Pumpkin Center Volunteer Fire Department Yard Sale

 It was 5 a.m. when I rolled into the parking lot

at the Pumpkin Center Fire Department field.

This is an annual fundraiser for the station.

Last year, we had just moved into our new home, so we visited as browsers.

I scored by finding a large wooden drying rack

that I use year-round for drying laundry .

 This is a volunteer fire department

and the station closest to our home.

Yes, the area where we live is called Pumpkin Center.

Don't you think the trucks should be a sweet shade of orange?

Folks do love their fishing around here.

Several vendors were selling rods, reels,

tackle boxes and other fishing paraphernalia.

There were quite a few items for enjoying the outdoors.

These lanterns would come in handy 

during a power failure as well.

Vintage tools were a popular item for sale.

I just love thinking about what they had a hand in creating before they landed here.

Some items are so curious.

I should have asked about the use of these two "crank" tools.

The couple in this booth sold handmade jewelry

and handcrafted signs.

I bought myself a pair of sea turtle earrings.

 

This beautiful display by Pumpkin Center Pottery

caught my eye.

Her wares were sleek and modern, 

and very reasonably priced.

What a cute idea for using terra cotta pots!

We were there with our daisy tote tent.

We sold only a few things and have since decided

to stick with craft fairs from now on.

Although the fee for a booth was inexpensive,

the time could have been better spent doing something else.

We'll be back as shoppers next time though!

You just never know what you're gonna find.

Pumpkin Center Fundraiser

Last week, I was recovering from the vestiges of a bad cold
that hit our clan.
I was the last to get it, 
and it pretty much laid me out for a week.
Thanks to much rest and not much recreation,
we are all feeling much better.

 

On Saturday, we celebrated our renewed health with a field trip.

Our local Volunteer Fire Department was having a yard sale

to raise funds for the station.

 

The entire fleet was out to greet visitors.

 

Although vendors were told to set up at 6 a.m.,

we didn't roll in until about 8:30.

 

Some folks were selling used items,

but most vendors were selling arts and crafts.

These birdhouses and benches are made by a local

who recycles scrap wood that he has lying around.

 

Another bird house creator had a colorful display.

This would be great to put out on the porch for any patriotic holiday.

It's almost too pretty to share with the birds.

 

This crafter found a new use for clothespins.

 

In this booth, we found a woodworker

who made all sorts of signage.

We ended up bringing one of these pickup trucks home.

 

Goat's milk soap and lotion was featured by Kat Paugh Farm.

 

These kerosene lanterns were a sight.

I could imagine they have gotten quite a bit of use

on cold, wintry nights.

 It was fabulous to be out and about again,

and especially on such a picture-perfect autumn day.

We appreciate the dedication and hard work that goes into being a first responder

and we plan to support our local station as much as we can.

I hear tell that this may become a twice yearly event!

We'll be ready!

Organized Downsizing

A couple of weeks ago, 
we moved into our new cozy shack.
We love the home, the property
and the neighborhood,
but the house is about 400 square feet smaller 
than our last home in Florida.
This has required some serious paring down.
I wish we were completely unpacked and
had the house in order,
but we are taking our time in completing projects
and making this a welcoming and comfortable retreat.

 Fortunately, I embrace the minimalist lifestyle,
so it was easy for me to let go of things.
I find the process freeing,
knowing that I am making room in my life
for all the good things that God has in store for me.
Although we did rid ourselves of many household items and furniture
before we made the big move,
there was still more than we could comfortably situate in this 1400 square foot space.
We have listed quite a few things on Craig's List
and one other local forum for sale or giveaway.
We are also considering having a yard sale,
so that we can clear out many items at once.
So satisfying.

To begin, we started sorting items according to the rooms 
in which they are used.

Several of our larger moving boxes were put to the task.
One box contains things that will be given away or taken to thrift stores.
Any leftover blankets or other bedding will be donated
to the local Humane Society.
They can always use towels and blankets for the animals there.

 Any items that hadn't been used on a regular basis in the last year
(popcorn popper), are put into the kitchen box.
I had a few extra casserole dishes and storage bins
that we could do without, so they got tossed in.
We also had quite a few shelves and other things
that were here from the previous owners,
so we are dealing with those as well. 
There was another box for decorative items,
garage items and bathroom items.
I'm not one for sentimental attachments,
as I choose to focus on the memories instead of the physical object.

Giveaway box

Even if we decide to go the yard sale route,
it's always good to have a giveaway box.
Kids especially love getting something for free.

