Teachers R Us

Catching up on blogging is interesting to say the least. My mind works at times like a horse with blinders on. Because I have posted pretty much on a Saturday by Saturday method, I feel as if I have to continue in this fashion. So when I have been catching up on the past 3 weeks, I posted 3 times instead of consolidating all into one. Hmmm, I am not sure which is better. It is more time consuming to do separates but I think I like it that way as each day's experience is more detailed.  Unlike my usual save energy and be efficient manner.


Ok, on to recapping an especially rewarding Saturday morn. Johanna was recouperating from a long drive home from Florida after depositing her daughter, Brianne, at St. Leo's University in Miami, Fl. so I flew solo once again. Not liking the solo thing. I miss sharing these experiences with somone else. I get over it.
I used the wonderful Yard Sale Treasure Map website and while perusing the descriptions of sales, I found one advertising a 1st Grade teacher was retiring after 30 years. Hmmm, I know a Kindergarten teacher (daughter Brenna) and a First Grade teacher (niece-in-law, Lindsey). Lindsey taught Kindergarten last year and is teaching 1st grade this year. So I sent Brenna a text with the description but she thought she would sleep in this time. She didn't need anything desperately and she is trying to save some $ till payday. Next, I called Lindsey. "YES" was her immediate response. She is a new teacher and needs material. So I tried to get a feel for what she had on her wish list. "Resource materials, books", anything I thought she could use. Ok, I thought. I will do my best. But even after shopping with Brenna back a few years ago when she started from scratch with her first classroom, I was still hesitant about spending someone else's money on items I really don't know for sure they will need or use. Teachers have different styles, and it is hard for me to tell what is "dated" material and what is "classic".  I would give it a try.


However, the Teacher sale didn't start until 7am and there were 3 starting at 6am. At the very first one I found the high chair Hilary asked me to look for. $10 was the price and I didn't quibble. It was still pretty dark but it looked very nice, a couple of food remains but they scraped off easily. The owner showed me how the tray came off, how to fold it and I was happy Waylon would have a place to eat! I also picked up a dish drain (mine has been looking rather old and I was ready to replace) that was brand new for $1. Again, nice price!


The next two sales were in the same neighborhood which I love, saving gas is always a plus with prices much higher now than when we first started this yard sale obsession. So right around the corner I found a medium size piece of luggage for $5. Now Steve, my hubbie, doesn't have to use my plum colored one when he goes away and doesn't want to use a duffle bag.  The following sale was set up really nice but there was nothing for me except a cute book I couldn't resist for Hugh. 50 cents made it a done deal.


So it was now close enough to 7am for me to head on to the teacher's sale. Oh my goodness! I was in shock when I arrived and saw the huge amount of teacher stuff! I called Brenna and also Lindsey several times with questions. For Brenna, I bought a box of stamps and a box of cut out tools. I described them on the phone for her and she said YES! I held up the two boxes and seller said $5...so I bought them. Since one cut out tool was marked $7.95, I thought it was a really good deal. Brenna  decided to check it for herself since it wasn't too far away from her place. Sometimes a deal is too good to sleep in.


I spent $40 of Lindsey's money and got a ton of stuff. Managed to pack it in my car and gave her a call to see if she wanted to drive to G'ville because of the sheer volume. It would take her a while to go through and organize it too. She and her mom drove up later that morning and went to the sale to pick up a large wooden box that wouldn't fit in my car and ended up finding more! I think she is set for quite a while with resource material. 


I delivered Hilary's high chair at her work and moved on to a couple more sales, meeting Brenna at my house. She found a Lamb Chop stuffed figure for $1 which I wish I had taken a picture of at one sale and I bought an empty gas canister at another. I wanted an extra so when we run out of gas next time grilling, I would be ready.  Now with Hurricane Irene coming our way, I will be filling it up tomorrow.


Was a rewarding day for this yard sale gal. What made it even better was spending the time with Brenna as we enjoyed a cup of coffee and talked. Priceless.

Waylon's high chair. Seems there was more food left behind than I realized. Hilary assures me it cleaned up great. Totally worth the $10

The teacher's sale

More teacher stuff

and more

and more

now do you see  why I was a little overwhelmed?!

Brenna ended up buying the big picture book

Part of Lindsey's loot...all laminated

this was nice, all laminated and ready for a bulletin board

make a word tools.

books for Lindsey and holder too

This is a trailer the teacher had in the back of the sale. Boxes of books and the plastic storage bins were filled with books and cassettes. Lindsey picked up a bunch for her classroom since she has cassette players. Glad she went herself since I didn't know if she used cassettes or cd's. 

Ready for a trip! $5 and looks great inside too. No stains or tears and rolls like a dream.

Ready to fill and grill!

Red book for Hugh, other two for Brenna's classroom

Looks like Saturday will be Hurricane Day, no sales in eastern NC to be sure. Will batten down the hatches and hope we weather through. Please keep the folks in the path of Irene in your prayers.
Have a great week and stay safe.

