Monday, September 14, 2015

Monday Rambles

Buckle up, folks!  It's going to be a loooooong ramble today.  Lots of pics.  Lots of words.  Please locate the nearest emergency exit to your seat, keeping in mind that it may be behind you.  Keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle while it is in motion.  In the unlikely event of a drop in cabin pressure, air masks will drop from the ceiling.  Please secure your own mask before assisting others who may be traveling with you.

Lily the therapy dog was such a hit the other day that I thought I'd brighten everyone's Monday with a couple more pictures.



There you go.  Isn't that better?  You're welcome.

I realized the other day that I forgot to mention that we made the cemetery trip a few weeks ago.  I took some flower arrangements that I bought at the Peddlers Mall, cleaned up the graves a little bit, and then had a nice visit with my cousin who lives across the road.

Mom and Dad

Mom's Parents

Grandmother's Parents

Last week when we were having the sidewalk sale at the Peddlers Mall, the manager said that since it was the first one they've ever done, some of the customers might not understand what it is.  I thought that was kind of strange, because there's really not anything to understand.  You see something on the sidewalk that you want, then you pay the person that's selling it.  It's like a yard sale, just on a sidewalk.  Seriously, the way things work inside the Peddlers Mall has more potential to confuse folks.

Sometime in the middle of the afternoon, I made a quick potty run, then came back to my spot to see three women looking at the toys I had for sale.  I had put up a big sign that said all the toys were a buck, but decided that it was about time they became fifty cents.  So, I tell the women that the toys are now fifty cents each, and one of them gets really confused.  She looks at the old booth tag on them, then at the sign, then at me.

SHE:  How much are they?
ME: Fifty cents each.
SHE:  But... (points to price tag)
ME:  They WERE that price, but they're NOW fifty cents.
SHE:  But how will they know that inside?
ME:  They won't, but it doesn't matter.
SHE:  How will I pay for them if they don't know?
ME:  You're going to pay me.
SHE: (Strange look)
ME:  Sidewalk Sale!  You pay on the sidewalk.
SHE: (Strange look)

It seems the manager is always right!

The weather turned wonderfully fallishly cool this weekend, so I'm typing this wearing my warm robe, while a crock pot of chili is just beginning to simmer in the kitchen.  I'm a happy camper.

Yesterday's Mazda shot responses surprised me.  I thought everyone would be so focused on that wooden shelf that no one would notice that cool little model of St Peter's, which, for me, was one of the finds of the day.  Y'all are more on the ball than I realized.

Let's look at a few of the finds.  First that really cool primitive wood shelf.  It's very tall and very long.


It was also providential.  I decided to play hooky last Thursday and not go to the booth as planned.  That ended up being the day I sold a shelf for the first time in ages.  Of course!  I had a plan in mind to shuffle stuff, but then I ran across this baby, which I thought would fit perfectly in the empty spot.

Turns out that it's a few inches too long.  I kind of left it in the booth without working it all the way in.  I thought that might encourage someone to buy it, but that clever plan didn't play out, so I'll shift everything around today and load this puppy down with junk.  Of course, then someone will want to buy it.

This is the top.  Cool, ain't it?



 One side has this awesome cracked ice laminate on it.  Only one side.  I love it.


Now that I've driven Donna mad with desire, here are a couple of other finds from Saturday.

Vintage chair swing for baby


Heavy vintage desk lamp



Label on the bottom of the lamp.  It was meant to be!



Glass Vase

 I keep saying that I don't sell decor, yet I keep buying stuff like this.  I'm starting to channel the guy down the aisle from me.



 A huge box of graphic novels!  I kind of threw the sellers for a loop when I asked about a price for all of them, but I got a great deal on them.  I'll go more into the contents of the box tomorrow and the smalls either tomorrow or Wednesday.

I do recommend this book on top very highly.  It's one of my favorites, a personal memoir about the author's brother who suffers from epileptic seizures that grow more and more intense, eventually affecting the life of the entire family.

Well, this is part of today's booth load. 



And this is the rest of it.



I've got my work cut out for me today!  I've been holding off on a major restock to let things sell down a bit, but it's time to do it.  I had no room in my junk room for any more boxes of priced items.

Sales have been brisk for the past week, which means the fall rush has begun.  The Halloween and the Autumn items are starting to sell.  I have a few more of those to put out, then it will all be out.  In the meantime, I'm trying to get my Xmas together.  I'm a little worried that I do not have enough holiday stuff to last through the end of the year.

I've decided to have my yard sale this weekend, combined with my book sale.  Today and tomorrow, I'm working the booth.  Wednesday is my scan, so I'm taking the day off.  Thursday, I'll be pulling the books off the Hillock, and Friday, I'll get the rest of it ready.

In other words, I've got a lot to do.  I'd better get going.  See ya!

6 comments:

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Big week ahead. BIG. I am trying for 3-4 trips to work on my booths this week. There is always MORE to clean, price, haul and put in. You crammed some good stuff (in your Mazda).

Melissa said...

Sales were great the first week of September. Then they really sucked this last week. The whole mall was down drastically. So, even though I didn't want to, I put 10% off my whole booth again. I gotta sell stuff if I wanna keep buying, right??

Shara said...

Sales at my booth continue to spiral downward. I'm worried. But sales at the other booth continue to go up. It's such a weird business. I will let it all ride until the next JR, then figure out some new looks for my booth. You are a busy, busy guy. I am glad you take a day to rest - you need it!

Donna Wilkes said...

You are such a tease, Eddie! You know I want that shelf especially now I know it has cracked ice Formica on it. My father had that in his soda fountain back in the fifties and sixties! Booth sales are still mysteriously high - this is usually a slow month for me. Already paid the rent and all the merchandise i bought last month! Now for continued dunce-ness - is St. Peter's the Vatican or was everyone wrong?

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Eddie, you are such a tease...now Donna will dream about that shelf! You have a busy week ahead of you so I hope you had a good evening. I've been on the move all day and I'm about to head to bed but trying to catch up on a few blog posts!
hugs,
Linda

thompsontammy6463@gmail.com said...

Donna can't have that bookshelf, I want that bookshelf and I live closer to you than she does !!! Looking at that pile to stock.....whew!!! It's ok if it's already priced, I hate to price, I love to procrastinate :-)) Put some stuff in a friend's antique mall for a commission finally.I figure by the time I pay rent, a 10 or 12 percent commission ,stock the booth , it's easier for her to charge me a 25 percent commission drop the stuff off and she display's it and I get a ck every two weeks.You pace yourself, fluid's and rest. Hug's, TT