Yard Sale Lessons

It is no secret that I am a lousy business person.  I could not make money if there was a gun to my head.  I give away more things than I ever sell.  Even when I was selling other products than my own, I was known to give 'Friend Discounts' just 'cause I couldn't bring myself to charge full price.

 I am also known for coming out in the red in a Yard Sale.  'How does that happen?' I hear you ask.  I set up, drag my superfluous collection outside and before I know it, my till is empty.  Neighbor Nancy and her posse have held sales for years on a weekend in July.  In fact, a sale was in progress when I showed up with my semi full of 'stuff', thirteen years ago this month.  I joined them probably four years ago in this yearly event that I dread/look forward to with great trepidation.  They are mostly responsible for my deficit.  I seem to find every thing I ever needed at their sale.  This is how I roll.


But despite my seeming ineptitude at actually making money at a Yard Sale, I do so learn ever so much more.  This year was a banner year for memorable patrons.


 Usually, I get a Jehovah Witness or two, who politely purchase a small thing in order to engage in a conversation prior to handing me a Watch Tower.  


There is usually an Amish buggy parked nearby to take advantage of my very useful items.
  
I have the bargain people, looking specifically for deals and sometimes, very needed items.  


This year, however, I had several kindred spirits, people that 'get' my rather eclectic way of doing things.  I had quite a few visitors under my pergola, where I set up shop to keep my noggin from frying in the 90+ degree temps.


I had lovely comments about the peacefulness in my little corner of the world.  I had multiple comments on my prolific wisteria and even comments about the 'beauty' of my now dead garden.


I had crafters that saw the raw bones of my offerings that spurred them into a creative frenzy.


I had a precocious nine year old home-schooled little girl that asked for a tour and names of my flowers.  She responded properly to the fairy bouquet that I give all little visitors to my Secret Garden.  I believe I introduced her to the intoxicating joys of lavender to the point that she returned later in the day to replace her missing lavender in the teeny bottle that I gave her.  I thoroughly enjoyed the repartee for which she shared with me, even the mulching tips that she gave me regarding my garden waste.  


I met a lovely older women from another county that purchased items that were favorites and hard to let go of.  How pleasant to know that they would serve an extended life in the home of lovely woman.  We talked about Prince Edward Island and it's abundant beauty.  We talked of conserving water and sewing and gardening and quilting.  When she left, I hoped that we would meet again.


I met characters and interesting studies.  I enjoyed watching and observing.  I had lots of quiet time when things were slow and I knew I had to be there but nothing was going on.  I like that kind of down time.  I could read, write and pick around my garden a bit in the silence.  Good reflection time.


So while I did not make the tiniest of cash, I came away gratified at what I earned.
Glimmers of the fellow personages that share this space is always an insight well invested.


Onward to next July's Sale!

Birthday Bliss

 The day dawned clear and deeply blue, setting off the last of the autumn color.


Wait a minute.  No it didn't.  Rainy and cold, it was a perfect day for me.  I love rainy days.  No dog walking first thing or urgency to go anywhere other than a different spot on my mattress.  Hubby agreed.

 Once I did join the conscious, I skipped downstairs to find a brightly colored gift on my front door knob.  This was the second time this week this has happened.  It could become a habit for me.  I like it.  Editor Friend left a most jolly gift yesterday and Sweet Sharon completed her yearly habit of leaving my gift first thing in the morning.  The tradition started many years ago when as an elementary teacher, she would be off to work before the crack of dawn.  Like a small child, I would sometimes smile to myself as I, half asleep, would hear her car pull away from my curb after accomplishing her delivery.  For some lonely birthdays, this was such a blessing to me.  This year, since she lives miles away from me now rather than the convenience of down the block, she had Birthday Fairies deliver the yearly surprise.




Monday morning, Pretend Daughter Emily came for her regular breakfast visit.  This time, we shared lunch rather than breakfast and she blessed me with a lovely fall bouquet.  She is a November Gal as well and we shall do her birthday next week.  November People stick together.


As you can see, the flowers went well with some of my other gifts: Chocolate Iced Chocolate Brownies, Extremely cool vase from Sweet Sharon and more chocolate from Crazy Dee.  My friends know me.





