A BAD DAY

       I guess we all have to have a bad day or two once in a while. 

      So, here's my story.

     We have been trying to downsize for many years. One of us thinks that not much progress is made and the the other one thinks that we are getting rid of some "stuff" 

    So the neighbor across the corner was having a garage sale today. The micro manager thought that this would be a good opportunity for us to put things out and people may visit our garage sale while going to the other. 

    It was a very nasty day. Wind gusts were well into the 60 km range. It was plus 12 C. Now those two things are enough to tell me that it will be a very nasty day. I said we shouldn't have a sale with such poor weather. The Micro manager thought that it was a great opportunity for a garage sale. Words were said. Strong words were said. Finally I gave in and we rounded up stuff to put out. 

   Now a few things about garage sales. There's more to it than just putting things out. People like to see a sale with  much stuff displayed. They look at a sale with only a few things and they don't stop. You need an attractive sign. Your sign must be clear. It was so windy today that the sign was blown across the yard. Put things out so that they are attractively displayed. 

    Finally about 3 PM the micro manager gave in and said let's quit.  The neighbor next door wanted some of these articles so we invited Darcy for a visit. Darcy took about 75% of the stuff. What was left, we took to bibles for missions.

   Did we learn anything? Probably not. 

GARAGE SALE BLUES

    We've been telling ourselves that we want to downsize and get rid of extra inventory like all the things we haven't used for many years. We talk about it but are not very successful when it comes to action . 

    So Saturday we had a garage sale. Photos are from 2010 so you know how long we've been working at this.

    First of all there is one of us who doesn't believe in throwing things in the trash. Throwing things in the trash is a fast and dirty way to get rid of stuff. If you can believe it I found book makers on the sale Saturday!

    After that there should be a free bin. Anything in the bin is free. 

    Then prices should be reasonable as garage sale customers want things for cheap. We have tried not putting prices on articles and asking for offers. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. 

    Then stuff on  garage sale should have some quality. 

    Well, we were disappointed Saturday. After you spend all winter putting things in a garage sale pile and then haul it upstairs and outside and sit all day ...well . it's a lot of work. 

    On Saturday we sold very little. There wasn't a lot of traffic. 

   The only bright spot was that we sold more stuff from in the house that was not on the garage sale than actual stuff on the garage sale.! 

    We had some table clothes and sheets for sale. One lady wanted them all. Then the Micro Manger in her lightning quick logic said that there was more in the house. So the MM brought out more table cloths and sheets and the lady bought them. Can you believe that the MM still had our wedding table cloths. They were sold. Yes, the wedding table cloths have been kept for 52 years and never used.

    So we looked at each other and said, " This is not worth it." We'd planned two garage sales so we'll go through with the plan. What plan B will be you never can tell.

And I Still Hate Garage Sales

        For the last two days I have been running a garage sale at my place. I have written before about my dislike of garage sales.

       The event actually covers much more than two days. Sorting has been going on for the last two years. In the basement things have been laid aside to go on a garage sale. Then everything had to be priced.

       So all the boxes were brought up from the basement. The first weekend the sale was scrubbed by the weather. It was rainy. This weekend the weather looked like it was good to go so everything was moved outdoors and the sale started at 1:00 PM . Things were very slow. Not many people were doing the garage sale thing.

      Since I don't have a garage, only a carport, I have to be careful with the weather or all my treasures could get wet. We covered the tables with plastic and a tarp. Other things were just put in the backyard. The forecast was for a very pleasant night.

Some of the treasures laid out for sale

More junk

    

Anybody want chairs?

  At 1:08 AM there was a big flash in my eyes. I jumped up and wondered what was the matter with my eyes. I gave my head a shake or two and nothing fell off. Then there was a loud peal of thunder directly overhead. That was a bad thing! So that explained the flash in my eyes. That was a good thing. So surprise ,surprise there was a thunderstorm. In fact, there were two thunderstorms. Thunderstorms occurred even though there was nothing in the forecast. So some of my treasures did get wet.

      So the garage sale marathon finally ended. Articles were sorted again. Some things would go in the garbage. Some things would go to a charity store. And some things went back in the house for another day when we have  garage sale.

      I'm looking ahead with dread to the next garage sale! Do any of you hate garage sales?

Yes, I Had Another Garage Sale

       Today I had another garage sale as I was trying to get rid of some of my treasures. For those who have followed me for a while you know that I hate garage sales. I'm not going to go on another big whine session about garage sales.


