Yesterday was just splendid. Our only concern as Janie and I made the rounds in South Minneapolis and Saint Paul's West side was having adequate hats to block the sun.
We've learned all too well to stay in town and not stray into the suburbs unless we have to. I don't mean to level any broad criticism of suburban life; I only mean to say there is a certain homogeneous trend there, that get accentuated in the offerings of the sales. Any neighborhoods of the two main cities where the houses typically predate the 50s - these offer a wild array of old folks, gay folks, folks recently arrived from other countries, wealthy, working class, college kids. That's variety. That's where we made sure to limit our search this week.
Find of the day:
Fabulously crafted wooden toys
Price - all under $5
no sale
What would I do with these? Take them out in the grass and go "Rrrrm, eeerch, rrrm, rrrm"? Not likely. We left them for kids that could appreciate them. Of course, if I owned a storefront and had families as customers, I'd have cleaned them out. I suspect they all had minor damage, but it was very hard to care. The craftsmanship of these made it clear each was an act of love.
Least interesting thing of the day:
Creative financing
price - financial disaster, from the looks of it
no sale
Nothing about this inspires confidence. Sorry if it's yours. You put it by the side of the road, and its now in the public realm. Once it's out there, people get to laugh at it.
The rest of this post will be about things we didn't buy yesterday.
Then, when you're done with that, please do come see what we did buy!
Bike
price - $15
no sale
Whew! I thought cheap bikes had already become a thing of the past, as people snap them up to save on gas. Today did not bear out that pessimistic view.
Very nice end tables
price - $3
no sale
We already have great end tables found at other sales, and these wouldn't bump them out of their places. But again, if I had a secord-hand or antique store, these would have been a buy.
Loon door stop
price - $3
no sale
We've removed every door in our flat except the front door (what a waste of effort they are). The door into the hallway is always closed. I did recently put the bathroom door back on its hinges, in deference to visiting relatives who found a curtain lacking.
Oshkosh jacket
price - $3
no sale
I just don't go outside in the winter, and I already have plenty of jackets. If there's something that abounds at yard sales it's jackets and sweaters. I'm scheming on something to do with the sweaters, because there are clearly too many out there. Perhaps some sort of insulation blinds for energy-saving blinds that come down over windows at night.
Water softener salt
price - free
no sale
Oh if only I could have hard water where I live. I miss it so much from my childhood in the mountains, and all flatland water is so hard to wash with. In places where there is an added water softening unit, it feels like vaseline is coming out of the showerhead. I know there's some reason for it, but I find it one of those things I can really live without.
Bike
price - $15
no sale
The bell cost more than that : ) He said he'd already sold two other bikes earlier in the day. Hooray for that.
Bike
price - $150
no sale
Worth it, but it's not necessary to spend that much.
Crockery jug with inside-screw top
price - I forget
It was very convincing, enough so that I turned it over to see if it was bottom-signed by the person who threw it back in the 1800s. Nope. Microwave safe.
Bike
price - $150
no sale
Again, a real beauty, and worth the money, but if a person looks around these can be found at the homes of people who think they're just junk and want to give them away for $20 bucks or so.
I've finished the post on what we did buy, if you'd like to see that.
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Comments: 31
Lori, the end tables were a real steal.
Hope you're feeling better. Hubby and I had a discussion about going to yard sales, but we both decided it's just too darned hot out there here in North Texas. We'll have to wait until the weather cools down; it's been in the mid-90's here even without considering the heat index.
Hope you get to feeling better.
Thank you, Angela. I assume you also have sales during the cooler months, though yes I know it snows in Texas. I'd think there's some great yardsaling in Houston in March and October though. Someday I hope to migrate with the seasons and keep with the sales all year long.
Yard sales are a great way to spend time with your partner, Debra. Janie and I sure enjoy it.
Marianne, great idea about Ebay. A person could take great pictures and I bet the bidding bidding would be very good.
Wilhelmine, I'm with you. I avoid the sun as much as possible. Loved it as a 20-something, when my friends and I would pretty much go all summer without a shirt on. Now, if I'm hiking in the mountains, I wear a long sleeved white shirt, and a broad brimmed hat with a cloth tied down the back. Every stream I soak down to turn myself into a solar cooler. I hear your concern about the sun, especially because today it's a different sunshine than it was when we were little. I'm sorry you've had problems with it. Here's the deal. You keep to the shade and so will I, my friend.
one outlet for things like the crock and wooden toys.. some of the 'down home country' restaurants will either buy them or put you onto their decorator who will.
George, I can see Minnie Mouse riding that bike for sure. As vintage bikes goes, it's about as good as they get (though the dredlocks and vintage bike set would probably gravitate towards something a bit less conspicuous).
As an aside, Ron, I'm totally with you on the soft water thing. I've never had a water softener (in the homes I've owned). I can't stand that slimy feeling you get from water that is too soft. Blech!