Saturday, July 25, 2009

FROM PIGS TO POTATOES


The first driveway I visited this morning was neatly edged with plastic bins, each filled with clothing for a baby girl. Each marked with the sizes…2 mo., 4 mo., 6 mo… The lady having the sale noticed me looking at them and said ruefully, “First granddaughter. Everyone went a little crazy.” Hope some young moms got to this sale, looked like these things had been worn maybe once. And they would have had to change her clothes about five times a dayfor her to wear everything before she outgrew it!

Another sale had a lot of clothing, this time for adults. “I'm arranging it all by color,” the seller told me, hanging up a denim shirt in the blue section. I mentioned that they do that at the Goodwill stores around here. “Oh, I know, and it makes me crazy,” she said. “I don’t know why they don’t arrange by size.” She hung up a shirt in the white section as she spoke.

It was a singularly dog-less morning, but I did meet this nice kitty, Tiger.

Several sales were of the deluded types that believe they are really antique fairs. Or as my friend Marcia says, those folks are way too proud of their stuff. One of these had some fun items but I was about to leave because the prices were so high. But then the fellow having the sale mentioned as he passed me to ignore the marked prices, they were dealing. Ahhh, music to my ears! A basket with ornamental bird nests and blown glass birds was marked $20, so I asked what they might take for just one of the birds. His mother came over and we started talking. Apparently she is quite a collector and decorator. She said she has hundreds of pieces in her Humpty Dumpty collection, and then there’s her Alice in Wonderland collection, and on it went. I told her about a book I was looking at this week called 500 Handmade Dolls, published by Lark Books. A couple of really nice artist made versions of Alice are in it, and she wrote down the title so she could look it up this evening. (Lark has done a whole series of these books, and they’re fabbo. There’s one on teapots, another on tiles, another on quilts…and having looked at them I now want to collect all those things! Check your public library, and if they don’t have the series you could ask to interlibrary loan them.)

By the time I left I'd spent $7.00 at her sale—which was less than the price marked on just one of her items. Two lessons here—always ask for a better price, and always take the time for a little schmoozing so they will want to give you that better price!

Spent a total of $13 this morning, so her sale was more than half. Here’s what I got:

This is the glass bird I picked out of the basket to get the bargaining rolling. I think it's German. I was relieved it reached home with it intact—I've broken things in my car a few times.


Little Red Riding Hood will be going to my office to live with my collection of children’s literature toys. Isn’t the little wolf doll a hoot? It's not marked, but it might be a Department 56 piece.

This little piggy is definitely Department 56—still has its $13.50 price tag.


I actually like the box as much as the ornament!
I may take this Humpty Dumpty rug to work too. Don’t think the janitors ever actually vacuum our offices so it won’t be in anyone’s way. ;o)
While I was taking its picture my pets started coming by. May have to rethink taking it to work. Everyone but Mrs. Wilberforce has stopped in to lay on it, and I expect she’ll be along soon.

Don't you love Noll's artistic pose? What a show off!

I dithered a bit over this plate, which was marked $8.

Finally asked a price, and she held up one finger, so I said sure. Then she asked me what it was marked, and I said eight bucks. So she goes, oh, then how about three dollars. Ummm, well, I liked it better at one I told her, and she said okay. Sheesh, yard sales don’t work like that—after you quote a price you move DOWN from it, not UP!
It wasn’t until I got home that I noticed the Bunny in the Moon.
Evidently it's artist made—signed Howell ’87 on the back. Anyone recognize the maker?
At other sales I found a big soft ball to play with in the pool…
…some fun candles…
…a garland to put together for Valentine’s Day…
…and a whole bunch of small tubes of the toothpaste my husband uses. I know, how unexciting, toothpaste—but I checked on the price when I was at the grocery store, where it was $1.69 per ounce. My score cost about 24 cents per ounce. I win!
And if you want to get really unexciting, my other great buy of the morning was a ten pound bag of potatoes at the 99 Cent Store. Hey, when was the last time you saw potatoes for ten cents a pound?

31 comments:

  1. MY husband always buys the practical and unexciting stuff at sales while I hunt for antiques to sell, but it saves money so it's all good. Noll is a doll!

