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 year’s 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 insane… 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 – what do you want for that thing?
I tried to convey nonchalance and the probability that I was 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 – $10, my eyes did that cartoon/slot machine/jackpot thing.
Then Paul sauntered up. And I was like – YOU ARE TOO LATE TO STOP ME.
I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THIS ITEM OF MAGNIFICENCE.
Paul was like – stop you? From buying a random piece of plaster crap? What are you talking about? I’m excited!
Then he said – 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, he asked – what did we pay for this? I said – $10.
Paul said – did you even bargain or did you just immediately agree to pay him whatever he wanted?
I was like – if you want to know these things, maybe you should keep up with me.
I also got:
A side chair with a petit point seat- $1.
An old metal box with two keys- $.50
A vintage enamel tray for $.10- that’s CENTS, people.
I do not remember how I came to collect these enamel pans. (One lid-as-tray 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-ones with lids. (Only rectangular – 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 and 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 would come to our house and just start sitting on chairs willy-nilly.
Sandi
October 15, 2014 @ 10:08 am
Well done! Terrific finds, indeed. I am vastly impressed. Did you have to do any serious bargaining for the chair?
And I had to wonder, do you ever see yourself on the selling end of one of these events?
I know, I know, “Don’t talk crazy!”
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
October 15, 2014 @ 10:30 am
No! He had a couple of chairs with a sign that said – $1, need TLC. For all I know he would have taken less!
I would LOVE to have a yard sale. But I could not do it on townwide day, because (obviously) conflict with acquiring more things. And on any other day, Paul talks me out of it. He says – how much do you think you will make? Then he says – I will pay you that amount to just throw the stuff away.
Where is the fun in that?
Sarah Mentock
October 21, 2014 @ 11:49 am
Hi, Victoria,
TOTAL score on all fronts. I would say you won the war, most definitely. I think that “thing” you bought might be the base to a baptismal font. You could make it into the base for a vessel sink…
BrocanteuseRose
October 15, 2014 @ 10:11 am
LOL “None of MY friends would come to our house and just start sitting on chairs willy-nilly.” Tears. Seriously I am in TEARS with laughter over this line!
I completely understand this sentiment usually with me it applies to vintage damasked monogrammed napkins that have been USED as opposed to left in the charming and also vintage metal basket on the sideboard in the kitchen. Like that is an invitation to use them!!! Ummm – NO. lol
Kelly
October 15, 2014 @ 10:18 am
My family always had “guest soaps” that everyone knew never to use – fancy and whimsical-shaped soaps that were left in a pretty dish on the bathroom counter. My step-mother was furious when the guys who came to reshingle her house used her CAT-shaped guest soaps. She still talks about this bitterly.
Amber
October 17, 2014 @ 1:37 am
Hahaha. Kelly, your comment cracked me up! 🙂 I can totally see that (and understand the outrage! I mean, come on! USE her CAT soap?! Duh, no!)
Valorie
October 15, 2014 @ 10:16 am
Great post! Love your plaster column and LOVE the chair! Just occurred to me that you might be able to answer a question I have. I’m preparing for a sale too and lots of my things have been stored in the garage for years. I was upset seeing that mice or shews have been running through those things (lots of mouse poopy)…should I just throw everything away instead? It never occurred to me, as I bought things for my home over the years, that they could have been stored in similar circumstances, especially the old toys I bought for my children.
Teresa Townsell
October 15, 2014 @ 6:53 pm
Valorie, I feel your pain! You didn’t mention what you have stored and want to sell, and so I’ll give some feedback as best I can. I have had a lot of garage sales over the years, and this is what I would do after a mouse infestation, which once-upon-a-time I had in my vintage Christmas boxes. From my point of view, integrity would dictate presenting items to be sold at a garage sale in a condition that you would be willing to buy a similar item in another garage sale. So, unwashed items walked on/tinkled on by mice—-um, not so much. It would probably be wise to only have items laid out that have been wiped down with Clorox, or washed in the washer. However, since I’m not looking for anymore projects . . .if it was me, I’d probably seriously throw out a good deal of my “treasures” and move on. Good luck!
tammigirl
October 15, 2014 @ 10:16 am
I can’t believe you scored that beautiful plaster spoon rest. You are going to put it in the kitchen near the stove, right?
I have a pew!
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
October 15, 2014 @ 10:44 am
I was thinking I’d wear it as a statement necklace… You’ll agree this sounds reasonable?
tammigirl
October 15, 2014 @ 10:46 am
Yes, but only if you can include ALL THE JUICERS!!!!!
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
October 15, 2014 @ 10:49 am
*Obviously.*
Monica W
October 15, 2014 @ 10:16 am
“Then he said – 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.”
