This is why I don’t bother with the World’s Longest Yard Sale

No doubt we’ll be regaled with purchases made on the World’s Longest Yard Sale on many blogs this week. This might make you sad if you didn’t get to go. Well, let me tell you, it ain’t what it’s cracked up to be. Everybody talks about how much fun it was and all the bargains they got, but I don’t see it. Maybe it’s better farther north, but here in the South? Ugh. What’s fun about sweltering in near 100° heat, the only respite being to get in the car and drive the 100 feet to the next sale? No potties. People darting out in front of you to cross the HIGHWAY – not just a street, mind you. Remember the lady who was killed some years back? Got hit by a car. And it really should be called the World’s Longest Flea Market with dealers selling at retail.

This year it was extended to within 30 miles of me and I still chose to stay in town. I went several years ago, maybe a year or two after it started. We started out in Gadsden, Alabama, which is a little more than an hour from here. And for the above mentioned reasons, I said, “never again.” I’ll admit I was tempted this year, it being so close, but refrained. And did well.

I only went to 2 estate sales, a church sale, 1 regular, itty bitty yard sale, a junk store and a thrift store. All but the one yard sale were inside, so no major sweating going on. Aside from going to the junk store and thrift, I’d have only used a couple of gallons of gas, if that. But we went to my daughter and son-in-law’s house 70 miles away and hit the junk store and thrift there. Oh, and prices were great. If I’d had a hundred bill, I’d still have a big chunk of it left. Here’s what I came home with.

First sale was the church sale. It was supposed to start at 6:30, but when I got there at 6:20, people were already in there shopping, but I still loaded up.

Tupperware stacking thingies, blown glass ruffled bowl, spice jars, spaghetti Santa, cinnamon refresher oil, and the cutest, 1971 Little Miss Cotton trophy.

I hear these lighted ceramic Christmas trees are good sellers around here. But they’re missing the bulb things. Where do I find them?

Flower pin and Lucite rings. I can never seem to resist them.

Books for reading, books for listening and books for cooking. All for selling.

This box of cameras was 50¢. I bought it for the camera on the right. I’m wanting to use a few old cameras in a room redo I have planned.

Spice rack with jars and shakers. I plan to paint it. It’s hard to tell, but that vintage rack has a burlap back.

A mail sorter. Something else to paint.

Something to craft with. A jar for bath salts and have you seen the little picture frame somebody did using an outlet cover? Take the plug things out and put pictures in the little openings. This cover is old and metal. I think it’ll make a good one.

I believe that was all for the church sale. The yard sale only produced one book. So next up was the first estate sale.

Hmmm… seems like there must have been more from that one, but maybe not. At least not that day. This picture has some bark cloth, a Christmas choir girl, an old metal picture frame, two sailboat place mats, a book on Sylacauga history and a 1921 college notebook. What you can’t see is an Art Deco copper belt buckle.

On to the next estate sale. It was half price day and I was almost out of money. Would have bought so much more, but I spent what I had and got this:

Three afghans and one chenille.

Bingo board and cards, a couple more jars for bath salts, lace gloves and a pocket watch with no hands or face. Most of the world would wonder why on the pocket watch, but I know that you understand the uses. Clock face, parts, “frame”…

It was almost lunchtime and I’d planned on spending the afternoon painting a couple of small things, but Erin and Chris’ air conditioner wasn’t working, so we went down there to help. Or Ricky and Chris worked on the AC while Erin and I went to the junk store and thrift. At the junk store I got these things:

I’m torn between keeping or selling.

I bought a few things from the thrift, but they were to craft with and pretty boring.

That was all for Saturday, but wait! I’m not done! Went back to the first estate sale on Sunday for half price and got:

Tablecloth fabric and old iron on transfer patterns.

And………….

Earbobs! I see rings and bracelets in here. Can’t wait to make some!

I always seem to do well on the WLYS weekend by staying local. There were a few more things not pictured, a firescreen and a little metal stand with heart shapes on the sides that I thought would be cute for Valentine’s. And Ricky went with me for the half price sale on Sunday and loaded up with a lot of tool things AND one of those old, hea-veee, filing cabinets for $5.00.