Saturday, August 13, Early bird...

Johanna was not feeling well this morning so I was on my own. Sales started at O'dark thirty and I found  

goodies for Hugh and some for me as well. The morning felt cooler, less humid and just was so nice stepping outside and not feeling like being in a sauna. A welcome difference. The sellers seem to appreciate the cooler temps, everyone was a little nicer, smiled more; just a nice way to start the day.

I tried out the Yard Sale Treasure Map site for the first time and like it alot! I reccommend using it. 

You enter in your home address and the site identifies yardsales listed in your area on Craigslist. But we all know of there are more ways to find yardsales. So the site offers a way to add other sales. I do that by going to my local paper online, find yard sales in the classified section and copy/paste addresses of the ones nearest to me and also ones from neighborhoods I like. You may find sales listed on bulletin boards at work or virtual bulletin boards.  Once you plug in those sales into the "page" you have created,  the site will make an itinerary for you. But since some sales start earlier than others, you have the ability to move the addresses in the order you want. Then you print and go. I like the way your final product is detailed  directions from one sale to the next in the order you have set up. Sometimes I think I know where a sale is located, know the neighborhood somewhat, and then can't easily find the street. Now some would use a GPS to deal with this but I don't have one....yet. So at present, this tool is very useful.

Click the link on my blog and discover the joys of Treasure Map yardsale!

A young friend of mine, Hilary who is a  mother of a 5 month olds precious boy, Waylon,  gave me $20 to find a high chair for her. The first 6am sale listed had a high chair in the description so I had high hopes. I was disappointed when I saw it however. It looked dated and dingy, the padded seat cover torn in a couple of spots. So this brings me to my thoughts on buying childrens items at yard sales. I love finding used items that are in great shape or nearly new. That makes it a bargain, because you will get possible years of use out of them, especially if the item is for a first child. So if it is not is really top notch shape, I won't buy, no matter how low the price. So no high chair for Hilary/Waylon this time.

Great German made trike for $4. It cleaned up beautifully. I loved it because
the wheels are so fat, the trike low to the ground making it a very stable bike. The yellow carryall in the back tips back.
Looking forward to seeing Hugh tear down the sidewalk at my brother's house (Grandpa) in a few months. At 16 months, Hugh is not quite ready but when he is,  I can't wait!

Dansko for me! These are sooo comfortable! My daughter Brenna has embraced Dansko and knockoff Dansko as a teacher who is on her feet all day. I tried these on and fell in love! The scuffs cleaned up nicely and for $8, I feel I found a bargain. Yes, the original price was $10 but the seller graciously came down. You just have to ask.

More toys for Hugh. Slide $5 and goal $3. Slide stays at "Grandpa's and goal came home to Hugh's. The goal is adjustable which I didn't know until I took it apart to get in my car. 

$1 for the lot! I will take on the Mission Trip next year. We always need more paint supplies so I am starting a stash.
Of course, I may need to use on my own place first, but still will take on the trip.


So though I was lonely,  I really prefer going with my friends,  I was thrilled with my goodies. The real trick was loading them  into my car,  Honda Civic! Fortunately the back seat folds down making it possible to get all in. Thank goodness!
I was traveling to Morehead City that morning after "shopping' to visit my brother, Sonny, Hugh's grandfather. I wanted to bring the items I had found from the past two weeks for Hugh and Baby Boy in waiting.  However, I was still driving the Civic and needed to load the Step 2 wagon from last week, as well as the trike, slide and basketball goal. It took some maneuvering, but guess what? It fit!!!
I wish I had taken a picture of the loaded car cause it was funny, but just take my word for it. When Sonny helped me unload my car, I had visions of Mary Poppins pulling things out of her carpet bag!

Hugh and I enjoying the wagon after an afternoon at the beach.

Rain Rain

Saturday, August 5th started out with a bang with the purchase of the Step 2 two seater wagon with cup holders and under seat storage. I had Hugh in mind for this one but knew if his mom or my sister didn't want to buy it, I could easily sell it on Craigslist. Sister Cee said yes so the wagon goes to Emerald Isle for delivery next weekend. Looking forward to seeing the little fellow in the vehicle.

Unfortunately, the clouds kicked it up and the bottom dropped out after only a few sales. We were able to purchase a couple more goodies from a few sales located in garages, but we had to call it a day.

So Johanna and I  headed for McDonald's for breakfast and COFFEE for me. We spent more time chatting then we did at the sales and enjoyed catching up with each other. Short day for sales but a great time with my friend. Which really what our Saturday morns are our primary purpose:)

$5 Step 2 wagon

I wonder when the garage sale starts!



Books for Brenna's kindergarten class, 50cents each.

Hugh gets the lime green polo shirt. and clothes for Baby great nephew and a NC State burp cloth.  Had to get that one since my nephew Jon graduated from there. However UNC fans out there may like the fact that someone is going to spitting up on it!