8/16/08

My neighborhood garage sale

Bernal Heights had its annual garage sale today. We sold a ton of stuff last year, and this year we have less. As it should be.

I doubt we'll even participate next year.

I had some plants to get rid of, including these daylilies I bought for my client's garden but did not use.

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(actually, that's Epilobium canum on the right.)

Some natives. L-to-R Ribes malvaceum, Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman', Berberis nevinii.

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$1 each. They all sold.

I sold a leather jacket I haven't worn since...I can't even remember. $20.

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I've been selling my comic book collection on EBay for about a year now. I sold off the rest of it today for $100.

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I meant to include these busts from my grandmother's house in last year's sale, but they were in a closet and I forgot about them. Hideous! But someone bought them today for $5 (and I think they're actually worth much more).

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The idea is to sell stuff tho', not to pay off the mortgage. Guy says we made $260. (It's all going toward Penny's vet bill.) In general, I think Americans have lost the spirit of the garage sale where you sell stuff cheap. Instead, people expect to make a lot of money.

This lady wanted $25 each for these shells. They were big, like melons. I thought, "Lotusland!" But $75 for all three? I didn't even try to haggle with her.

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I didn't buy any pots

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Or tools.

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I didn't buy any women's shoes

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or snowglobes.

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I didn't buy any paintings

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or plates.

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I didn't buy chairs

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or drums

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or creepy Zuni fetish dolls.

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No posters of dogs playing poker

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or Cheryl Ladd-era Charlie's Angels.

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However, I did buy an aloe. That one in the blue, square, 4" pot in the middle right--for $1.

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And I contemplated having spiral-cut junipers. But I would like to have ones much taller than these. And not now.

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Maybe someday.

12 comments:

Les said...

Those paintings looked cool, and you were right about your grandparent's busts.

Wicked Gardener said...

Wow - It looks like you live in good neighborhood. Lots of cool stuff. BTW, who buys peoples old shoes? I've never been able to figure that out.

Ewa said...

This idea seems always so good to me :) We do not have anything like this tradition in Poland. But you know, an American Embassy is also hosting similar event once in a while, getting rid of the stuff not needed including cars.
Greetings,
Ewa

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

Looks like you had a fun day. And made some money too(-: I had two spiral junipers and the deer ate them. They are starting to grow back but I don't know if they will ever be as pretty. Oh well...(-:

Christopher C. NC said...

Is it just me? There seems to be a real potential for futility in this neighborhood garage sale. Sell all your stuff and get a fist full of cash and then go walk the neighborhood to look at other peoples stuff to buy.

Only one Aloe? You were very restrained Chuck.

Christopher C. NC said...

Is it just me? There seems to be a real potential for futility in this neighborhood garage sale. Sell all your stuff and get a fist full of cash and then go walk the neighborhood to look at other peoples stuff to buy.

Only one Aloe? You were very restrained Chuck.

Anonymous said...

People generally do not buy shoes (especially jewish) as it is considered bad luck to walk in a dead mans shoes and you never know why they are selling those shoes.

lisa said...

I've bought shoes for Halloween costumes before, especially when my old BF had to go in drag with his size 13's. (Amazingly St. Vincent DePaul had some pumps that fit!) I never contemplated they may be "dead women's shoes"...ah well. Looks like fun! I know what you mean about people selling stuff for too much-I'm the one with stuff priced to sell, like you. Heck, the stuff's only worth ANYthing if you can find a buyer!

Annie in Austin said...

Philo likes to look at garden and woodworking tools if we hit a garage sale, but the stuff in your photo was pretty rusty looking, Chuck. Bet even May Dreams Carol would not have been interested in that hoe, but I might have checked out the price on that bright blue tub if it were made of metal.

Too bad about the shells.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Bramblemoon Farm said...

I agree on the garage sales-- some people don't seem to grasp the concept of it and think of it more like an antique shop. It's a GARAGE sale where we expect bargains. I have to admit I would have had a hard time passing by the pots. It doesn't matter if I don't need them, they call out to me.

lisa said...

Oh, and regarding those busts-I'm not surprised they may have been valuable...in my experience, some of the strangest and least attractive glassware and pottery turns out to be the most valueable-go figure! (No offense to those family treasures, but they kinds creep me out!:)

Anonymous said...

People should read this.