Hooky Raccoon, Book's 'n' Stuff

 Art, the volunteer who does (sorts, prices, and displays) frames & art, asked if I'd like him to hang this hook-rug raccoon at the entrance to the back room, where BOOK's and Furniture are.

OF COURSE I WOULD!
Isn't it appealing? I almost want it myself...

I suggested we price the raccoon high: fifty bucks.
Not that high, actually--it's in great shape and someone spent a kazillion hours hooking it.

The thing is, if it's more expensive, it won't sell fast, and I want it to stay a while: whether people like it or not, it's a good invitation to enter the back room (some people don't know we even have a back room), and I'll get to enjoy it.

Art does a great job overall, but  doesn't like for kitsch or tacky art.
He doesn't throw it out, unlike the Houseware volunteers, but he always underprices it because he thinks it's worthless... which is good for the many kitsch-loving shoppers, who snatch it up.
He knows I like it though, so that's good--he'll often point it out to me, or hang it in my area.

 BELOW: Handmade kitten art.

Art priced them five dollars each, which I think is a good deal--especially compared with how he prices anything in oil--even the most poorly done paintings.

BELOW: Art hates Catholica. I gather he was traumatized growing up Catholic, so I get that.
But again, people would pay more than $13 for this crucifix (for the curved-glass frame alone), which I also moved into BOOK's:

BELOW: I priced and hung up a vintage Bavarian Loden* coat made in Western Germany in Book's too.
That lining! And real pockets that are pockets.

Manager 2 (there's Big Boss, Manager 2, and Ass't Man--we are both over- and under managed) had saved it to show to me, because I am always rescuing wool items from Baling. Or suggesting we price Pendleton blankets more than $8.99.
(One just sold for $150.)

The coat is in great shape--just needs a steam. If I were a Small, I'd wear this.

BELOW: A little side-by-side--the Living Grammar people look like they'd wear Loden:

BELOW: Jerry (my Grateful Dead–loving coworker) is always setting up toys in my area in funny configurations, like this Care Bear riding a dragon.

Jerry told me that during Covid, he was drinking a liter of whiskey every two days. He was always a drinker, but it was making him so sick, and so ANGRY--he is a big sweetie, but he was getting WEIRD at work--I mean, freakishly angry..,

This winter he felt so awful, he decided to make changes.
He cut way back on drinking, and he started to do some body actions he'd researched, including some stuff that involves cold temps.
Like really cold: getting in a cold shower in the morning and then running around the house in winter.
Since it's zero degrees F, that sounds almost dangerous... But it helped him a lot.
A LOT.

It's really encouraging and inspiring to me, seeing him be adventurous in trying different approaches to Life in a Human Body.

As Bessel van der Kolk, the guy who wrote The Body Keeps the Score says,
HEALING IS AN EXPERIMENT!

_______________________

 
* LODEN, from Wikipedia:

"A loden cape is an overcoat of Tyrolean origin, made of a thick, water-resistant woolen material with a short pile known as loden cloth, first produced by peasants in Austria.
This fabric is derived from the coarse, oily wool of mountain sheep and has a traditional earthy green colour."