Spring yard sale season is in full bloom here in Eastern NC and it seemed there was a yard-sale on every street corner or at least in every neighborhood. There are a couple big church sales that are annual events and generate lots of interest and big crowds. Johanna, Babs and I have come to the realization these are not for us. You stand in a line for at least an hour and then people rush into the sale running for items and can get pretty pushy and obnoxious. Real fun suckers. We would rather go to the individual sales and avoid the crowds and possible injury! Works for us and we enjoy our shopping rather than getting ticked off.
I was practically salivating as I watched the lists growing on Craigslist this week, each day more sales were listed and then Thursday and Friday the online classified section in the paper showed even more. Several were neighborhood sales which makes is always nice, especially when lots of houses/families participate. We were not disappointed! We started early with 3 listed at 6am and didn't stop til 10!
So here are some of Johanna's finds:
The labeling system is complete and the labels are laminated. Very nice!
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| $3 and works great |
Dear daughter that she is, Johanna gave this lovely stained glass piece to Babs. Isn't it lovely? Heavy glass but a strong chain attached will keep it hanging safely.
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| I would have snatched this up too for $2. I missed this one but Johanna's eagle eye spotted it. |
Babs was happy with this package of cedar blocks, unopened.
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| 25 cents |
Trunk shot below after I had removed my bulky finds.
The bolt of material in the back will be used to make a tablecloth and matching napkins. The box contains an assortment of Christmas cards. Babs bought those. She sorts them, puts together packs of 8 and gives them away at the St. Vincent de Paul Society during the holidays. She volunteers there every other Tuesday. Yard sale purchases make it easy for us to be generous. The plate one of several she found that match her place settings. Johanna bought the small fan that is tucked in the litter box. Hoping it will work well this summer on the Mission Trip. The yellow bag is filled with clothes to be donated to St. Vincent de Paul society. Or as Babs calls it, Vinnie's.
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| Material bolt-$1, litter box-50c, box of cards-25cents, fan-50c, plates-50c each; they had more stuff in the back seat I didn't have time to photograph. All in all everyone had a gracious plenty as my grandmother Mamie would say! |
My turn: below is an easel I found at the first sale on my most favorite street: Primrose Lane. My niece Kelley has an easel on her wish list after seeing the one I found for my sister, Cee, aka Magnolia. This one is in great condition; wood and durable. One side is chalkboard and the other, dry erase. Easy to tape paper up on either side if painting is the art project of choice. I couldn't resist the little rocking chair. How cute is that! Maybe painted a different color and NATE lettered on the front? Hmmm. At $3 I just couldn't pass it up.
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| Rocking chair-$3, easel-$10 |
My lucky day! My sister Cee, aka Magnolia, had texted me Thursday night with a request for another bed rail. So imagine my joy in finding this one at one of the neighborhood sales. $1: it's a bargain! Nice and sturdy, folds up flat. A little faded but no rips, tears or damage. Hugh will be safe sleeping in the big bed.
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| $1 for the bed rail |
At a church sale I found this baby seat, Bebe Pod. Very similiar to a Bumpo seat, it serves the same purpose. Usually retails for $40 so I snatched it up for $5. Very nice condition, looks practically new. Needs a cleaning and up in the "storage attic" it will go until Nate is old enough to use it at Grandma's.
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| Didn't dicker on this price! |
I dithered over this box of Copeland Spode china: Astor pattern. There are 6 dinner plates, 4 bowls, 4 salad plates and a couple of dessert plates. $5 for the box. Now, I love the pattern and have been toying with the idea of hanging plates on one of my dining room walls. The green in these is almost the same shade family as my dining room wall color. So, I pondered, wondering would I ever actually get them hung, and trying to justify buying them. Almost all have some crack or chip so really only good for decoration. Well, I went for it. Now I have to figure out the design/pattern of how they will hang and which wall. I may have to call my daughters for advice. Help!!!
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| $5 for all |
I thought of Brenna when I bought the small garden flag. She has one by her front door already but maybe the summer theme can replace the other for this season.And of course the monogram J is just right.
Love books by Mo Willems, this one will go to Brenna's classroom if she doesn't have it already or to the grandchild book stash I am accumulating.
