Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Shampoo. Rinse. Repeat.

 
It was a Saturday just like any other.
I got up early.  Left the warm house and headed out the door into the cold (32 degrees!) morning.
Nothing too unusual as this is my typical yard sale routine this time of year … with one tiny exception.
This past Saturday’s yard sale was in my yard.
That’s right. The days have been numbered for the ‘What was I thinking?’ pile and The Garage Where Cars Can’t Park.
 
Fresh as a daisy.
So I set up my old junk out there on the driveway for a couple of hours because that's as long as I can stand it, then made a trip to the local senior center thrift shop to donate the unsellables (ouch --- so many unsellables!) and was ultimately rewarded with some room to move in the garage.
I was not rewarded with a big pile of cash unless you count the snack-size ziploc bag filled with quarters.
 
Praying for it to stop
Combine that room-to-move with yet another sunny day here in Oregon and suddenly it’s Bathtime for Blow Molds, in preparation for their upcoming trek to the vintage Promised Land (my antique mall space).
 
Look who's crashing the nativity
Will this weirdness never end?  I suspect my neighbors would like an answer to that as well.
 
(The outcome: I made a whopping $47! I am not a fan of having yard sales! Someone even tried to pay for a 25¢ item with a fifty dollar bill! You cannot make this stuff up! Never again!)
 


28 comments:

  1. I'm with you! Hosting your own yard sale is no fun! If I can't sell it at my antique mall booth, it goes to Good Will & I write it off my taxes!!!
    ♥'s
    Sherry

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  2. I'm never having another yard sale again either. At least not this year.

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  3. Aw, sorry the sale didn't go better for you! For some reason though , it does entertain me to think of all those blow molds out there getting a bath. :)

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  4. Well $47 is better than nothin!

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  5. I'm with you!! I love shopping at garage sales! But I am not a huge fan of hosting one....I went through my garage this past weekend too and dropped stuff off at the local thrift shop! Of course I still keep some of my very favorite things!

    chris

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  6. I say "never again!" every time I have a yard sale. I am just like you, can only stand it for a couple of hours. We are overwhelmed with our "What was I thinkin's?" so we are having a sale in 2 weeks...Ughhhh!

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  7. I'm that crazy person in my neighborhood. They cannot figure out what singling on and why there are often rusty metal pieces drying on my lawn! I am fairly certain I am the subject of many comments as evidenced when I hear statements like, "Oh. You're THAT house with all the stuff.". Wash on. You would be my best friend but I'd probably be trying to steal stuff out of your driveway!

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  8. I love the Blow Molds...I so want some. You have a great selection. Sorry about the yard sale. OUch.

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  9. It's really a hard things to do and I would probably spend the day hauling the stuff back inside! lol I have a consignment shop near by for the 'good' stuff I need to get rid of. I still don't get much money...but it's gone and I have room to collect more! heehee!

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  10. I hear you! I haven't had a yard sale in quite a while, but sure do need to clear out. Doesn't it feel good to purge the unsellables? I really believe that when someone hands you a large bill for a .25cent item, they want you to say "just take it." Oh yes, they have a plan. Love the picture with Frosty crashing the nativity.

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  11. Glad the blow molds were only getting a bath. I was worried you had lost your mind and were clearing them out. Can't wait to see them all grouped together at Monticello.
    I agree about the crazy customers at yard sales..I have been asked to do better on a quarter price (no $50 in hand)..c'mon!

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  12. Oh, you poor thing!: ( My daughter *loves* hosting yard sales (go figure), and she held one on Saturday, too. My husband and I went down to help her out because she needed us to watch our baby granddaughter. It was our first time "experiencing" a yard sale from a seller's standpoint, and what an eye-opener it was! Most of the people were actually very nice, but the haggling was unreal. At one point, a guy came up to me with something marked $1, and he asked in a confirming--not a can-you-give-me-a-break--sort of way, "Fifty cents?" I said, "Seventy-five." And I was mad at myself for giving him any discount at all because I didn't like his attitude!

    I can't believe how good the blow molds look! I'll miss them when they're sold.: ( And what Nativity crasher? Have you never heard of St. Frosty?

    xoxo

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  13. At least you cleared some space and made a little $$. It is reassuring to know I'm not the only one who has "what was I thinking" stuff. The blow molds look great all clean and pretty.

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  14. Ho-Ho-Ho! I love Frosty in the manger! Let me just say, I really HAVE endured some wacky neighbors and would trade for you in hearbeat.

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  15. That is so funny and true about the garage sales! Years ago I did one and got carried away with the cleaning out, gave away a bird bath and antique medicine cabinet that I still miss! They're not for me. Hahaha just saw your crasher :)

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  16. I hear you, we've only had a couple of yard sales and they made me a bit crazy.

    Love what your neighbors must think with all your blow molds out in the sun!

    xo
    Claudia

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  17. People can definitely be crazy at yard sales! Sorry it didn't go better! Love the snowman! ;) xo Heather

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  18. Does anyone actually like having a garage sale? I did a little better than you did with my sale a couple weeks ago, but always wonder if it is worth the effort. A little cash is nice, but dealing with the crazys, not so much. I took the best of the leftovers to the sweet little old ladies at the American Cancer Society which made me feel good. Hope to bump into you soon!
    Hugs,
    Lisa

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  19. I totally agree with you with regards to yar sale drifter's daft and curious ways. But actually, making $47 in a couple hours?!?

    I think the only people making that kinda cash are the CEO's and elected officals!

    Cheers to being $47 dollars richer and to move space!

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  20. Oh how I detest having yard sales! It's hard work for very little return, and the customers act like total lunatics, with their $50 bills, blocking of driveways and stealing of the merchandise. PLEASE re-publish this post next summer, so I don't forget all of this when my husband suggests we have one!

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  21. I just have to tell you - you are such a good writer! I read blogs here and there, but your posts are so funny and always so true...you should write a book - vintage loving gal, yard sale / antique mall escapades -- maybe a cottage chic style murder thrown in just to keep the plot moving (and to reach a wider audience of course.) Love your blog - post more!

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  22. Hahahaha! Ahem, sorry for your pain, but you gotta laugh, right?! Every time I think about having a yard sale I (thankfully!) realize it's soooo not worth the hassle and instead (happily!) truck my junk/treasures to the thrift store:)

    ~Cindy

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  23. $50 bill, 25 cent item...I think that's called money laundering.

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  24. I've come to the conclusion that unless I have huge items, a yard sale isn't worth my effort. And everyone comes within the 1st half hour. After that I'm just sitting there twiddling my thumbs. At least the crew got a good bath and you gained some walking room in the garage (assume cars are still not allowed).

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  25. Garage sales are always interesting for sure when I have them. I just think of it as new funny stories to tell my friends of the events of the day!

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  26. I sure know that garage sale are WORK!!! So, you made a little money and donated stuff and now have more room in the garage! Sounds like it was a good day!
    Warmly,
    deb

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  27. Sorry the experience didn't turn out as you had hoped. Hang in there! :-)

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