Giant Fancy Yard Sale Find, (and other junk I did not need).
Every fall our neighborhood has a townwide yard-sale. And as I explained in last yearās yard sale post, it is not unusual for me to be a few houses ahead of Paul.
I wrote:
Paul likes to talk to the neighbors. And his leisurely, garden-party-mentality makes me insaneā¦ This is not a social event. This is war. Someone will win, I would like it to be me.
This is what I mean by winning:
I said to the guy, very casually ā what do you want for that thing?
I tried to convey nonchalanceĀ and the probability thatĀ I wasĀ the only person who would ask about it all day, so he’d better unload it while he had the chance.
In reality I was prepared to pay him whatever he wanted. (Which is why Paul carries the cash.) But I hoped it would be less than $50. So when he said ā $10, my eyes did that cartoon/slot machine/jackpot thing.
Then Paul sauntered up.Ā And I was like ā YOU ARE TOO LATE TO STOP ME.
I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THIS ITEM OF MAGNIFICENCE.
Paul was like ā stop you? From buying a random piece of plaster crap? What are you talking about? I’m excited!
Then he said ā You should probably get yourself a pew, so that you have somewhere to sit while I lecture you from my pulpit-of-authority-and-patriarchal-privilege.
As we were shoving it in the car, heĀ asked ā what did we pay for this? I said ā $10.
Paul said ā did you even bargain or did you just immediately agree to pay him whatever he wanted?
I was like ā if you want to know these things, maybe you should keep up with me.
I also got:
A side chair with a petitĀ point seat- $1.
An old metal box with two keys- $.50
A vintage enamel trayĀ forĀ $.10- that’s CENTS,Ā people.Ā
I do not remember how I came to collect these enamel pans. (One lid-as-trayĀ here at the bottom, and a couple on the vintage medical table.) Mostly I collect the baking/refrigerator/pretend-they-couldn’t-have-been-hospital-onesĀ with lids. (Only rectangular ā not the round ones.)
The tray is not in great condition but I’ve never seen one with handles like this, so for ten cents I was happy.
I haven’t started on the chair yet… The wood is in great condition but the seat bottom/webbing tore away from the upholstery tacks. The springs are still good andĀ it should be a simple fix.
Paul said– don’t leave that where someone might sit on it. REMEMBER THE TIME THAT HAPPENED AND YOU WERE OUTRAGED?
I was like– yes. I DO. That was YOUR friend. None of MY friends wouldĀ come to ourĀ house and just start sitting on chairs willy-nilly.
October 15, 2014 @ 9:04 pm
If you’d like to upholster the chair yourself, the Portside Art Center on Fishtown offers a great upholstery class. I took it. It was super fun.
October 15, 2014 @ 9:26 pm
I love the transcripts of your and Paul’s conversations. You have a wonderful dynamic. I also love than enamel tray. I have a small collection of enamel basins. I didn’t even know trays like this existed. You’ve expanded my world.
October 16, 2014 @ 3:15 pm
This made me laugh out loud. I had to post it onto my FB page to share the joy you bring me. Thank you!
October 16, 2014 @ 4:37 pm
Oh my stars!! I have laughed so hard at your conversations with Paul. I am so jealous by the way, I would let someone preach to me if it meant I got to enjoy that piece of awesomeness in my home. Thanks for the laughs.
October 16, 2014 @ 9:47 pm
Uh, I do have the enamel round bedpans hanging on my bathroom wall. Where else would one hang them?? They hang alongside the washboards.
October 17, 2014 @ 12:10 pm
Great finds! Glad you won. My all-time-best find was a table that matches exactly (and I mean exactly) my great aunt’s boudoir chair. It was (drum roll) $7! I would have paid 70 gladly.
October 17, 2014 @ 4:58 pm
Love, love, love your writing… I’ve just signed up for emails from you & eagerly look forward to hearing about your many adventures.
p.s. Royal people don’t carry cash either!
October 19, 2014 @ 1:06 am
“Then [Paul] said ā You should probably get yourself a pew, so that you have somewhere to sit while I lecture you from my pulpit-of-authority-and-patriarchal-privilege.”
You’re in luck: https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=2593&aid=86324&lid=21687872&title=painted-Primitive-church-pew-SSR#
October 19, 2014 @ 3:46 pm
OMG!! Gothic pedestal!! I LOVE IT!! Gothic is my favorite, can you tell?
October 23, 2014 @ 8:10 am
I’ve never seen trays like that (with or without handles), but the possibilities are endless. Must start looking!!!
October 24, 2014 @ 5:19 am
I think I’m moving to your neighborhood if you can find this stuff so inexpensively. I once saw a wooden Victorian pedestal that as part of a wall display not nearly as nice as your $10 find for $700!
October 27, 2014 @ 2:06 pm
missed this GREAT post as I found celebrating my birthday abroad so much more important than checking out my mails…. how silly of me!
Anyway, took great pleasure reading the comments above and totally see Elvis on his new lookout post when she isn’t holding court on her sofa! š
October 27, 2014 @ 2:11 pm
oh the joys of mixing up ‘his/hers’, she/he…. blame it on my being Swiss and not English or American, you can also blame it on old age or simply me having a Senior Moment…. whatever! Elvis will know where Elvis will take a rest at any time!
October 28, 2014 @ 12:41 pm
I am obsessed with your blog. I have been reading then out loud to my husband and he wants me to tell you you are my “east coast doppelganger”. We look nothing alike, but as far as agreements with husband’s go it’s line we are twins
October 28, 2014 @ 4:53 pm
I am SOOOO SAD! I just finished reading every blog. I actually looked behind my computer to see if it continued on another page. Have enjoyed myself so much, cackling out loud. My husband keeps saying, “Ok, tell me what that one says.” I am moving on to your facebook page and then will stalk all your pins on pinterest. We’ve been in the middle of a reno for two years but aren’t living there yet. So just hard work ahead and no overnight adventures yet. PLEASE consider visiting Texas again. Come to round top. Plan now. End March, first of April. Fields and fields of stuff. Rain or shine, the best part of my scheduled year! In my head I have shared all my funny stories, my finds and how crazy my husband makes me when I NEED to buy something he clearly does not appreciate. Please don’t stop writing. I really need you to finish your kitchen so I can covet.
November 4, 2014 @ 9:49 pm
Dang! I would have fist-fought you for that metal box. Fifty cents? Why doesn’t my neighborhood have garage sales like that?
January 27, 2015 @ 12:34 pm
I just sent this to my husband in an email titled, “Our Story (as lived by someone else).” Hilarious.
March 19, 2016 @ 4:32 pm
great finds I am definitely jealous….u would never find deals like that around here lol the chair alone would b around $10 to $50 around here and that lovely pedestal would be around $100…great finds tho keep up the great work now u can show ur husband how much u really save show him my message lol I live in central wa just so u know