 Crazy Dee had called earlier this week to reserve me for The Actual Day.  She did not allow Hubby to come with.  She is crazy that way.  CD did take me to my favorite spot for lunch and brought a BIG bag of wonderful, me-like gifts to celebrate.  She knew she better.  When I am by myself in her kitchen, I tend to place 'reminders' on her planning calendar.  I conveniently let her know how many shopping days are left till the Big Day.  Nice of me, yes?  Do not worry.  She is worse about her birthday than I am about mine.  We have a good time out doing each other.

 On the way home from lunch, in the midst of pouring rain, a lone garage sale was taking place in a wee little town.  Lots of fabric and the most wonderful milk pitcher and matching tea pot.  These type of kismetian opportunities are special little kudos from God.  Only God could have arranged that sale on this day in that community.  In the rain.  And cold.  And I do believe I might have been the only one that went to it.  I did wake up the 'proprietor' in her van as I knocked on the door of the rented space that was the garage sale door.  I have the most fun.






After I was home for awhile, the doorbell rang.  Huzzah!  Another gift!  Neighbor Natalie brought by her Little Neighbor Meisa, to give me a vintage Coca Cola sign!  I was very touched by her acknowledging My Day.  And this year, I didn't even have a sign in the yard!  Extraordinary!




I had a bit of time before Youngest Son escorted me to our local Mexican Restaurant for supper.  The rain was turning colder and I turned to one of birthday presents for a little warmth.  Earl Grey Lavender Tea sounded just right.


After festive feasting with YS, I came home to wrap my mind around my new dining room curtain material.  A day off of other people's work, I indulged myself by measuring, cutting and making the curtain and cutting out more for cushions.


The hours of the evening ticked on while I wrapped up the day reading my Facebook wishes and counting myself well blessed by the incredible people in my life.


So here's to year Fifty Eight!
May I do it justice!!














[Postscript: Next Day: One beautiful sculpted angel for my creche crafted and created by Rabbit Rita!  A post unto itself!  Birthday Brownies received in the mail from the consistently amazing Most Loving Friend.  I receive brownies for most life occasions from her: birth, bereavement, birthday, bed and breakfast jaunts etc etc.  She is swell.  Sigh.]

Spoofin' Supreme

 The planets lined up.
The weather was perfect.  I  mean perfect.
The dog was kenneled.
Our bags were packed.
Our car, Sharky, was scheduled for it's routine maintenance for a proper spoof.
We departed in a timely fashion for an amazing weekend, full of family, festivities and LOTS of wonderful deals.

 The weather decided to turn to that coolish daytime/cold night time of loveliness following a most beastly hot summer.
Sharky has proper climate adjustments so we just adjusted accordingly and comfied in for the long trip to our original hometown.


I believe the Yard Sale gods smiled hardily upon these Autumnal Travelers and there was a proper amount of sales on the winding state routes between here and there.


Sharky has a big trunk for the finds.  By the time we meandered home days later, Sharky was full up, nearly bursting with our wonder treasures.

 It is a good thing to pack a good project for busy hands to content themselves while the miles pass.  We like to bring along a particularly interesting audio book to fill in between conversations.  It aids the quilting process.

 Hubby loves the sales more than he would like to admit.  He seeks them along the road as I quilt/crochet/knit/embroider, points out details that I miss, pulls out his wallet and then carries the twelve point buck to the car.  What a guy.

 Our sojourn took a stop at the wonderful digs of Oldest Sister's lovely new home.  She parted with her comfy bed for two nights.  She also  managed to organize a huge subdivision wide sale for us.  While we waited for her to arrive from a visit to her nearby VA hospital with her Lovely Hubby, my Hubby and I scoured the sales for some nice, upscale clothing for the grandgirls.  She did take credit for the sale, but I believe it was truly the Yard Sale gods again.....

 Could you imagine a better, more gorgeous day for an outdoor wedding than what Springfield Illinois experienced last Saturday?  Sapphire deep blue skies, breezes that only early fall can provide and sunshine aplenty just for the sheer joy of it.  Sitting with Hubby's multitudinous siblings, I was reminded again that to be a part of a large family, (Hubby is 5 of 10) is indeed a glorious thing.  Knowing all the history that has passed in all our lives, we still manage to come together like it was yesterday. Comforting.

 When we do gather for Hometown Occasions, we make it our habit to go to the cemetery to visit Mom and Dad.  We stand around and chat, much like we did when we visited their home. Then, Dad would be quietly playing solitaire at the dining room table, smiling over the din, while Mom desperately tried to get a word in edgewise, while the chaos of our offspring bounded throughout their well worn home.


