Yay! You're here to let me out of the back yard right?
No, you've come for the garage sale. Dumb human . . .
This week there were two smaller neighborhood sales in St Paul's Midway area (solidly working class), and the Minneapolis Wedge neighborhood (filled with youngsters getting rid of things their aunts and uncles gave them).
Find of the day
Hard-back comic strip history
price - $1
sold
It is about 80% comic art and about 20% commentary and background. I want to take it to the family library back in Colorado, but I also know a book like this slows down the buyers at the used book store. If they see I knew enough to bring them this, they'll want to keep me happy.
At the other end of the spectrum:
Rush Limbaugh book
price - 50 cents
no sale
The reason I even took this picture was to tell the story about when I found the same book at a yard sale and they were asking $6 dollars. Those folks were seriously out of touch with reality.
I wonder if he's ever given thought to posing for barbeque ads . . .
Other things we did or did not buy this week:
Homemade kitchen island for a cabin
price - $85 or best offer
no sale
This formica beauty was just a little too big to get in my car. It was pickup sized. Classic Minnesota interior decorating, and pretty good craftsmanship. (In Minnesota they say "pretty good"; in Colorado we would have said "That'll work."
Bike
price $75
no sale
It was a nice bike, but the demand for retro transportation in South Minneapolis has really driven up the price of 40s, 50s and 60s bikes . . .
Digging tool
price - 25 cents
sold
I dig for old bottles and this puppy will be great for tight spaces. I especially like the scraper; new to me and I can't wait to try it out.
Brace and bits
price - $1
sold
I have a nice brace already (my dad's), but the bits were all sharp and like new, including an adjustable width one.
Container, pens and magnifying glass
price - $1.50 for all
sold
I've expressed my appreciation of this shell inlay and other seashell craftsmanship. The magnifying glass is something out of Moby Dick. These were all made in India, a clue that will help me out with my new desire to collect this stuff.
El Cid (in Old Spanish and Modern English)
price - 50 cents
sold
I love dual language books that allow you to read one side, make guesses about what is being said, and then go over to the English and see if you were right. Modern owner's manuals are good for this, but I'd rather know an ancient Spanish term for "horse" than a modern German term for "off switch".
Old tool box
price - $4
sold
It was in great shape and really looks like a tool box. I can junk my dented red one. As a bonus, it had a lot of new files, and saw blades inside. From the same place I got the brace.
Size 12 mouse slippers
price - 50 cents
I once sold a fellow a pair of bunny slippers this size. He wore them until his roommates started to complain about the odor. When he washed them he discovered the padding couldn't be thoroughly dried. That's when things really started to grow in them.
Red Wing crock
price - $40
no sale
It was nice. Totally worth it, but this is a yard sale, and I'm spoiled. I never, ever makes someone feel bad about the prices they ask. It's their stuff and they can ask whatever they want. Having a problem with it would just poison my attitude on a day when I should be having loads of fun. Besides, sometimes when everything is priced $10, there may be something in there worth $400.
Fuzzy hanging lamp
price - $2
no sale
This hunting-season-orange hanging lamp is made with the same "grass" stuff that comes in jelly bean baskets for Easter. I'm not young enough to consider this retro. It's wrong.
Rusty lawn chairs
price $15 each
no sale
I remember my parent's motel having chairs like this, but we kept them painted.
Duck sprayer attachment.
price - 25 cents
no sale
Maybe the idea is to make it fun for your kids to spray the driveway? I'm open to suggestions . . .
Halloween "wreath"
price - 50 cents
sold
We thought we'd take it home, plug it in and see if it works. Well, sort of. The lights light up, but they're supposed to spell "BOO". Instead they spell "800".
Canada Dry wooden box
price - $2
sold
The ends had been painted on - and it was not great art - but the sides display great. And real bottle enthusiasts (that's me) like to carry their bottles to shows in actual bottle boxes. Yeah!
Horns
price - $1
sold
Janie models a set of strap on Pan horns. We haven't earned our wings yet, but horns are cheap.
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The next two segments of To Buy or Not to Buy will be done on the road (with any luck), examining things offered for sale to people driving from Minnesota to Colorado. I'll do my best to keep up regular posts, but don't be surprised if I disappear for days into the woods. At the very least, Janie and I will return with lots of pictures.
Click here for links to other episodes of To Buy or Not to Buy.
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Comments: 20
No one around our house is in the duckie phase any more, and I've sworn off lawns altogether. If someone in my family wanted to play on one, I'm sure my attitude would tak a 180.
I'm glad you liked the El Cid. It took me a while to figure out a way to get both languages in the same picture.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Red-Wing-3-Gal-Crock-w-Lid-No-Damage_W0QQitemZ7424146445QQihZ016QQcategoryZ455QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Man I wished I was there!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Red-Wing-Salt-Glaze-5-Gallon-Leaf-Crock-Front-Stamped_W0QQitemZ7424103526QQihZ016QQcategoryZ455QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Look at the Closing bid amounts! Oh I feel faint!
Pam, I know the crock was a deal, and for all I know the 2-gallon size is some rare variety, but I still don't have much taste for packing and shipping. I don't know that much about pottery in my head anyway.
The salt glaze is actually a much rarer type of crock. But your point is well taken. I would have walked right by the salt glaze crock too . . . I'll have to keep that in mind and ask an expert the next chance I get. If all salt glaze are valuable, I'll look for them. If I have to check for markings and particular design differences - ack - it'll have to wait for me to be doing it for a living. I have enough work and study at work. Speaking of which, my salad is done and I have to get back at it.
The old tool box with files and saw blades in it is great. Is there a manufacturer's name on it ?
Tool box? Patina? A guy thing I guess . . .
Have a great vacation. Be safe and take lots of pictures of the treasures you find.
The camera is coming along. So is the lap top. Add wi-fi and we'll be Gathering.
My father watched the garbage men lovingly load them into the front of the truck.
Sigh.