I was busy setting up our new computer on Saturday morning, so Janie and I didn't even go out yard saling until 2 p.m. (I know, I do think I may be running a fever or something). Still, we found things out there. In South Minneapolis there were 3 alley sales. The first two were over, but the third was actually three alleys and about 8 sales were still going. Afterward we just drove around thinking about things we needed bad enough to buy retail.
Find of the week:
Enormous dresser
price - $25
(already sold)
It was made of basic materials, but it was sturdy. You can compare it to the garage door and see how big it was. The thing that struck me most was that all the decoration was carved by hand.
Least interesting offering of the week:
"Spa"
price - didn't ask
no sale
When I think of going to a spa, this is not the image that forms in my mind.
Other things we did and didn't buy:
One of those big 1890 sewing machines
price - $1
no sale
I had no room for it, but if I could get it back to Telluride, some Californian would pay at least $150 for it - even if the dog had been using it for a chew toy. These things are cheap, cheap in the Midwest and prized out west.
(This is a picture of the photographer's vest I bought last week. At that time I posted a miserable picture. Not bad for a buck.)
Hen's Tooth Ale
price - $3.69 a bottle
sold
This is superb. I've been trying a lot of different beers lately, and it has been just that - trying. Now when I go out I buy 3 of these and 3 each of something I haven't tasted. One beer tasted like nothing but cloves and mineral water - yeach.
2X4 bunny
price - $2
sold
I took a picture of it and moved on. Before we were gone though, Jane had it in her lap. It was clearly made by someone in a garage workshop, starting with a few 2X4s glued into a block. Folk art.
Star shirt
price -$2
no sale
Janie wanted it, but as we say in our own yard sale code "It's the wrong size."
Gas
Price - $2.19
sold
I had no choice and the less-high-than-really-high price only annoyed me. Who do they think they're kidding lowering the price of gas for a couple months before the elections. They are demonstrating they can lower the price dramatically - if they want to - that's what they're showing us. By "they" I mean the group that met behind closed doors to draft our "energy policy". I only hope Americans have not lost the ability to think.
Natural keyboard
price - $39.95
sold
I asked for it when we were chosing components for the new computer. I've used one of these at work for 7 or so years and I figured I might as well enjoy it at home too. I do not feel comfortable buying computer equipment at yard sales, though I wish I had the savvy to do so. I did buy an unopened copy of Windows Office 2000 earlier in the year for $2 That freed up a lot of cash for other technology.
War record
price - 50 cents
sold
Ah, fun music.
Whole grain and olive loaf
price - $5 each
sold
Why skimp on what you put in your mouth? We actually thought the olive loaf was raisin bread. We weren't disappointed, and as you can see it pretty much vaporized.
Carrots
price - $2
sold
Janie bought them at a farmer's market 2 blocks from our highrise. Even though they were thick, they were fresh from the ground and oh so sweet.
Steam table tray
price - $2
sold
And what was I thinking? What will I use this for? I just thought anything that big made of stainless steel had to be good for something. I'm hell-bent on finding out what that is. Right now it's under the sink, keeping the scrub rags off the floor.
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Would You Buy This or Not (formerly To Buy or Not to Buy) is a weekly feature, and I'll make every attempt to keep it up after the yard sales have stopped (there are groceries, and toys and bills - I think I'll find things to write about). Click on that blue to read previous installments.
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Comments: 17
Yes, maybe I'll take the steam tray to Colorado for summer cookouts. It sure is something my mom doesn't have . . .
Dave, I think that clove beer would make a respectable pumpkin bread. What are people thinking? It's bad enough there are beers made from rice . . .
Wendy, someone in my building works in a refinery. He was wondering how oil could go down 4% and gas prices go down 33%. He wasn't really. We both knew the answer and just looked at one another knowingly. Prices are artificially high to maximize profits, and the oil companies don't want to lose the Republican majority in congress because they know there would be an investigation into price setting, bribary and restraint of trade.
I would like to suggest that the gas photo and comment be written as an article. People need to be reminded not to fall for that one!
Someday we hope to yard sale and auction haunt 4 days a week for 8 months, and have a shop where we sell our finds during the other 4 months. This is very doable, as swimming in all that cheap stuff would make for a very low cost of living.
Love the vest. Now just get yourself something that will pass for "press credentials" and start showing up at the backdoor of every event in town.