Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 25/08/14

Dear Donna,

I’m wondering if I could sell these. They belonged to my wife. She used them for bookends. She passed last year and I don’t want to throw them away. I would love to find a new home for them.

Thank you, Donna.

Emile

Dear Emile,

I am smiling though thinking of how your wife used the old shoe forms. She must have been a creative lady.

Even though most shoe forms don’t bring a lot of value, they do have many uses today. As your wife showed us.

The values all depend on age, size, unusual forms and sometimes even makers. An average price for a common adult size matching pair would be in the range of $20 to $30.

So, Emile, I do think you can sell them and someone will find a new use for them. You can try a local antique shop. Remember, though, you will get less because they then have to market them. It sounds to me like it will make you happy just finding them a new home.

Thank you, Emile, for sharing your story with us and thank you for not tossing them.

Kiddie Pool 25/08/07

Family fun for whenever

Rx for Teddy

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, childrens-museum.org) will hold its annual Teddy Bear Clinic on Friday, Aug. 8, from 9 to 11 a.m. Kids can bring stuffed animals in for a checkup and learn more about what happens at the doctor’s office, according to the website. Admission costs $14.50 for everyone over 12 months, $12.50 for 65+ and free for kids under 12 months, the website said.

Family fun fests

• Hudson’s Old Home Days will take place Thursday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 10, on the grounds of the Hill House (211 Derry Road, Hudson). There will be carnival games, live music, food, vendors, a craft fair, kids’ activities and more. Event times are Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. See hudsonoldhomedays.com

• Salembration!, a celebration of the 275th birthday of Salem, New Hampshire, will take place on Geremonty Drive on Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 5 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, craft vendors and more, according to salemnh.gov/1096/salembration.

Kids beach week

• The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival is Monday, Aug. 11, through Friday, Aug. 15. The week features a slate of performances and activities every day. Some highlights: for Monday, wildlife encounters (2 p.m.), Blue Ocean Society Scavenger Hunt (3 p.m.) and a screening of Mufasa: The Lion King (7:45 p.m.); on Tuesday, free Buc’s Lagoon Mini Golf for ages 12 and under (12:30 p.m.), and a touch-a-truck with local first responders (3 p.m.); on Wednesday, “Ellen Goethel explores the ocean world” (11 a.m.) and fireworks (9:30 p.m., weather permitting), and on Thursday, balloon story telling (10 a.m.), Foo Family Band (1 p.m.) and ice cream with the lifeguards (3:30 p.m). The week wraps up on Friday with a parade at 10 a.m. (byo costume and participate) and a performance by Mr. Aaron at the Seashell at 11 a.m. All activities are free and open to the public. See the full schedule at hamptonbeach.org.

Treasure Hunt 25/08/07

Dear Donna,

I picked this platter up. I am aware it is ironstone and has some value. It is very discolored. It doesn’t have any damage I can see, though. My question is, can I use it and is it better just for decorative purposes?

Ashley

Dear Ashley,

Ironstone has been around since the early 1800s. It’s an earthenware, which is porous. If the original glaze finish has a slight crack or even a pin hole, moisture from using, washing etc. can get under the glaze and create what you’re seeing as discoloration.

Can you use it the way it is? Yes! It’s been used for many many years most likely in that condition. There are collectors who like that look and ones who won’t have them with any discoloration or damage. So you can decide which way you prefer it, Ashley.

But there are also ways you can get them whiter again. Not sure of exactly the mix but I know it’s peroxide and sunshine. I don’t find long-term it works if you continue to use it. Remember even though your platter looks not damaged, somewhere the glaze is.

Kiddie Pool 25/07/31

Family fun for whenever

National Night Out

Tuesday, Aug. 5, is the National Night Out, when many first responder departments hold outreach events, such as fairs and touch-a-truck events. Here are some of the events planned locally according to the police departments’ Facebook pages; see natw.org.

• Bedford holds its annual Police vs. Fire softball game starting at 7 p.m. at Selvoski Field, 20 County Road.

• In Concord, the National Night Out event featuring food, prizes, K-9 demonstrations, a climbing wall and more will take place in Rollins Park from 5 to 8 p.m.

