RUMMAGE SALE WEEKEND, PART 2

I was off to the rummage sale at 8:30 Saturday morning (March 7), the doll sitting primly in the passenger seat beside me. “What’s going to happen?” she asked nervously. I told her I just didn’t know, but hopefully she would eventually land in a loving home. Arriving at the sale, she was pleased when workers admired her. I slipped her back on the toy table.

Yard-salers were lined up at the door well in advance of the 9:00 o’clock opening. (Yes, 9:00. With one exception, we are all seniors, and we need our rest!) Shoppers are an assertive lot, so occasionally one would slip in the back door, and we would politely remind them of the opening time.

That first hour is crucial. That’s when we make the money. The room was packed with people, and they lined up and waited patiently to make their purchases. The doll was gone in that first wave of shoppers, and I hope she finds a home with a little girl, but it’s possible she is still in transit. The first shoppers are often the “professionals” looking for desirable items at bargain prices to sell online or at their own sales.

As expected, the salesroom was quiet by 10:00, but shopping remained steady for the next hour or so. At 12:30, shoppers came (or returned) for our one-hour “bag sale” – all you can stuff into a paper bag for $3.00. That’s when we remove from the floor any items we don’t want to sell at bargain prices.  

Promptly at 1:30, husbands arrived and we began to work as fast as we could to box and bundle the leftovers and carry them to waiting pick-ups to be transported to a thrift store. A beautiful set of queen sheets was left on the table, so it came home with me, as well as a couple of jigsaw puzzles, some ribbed-knit tank tops (useful as ribbing on knits for dolls), and a large needlepoint throw pillow with a rooster on it for the sofa at the farm.

There’s always a good story or two. One of our pricer/cashiers told me that a man arrived at her table with a couple of Ty Beanie Baby Easter bunnies which she had donated. These had been decorative items in her home and were in excellent condition. She was disappointed to hear that he was buying them as chewies for his dog. That’s the way it goes with a rummage sale. Hopefully, the doll met with a better fate. KW

RUMMAGE SALE WEEKEND

This year's haul from the rummage sale. The doll will return to the sale.

I always look forward to my P.E.O. chapter’s annual rummage sale, even though it’s a lot of work and a little harder for our membership with each passing year. But when you like stuff – and I like stuff – it’s kinda fun. Set up was today. The sale is tomorrow.

And what did I find this year?

·      Books – Mike and I both selected a few. The most interesting of mine is a book of Christmas stories published in 1945.

·      A standard Pyrex pie plate. I was wishing not too long ago that I had second one, and there it was at the sale.

·      A brand new water bottle – at least, it looks brand new.

·      A “Snap-Wear” plastic container, which I will us for fabric storage.

·      Various other “smalls.”

·      A small tablecloth in a strawberry motif, a nice accent piece for the table at the farm.

The “find” that made my day was a “Hot Wheels” case filled with cars in good condition, and I know who gets it. When Hazel gets new clothes, “little brother” feels left out. He’s complaining that he never gets anything, so this should hold him for a while.

Original outfit

A dress I made

I also found an 18-inch “Our Generation” doll, Target’s answer to the American Girl. However, I only brought her home to clean her up, and she cleaned up ever so nicely. I like this doll! She’s more poseable than the American Girl. I think a doll is more fun if she has some clothes, so I provided some from my stash that turned out too small for Hazel. KW

IS IT AN EPIDEMIC OR NOT?

Bare shelves at a Seattle grocery store

The present concern for the development of the “novel coronavirus” reminded me of the great swine flu epidemic of 1918. It was before my time, of course – because it was mostly before everyone’s time – but my parents remembered it and spoke about it from time to time. My mother was about eight at the time, and her family didn’t get sick, but she remembered helping her mother deliver food to the sick and quarantined.

And what did they do to protect themselves? Mother said she wore garlic around her neck, which probably didn’t do much good except maybe to keep others from coming too close, unless they were wearing garlic, too. Who knows? Maybe it worked.

So far, we have not curtailed our activities on account of the present virus scare, but a state of emergency has been declared for Washington state due to illness events in the Seattle area. Thinking the day might come when we wouldn’t want to venture out, Mike and I shopped for a few groceries. I really think we have enough food on hand so that we wouldn’t starve in the foreseeable future, but the issue might not be illness so much as the lack of available goods due to panic, whether or not it’s warranted.

The above picture was taken by son-in-law Nick at a Seattle grocery store on Sunday (March 1). Looks like shoppers anticipate the need for broth. I guess that makes sense. 

My P.E.O. chapter is sponsoring its annual rummage sale this coming weekend. Preparations continue. KW