Train Haul

Part II

 Left you dangling, didn't I?! The reason was I had a story to tell and the story and photos would make the post way too long. I do like to tell a tale.

Johanna and I made one last yard sale stop before breakfast around 9am. She recognized the family selling and they had a lot of items up for grabs. I was still searching for wooden toys for Nate and of course, anything  else I liked, when I spotted these 3 boxes filled with Thomas the Train stuff. Hmmm. Nate is lettting his big cousin Hugh borrow a train table until Nate is old enough to use it...3 years from now. I have an attic....storage is not an issue and I know this stuff can be expensive when starting out. So I called Brenna to ask if this is something she and Robbie would be interested in. Yes, was the answer but what is the price? So I asked the price. $80 for the 3boxes. Brenna declined saying that was probably a great price given the volume of items but out of their price range right now. I walked away regretfully.

Johanna bought a few wooden puzzles and other things and then we left after chatting to the family. We enjoyed our breakfast and catching up with each other's lives and headed home. Our path home led right past the sale. I noted the boxes of train stuff was still there. And then my brain went there. I brain stormed with Johanna and she turned the car around. 

My approach was, "I don't want to insult you with offering half your asking price but...I only have $40, it's for my 6 month old grandson, and it will all go up in the attic for a couple of years, so I know I don't want to pay more than that right now." That is about all I had left in my wallet and the morning was winding down...they still had a lot of things on their front yard to sell. When the couple heard I was buying for Nate and not buying it for resell, they agreed to my offer and helped me load it all in the car. 

Boxes pre sorting. Note, the clear plastic bin is the extra large kind

So here is a close up on the boxes and bin filled with all things train.

   

I started to lay out the larger pieces And yes, I do know the stuff doesn't belong on top of the roundhouse! I just was trying to fit in the shot.

  

Included was this rolled up laminated landscape mat. It goes on top of the train table and then the child (and parents) lay out the train on it.

 There is a case that was included. Brenna came over Sunday to go through the loot and sort it all.

Pictured below are just some of the cars and engines.

This is a another carrying case. 

See,  it opens up and holds more train engines and cars! However, it is a pain to get those pieces in the slots; no 2 or 3 year old could do it by themselves so I would say don't buy this unless the design has changed.

And then we found this Little Engine That Could complete train set. It has been discontinued and no longer made. I love that book and this was a special find. 

Above is a stock photo of the train

And here is our train set, I mean, Nate's train set!

As Brenna sorted, she found duplicates and we set them aside for Hugh. All these are duplicates.

Amazing to have so many! There were 3 boys in the family so that would account for duplicates and so many pieces. No fighting over the Thomas train in that family!

These go to Hugh's collection

 In my research I found there are recalls on some of the trains. We still need to determine if some of ours are included. The problem was in 2005-2007 some were made in China and contained lead in the paint. The company will send another to you if you have one in the recall. As we sorted it all out on the floor,  we put aside any questionable pieces. 

So that is the train haul. It has been stored away in bins up in the attic, awaiting Nate to grow up a little more. Not sure who will be more excited to play with them,  he or his mother! Brenna was over the moon as we sorted and she recognized the pieces. Apparently she babysat boys who had these toys and she loved setting them up. 

Hope you  enjoyed the account of the big score. And trust me, it is! As I searched Ebay and found the larger pieces and prices, I was amazed. See. It pays to go to yard sales! And to ask for a lower price! 

Until next week, happy bargain hunting!

Thrifty Christy

Posted with Blogsy

January updated

Happy New Year! 

Last weekend's sale experience may have been short, however it proved to be rewarding. There were only 3 sales listed, I was going solo, and just one provided something to put in the trunk. The last sale was held at a local country club and it looked to be old stock, stuff that has been replaced or been in storage for a while. I passed up tables of wine glasses, china, and some golf equipment and then spotted this box of small cement pots. It was filled with them, approximately 20 in all. Price was marked 50cents each. I immediately how can I  resell them but I knew it might be a struggle to get a decent profit. Reason? Because unless you pick them up, you can't really appreciate their value. Someone just seeing a photo would pass them by. As a "mother of the bride" a few years ago, I would have snatched them up for the rehearsal dinner decor or if I entertained, I could see them as votive candle holders. 

There is no hole at the bottom for water to drain and the mossy bits are artificial. Each side has a different design relating to either bees, dragonflies, lady bugs, and butterflies. So cute! Then I snapped a photo with my phone and sent via text message it to my sister Cee, who would appreciate these treasures and might be interested. "No thanks" was her answer. I regretfully kept going and checked out with a lovely brass planter and a clear glass candle holder. Just as I was putting my pickings in the car, I received a text from Cee. Get them! Back in I went. I asked if I could buy the whole box for $5 and my offer was accepted. Someone even carried it to my car for me! A bargain and courtesy! Love it.

$5 for the box comes to 25cents each!

Cee was delighted with the pots and is possibly planning to use them for an upcoming event. She (unlike me) is gifted with a talent for design when it comes to flowers, arrangements, and basically anything creative. 

These are in good hands.