 We stood nearby their headstones and cracked jokes about our current conditions and some historical anecdotes about each of the parental units, now in their eternal reward. Strangely fun.

 Between the raucous 'younger' music and our Family dance to 'We are Family' and 'Celebration', including the sister in the walker, we managed to talk each other's ears off.  Lots of stories and plans were made in those fun moments at the reception.

 It's never an official trip 'home' until we've done the tour of our homes:  The one Hubby was raised in and the ones we occupied as newly weds.  Always, we go by Gabatoni's, the pizza place that Hubby worked at when we started dating and then when we first  married.  Hubby still makes the glorious Italian Beefs that he cooked at that small Italian restaurant back in the day.  The pizzas there are the best and the one that we measure all other pizzas by.  Nearly 40 years later, the pizza we shared this lovely fall night, was the same as the pie that we would order, many years ago, at the walk up window and carry home to his parents house nearby and eat on the porch swing.    We were so full of memories that night we nearly choked on the emotion.

 Sunday wanted to show off to Saturday.  If the weather hadn't made the day, Big Sis wakes us up for the most amazing breakfast. Ever.  We drifted out to Niece Lisa's home.  Hubby caught a fish and soaked up  atmosphere .  Just spending time with Lovely BIL on the deck was treat enough.  The rest was icing.

When all the goodbyes were said and hugs and promises were made for future visits, we climbed in to a very full Sharky and headed southeasterly toward home.  We continued on with our book and my quilting until the crescent moon rose in the sky and our tummies reminded us to eat.

 

Stopping at the Blue Door in Greencastle to refuel for the evening, we sighed and reflected and reminisced.



 And we thanked God for the Spoofin Extraordinaire Weekend that had just taken place.


Amen.

Rescued Keepsakes

 When looking through bins of linens at thrift stores or garage sales, I tend to appoint myself as Savior of the Craft.  My hand usually goes to intricately woven, crocheted, knitted, embroidered things that someone has laboriously toiled over for many hours and is now relegated to a .25 price tag.  More than once, I have gasped aloud when seeing a tiny hand knit sweater or bonnet, carelessly pitched to the bottom of a box.  When I lift it out of it's sad ,discarded position, it almost speaks to me, 'Finally!  Someone who recognizes me for what I am!'

And what is that?
Something that someone, maybe years, decades before, lovingly, intentionally, carefully, labored over for some dear loved one.  Someone took the time to pour over patterns, weigh the pros and cons of the weight and color of yarn, took to their needles and spent sacrificial time, energy and money to create a special handmade sweater for some dear little baby.  As you know from previous meanderings here, I always tend to drift to the back story of each handmade/vintage item that I approach with interest.  Hand crafted things all have stories; that's what makes them so appealing.  It's just odd people like me that actually hear the items plea their history to ensure rescue.

That is how mama's collection came into being.  Years and years of casually drifting into yard sales and thrift shops only to be pulled into 'conversation's with, as dottie angel's[ www.dottieangel.com],calls: 'forsaken things', speaking to me in a most specific way: 'Puhlleezeeee! Do not let me sit and waste away on the bottom of this shelf!  Please see me for what I am!  A handmade lovely (or vintage something) that has been carefully designed, made and loved for years and has now been tossed aside by unthinking somebodies!  You know how much work went into me!  You see the detail!  Reach into your pocket, take out that quarter that you have been keeping there for this moment and take me home!  Rescue me!  I will serve you well!!'

 And so it came to be that I understand that it is my lot in life to caretake those things that most find old and discardable.  And glad that I am that it is my lot, for on a dull, gray February day, I had the unmitigated joy to enjoy this most delightful pillowcase as I changed my sheets.  As I reached for the pillow case I had selected from my linen closet (do you know just how many vintage pillow cases I own? Nope, don't even try....:)), my hand brushed over the amazing detail.  I had to sit to take it all in.  Crocheted baskets of flowers, countless stitches counted carefully and executed beautifully.  Rows of crocheted edging, intertwined around pink rick rack, creating the most endearing pillow cover.  Sometimes, I get so overwhelmed by the beauty and detail of the most mundane things like pillow cases, that I reward their beauty by ironing them!  Crisply and starchfully, they look stupendous on a turned down bed, already for a good night sleep. And I always remember to thank the hands that went into creating a spot of pleasure and beauty for me.