With the yard sale in mind,
it's important to have great signage.
Using a bright colored background (the same color on all signs)
and bold black letters will help folks find your sale.
Advertising on free sites is also helpful.
We like to price everything ahead of time,
 so that there is no question about how much items cost.
You can use individual stickers,
or place single-priced items on a table with signs
(all items $1).
Of course, you should expect some haggling,
and be prepared to take less than you are asking,
except for high-ticket items.
Any money made at the sale can be used for 
a multitude of ideas:

1.  holiday fund
2.  vacation fund
3.  emergency fund
4.  new furniture fund
5.  donated to a worthy cause

This process has helped me appreciate all that we have
and this new life that we are living
in our wonderful neighborhood.
Organizing just makes me feel empowered.
Keeping material items to a minimum
truly helps one focus on the important things in life.

"Gratitude makes sense of our past,
brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow."
~Melody Beattie

Something for Everyone

Saturday was a beautiful day to be outdoors.

With temps in the 70's and sunny skies looming,

Sister and I headed out to a community-wide yard sale.

How thrilled am I that I get to spend time with my favorite gal pal?

There were probably over a hundred vendors 

selling everything from funky furniture,

to hand-made crafts.

We really liked these upcycled creations 

made out of painted mason jars and pallet wood .

What a lovely addition to any home.

There were toys and clothes galore,

especially kids' clothing, as is usually found at this type of event.

We spotted these curtains with a vintage pattern.

They reminded me of some curtains that my momma had made me once.

I could see these upcycled into chair covers, a table runner or valances.

Since we're trying not to acquire too much before we move into our new house,

I passed them up.

This treasure was priced so reasonably, that it was tempting to pick it up.

The little village with the figures were so sweet.

I could picture this surrounding a Christmas tree

or showcased in a foyer or family room.

This seller also had a Lionel train set in great condition.

I can imagine many hours of wonderful memories this toy gave its owner.

I picked up just a few of these jars.
(The price says $9, but we got them for just a dollar apiece.)
These are the Atlas jars with the wire fasteners.
I really think I might need a 12-step program regarding jars.
Any jar collectors out there?

I also found a mini-Madeleine pan 
for my signature holiday cookie.
At one of our last stops,
we found hand weights, 
something that was actually on my list of things to look for. 
I am ramping up my weight-bearing workouts
to save my bones.
(That's a post for another time.)

Have you found any fabulous deals lately?

Thrifty Thursday-Recent Finds

It's been a busy fall so far,
what with putting the house back on the market,
and Sister Deb coming for a week-long visit.
She had all kinds of ideas about staging the house
and worked non-stop while she was here
to help us get ready for our new listing.

We actually had an offer on the house a few months ago,

but the folks changed their minds when they learned about the HOA,

so we took the listing off market for the rest of the summer.

When Sister came to visit a couple of weeks ago,

she was set on staging our home with lots of little projects.

Some of our belongings are already packed and stored in the garage,

so we are as decluttered as we are gonna get.

We just rearranged some of the things we have for a fresh look.

She cleaned and removed a lot of practical items from the back porch

and we picked up this cute lil' table and chairs from a Craig's List ad.

Instant extra living area.

Of course, I had to find a few flowers for the new hangout.

This pot was found at a recent community-wide yard sale.

Love the blue and white combination.

I got the placemats from the same seller.

We paid $1 for four of them.

The other three are used on the kitchen table and work well with our color scheme.

The funny thing is that the lady I bought them from

is the person who bought the house from a neighbor of mine,

who has since moved to Sarasota.

Wait until I tell her I bought something at her old house.

A thrift store find keeps the sage green theme going.

These two brand new pillows were found at an estate sale two weeks ago.

I like the way they add a pop of color to the hall tree

 that Deb painted on her first day here.

I paid just a few dollars for them both.

They had so many goodies there.

This vintage basket was one of the items picked up at the

39-mile yard sale last weekend.

What a treasure for $5!

I'm sure I'll find some way to repurpose it for something practical.

At the same event, this stool was picked up for $10.

It's large enough to place a book and a cup of coffee on

for those times when I can notch out a bit of reading time in our master bedroom corner.

I was thinking of painting over the patriotic, 

as it doesn't match our color scheme,

but perhaps a cover will do for now

until I find another place for it in our new home.

It would serve us well on a patio or front porch.

Just this week, we had to leave the house for a showing,
so that's always a great excuse for us to go thrifting.
This basket, in perfect condition, was marked at $8,
and the clerk thought the price was too high, 
and sold it to us for $5.
C has needed a new hamper for a while.
This bin holds more than a week's worth of clothes,
in case he forgets to do his wash on Wednesdays.
I like that it's open on the sides too,
so that the clothes can breathe between washings.
For now, it works well here,
but it's another item that can be repurposed in the future.

It feels good to have a fresh, new look to the house,
and hopefully, it appeals to buyers too.
We've gotten really good feedback so far,
so I think we're on the right track.
We'll keep you posted!