This is the footed brass planter I bought. I couldn't walk away. It now holds 3 small Christmas cactus pots. Perfect. I haven't polished it yet. Just stuck the little pots in there and put by the window.

$1

The clear class candle holder is a nice size and now contains potpourri. It is about 10 inches tall.

50 cents

And that was it for last Saturday's finds.

On this past Friday I went to one sale and picked up the silver ring with a bright green stone. The Chico's watch I found at Goodwill. Replaced the battery my own self and it works like a charm. I am enjoying the large watch face and though it looks heavy and bulky, I find it quite comfortable. 

$3 for the watch and 75 cents for the ring.

I was tempted to buy this chair for $25 to replace one in my living room. It was a nice,  small size (I have a small living room!) and very comfortable. But mind you, I have a limited sense of style and knew I check with  my daughters before buying. Apparently just because the colors will work with your room and decor doesn't mean it will work overall. So much to learn.

 So after sending a photo to each daughter, I waited, and waited. And decided to leave with just the ring. Glad I did because both Brenna and Ellie texted later saying it is dated and needs recovering. The search continues. I am not ready to shell out more money for reupholstry.

On Friday afternoon I sent out a call to Carolyn and Johanna to see if they were recovered from their illnesses to join me on Saturday. There were a surprising number of sales listed for a January weekend. The promise of gorgeous weather perhaps enticed folks to haul out their goods. Carolyn needed more rest but Johanna felt better and ready to hunt. Yay!! She picked me up at 0'dark thirty and we headed off to the first of 2 listed 

with a  6am start time.

I picked up this wooden high chair thinking of Brenna but also knowing I could probably resell if she didn't want it. She didn't. I considered keeping it myself for Nate's visits but decided space is a priority and the booster seat is serving us well. So up for sale it went. I listed it at $15 and it sold and  picked up the next day. 

$3. I couldn't pass it up.

Nate is now sitting on his own and I thought this Little Tykes piano would be a good musical toy. It goes to Nate's house. I am sure he will be a Schroeder before long! 

(Peanuts fans will know what I mean)

50 cents

At another stop I found this set of Cuisinart bakeware. It appeared to be unused or maybe once. I felt I could easily resell them and I was correct. Sold the next day for $20 to the person who bought the high chair. Didn't even have to drive to meet the buyer(savings on time and gas), she came to my house to pick the items up. I knew it would be difficult to fit that high chair in my civic!

3 qt round $6

Here is the rest of the bakeware set. 12" rectangle pan and a 9" square. Nice!

$2 for the square and $3 for the rectangle pan

At the same sale I picked up the new soy candle on the right (Hazelnut, smells delicious) and the rechargable batteries with charging station. The charging station doesn't work but the the batteries do. So I still came out ahead. I needed more AA rechargeable batteries.

Candle: 50cents and charger with batteries: $2

One of our stops was at a Montessori school that is closing. It was the second day of the sale but there was enough items left. My sister Cee has put in a request for more childrens' books. I found hardbacks and lots of paperbacks too. A wipedown with disinfectant wipes and our great nephew Hugh will enjoy.

25 cents each

These are the paperbacks for Cee. The price reflected their condition but I love each one of them. I reinforced the spines with clear packing tape after wiping them down as well and I hope with gentle use they will hold up. The book, I Like Myself is just precious and the illustrations absolutely delightful. I am sure Cee will fall in love with it. Sure hope Hugh does as well.

Paperbacks: 10 cents each! (oops title on  bottom right is The Mouse and the Lion)

The book, bath towel and diaper ointment below are all for a friend of mine expecting a baby next month.

25 cents each!!

These board books were found at the same sale as the other books; these are for my "Grandma stash". The John Deere one is a fold out book with flaps insided. I can't wait to read it to Nate.

25 cents each

These Amerian Girl books were also part of my book haul at the Montessori school sale. I had great luck a few months ago selling a lot I picked up at a yard sale and I hoped my luck would continue. It did. There were 17 books in total, 11 in excellent condition and 6 with minor stains on the covers. I sold the lot for $20. The next day!

$1.70 for the lot. Sold for $20!

Yes, I know my great niece, Julia isn't born yet, but I had to pick these up for her. A nice change from the boy stuff. Aren't they the sweetest!

50 cents

There was another great deal I found Saturday but since that is going to be a gift, I am not going to share it on this post. There are items I find that get tucked away for gift giving so never make the blog posts

 and must remain on the QT.

At the end of the morning we stopped at the last sale and there I saw something I had to pass up because of price. But... I went back. And that will be my next post. Details to follow!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend as much as I did. Treasures and bargains aside, it was so good to be out there with Johanna again. I love our times together and catching up over breakfast. We talk, share, laugh and renew again the bonds of our friendship. I love my friends.

Thrifty Christy

Posted with Blogsy

New Year's Day Penguin Plunge. Love starting the New Year off this way!

Hundreds jump into ocean for annual Penguin Plunge and I was one of them! This was my 5th time jumping into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year's Day with my brother Sonny and many friends. I was very pleased that the news media were there to film and report on a "good news" story. Words can't describe the excitement, fun, and thrill it is to run into the water with hundreds of people screaming and laughing. It truly is the best time ever!

Thrifty Christy