 I believe that if we begin to look at things, people, places, more carefully, to see the intricate beauty in each thing/person, we will live differently.  We will value and cherish things/people more.  We will see their purpose in just bringing joy in just being around it/them.
We will live differently.  Guaranteed.

Seek out beauty in the things that are normally overlooked today.....And be blessed...

Yard Sale Lessons

What I Have Learned About Garage Sales:

1. They are called different names regionally. Most are Garage (spelled many different ways); some are Yard Sales; Tag Sales in some suburbs; Estate Sales when someone has to die first.  Maybe what I normally have is an Estate Sale; I usually die before and most certainly after.

2.  Yard Sales (and I use the term indiscriminately) are hard work.

3.  I am an excellent Yard Sale attender, but a lousy giver. I never make any money.  In fact at most recent fiasco, I actually lost money.  Seriously.  I came away with less than I started with.  I blame Neighbor Nancy and Sister Lois for this. 

4.  I would love to watch someone who does this well so that I can learn a thing or two.  I am a pushover.  Someone merely has to smile at an object that they want, and I practically give it to them.  Sometimes, I even carry it home for them.  I have actually done this.  Last year, a Little Old Lady (probably a few years older than me.) drove up to the sale and explained that she didn't get around very well, and would I please bring over some doilies that she was admiring.  Of course.  So that day I witnessed my first Drive Thru Garage Sale.  To my credit, she did buy the doily. For a quarter.

5.  You should never, never, never hold a Garage Sale solo.  The Pits.  The 2G's mama helped on the first day till the Nap Monster overtook the 2G's.  And my Lovely Lillian came on the last day and helped with Miss Dixie and her fretful ways.  Their company was very helpful but for the rest of the time, I was dreadfully unentertained.  I read, crocheted and even (What?) weeded, but those pesky (see?) customers kept interrupting.  But nothing cures the ills of the drone of working three days for 12.35, like human companionship. Misery loves company.

6.  But there are Silver Linings.  Lest you think me a curmudgeon, let me regal you with some of more satisfactory moments:

a.  Sylvia the Sainted Girl:  This little girl about 8 years old simply fawned over my garden.  She noticed the bouquet upon my Checkout Desk and oohed and aahed for quite awhile.  It was then that I told her about Fairy Bouquets.  Fairy Bouquets are tiny little flower arrangements that I make with those tiny little Jam Sampler Jars.  Little girls and the occasional little man, love to see the teeny flowers in their own wee little GLASS vase; they love knowing that I trust them to have an actual GLASS 'vase'.  I love watching them leave, studying the weensy flowers.  Sylvia was a rare child.  I wish she would have stayed and kept me company.  I think we are kindred spirits.

b.  The Religious Lady with the Two Booklets.  I can count on her to come by and admire my garden as well.  I can count on her to buy things from me to extend her visit.  This time she outdid herself by buying a most questionable item which only further made me question things.  Despite being quite a character, she is an upbeat cheerful thing that makes me smile.

c.  People that will engage in a bit of conversation.  I had one little interchange with a lady that didn't see anything she needed other than the very tablecloths that were hiding my 'vintage' card tables.  That got us on a conversation about All Things Collectible that mama's collection does so well.  Very nice lady.  Good taste as well.

d.  Knowing that I have searched the nooks and crannies in my over packed home and have dispensed with quite a bit of the superfluous.  Even if it was for a quarter, delivered.

7.  Things I Kept Entertained With:  Worked on the next weekend.  Woohoo!!  Checked out lists and made a timeline.  Read Hidden Art. Perfunctorily looked over my new book that just came in the mail.  Crocheted  my jute twine market bag.  With three different types of twine, just to see which one I like the most.  Because I can.  Helped LL sell watermelon balls and lemonade; a hot weather alternative to cookies and muffins....

8. I have learned that I do not know what people want.  I know what I'm looking for and that will not be at my sales.  Those things are in my house.  No matter how varied the assortment, I get the once over, without a word then off into the sunset.  And speaking of that, just what is Garage Sale Conversational Protocol?  I always greet people warmly, but some look scared after that.  Do you prefer stony silence so that you can concentrate without the pressure of conversation?  I usually interact cheerfully with my Garage Sale proprietor with different reactions.  But when I am the 'host', I feel obliged to be very nice.  I do not know why.  It can get me in trouble, like poorer.  I interacted with one 'older' lady yesterday and thought second about it.  She drew closer to me and in a conspiratorial tone, she whispered, 'I am from here', I responded with that dog like tilt of my head. 'Excuse me?' I asked, thinking she meant from my back yard.  She smiled with a rather prideful look on her face, and replied, 'I am from Mitchell; I'm a Crawford''.  I responded like every transplanted Mitchellite does, 'Oh!' I say, having not a clue what that means, much to my disgrace.  This is a reason why I will never be considered as an actual citizen but as a foreigner; I just don't know all the history I need to survive.  Ah.

