Oh, NO, WEEKEND'S OVER - IT'S MONDAY!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Yesterday, Sunday, weather was very muggy and overcast, so not a good day to do anything outside - also intermittent showers.

Today is very pretty, although still muggy, so I can hang some laundry out to dry.

Once-a-month bill-paying nightmare is over once again, until first of September.

On Friday morning, looking at the local paper's yard-sale ads, I saw one or two that began on Friday instead of Saturday and went to one.

Mostly red-neck tchotchkes - (Yiddish) an inexpensive showy trinket)

BUT, one of the ladies who set up there had a set of dishes, vintage 1960s or so, which were made by ROYAL CHINA, Sebring, Ohio, in the "Star Glow" pattern, also referred to as "Atomic" and "Sputnik" because of the times they were made.

She was mad because her husband had paid "too much" for them and snuck them to the sale (not at her house) and sold the set for $20 - considerable bargain, since the platter and the serving bowl alone sell for $17 each plus shipping online.

So, good deal for me.

On Saturday, we went to Danville, mainly to go to Aldi's and Sam's Club, but I decided to check out a yard sale in a nice section, near Averett Unversity.

An elderly lady there used to be a dealer but is now cleaning out her house "so her kids won't have to do it." Also, I believe she really needed some cash because we got two original oil paintings for five dollars each!

By this time is was about 11 and I think she figured this was her last chance.

I saw they were signed and asked about them. She said they were done by a local amateur painter, a Jewish man who owned a clothing store down town. His widow had given her several of them after his death, many years ago.

According to the seller, when his man was alive, his Jewish friends would pay "$300 to $400" for his works. This may have been true, because they are very good and even framed. Nice find.

Had to stop at Midtown Market - nice, little meat-and-grocery chop - and get a oatmeal cookie "sandwich."

DAY OF GREAT YARD-SALE BARGAINS!

This morning we left the house early, if not bright -- neither of us had slept much last night -- to check ou a yard sale at the old Lowe's building in our little town, which is from time to time used, either inside the building of out, as a venue for yard sales for organizations or benefits.

Today's was put on by some Lowe's emloyees (at the new store down the road) for a fellow-employee in need.

The best part was that they had purchased for one price a bunch of Lowe's merchandise that was no longer being stocked or only a few remained. etc.

We were lucky enough to attend another such sale as the same location, only inside (this was outside) put on by the Church of God for a missionery trip, about three years ago. That one also featured, along with much other merchandise a buy-out from tne new Lowe's. At that one we got many super-bargain table lamps -- top brands -- and ceiling lights.

Today's Lowe's bargains were many and mainly for Jim, which doesn't happen often.

1. A miter saw, brand new, only with the blade missing, for $15. I checked online and Jim checked in the store, later in the day, and found out that this saw sells for nearly $300! The only thing "wrong" with it was that the blade was missing, and they can be bought for $30.

2. A automatic nail gun (Jim has had one of these on his "wish list" for a long time) for $20, new in box, and marked originally at $80.

3. Two batteries for a Dreml tool he has. The batteries for that model are no longer made, which is probably why Lowe's took them out of stock, but who cares, they would be hard to find. The original prce was $25 and he got them for $2.50, new in pack.

4. I got two sets of high-end, exquisite lampshades, new with overwrap.

One is a Waverly fabric Toile Du Jouy that exactly matches a large amount I bought when an upholstery store in NC was going out of business.

The other set is silk in a candlelight color.

Going from what they had in stock today, each of those lampsahdes would cost from $40 to $50 EACH.

I paid $1 each fo the toile pair and $2 each for the silk pair.

For Beth, for a gift, I got a copper plant holder stand for $2 whose original price was $30.

We were the first ones there, and boy, did it pay!

Then we had to go back to the new Lowe's later in the day because when we got home from the sale, we discovered water on the kitchen floor from the faucet. We knew it had to be replaced, but it had turned into an emergency.

I am very tired, but so pleased with our finds.

M LIFE AND TIMES

I am not at all sure where this blog will take me, or where I will take it, but TODAY, I am thinking along the lines of three subjects:

1. Yard sale, rummage sale, auction finds.

2. Recipes I am trying.

3. Books I have found and/or read.

joey