffee maker and its setting for "extra flavor" that drips the water slowly for a richer brew. For some time I've had this idea of taking that perfect coffee off its warming plate and putting it in a thermal carafe. I investigated them online, and looked in routine places where I was shopping for other things, and didn't see any. No biggie - I had "put in my order" and knew that it would show up like it always does.

Yesterday I noticed a restaurant supply store one block from my house. There I saw three different kinds - a tubular pitcher that resembles a regular thermos, a bulbous server like I have seen in diners, and the pump kind I've seen at self-service stations. They each had their benefits, and ranged in price from $28 to $90. Nice. Hmmm, which one?

I got back in my car and immediately felt drawn to the Salvation Army within that same block (around the corner from my house). There they were - all three of them!!! They were in different spots on the shelves, but I gathered them up and took a picture of my choices for you to see. I bought the white one and the pump one - $6.50 total.

And there was another little treat waiting for me. I like making cheesecake in a spring-form pan, and when I looked for mine after this last move I realized it had somehow found a new home other than mine. So, I made a layer cake that day instead. Yesterday I saw a springform pan all shiny and possibly unused for $3.

That was easy!