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 @ 12:39 pm
The BEST part about this post is your dahlias! (VERY nice….)
October 15, 2014 @ 12:44 pm
Wow…such amazing stuff!
October 15, 2014 @ 12:54 pm
SCORE!! I read this to my husband and he laughed too!!
The yard sales in my hood are TERRIBLE!! Baby strollers, clothing and old computers is about all they sell it seems!! I’d bring a semi and trailer just to clean up the leftovers in your area!! But with sale prices at .10 CENTS, all I’d find was the fluff that fell out of the bottom of your FABULOUS side chair!!
I’ve got to get out of CA!! Then I’m going to find a great new town that is known for its architectural salvage, yard sales and side chairs!!
October 15, 2014 @ 1:01 pm
I want to come visit this magical yard sale!! It looks amazing! I am so jealous of that tray…love it.
October 15, 2014 @ 1:29 pm
I love your posts…they make me smile!
October 15, 2014 @ 1:37 pm
Victoria, regarding your tray, it may be fixable if that is what you would like to do. I am referring you to this link that may be able to re-enamel your pan. I have not tried this yet but it looks so intriguing and fun that I ordered the tags to try this very cool idea. It looks so similar to enamel that I thought it just might work. Just a thought.
http://www.cantstopmakingthings.com/2013/06/table-numbers.html
October 15, 2014 @ 1:40 pm
sometimes I feel like you are me in a parallel world… except you find better junk than I do. But we are married to the same man, and we have the same conversations.
October 15, 2014 @ 2:23 pm
I have a rectangular piece of enamelware, with lid, which was advertised as a roaster. Previously I had not considered the possibility of it’s having been used for say, sterilizing medical instruments, but thanks for that thought!
October 15, 2014 @ 3:09 pm
You clearly won the garage sale day (yes, there is an actual competition). About that chair, it took me two years to reupholster one (a million itty bitty nails to pull out). But the second one only took two days . There was a certain amount of “put it in the basement and forget about it” going on…
And I have a pew also…
October 15, 2014 @ 3:48 pm
Sorry to be late to this party…I love that pulpit thing. Is it truly plaster? It looks like wood. The price was certainly right. The chair cracked me up…easy fix? I guess you’re right for a pair of skilled DIYer’s like you and Paul. Still, what great finds. I wish our neighborhood had this kind of stuff…I’d be lucky to find old Tupperware and a tire at the garage sales in my neighborhood.
There was an antique store that once had an old, English pew and I always wanted it.
Karen
October 15, 2014 @ 4:03 pm
Wow! great finds but very restrained for you VEB-Are you sure you covered the whole town? There might have been a half dozen Antique Victorian Armoires and Huge SLABS of imported Italian Marble just around that next corner! If Paul keeps inhibiting your Genius how will you ever create the KITCHEN?
If he would just set you free the results could be spectacular……… Tell him for the sake of your adoring fans he should just give you the checkbook, an 18 wheeler and a couple of huge sweaty guys (young of course) and expect Magic!
October 15, 2014 @ 4:06 pm
Of course the gorgeous shiny, fancy, etc, etc things are fun to see, my very favoritest parts of your posts are the dialog you include between yourself and your husband. ^_^
October 15, 2014 @ 4:10 pm
Very excellent finds. But, as your bathroom soulmate, I am prompted by the urn behind the pulpit to direct you here:
http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=1123274&SGID=24458
Well, I paint big fancy things. This urn was on my front stoop at the old house.
Kathy (still waffling on tub vs walk-in shower)
October 15, 2014 @ 4:20 pm
LOVE it,,, What WILL you put on it????
October 15, 2014 @ 4:38 pm
Great post, as usual, it made me smile and giggle. Thanks for that.
Paul should know by now that the masculine pulpit of authority and patriarchal privilege is a myth, urban legend, whatever you want to call it, but it doesn’t exist in the known or unknown universe–we’re women, we know these things. Secondly, the only reason you would need a pew is to grace it with your divine presence.
Love your finds, especially the plaster column; it really is magnificent! Can’t wait to see how you use it.
October 15, 2014 @ 5:19 pm
Julian: “Only people weighing over 200 lbs. will sit on just any chair.” That is so not true, and is lifted straight out of old cartoons and slapstick “comedies.” Fat people do not need any extra humiliation, as they..ahem…get it gratuitously! On the contrary, they seek out chairs that will both support them and be easy to get out of with a semblance of dignity.
October 15, 2014 @ 5:27 pm
Also, I understand the missile-like precision necessary at garage and yard sales and thrift stores. I recently buzzed through a nearby charity thrift store with great stuff, excellent prices, a volunteer staff and eccentric open hours. In the ten minutes before they closed one day I got several shirts, a pair of pajama bottoms, 3 small picture frames, a large glass canister and several yards of vintage Halloween fabric. My partner did find a pair of pants, but mostly just stayed out of my way!
October 15, 2014 @ 6:42 pm
Ohhhh Shiney!!! Elvis will rule on the pedestal lol well done you
October 15, 2014 @ 7:05 pm
Victoria elizabeth barnes…..my name is: sharon elizabeth trujillo….i too ALSO use my full name….please please please….do NOT answer to your INITIALS…do not allow anyone to shorten you…unless of course, YOU like that….it infuriates me that people just take words all willy-nilly and abbreviate….i believe i now need a pew…x
October 15, 2014 @ 8:30 pm
Smart shopper. Your posts are like a big ray of sunshine you silly girl.