      We prepared a number of items that we could handle without too much difficulty. So things were lined up in the living room and carefully priced. We listened to the forecast. In fact we looked at four different forecasts. It sounded like a decent day. Things were out and we were organized. Half an hour after we started it started to rain. We had about an hour of drizzle. So do I close my sale down or tough it out. We toughed it out. The weather improved and we had lots of visitors and sold a ton of stuff.


     Now you also know that one of the things I like about garage sales are the characters who come by. Today a four year old and his Dad paid us a visit. When the kid got out of the SUV I noticed that he had what looked like a sock with a weight in it. He would swing it around and I wondered what kind of toy he had. His Dad bought a couple of things. The little guy wanted to buy a board game set. By this time he had told me there was money in his sock. He also told me that he had three other socks with money in. So he made his purchase with his Dad's help to sort the money out. So it looks like it pays to "keep your money in a sock."


     There's always an interesting garage sale customer and this little guy was the winner today.


      Now my apologies for no picture. I'm not in the habit of carrying a camera with me. I'm too active and would probably go through a few cameras. Anyway that's my excuse for the missing picture.

Garage Sale Character #2

         A garage sale character who showed up only once has been remembered at all my garage sales since. She was known as the "Crazy Lady." Anytime since then when things slow down we say, "We need the Crazy Lady to show up.

        About 7 garage sales ago we were at the end of the day and ready to start packing up. The day had been slow and was disappointing because not much was moved. As happens quite often just before you close, there is a flurry of activity. A customer showed up and she began going around picking up numerous items. She seemed to find many things she could use or liked for various reasons. She would pile things up and say that was all . We would start to add things up. Before we could total up the cost of items she would find some more things. Needless to say, we did well just at the end of the day with one customer. To top it all off we found that many of the things she paid for were left in various places. Because of this behaviour she became known as the "Crazy Lady." 


       So just like the famous "Fat Lady" we have our crazy lady who we wait for to come and make our day a good one.

Garage Sale Character #1

       Of the many garage sale customers one gets, there are a few who stand out because of some unique behaviour and characteristics. Most people arrive, take a look , make comments, ask questions and either buy something or leave. A few comments may be made and that's all.

      I have been involved in about 10 sales. One character has been to most sales and has left an impression on me because he has some rather interesting behavior. He has a rather thick central European accent with a bit of a speech impediment. He comes across as a buffoon by making some goofy comments. However, when you reply to his comments he has a very witty come back. So he skillfully sets you up. His chatter is almost continuous. He does not drive but has a driver. His line the other day was that he would like me to drive him as the other "guy" was starting to be cranky and how much would I charge him. Home Farm Girl suggested that she would pay him to take me. He ran with that comment and teased her as to what kind of woman she was to want to get rid of me.

     At my daughter's sale he bought a university text from an art course she took. It turned out that he was very knowledgeable about art. There definitely was another side to him that showed he was no buffoon. He could discuss art with a great deal of authority.

     He cruises around your sale with his constant chatter. Then he quickly choses several items, makes his purchase and leaves. He probably attends most garage sales and follows the same pattern of behaviour. I'm sure many of the people in my town will know who I'm talking about. Probably none of us know his name.

I Hate Garage Sales

       I hate garage sales! Well, I hate only 50% of them . I hate my own garage sales. I like everybody else's garage sale.

       My own garage sale is a tremendous amount of work and bother. First, I have to sort through all my possessions and make a decision on each one. Do I need this anymore? Do I use this article? When's the last time I used this thing? Much consideration has to be given before I decide this is kept, goes on a garage sale or is thrown out. Then the garage sale pile is set up. All items then must be priced. A gamble for a suitable sale day or days is made. All precious articles then must be hauled out to tables for display. This year we had a wide variety of items...sports  equipment, clothing, nick knacks yard stuff. Take a look at the pictures to see the wide variety.

      Through all these steps consultation has to be made with Home Farm Girl. Some of this is done easily and quickly and some of it results in strenuous debate and argument. Some of these issues are not resolved for years.

      This year Home Farm Girl had a chance to go through her massive clothing inventory and prepare about 40 items for sale. Historically she was a size 4. She is no longer size four so the decision was simple...sell some clothes.

      Sale day or days occur and some things sell and some are left. We have usually decided ahead of time what comes back into the house and what never comes back and goes to a charity. It's always interesting to see what loony things sell quickly and what quality items are ignored. All of this may be interesting but it mystifies me.

     So my garage sale for this year has come and gone. It was quite successful. And yes, all the eager customers who come for a look are as much enjoyment as getting rid of some of my useless. treasures.