Yard Sales

Do you like to go to yard sales? Have you ever been to a yard sale? Have you ever had a yard sale? Or, do you hate yard sales? Think the idea of buying other people's junk is awful?

My grandmother LOVED to go to yard sales on Saturdays. On most Saturdays growing up, we (my mother, brother, and I) spent the morning taking my grandmother ("Maw") to yard sales. It wasn't until recently that I realized that my mother had been doing this with my grandmother since she was in her 20's. As a child, I enjoyed going to yard sales. As a teenager, I still liked them, but I was always afraid that someone I know might SEE me so I would always look out of the car before getting out. Sometimes I would sit in the car during that time in my life! I also fondly remember that my brother and I used to think it was funny when my grandmother would unknowingly buy "stylish" clothes from yard sales and wear them to work in the garden. The item I remember most was a pink Polo brand shirt and my brother and I always got a good laugh when we would see her wearing this shirt! She had no clue that in our eyes it was too stylish to be wearing just to work in the garden! My grandmother has passed away but my mom and I still enjoy going to yard sales together. Perhaps it is partly because of the tradition and remembering the times that we did this with Maw. Nolan has learned to enjoy going to yard sales. Several years ago before we had even gotten out of the car, he had spotted a western play set that he wanted. It was a dollar or so and he played with that toy more than most other toys he's ever had! I think that he appreciates the fact that most anything he picks out he can get! Elijah is just catching on this year and learning that he can find "treasures" at yard sales!

We do not go to yard sales every Saturday but we like to go at least a couple of times during the nice weather. This morning there were a couple of "good-sounding" sales in the area so we thought we would check them out. All but one of them turned out to be "not-so good" for us. At one, though, I got quite a bit of items for only $20 - 2 real t-ball bats, 2 boxes of canning jars, a toaster oven (for the camper), 4 books (yes, more books!), 1 book with sounds (for Elijah), a toy car wash/auto repair shop (Nolan picked this out for Elijah), a super hero figure (for Nolan), a dress, 7 shirts (Gap, American Eagle, Old Navy, Aeropostale), a pair of pants for work, a Nike bookbag, 2 kitchen utensils, and, last of all, a brand new Vidalia Chop Wizard (my favorite!!). My grandmother would be proud of me, don't you think???