Silly Paul, The pulpit of authority has Elvis’ name written all over it. A chaise, a mirror, and now a pedestal. Soon ….The World.
eva
October 15, 2014 @ 10:25 am
Oh I definitely agree with Monica…that pulpit is definitely Elvis’s! Wonderful finds..bravo!! I can’t believe though it was that time of year again for the neighborhood yardsale! I have been collecting stuff at the yardsales to keep me over the winter months…enjoy your finds!
Peggy James
October 15, 2014 @ 10:35 am
You are so lucky to have married Paul! My husband would never play along on these wonderful adventures.
I laughed and laughed!
B &B
October 15, 2014 @ 10:44 am
I know I digress BUT are the mums and dahlias in the photo on illegal substances or steroids or what?
tammigirl
October 15, 2014 @ 10:48 am
I think you should not speak with V.E.B. about her flowers. She has obviously made a deal with the devil.
Cynthia
October 15, 2014 @ 8:26 pm
I think VEB talked about her choice of flowers a while ago, even naming the specific varieties.
Laurie
October 15, 2014 @ 10:48 am
OK, there is no bones about it, you scored!
Clearly, I am one of your tribe because I have a beautiful little Duncan Phyfe bedroom chair with intricate wood detail but it is way too delicate to sit on. I’ve had to chase my own grandmother away from the chair when she thought she could sit on it.
Seriously people.
Cat
October 15, 2014 @ 10:52 am
I’d stay total SCORE!!
gusmom
October 15, 2014 @ 10:55 am
I, too, am an enamel/granite ware junkie. It is almost like a drug but I am trying to at least curb my addiction. I have so much of it around the house but I do use it all the time. My dogs eat out of an enamelware bowl and drink from a heavy graniteware bucket. I have a cool old grain storage bin that holds almost the whole giant bag of dog food. We use a huge (probably almost 3 gallons) old swirl coffee pot for making cowboy coffee when we camp with friends. You would be jealous of how many of the cool refrigerator storage boxes I have, complete with lids, in all shapes and sizes. I recently gave a very nice set of stainless steel pots and pans to a friend because I prefer using cast iron and my old blue enamelware speckle pots. Seeing their pretty colors on my pot rack, and using them (along with my collection of vintage utensils), just makes me happy. It is hard to say which piece is my favorite but I think it is probably my large swirled cobalt blue and white bowl. It literally took my breath away when I first saw it, and still does! Love at first sight! The pieces we use the most are some larger rectangular trays, similar to your small one. I have a set of 4 that are mostly white in the center and then deep navy swirled around the lip. We use them when grilling. I stack 2 trays together and put the raw meat on the top one. Once my husband or I unload the meat onto the grill, we put the clean tray on top and that stops bugs from being attracted and hides the yucky stuff. Then he can bring the cooked food in on the clean tray. I used to search Ebay and Etsy for cool unusual items but I’m trying to avoid that because anything that is blue and white and unusual is going to seem like a deal to me no matter what the price!
Dianne
October 15, 2014 @ 10:57 am
Still laughing. God bless Paul and keep him safe because you will never find another like him.
Michelle
October 15, 2014 @ 11:00 am
i have the same problem with my hubby while at garage sales. I’m in and out in seconds flat and he’s chit chatting away like there’s no tomorrow!
It’s a cross we must bear .
Susannah
October 15, 2014 @ 11:13 am
If I came to visit I would never just sit, willy-nilly, on a chair! But I might ask if I could help you rehab a few, just to pass the time. Or maybe some light construction…?
Michelle @ The Painted Hinge
October 15, 2014 @ 11:19 am
The plaster column is a perfect place for Elvis to sit atop and regard visitors in all her regality. And to remind everyone that, as a cat, she should be worshipped regularly.
Wendy
October 15, 2014 @ 11:26 am
LOL! ” None of MY friends would come to our house and just start sitting on chairs willy-nilly.” Yay, I’m not the only one who thinks this way! Just this last weekend I had some people over who were admiring a chair I’d refinished and reupholstered. She asked if I was going to do something to protect the fabric. I said, “I’m hoping no one will actually sit on it.” They laughed. I was serious. :/
Diana C.
October 15, 2014 @ 11:30 am
I WANT ONE!!!
julian
October 15, 2014 @ 11:44 am
Only people weighing over 200 lbs. will sit on just any chair. Tie a tassel across the arms for fancy ‘not-to-be-sat-on-until-Paul-has-dealt-with-it’ messaging. Otherwise, things are to be used. I think my marriage was secured over the fact that I am offended by guest towels that are not to be used.
Donna Gibson
October 15, 2014 @ 12:01 pm
How wise of you to collect hospital items PRE-Ebola era. And magnificence for the price of a sandwich? YES, please.
Jacqueline
October 15, 2014 @ 12:05 pm
This reminds me of a friend of my husband’s who stopped by and was heard minutes later hollering from inside the powder room “are these towels to use or decoration?”