Yard Sale!

Happy Shoppers at Gillenwater Manor

It's that time of the year...YARD SALES in abundance. Yes, today was the day of the "Neighborhood Yard Sale" of which I have been busy sorting through and purging the utility room of inventory for this sale. (Note: the attic and closets will provide the goods for the "Fall Sale" the last Saturday in September. Mark your calendar now.)

Today, I was joined by two friends, Beth and Carol. Georgeanne was going to join us but her sister is visiting from out of state and she wanted to spend extra time with her before she heads back to her home on Sunday. (George, you'd better be here in Sept. It just wasn't the same without you!) They, too, brought their wares and settled in for the long, hot haul. We found ourselves trading 'stuff' with each other! I think the best part of the day was getting to visit with friends on the porch with the ceiling fans cooling us and sharing stories on a variety of subjects.

Now I ask...

Host a Yard Sale...Why? Bottom line for me, (1) make a little bit of money for my belongings which I at one time purchased because I thought I 'needed' them and (2)getting rid of said needed items. I did have a rather disturbing thought today....if a person was of a very sensitive nature, he/she might have their feelings hurt because strangers, and possibly friends, shop at your sale and then walk away empty-handed! Do they not like your stuff....stuff that you paid 'good money' for and now feel the need to pass on?

To quote Richard Rubin in his article in the July/August '09 AARP magazine: "For as long as people have owned things, they've also found cause, from time to time, to get rid of them. Someone somewhere near you, seeking simplicity and following the spirit of karma or cosmic oneness or casting one's bread upon the waters, will decide, for a mere pittance, to pass some of his or her most treasured possessions on to total strangers, one of whom may be you. At the same time, someone somewhere near you, looking to clean out their hovel and make some quick bucks, will sucker total strangers, one of whom may be you, into paying for the privilege of caring off their trash. These two disparate events may actually be happening at the same house, on the same lawn, or in the same garage,. Which one you attend may become clear to you only the following morning, or week , or month, or perhaps only when you show someone else what you bought and tell them how much you paid for it. If it was the former, congratulations and welcome to the club: but if it was the latter please accept my condolences. And welcome to the club."

Yep, I've been on both sides of the fence, errr, yard.

I'm proud to say that I "made" $80 today. I could have made more, but I had the pleasure of giving some things away. As you well know, money isn't everything--even at a yard sale.

A Moment in Time

Yep, I had another one of 'those moments' a little while ago. It seems like only yesterday that I was helping dress my little cherub to take her to Vacation Bible School at our church. She has been every year since she was old enough.

Only this year, she is now an "assistant" to the teachers~ something she has always wanted to do. I can't wait to hear what age group she was assigned to and what all happened with the 'little ones' that my Maggie used to be.

Time marches on.

HELP, I'M DROWNING-but not in water...

Junque. Junk. Clothes. Treasures. Trash. Garbage.

Where did it all come from?!?!
The "Neighborhood Yard Sale" next Friday has prompted the cleaning/purging of the house, starting (and possibly ending, due to the multitude of the job and time) with the utility/laundry room.*

During my continued efforts, I have found a 1990 Rand McNally Road Atlas, numerous gift bags and tissue paper, and several former attempts at becoming "organized". Yes, once again, I will strive for organization of art supplies, paper plates, plastic utensils, Tupperware, Pampered Chef show tools and items of business, vintage childrens books, sewing notions, seasonal decorations, yard/garden hand tools and various other items that have landed there. I hope I will find some kind of buried treasure...who knows, it just might be in there!

*Rosy has threatened several times to strike a match to it. He didn't because he said it was attached to the house. lol

Potty Post

Gillenwater Manor is nearing the end of "Bathroom Remodeling". (Pictures of the completed version will be posted upon completion.)

As of yesterday evening, we have two 'used' toilets on the carport. The one on the right has been here since the house was built in 1956. The other (which is way too low) was a hand-me-down from a bathroom job Rosy did a few years ago. We opted to "GO GREEN" and purchase a water saver toilet this go around.

I hope our neighbors and anybody else driving by are not envious of our wealth of commodes. In fact, they are probably saying to themselves...."You might be a REDNECK if you have one or more toilets on your carport!" Well, our true lineage is shining forth...now, you really know us!

Early Summer Bounty

Today, I got a little carried away at our local produce market near our house. My purpose for stopping in was to get grapes to put in my chicken salad. When I walked in, I lost control and proceeded to SHOP for the fresh bounty that lay before me. A friend had already given me fresh turnips so I passed those at the market and went for the 'fresh' 1/2 runner green beans, okra, 'new' potatoes to go in my beans, yellow crook-neck squash, zucchini, Georgia peaches and Grainger County tomatoes, Peaches and Cream corn on the cob, along with a half gallon of buttermilk for my cornbread that will HAVE to be baked with this good ole country grub.

I honestly feel sorry for those folks who never have the blessed opportunity to feast on such. The only thing better is getting the same fresh fare at our "Farmers Market" fresh from the East Tennessee soil. Oh my, this is something to look forward to. Better yet, sharing it with family and friends around our table.

BTW-Guess who forgot the grapes!?!?! I had to go back and get them after I loaded the car and got ready to pull out of the parking lot.