My next door neighbor, Cathy, has a storage unit of stuff, and thought a garage sale would be a good thing. Community garage sale, that is. One little sale lost in two hundred homes could just be lost.
She asked management.
It was a good idea, and they would help, with advertising, which amounted to Facebook.
But Cathy was determined, and worked her fingers to the bone with signs and stuff.
(The other side is red!)
Mr. Next Door, who is moving to Vegas. He's done a garage sale or two in his time. When this lot cleared, he loaded up again. Today he helped get his washer and dryer onto someone's trailer.
Mr. Across the Street. Three tables of his wife's knick knacks, and his truck full of tools.
By this afternoon there was one table of knick nacks, and no tools. Not his first sale, either.
Laura was up and out at seven to help Cathy next Door set up. For orientation, that's my backdoor on the left and Cathy's front door on the right. And her drive way. And, her garage sale.
Laura, taking a break before more set up. The girl in the red top is the middle girl across the street. She's a bit difficult.
I spent two days keeping Cathy company under the umbrella. I cannot imagine putting together a garage sale. I spent too many years putting a professional booth together and know how much has to be done to draw the public. Cathy did a good job.
The little girl from across the street demanding candy and money from Cathy, who wasted a good deal of time reasoning with her. The next time the demands occurred, Cathy and I were sitting under the umbrella. I told the young thing not to speak so meanly. "I will if I want!'
"Not where I can hear," responded I.
She huffed across the street to her porch, by the turquoise truck, where we saw her for the rest of yesterday and all of today.
I wondered if it's my wrinkly face or my wrinkly voice that stops youngsters short.
"Or, something they never heard before," volunteered Cathy, who is exactly the age of my daughters.
This little girl was standing near Cathy this morning, and was quick to point me out to Cathy when I came down the back steps to sit with Cathy. Miss Blue Dress is Miss Yesterday's younger sister. My reputation obviously preceded me. She scored the blue dress from another yard saler; the skirt back has torn away. Miss Blue Dress couldn't care less, and we had a grand day chatting.
Rain is forecast for tomorrow, and Cathy is about wiped out. Probably the end until the second annual.
I suspect Cathy is right. Not something she has heard before. AND delivered in a calm, no nonsense wrinkly voice. Hopefully it will stick. Or some of it.
ReplyDeleteShe knew you meant business, something she was unfamiliar with. A good learning experience for the child.
ReplyDeleteHate smart mouthed kids and the adults who breed them
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteQuiet discipline; dogs and kids know by some primeval instinct when the line is drawn... Hope Cathy will be satisfied with receipts and not have too much left over to re-pack! YAM xx
Oh so much work, for so little gain. Each time I participate, I say never again.
ReplyDeleteIt looks to be a successful yard sale. So much work but they can be fun too.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved a good rummage through those tables. Here the garage sales are mostly musty old clothes and rusted tools.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for speaking up to the little demander. I like the little blue dress, could the skirt be fixed?
Any type of garage sale can be hard to organize, but I imagine a community one would involve a bit more. Looked like a good amount of participation. I more than likely will never have another one (not much to have in the first place) but it was fun to haggle with people over prices :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Kids need (and crave) rules. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteGarage sales are really a US thing Joanne and they rarely occur here in the UK - or certainly not around here - maybe more in towns I suppose. We do have car boot sales which I think are probably similar.
ReplyDeleteGarage sales are a good idea. The nearest thing we have to them in the U.K. are car-boot sales. People always want to get rid of old junk.
ReplyDeleteIn this part of the UK we have lots of garage sales, and the next village has an annual village garage sale where every house has the front porch and yard displaying their wares and signs pointing in the direction of all those joining in.
ReplyDeleteI do not hesitate to speak up in the way you describe re. the child in red. it is an Aries thing.
I forget we both are Aries.
DeleteI forget we both are Aries.
DeleteThere are way too many children out there who do not hear the word "no" from the adults around them. I think you did the right thing! I've put on a few garage / yard sales over the years and we just aren't in a good location (not on a main road), so they are never as successful as I want. I vowed 'never again' after the last one. It's not the dragging out and pricing and setting up that's the problem, it's what to do with the stuff that you didn't sell that is the difficulty. -Jenn
ReplyDeletetoo many garage sales are just people's old clothes and plastic ware. although I have found an item or two at some of the better ones. I won't do them myself. too much work, too hot, not enough money. I just donate stuff I don't want to the re-sale shop for the women's shelter. my sister and I do go to estate sales and I often find some really cool stuff at those though some of them are just glorified garage sales.
ReplyDeleteI held ONE yard sale, actually a patio sale as it was all set up on the patio, and said I would never do that again. And, I haven't. It's easier to give the stuff to Salvation Army or Goodwill than to haggle with strangers.
ReplyDeleteThe housing development I live in has an annual community-wide yard sale, but I have yet to join in. Next year for sure. I would love to get rid of about a third of my "stuff."
ReplyDeleteI would use one word: no.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
We have had many a garage sale and I have to hold my tongue at the offers I sometimes received. Gary goes to the Trash to Treasures sale here and the same thing, I think he's gone to the last one for a while. I am amazed at how some children nowadays sass back to adults, glad you put her straight. A community garage sale is a good thing; folks here advertise in the paper and have real good attendance even though our county is huge and spread out all over the countryside.
ReplyDeleteExpats here hold them when they leave the country...but I am always astonished at the high prices for items I woud be inclined to give away.
ReplyDeleteGlad that these garage sales are such a success. Over here in Hawaii, we have Swap Meets which are well attended.
ReplyDeleteThat's a big garage sale. Our church has a big one ever year. I like stopping at garage sales.
ReplyDeleteI've put on a few garage sales over the years but mostly so the kids could "earn" some money from getting rid of toys and books. It's easier now to just donate whatever is worth giving. I'm glad you spoke up to that little girl. It takes a village now more than ever because half the time the parents aren't engaged at all.
ReplyDelete