Nothing for me today, thank you.

Yesterday I left work and headed for a local high school to spend the evening at a fund raising event. Relay For Life raises money for cancer research and awareness and the church youth group I work with had a team for this event. Last year was my first time being a part of this effort and I fell in love with it immediately, if one can "fall in love" with an event! The community atmosphere, joyfulness mixed with poignancy, is one I find so touching. The survivors' walk is a lap around the track by all survivors of cancer, and it is humbling and tearful to see familiar faces, all ages, and walks of life going past you. The track is encircled with luminaries with the names of people who have passed from cancer or have had cancer. My sister Julie died a few years ago from cancer and I make sure her luminary is there. When darkness falls, they are lit and everyone walks around the track in silence, all lights are turned off so the luminaries are the only light around. It is a beautiful experience to walk that lap with everyone silent and reverent. And I mean there are a lot of people! The track is surrounded on the other side by booths set up by different teams selling their fundraising offerings from massages, to fried pickles, baked goods, a "jail", etc... Our team sold raffle tickets for a number of vases hand painted by Johanna, her daughter, and her mom, a cancer survivor herself. The tickets sold very well as did the cut roses people bought for survivors, family members and sweethearts. We also had candy, water, and handpainted ribbon magnets Johanna and her folks painted too. We raised a lot of money, and the teens helped so much. Johanna volunteered to stay the night as a chapperone with another adult but I begged off. I did that last year and I am not a fit person the next day after an all nighter!
So needless to say, Johanna was not up to yard sales this morning! And though I did go to a couple, my enthusiam was a bit diminished. It just isn't as much fun going alone. The ones I did hit either were waaaay over priced and they were firm (you'll have a lot left over!) or nothing I needed. One was kinda strange for when I pulled up to the apt. there was a charcoal grill lit and ready to cook! I didn't ask about it, but it was a first for me in my yard sale experience. And tonight, thinking about it, I wonder, had the electricity been turned off? Was this yard sale a desperate attempt to earn some much needed extra cash? It made me think of the next time I attend a really paltry yard sale. I have looked down at many thinking, why did they even bother? The offerings were so few, paltry and pretty ugly, dirty, or stained. But now, I will not be so harsh. You never know, and I will not be so judgemental again. So that is all for now. I missed spending time with my friends, and catching up on our week. I pray for those whose yard sales I visited today, and for all those whose lives have been touched by cancer.
Have a great week.

Saturday, April 16th

I was out of town last Saturday so I had to forgo my usual jaunts with Johanna, Babs, and Sophie. Headed to Morehead City to help celebrate my great nephew, Hugh, birthday on Saturday. Did that stop me from checking out yard sales? No! I had limited time to spend that morning but there was a community yard sale at a nice townhouse neighborhood and I had great hopes. Sadly, it seemed to be mostly older folks with their older things (not antique things!). Nothing for me there. But on the way back to the house to get ready to make chicken salad, I spotted a YS (yard sale) sign and checked it out. Didn't find much for me but did pick up a large unopened ream of construction paper I thought my niece Lyndsay(kindergarten teacher) could use. Sure enough, she was happy to have it.
Hugh's party was dampend by the cool, cloudy day but his smile was as sunny as that sun we were missing. He has grown so! And was quite happy with the Little Tykes Cosy Coupe I picked up last week for $5. Once he saw that car, nothing else would do. He looks like a natural in it, I must say!

Yesterday we headed out dark and early. Again, I forgot to grab the camera. Next time I will leave it in the YS bag. Ah, the YS bag. Let me explain. In this reusable tote, I keep a head lamp (for those YS that don't have adequate lighting at 6am, a tape measure, my $ envelopes (I shop for other people too so I have their funds in labled envelopes), and the YS weekly list. The YS weekly list is compiled Friday evenings, or whenever I can get to it Fridays. I have two sites online I check: the local newspaper and craigslist. I check each listing, decide if it is a sale that looks good using neighborhood, and mileage to consider, and then copy/paste to a word doc. When finished, I then list the YS in order of time and place/neighborhood/city. Then the list is printed, put in the bag and we are ready to go. Sounds easy, no?Well, procrastinator that I am, I have been known to compile said list late in the evening and neglect to:

1. Forget to "google" the street address so then we are driving around a neighborhood I think I know where the street is,
2. copy and paste the entire post, leaving out the street address,
3. Print the list just before Johanna pulls into the driveway.