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  2. Too hot to do much shopping this am by the time I got up, but I did find a great flannel backed plastic tablecloth for 25 cents. Stopped at the church rummage sale just two blocks from my home. Got a great frame, two blank folk art angel plaques, and a neat little rubber skeleton mask for Monkey for $2.00; almost got a neat antique mirror for a couple of bucks, but a lady literally stepped in front of me and snatched it away before I could reach for it. Guess it wasn't meant to be. Something else interesting happened at a yard sale today: a car pulled up, and a little lady with a 6-pack cooler jumped out, and offered the home owner some homemade tamales. He tried to negotiate 5 for $5, but she hung tough, and he just got four for $1.25 each!

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  3. Holy Cow , you did great ! I love all your stuff ! It does pay to be nice....I think your rug with your varmits is the cutest - even that show off kitty !
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  4. Hi there-wow you scored some grewat finds, I love the glass bird, its really very nice!! I haggle too, thats the best part of garage/boot sales!!

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  5. Does Noll give classes in kitty yoga? That is one impressive stretch!

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  6. Fun finds there....I love little stuffed things like that, and the rug is cute, but what I like most about your blog is that you are fun to read, delightful to the senses.

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  7. Good finds! I love the little bird, and I wonder how much those people wanted for their gorgeous pool. ;) Visiting from Rhoda's party. :)

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  8. You always find the most unique things out there & how cute to see your pets laying on that rug. I have been known to buy toiletries at yardsales too. Hey, a score is a score!

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  9. Wow, you got some cool stuff. Even a great price for potatoes!

    Debbie

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  10. I love all the little glass ornaments~ so colorful and playful. And cute plate- nice job...
    :-) Sue

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  11. I love the Little Red riding Hood and the pig!

    I was stupid this weekend and brought my dog along to the yard sales. All I got was worn out and everyone's opinion on how to leash train a dog. (I do mean everyone!)

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  12. the ornaments are really sweet, but i covet the rug! it would be cute in my classroom :)

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  13. You really are the queen of bargains!! Well done.

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  14. You found some adorable, whimsical things. I LOVE them! Also, LOVE the pictures of your dogs and cat on the rug....that is just too funny! My crew has to always check out new things that come into the home too.♥

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  15. I love your schmoozing idea to get better prices. Maybe I should try that. And all those little "toys" are delightful.
    Rhonda

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  16. I love that bird ornament - ones with clips are so easy to arrange on the tree.

    I get excited about bargain groceries too.

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  17. Girl, that bird is darling!! What is the deal with those people who like to say at their yardsales, "Well that piece was really expensive." I'm like, then why are you trying to sell it. It's a freakin' yard sale. Put it on Ebay if your trying to make a profit. lol.

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  18. Hi, stopping by from Rhoda's! What cute finds! I love your pets gave their approval of the Humpty Dumpty rug! Too cute!

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  19. You can never have enough toothpaste!!

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  20. You found some really great stuff. I especially love that little pig and the bunny in the moon plate is gorgeous. Stopping by from Rhoda's party, thanks for sharing.

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  21. Awesome finds! I love the box just as much as the ornament too! And that little red riding hood is sooo cute!!

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  22. I love the rabbit dish. Looks like you did great for the day!! I collect Hallmark ornaments, and sometimes the box is worth more than whats inside. Have a great day! julie

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  23. The Goodwill arranging clothes by color drives me totally nuts too. I can't stand it.

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  24. Lovely stuff! I like your animal models for the rug. Yesterday I got a lovely mirror with a fine wooden frame which I've just finished waxing. I'll blog about it later!

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  25. Oh, I adore Little Red Riding Hood so much! How cute! I was disappointed that you didn't encounter any dogs, but glad you added pics of your doggies!

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  26. Oh I love your finds. Little Red Riding Hood is unique and the little pig is too cute. My pets are the same way. Every time I get my camera out they want to be front and center. I never knew the .99cent sotore even carried potatoes.

    Stop by my blog to read my most recent “funny” Goodwill story and share one that you may have. I’m going to compile them and post them all together for everyone to enjoy!
    Kendra @ Domestic Princess in Training

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  27. Hello! Oh my, you really scored! My fave is that adorable Red Riding Hood! Thank you for sharing.

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  28. toothpaste isn't exactly as exciting as the other stuff, but its a great score!

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  29. Wow...I love all of your goodies! Fun Fun Fun... Tomorrow is another opportunity to score. Have a great hunt!

    Stay Cozy, Carrie

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I really love your comments. Thanks for coming along on my thrifty adventures!

 
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