All Before Dance Class

breakfast on the new un-named patio, even if it was a little warm

she just does these things

 hit up a yardsale and got a slide, a chair, six pieces of Hull, an Ella Fitzgerald Christmas record, three antique tins, a roll of screening, and a giant ladle. I mean a giant frigin ladle.

In Search Of The Elusive Yardsale

We set out yesterday morning to begin the time honored tradition of yardsale hunting. Bargains are out there to be found. We just needed to track them down. Last summer we got two highback basket chairs for $10, a bicycle for $15 and a stratocaster for $9. We can do better. All we had to do was spot all those colorful posters with black arrows pointing us in the right direction. Should be easy.

We got as far as our storage unit with not a sign of yard junk, so we stopped in to change the account with which they withdraw money. Errands take precedence. Then we headed out towards Delaware Water Gap because we had so much luck there before. Still nothing. We got breakfast and zig zagged thru some other backroad neighborhoods. Strike three. We decided to head out towards our CSA since today was the opening day for their buying store (which we later found out we were members of by default and had no idea) but found nothing on the way there either. We did however take in the delicious vinegars and cheeses offered by our farmers and Laura snatched up some Jurassic sized rhubarb. Someone's having pie soon.

From there we decided to go out to 611, by backroad of course, to an antique shop that we've always wanted to stop at but never had the luck of driving by when it's open. Some of these antique shop owners can be downright lazy. We weren't there for 5 minutes when there was an emergency that needed the assistance of running water and naturally, there was none to be had. Maybe another day.

Oh ad still no yardsales.

One last stop over in the commercial district, looking for work jeans and being sucked in by puppy day at the pet store. Yuula took a liking to the fish.

Looks like we're dragging that old tank out of storage.

And not a single yardsale all day.

Snowballing The Bazaars

We went out early this morning with the intent to drop off the recycling and maybe stop by a yardsale or two and try and see what we could see. But what took place is that off garage sale legend, and by the time we had returned to the house just before noon we felt like we had just driven thru the town robbing our neighbors.

The list of things we bought varies, some things being impulse buys, some being longtime wants or needs, but we came away from six of seven yardsales satisfied customers.

Small stuff like an angel food cake pan ($3), a ceramic planter($.50), a fox/rabbit mug ($.75), a real boomerang ($1), a handmade baby girl sweater ($1), some hooks (to hang the hammock in the shed) ($3), two candle lanterns ($6), dandelion jelly ($6), and an antique gardening kit ($3).



Also scored this sweet picnic basket ($2). I smell an outing.



Laura also picked up these two handbags($7) from an all too eager saleslady.



The big buys were the real steals. Two highback wicker chairs ($10), a wicker serving tray for the patio ($1) & a bike ($15)!



At first Laura didn't like it, til the lady took $10 off the price. Then she loved it.



All this for only $60. Not bad huh? Yuula learned a valuable lesson today. How to sleep thru yardsale day.



We celebrated with a cookout...



...til it rained.

A Guitar, Kittens & Korma At Least

Today we filled the storage space. There's very little room left in there, but there's much more room upstairs and in the shed so... win/win. We also went on a hunt for a daybed for the continuing transformation of the laundry room into guest bedroom. So far we have curtains. We hit up a few places, trying not to pay full price of course and struck out, but at the third yardsale I picked myself up a little consolation prize...



And for only $9! The youngest daughter was manning the shop at the time and since she seemed to have no idea and blurted out the first number that came to mind I said "Deal!" before she could reneg. But we did pick up the pace down the driveway when we heard the Dad come out and say "You sold the guitar for $9?!". Oh well.

I sweat about twelve gallons of fierce strawberry gatorade today, between all the loading and unloading and reshaping of rooms. The back room is now the baby's room and the office is now the front room. These names have meaning. And we moved Gabuk up to the front room, along with her 5 kittens, and she seems more than content. Much nicer accommodations than the old doghouse outside. And Fawsja's are roaming the house nowadays, entering that sickeningly cute phase of hopping about and chasing feet. Couple more weeks for them.



Add to that, I went to a record store today and for the first time made money. I met a west coast man there, made a few suggestions, and felt good about helping him in his aimless search. Poor guy. I should've given him my number. He's gonna need help again. And then Laura made chicken korma and we watched The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassusm which was... interesting. The Mets are down by 6, two innings away from being swept. Good way to start off the second half. I think it's time for bed....

Oh, Ike Davis just hit a two run homerun. It's something.