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| Flag-$1, book-25ct |
For 50 cents I couldn't pass up this Columbia brand long sleeved shirt. Lightweight and quick drying, I think it is a "fishing" shirt. If my sister Vickie, aka Night Shade, lived nearby, I would pass it on to her since it would be rather comfortable on her birding adventures. Of course I forgot that blue or white colors are not the best camouflage for birding. It has a vented back which is a cooling feature Not sure if she wants it badly enough to pay for mailing it to Florida. If not, then it goes to my sister Cee. Why not for my ownself you ask? Wrong size.
I found this picture on Ebay to show the shirt better. This photo does more justice to the shirt than my picture. I suppose it is used for hiking or fishing, just about anything outside with the lightweight material.
The penguins got me. We have 2 different sets of these Hallmark Christmas decorations, battery operated. Teacher gifts for my husband several years ago. But we don't have this one. Bought it for $2. Couldn't resist the power of the penguins.
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| $2...I had no resistance |
What genius came up with this?!!! Oh happy day when I spotted this at the end of our morning. Can you guess what it is? I won't keep you in suspense. My two cats, Emmett and Pru, have their feeding station on the washing machine, out of reach of our voracious beagle. However, they both are messy eaters and their kibble slips into the washer in the sides of the lid. I have tried putting a towel under the bowls to catch the kibble but it hasn't been a great solution and they have been known to pull the towel off when jumping up there. With this clever tray (with sides!!!) the food is contained and no more mess!!!! Whoohooo!!! And only $1!! This was probably my most favorite find in weeks. The cats are adjusting to the change quite well. Actually, they could care less what they are feeding from as long as there is food in there. Rather unflappable when it comes to food containers.
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| Only $1. I am such a happy camper! |
Last week I bought a double car ramp toy but didn't get any cars. So here are 4 matchbox cars for Hugh to race with at Aunt Cee's. The bag contains Viewmaster with 5 slides. This goes to my friend who sends these toys to a mission in Africa.
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| Viewmaster marked $2, I bought for $1. Cars were 25c each |
More make up finds this weekend. 3 for $1. Clinique, Dior and Chanel. I really like the Neutrogena loose powder foundation...tried that this afternoon. And the Dior blush is very nice too. I think I am stocked up now.
Was shocked to see the prices for Dior and Chanel makeup when I checked them online. The Chanel is the Ombre Safari eyeshadow. Brand new. The Dior is English Rose blush. They retail for around $40 each. I am glad I only paid $1 for all. Both brushes are new and still in plastic.
I found 3 lovely sets of earrings for $1 each. 2 are silver and the other is not. I had hoped the black and metal pair shown at the end were silver and would shine up when polished but my hopes were dashed when the color didn't change. The picture isn't very good, they do look more shiny in person and will do. Still, the other two are nice and the round pair on the left with the gold accent will go nicely with the necklace I found a few months back...for free!
My friend Becky had requested I keep a lookout for Scrabble Junior game. Well, I have been looking with no luck until late in the morning at a church sale. Everything was half off so I picked it up for $1. Sure hope she still wants it. I was quite pleased to finally have located one.
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| Not $2....$1 |
At the same church sale I filled a box with 13 small vases for the Flower Shuttle in Raleigh, NC. A volunteer group there sends out donated flowers to folks in nursing homes, hospitals, or home bound and always needs exta vases.
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| Box of 13 vases- $1 for the lot. They were packing up to send to Salvation Army and pricing to get rid of remainders |
I haven't contributed for quite a while but then getting vases to Raleigh has been harder lately. I used to drop a bunch off in Morehead when I would visit Mom and then Cee or my sister Fran who both live in Raleigh would pick them up when they went by Mom's. Well, as you know, Mom is passed away last year and I don't see my sisters as much as I used to. Fortunately Cee and Fran are coming to Greenville next weekend so I will be handing the box off to one of them. So what is the problem for me to hang on to items for others? Well, I have a small house and not much storage. When I purchase items for others at sales, I want to hand off these items as quickly as possible since it starts to get crowded easily around here! Especially bulky or large items take up space and I start getting that hoarding feeling!! Agh! Move it out quickly is my need these days. Kelley will be able to pick up the easel, Cee the toys and bed rail and Fran can take the box of vases all next weekend at Brenna's baby shower. Great!
So there you have it. My fun Saturday with my yard sale buddies and the loot we found. Hope you were able to get out there and find some deals your ownself. Until next weekend, happy bargain hunting!
Thrifty Christy