9.  And the worse part of Flying Solo is The Cleaning Up.  Aargh.  You are already hot and bothered and really unhappy that your three days investment in time and energy amounts to a negative amount.  So you go slowly, breathe deeply and reflect on the ongoing thread of conversation that ran through with my time with LL, a most mature of second graders.  But even time with Her Debbie can be exhausting especially watching  Planet 51 till 11:30pm.  And so she napped for two hours in a blissful summer morning nap under my canopy on my wicker love seat in the backyard.

And that made it worth it all.

Show and Tell

First off, I really think it behooves me to show this recent shot of my Endless Summer Hydrangea.  Those of you that follow me on Facebook, might remember me making the statement, 'This Is A Hydrangea Year'. Seems like I read the signs well.  This little lovely is in my front yard, but it has a sister and brother in the back with as many blooms as well.  One of the lovelies has NEVER bloomed in all it's 9 years!  So, with great confirmation, I continue on with the claim: This Is A(n) Hydrangea Year!!!

At the last Garden Exchange meeting, I believe I mentioned that We Ladies of the Garden Exchange, passed the time perusing magazines. Sewing Sally brought with her three copies of MaryJanes Farm magazine.  And I was hooked.  I waited to see if anyone else was going to take some of the copies and when I was ready to leave, all three were still sitting there.  So I scooped them up, politely leaving one of them.  I have carried this copy to Cincinnati and back, reading it in transit and before beddy bye time.  Truly amazing mixture of sewing, fiber crafting, repurposing, organic gardening etc etc.....Also pictured are the nifty slippers that I do believe all my girlies might be needing this winter.  Better start now while swinging on my porch swing or in transit to all Good Children's Faraway Homes.  I certainly want to get a subscription to this handy zine.  I can see my children and pretend children getting a lot out of these recyclable (in more ways than one) ideas.

http://maryjanesfarm.org

And What's This? What's This??

Ah.

Fabric from last week's YardSaleExtravaganza with Eldest/Admin and The Vivien.  The Three of Us + Poppy, took on several highly rated sales, full of vintage toys, (a Lite Bright with tons of templates and all the colored pegs separated in little jars! ), lots of vintage sewing supplies and a couple of really amazing pieces of fabric.

Eldest/Admin agreed with me that this particular piece will make a dandy new bag for the owner of the Daffodilly Yellow bag, that as predicted, even with extreme caution, has become sadly dirty.  Another discarded belt with O rings from another belt and a handle has appeared. The lineny goodness of this 70's vintage piece has me all excited...

I even got all my yard doins done early this morning, mowing, trimming, sweeping and pruning an occasional (who am I kidding??) outlaw weed, all with the anticipation of sweating it up big time, showering, shampooing, eating lunch then off to the Sewing Room to see what kind of bag Vintage Linen wants to be....

Bet you can't wait either..(setting aside some of your weekend waiting, right?!)

Stay tuned.....

And It Begins...

It starts on Friday night...
Signs start to proliferate throughout the town and you believe that you might see a record number of sales for the Community Garage Sale Weekend. Traditionally, the weekend before the Festival begins...
Don't panic! You're planning for Lily's first overnight so the weekend will go on without your involvement....
And yet..... Okay Lily! What should we do for the Yard Sale that you can be a part of? Hows about making Apple Cinnamon muffins for those eager first comers that surely must have zoomed out of the house before eating breakfast...And cookies! We should have lots of cookies! Should we actually cook the dough?
Waiting for the rush.....
All that wheeling and dealing has left us hungry! Good thing the 2G's Papa is here to help and makes us a yummy lunch...Lily was to go home earlier, but we all were having just too much fun....Gracie loves Lily (and lunch) so she gets to use her two new teeth!!
So much to sell yet so much sold!! Yippee!!
Is it dangerous to not put a limit to a sale...? I do believe we may keep it going on the whole week! Good time to visit, meet new people and enjoy the great Persimmony weather!

Mitchell Indiana, the third week in September....

Gotta love it!!