A TRUCK, FROG PURSE AND SPICE TINS

No one ever had a  yard sale where everything sold.  And, when you retire, there is no such thing as a day off. We fill up every day like there is no tomorrow, considering ourselves lucky that we can.  I figured it out, a garage sale sounds profitable, but in terms of preparation, moving every thing at once, then dealing with the aftermath, it was not worth the work.  At least not for me,  living out on a rural road without the benefit of “walk in” traffic.

But the people who came were infinitely interesting. This customer had an unusual frog purse and I photographed her. She told me everyone makes a fuss over that purse and wants one, but she can’t remember the catalog  she ordered it from, and it isn’t stamped with a company name.

I had one customer who insisted I should sell him my truck. He kept offering me a hundred dollars and the keys to his van. Then he’d up the amount of money. So, I tried to sell him an exercise machine for $2.  (He looked like he needed one.)  He claimed he was bored. He goes to garage and yard sales for something to do. I told him, throw out your television set and you won’t be bored.

The last  I looked my truck was still there. It served as my desk, lunch table, and gathering spot for the neighbors who pulled up the lawn chairs and chatted. Late in the day, we broke out the chips and wine. Jim brought out his portable fire pit that kept us warm during the morning chill.

My daughter claims, you offer everything you didn’t sell  free. We did that and got rid of a few  items. One man gave me a donation for some free stuff. The donation came to more than I was originally charging for some old spice cans. Go figure?

Others sat and chatted with us, enjoying the yard regaled us with tales of their own yard sales. One woman drove away and said yes I want that file cabinet (it was a freebie) but not today. Will she come back?  Was she serious? Only time will tell.

By the end of the day, Karen, Jan, Jim and I felt just like this-deserving a rest. The clean-up is still ahead of us.

YARD SALE

I’m off track this morning since I have a yard sale at 9:00 a.m. Having had one other yard sale in my life, I had conveniently forgotten how much work they are. The problem is, if I have two of something, it becomes a collection. And then the insanity begins.  To rid myself of my junk is now a ponderous undertaking.  It reminds me not to collect anymore “stuff” in the future, except…

Would you like to see my collection of  bench pictures?

–Mt. Vernon, Thousand Trails, WA.

–Noyo Harbor, Ft. Bragg, CA.

–Ashville, N.C.–State of Louisiana Capitol Building.

-Ashville, North Carolina

–

-Unk.

-Mystic Seaport Harbor Museum.

Visitors Center Ashville, North Carolina

—The Mormon Fort and Museum at Las Vegas, NV

 

From PAWS sanctuary, San Andreas.

Pictures,  an indelible marker of the fun I had, precious only to me, maybe interesting to others.

HOME MADE SOUP, BREAD AND A GOOD BOOK

Immediately after arriving in Apache Junction, we began enjoying the resort. I made use of the exercise room, walked, swam, used the hot tub and, in general continued a fast pace of activity. Yesterday, my body rebelled and demanded some downtime, rest and relaxation. I tucked in all day and read a book and napped to my hearts content.
Cousin Karen stopped by with some goodies and I enjoyed her ham bone soup and some home made graham bread. Graham bread is an old family favorite and I took a picture of it. Shucks, it looks like a big turd in the photo, maybe because its baked in a regular old tin can. If I had the recipe in the motor home, I’d post it.
I chose mystery short stories to read and snuggled into a glob of pillows. Some days are like that. Made me think of all the wonderful quilts I’ve had the pleasure to snuggle into, or just to view. Here are a some I’ve met on the road.

This is one I made in 1994 because my oldest daughter was a runner.

Anyway, it was an enjoyable, restful day.