Last Wishes.

One of my favorite (and least favorite) types of garage sales are the ones when Grandma and Grandpa are moving into a home...or well, have moved on from this world. I have been to quite a few in my day, and I must say, its terribly eerie to wander through someone's home that's now completely void of life and character. The only thing left are the assumed children who are putting on the garage sale. Often there are tables set up haphazardly, with all of the homeowner's worldly possessions laid out, but now with a price tag on them. Beyond those tables, all furniture is gone (unless its for sale), all pictures have been removed from the walls, and all that's left to do is shampoo the carpets and give it a final wipe down.

These are my least favorite garage sales because there is such a sense of finality about it. Its a clear reminder that you can't take your stuff with you. None of it. (*A shame really. I think I could put on a rather lovely tea party in the afterlife). I love browsing the random little collections of pins, hats, dolls, cologne bottles, tea cups, costume jewelry, records, 8-tracks, you name it, they had a collection of it. Its amazing (and occasionally disturbing) to see what one can accumulate over a lifetime.

On the other hand, these garage sales can be a source of great deals. Often the children just want to be done with it, and move on with their lives. Generally by the time they've gotten around to the garage sale, they've already set aside all of the things that will remind them of their dearly departed. So now they are just trying to make some extra money off what they can before everything else goes to the local Sally Ann.

Unfortunately, the garage sale yesterday was not a source of great deals. In fact, it was shockingly overpriced, and I bought nothing. Unfortunately for the garage salers, as someone who originates from Vancouver Island, I would never, ever, ever pay $3 for two clam shells. Or heck, $3 for some random tree fungus. Or how about $5 for a pair of costume earrings from 1983 in decade appropriate colors (eg. hot pink and green). While the wooden peach crates from the Okanagan were adorable, and definitely authentic, I wouldn't pay $7 for them, mainly because I just thought they were plain cute, but beyond that had no real use for them. Or how about the collection of rotary dial phones, at $25 apiece. Hmm, I think not.

This is the part where my last wishes come in. When that day comes, you know, that fateful day when I've passed on from this earth, I suspect some poor soul (likely my husband) will have to conquer the mountains of my randomly collected treasures (ahem, junk) in my home. Well, please, do me a favor, and let my thrifting legacy continue. Seriously, I want my final garage sale to be one of deals galore. A garage sale that people talk about for years to come. A garage sale where cars are piling up in the back alley, on the road, people have to park a block away just to find a parking spot. I want an EPIC garage sale!

Below is an example of an epic garage sale. Not like I bought a lot, but in this instance, I didn't need to. This was one of my first garage sales of the season, so its always nice when your first is a good one. He was a jolly, well-natured man, and just the kind of person who you want to buy from. Not to to mention, not trying to swindle you for every last penny (please, no penny-pinchers at my final garage sale!).

He had these two paintings, by Victor Zag. Not worth terribly much, but based on the sheer size of them (at least 4' x 3'), and the fact that I quite like them, should make them a little more expensive. He had them $10 apiece, but he said how about $10 for both (I didn't even ask, he offered). Sold! I think these will be in our dining room. They go perfectly with my colors. Yippee!
And another...
The frames aren't real wood, but some sort of plastic, but you really can't tell. I think the frames need to be painted white to go better with the room, as we don't have very much that's dark and heavy on the walls. Rob thinks no painting needs to take place...but I'll work on that ;)

My other great find was this shelving unit thing. I really want more functional storage in our pantry, so he asked how much I would be willing to pay for the shelves, and I said, "I'm so out of practice, I have no idea." He said "$5." I said "Wow." He said,"That's too much?" I'm like, "Nope, sold!" He has all of the brackets (plus extras) as well, as a total of 6 shelves. All in incredible, barely-used condition. Yippee!
So there you have it. Some great deals were had yesterday. As well as some deep thoughts about my last will and testament. A Starbucks Frappucino was also thrown into the mix. I call that a successful afternoon of garage saling!