• The Derry Police Department will hold its event in MacGregor Park from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring live music from 19th Nervous Breakdown (a Rolling Stones tribute band), the Department’s comfort dog, lawn games, giveaways and more.

• The Goffstown Police Department will be joined by first responders from Weare, New Boston and Dunbarton at Goffstown High School for its event from 5 to 8 p.m. that will feature live music, food, games (including an Oreo stacking contest) and more, according to a video on its Facebook page.

• In Hollis, the police, fire, DPW library and town hall are partnering for the event in Nichols Field from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring food, lawn games, touch-a-truck and more.

• Hudson Police Department will hold its event at the Rodgers Memorial Library from 4:30 to 8 p.m. for food, games and more.

• Manchester’s National Night Out event featuring food and more will take place in Victory Park and the Hartnett Parking lot, 5 to 8 p.m.

• Merrimack will hold its event at Merrimack High School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and feature ice cream, music, games, arts and crafts and more.

• The Nashua Police Department’s event will take place in Greeley Park starting at 5 p.m. and feature food, demonstrations, community booths, giveaways and more.

• Salem’s Night Out will take place at the Salem High School from 5 to 8 p.m. and feature food, music, an obstacle course, demonstrations, a petting zoo, vendors and more.

Treasure Hunt 25/07/31

Hello, Donna,

Can you give me some advice on how to find a new home for my doll clothes? These were from my Barbie dolls. I hate to just toss them. They are all well-used but in good condition for being from the 1970s. Any ideas would be great.

Thank you.

Samantha

Dear Samantha,

Barbies, Ken’s clothing, accessories etc from the 1960s and on can be very sought after by a collector. It could be hard to find that market.

Older Barbie dolls, clothing etc. can vary in value. An item that was mass-produced and every child had would have low value. Hard-to-find ones can be really high. So one outfit can be worth $1 and another much much more — depending on condition always. But who didn’t over-play with their Barbie dolls?

Samantha, I think if you’re looking for a good home and for someone to love them, I might try passing them down to a child to play with them again. Or if you want a value for them, I might try finding a toy collector or doll collector, possibly through an antique shop. If you have difficulty you can reach out and I can try to find a referral for you.

I wish you luck and hope you find a treasure while funding a new home. Just seeing a child’s face when getting clothes for their Barbie is a treasure!

Kiddie Pool 25/07/24

Family fun for whenever

Outdoor family fun

• The annual Friends-a-Palooza, a family fun event run by The Friends Program, will celebrate International Friendship Day in Keach Park in Concord on Saturday, July 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. Friends-a-Palooza will feature crafts, field games, face-painting, kids’ safety demonstrations, obstacle courses, music, dance, snacks, ice cream and pizza, according to a press release. The Friends Program is a Concord-based nonprofit founded in 1975 with a mission of building “positive connections and solutions for at-risk youth, families, and seniors,” the release said. This free event will also feature participation from more than 30 community organizations and is open to the public, the release said. See friendsprogram.org.

• Find activities such as face painting, an obstacle course, a “fishing” pond and more for kids at the Canterbury Fair on Saturday, July 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Canterbury Center (Baptist and Center roads). The day features all-ages fun including works from local artisans, a book and media sale, The Legendary “What Not” Sale, an antique car and tractor display, the Canterbury Historical Society at the Houser One Room School House, a 5K and live performances including by the Belmont High School Robotics Team, Mr. Aaron, Checkerberry Morris Dancers, Linsdey Schust & The Ragged Mountain Band, Suzuki Strings and more according to canterburyfair.com. The food line-up includes food trucks offering burgers, tacos, fries and more as well as a chicken barbecue, ice cream and frappes, the website said.

Save the date

• Sign up now for the Friends of Aine annual Kids Try-athlon on Sunday, Aug. 3, starting at 8 a.m. at Bedford High School and the Bedford Town Pool. The event is a swim, bike, run race for kids grouped by age — 4- to 10-year-olds and 11- to 15-year-olds, according to friendsofaine.com. The event is open to kids regardless of athletic ability and features a post-race festival, and registration costs $40 per kid, the website said.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!