Ohmystinkinheck

I know, I know … Jessica SAID I’d have the details of The Blogroll New World Order up by now, BUT little did she know that I had a weekend brimming with activity, Activity, ACTIVITY! I have barely had time to read in my steamy new novel from Karen, let alone blog.

I have, however, taken photos to prove I’m not ignoring y’all for no reason. I swear. Really. I could never ignore this online community of mighty fine women and the growing number of mighty fine men.

All day long on Friday and Saturday I was tearing off bits of masking tape and labeling like a mad woman. Yes, a mad woman. Who else would mark a shirt $0.25 that was $30.00 in the store? Exactly. Garage sales bring out the freak in me. I find myself tearing into anything and everything. It goes beyond decluttering (which I adore) to a manic desire to simplify, downsize, GET RID OF STUFF! Oh, and making money is nice too - very nice indeed.

Both Friday and Saturday turned out to have the most fabulous weather. Okay, so it was 40 degrees until the sun peeped out and shone down, but after 100+ degree weather and enough humidity to make a fish feel at home out of water, I wasn’t complaining. I put on a windbreaker and smiled at myself in every reflection I passed - MAN! if I don’t LOVE how my hair works the two days a year we have no humidity.

The Garage Sale went really well. My parents had a lot of the big ticket items. I loved how some of them looked setting out on the lawn all dappled with sunlight, outside of their normal element of propriety.

Junk truly can take on a new light when displayed on a table amidst tons of other junk. I totally “get” the attraction of garage sales. On the selling side, however, it is hard not to give someone the history of an item when they walk up to your “card table checkout” to purchase.

As I’m removing the masking tape price tag and stuffing their goods into a plastic grocery bag, why can’t I just say, “That’ll be $1.25?” No, instead I have to say, “Oh, that sat in my kitchen window for 5 years - and it still would, except there’s no room.” As if that makes them think, “Wow, I REALLY MUST have this item now!”

*sigh*

It is almost like they are forced to listen to my memory dump for the advantage of purchasing something 8 years old and 95% off the retail price. Now that I think about it - that isn’t so much of an advantage at all.

On Saturday morning the kids woke up early to go with me. I was surprised, because normally my household sleeps in a bit on Saturday morning (and by household, I mean HUSBAND AND CHILDREN) and I figured they’d drive on over with Jeff after a while, but nooooooooooooooo… they were rarin’ to go with momma. They loved the change of pace, diggin’ through the hidden treasures in the quarter box and, of course, hot cocoa made by Poppa Ken.

Yes Kenny, “HOT” cocoa.

Garage sales, in my opinion, are never profitable. I think both of my parents would agree. We spent about 6 hours/day manning it, several more hours preparing (especially my parents), and then, of course the take-down and time spent figuring out what to do with the leftovers. I could have stayed home and worked and made more money, BUT it is nice to circulate the things we don’t need AND I enjoy spending time with my parents and my extended family, so…it wasn’t all bad.

And with that - I’m off to conjure up everything I know to get you guys rolling with some version of The Blogroll New World Order.

No, really. I REALLY WILL this time.

14 Responses to “Short Diversion OR Saturday Recap”

1. Friglet

   Hey, how much for that chair and ottoman? ;)

   I’m with you, garage sales are not worth it. They’re way to much work and I hate dealing with hagglers.

2. Not The Mama

   I don’t envy you a bit. Although I LOVE to declutter and purge, I can’t stand yardsales. I always feel like they are a waste of time. I never get rid of us much as I’d like to, and the money is never worth the time I spend. I’ve become a craigslist/freecycle devotee. Even though I have a love-hate relationship with both, I still find them much better use of my time than garage sales. That said…I’m glad you had some fun, and decluttering is always a plus in my book.

   And I am LOVING the blogroll new world order! I can’t wait for the post to come.

3. Shawna

   I envy your ability to pull off a garage sale. I’ve gotten as far as making a mental list of what I would sell. Now if only the garage sale fairies would come and separate it from all the “keeper” stuff, label it, set up the sale, sit there all day, and clean up . . .THAT would be progress!

4. Serene and Not Herd

   Freecycle is my outlet of choice for things people will actually show up for, but my wife and I took three boxes to the Salvation Army, who also took all my cardboard (heading for the dump) as well. Absolutely worth the $10 and 8 hours of lost weekend we would have experienced doing a garage sale.

   As for humidity, I grew so tired of it in GA an TN, where I grew up, that we moved to AZ. We have a month of rain and humidity, and the other 11 months we’re using the chapstick and bottled water to avoid dehydration and death. Absolutely better than living in humidity!

5. bethany actually

   I feel the same about garage sales. So why have I had three of them in the past two years, I ask you? Mostly because my husband and some friends talked me into it. We actually made decent money at all three, and part of the reason we do them is because there isn’t really a viable option for donating unwanted items in our area. So garage sale it is.

6. carmen

   OMG, is this the FIRST time you’ve read Outlander? Seriously? I’ve read the first seven books in the series about a million times each and can’t wait for hte next…….

7. Lady S

   I read Outlander for the first time this summer. I look forward to reading more of her books when I find time to go to the library.

8. Angella

   We have yet to hold a garage sale. Matthew just leaves our stuff by the mailboxes with a “FREE” sign.

   However, your garage sale looked like FUN! Wish I could have crashed it ;)

9. All Adither

   I love the purge.

10. jac

    i love that picture of kenny! he’s such a cutie! i am totally with you on the declutter desire. i’ve mentioned more than once that i got rid of so much stuff before i moved to NJ in august. there were moments when i wanted to kick my own behind for it, but now, i’m really glad i did it.
    oh yeah, and i really, really dig the new look but i do kinda miss the pictures that would be at the top banner before.

11. witchypoo

    Freecycle rocks because folks actually come and pick up your stuff. You can specify if you want someone to take the whole lot and freecycle what they do not want.Unfortunately,it works the other way for my son, because he tends to collect computer parts in his room.
    However, you do not get to spend hours with your family getting rid of the stuff, no, you can do something fun.

12. Liz C

    See, Reverse Nesting ROCKS.

    I’m never brave enough to hold a garage sale (though I’ve purchased several sewing machines at sales… one treadle, one electric, both awesome), just because when I want something gone, I want it gone NOW. But, we also have some great spots to donate, so long as I do not let my husband go inside. He’s a Genetic Scrounge Hound, and he can back it up with refinishing and reupholstery skills, so he’s Dangerous.

    I missed the Outlander reference the first time round–OMSH, welcome to the obsession. :) I first found them back in college, when I had $5 for “entertainment” for the whole month, and I grabbed the Fattest Book I Could Find. And loved it. Yes, steamy… but FUNNY, and you’ll cry buckets during some parts, too.

    Lady S, consider contacting the library to put the novels on hold for you–ours has multiple copies of each, and you still can’t find them on the shelves most days.

    Back to garage sales: we cleaned our garage and re-boxed some things this spring, and disappointed the neighbor boy mightily. We had everything set out on tables, we were sipping cocoa and nibbling sandwiches, music playing, lots of fun Reverse Nesting, really… and he was SURE we were having a sale. That was one very sad 8yo boy. But he and my 8yo son sat down to play with some of the older toys, and all was well. :)

13. MammaLoves

    I made so much money from my garage sale last year, it’s tempting to do it again, but like you said I get all weepy for some of the items as they go.

14. Oh My Stinkin Heck » Blog Archive » Watch out Bambi

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