Johanna and Babs are most kind when I screw up but I hate the waste of gas, searching for a house at 0:dark thirty!
Yesterday, was one of those days. I left out an address and printed at 5:35am. So the first sale was a no go as we couldn't find the street we were looking for. Haste makes waste. However, there was another sale at 6am just further down the road.
Altogether, the folks selling were friendly, pricing items reasonably, and our fellow shoppers pleasant as well.
Requests for items from other folks were: down-filled vest for a lady in Bhutan who admired my sister's, anything classroom related for Brenna and Lyndsay, rugs for my brother's house, and a tent/canopy for my employer.
I scored on the vest right away. Found a nice one for $2 with no rips, tears, or stains. 80% down and 20% feathers. I think it will keep her quite toasty and pretty too!

I found two packs of flash cards brand new for the teachers, but no luck finding a rug or tent.
I couldn't resist a tiara for $1. This one will replace my aging tiara which has undergone two submersions in the ocean during the annual New Years Day Penguin Plunge. I will reserve the original for that event.

For Hugh, sunglasses for the summer. The picture doesn't do them justice. Brand new looking.

And lastly, I couldn't say no to Murduck for $1. I rationalized his purchase with the idea that Brenna could use him in her classroom. He comes with several outfits including a fireman's hat and suit, a tux and also pjs. But alas, no. She agreed he was darling but no place for him at school. So he might reside with us at home waiting for the grandchildren that will hopefully eventually come, or perhaps a visit from Hugh or other nieces and nephews. Or if anyone viewing takes a liking to him, he is yours for $1!

That is all for this weekend's review. Holiday yardsales are pretty much a bust so I don't expect this coming Saturday will prove me wrong. Will be back in Morehead City to celebrate Easter with family in Carteret County. Hope you all have a great week and Happy Easter!!

April 2nd, what a nice day!

We started off dark and early with 2 yard sales begining at 6am. Fortunately all were open and ready for business and we had a great start to our day with great signs, plentiful goods to rummage through and nice people ready to sell. All sales today were great looking, and clean so we didn't have a tremendous urge to sanitize our hands as soon as we got back in the car! Trust me, there are some you feel the need to sanitize while you are "shopping"!
Found lots of stuff for Hugh, including a Little Tykes Cosy Coupe, Kelley had put in the "what to look for" list just this week.
I have been looking for a coffee bean grinder since mine I bought used 10 years ago (at least) is not performing as well as it used to. The black Merlita grinder I found today for $2 looks unused and nice and sharp. Shall grind today and enjoy a cup! Jewelry was a surprise since I know the jeweler is JenniK from Greenville and I love her creations. Amethyst is my birthstone and the yellow tourmalane looks pretty too. Shined right up with cleaner and a real steal at $4 each.
Also found a few nice dog leashes for my friend Margaret who fosters dogs from the Animal Shelter. My contribution to a charity and the hard work she does with love.

Little Tykes Cosy Coupe for Hugh.
After dirt and pollen removal it shoud
clean up nicely. $5 couldn't pass it up.
Havn't test driven it but should get great gas milage

Pretty silver!

Pampered chef cheese grater. Can't wait to use it!
List price $2 but got it for $1. Hey,  I can bargain!

I am a sucker for flags! This will go up in the summer.
$2 but it is in very nice shape and colors are like new.

Love these puzzles for Hugh! They both have the magnet stick
so you can pull the pieces out with it. Fun! $1 for both

books for Hugh and some scrapbook stickers for Kelley and Brenna

Brenna's pile with stickers for her or Hugh

Sand toys for Hugh and black footed planter for me
Total $1.50

This is solid black and I like it because of the feet!  Have a plant I will
set in it. It is about a foot high and $1

I always need to go mugs and these are insulted stainless steel inside
the vases for Raleigh's Flower Shuttle, googlie eyes for Brenna
and the fish cheese spreaders are for Lisa. Total $3

Brenna gets the letters for her class, I get the plastic container with locking sides :)

This book is for Hugh, couldn't resist

Johanna and Barbara both were happy shoppers and we enjoyed our usual breakfast at McDonald's on 10th and Charles, lingering over our beverages, talking and catching up on our week and their trip to NJ last weekend. Now time for a shower and work on the computer. Later!