I just realized that with everything we had going on with the yard sale I completely forgot to report about it! We had tons of donations from all over the state and wound up having all kinds of stuff to sell. It was sort of a slow weekend for a yard sale. We had a few shoppers claim they were having a hard time finding any other yard sales in the area so I know it wasn't just slow on the selling end, but on the shopping end as well. If we'd known ahead of time we could have adjusted the timing, but yard sales are a tricky thing and you just never know what the turnout is going to be like!
Perhaps my favorite story from the yard sale:
We had a pile of really nice, gently used toys. A rusty dump truck made it to the pile and we decided after several hours of nobody approaching these really nice toys that the dump truck must be making them look junky. So we moved the truck to the free bin. A lady came by and was ecstatic to find the toy since it would perfectly match an old toy tractor she had in her garden. She refused to take it for free and wound up paying a dollar for it. As she was paying she said, "My husband told me when we pulled up that I should negotiate. I don't think this is what he meant!"
This sort of generosity was pretty common. There were of course those who couldn't bring themselves to pay the asking price, regardless of what incredible deals we were offering (it's a yard sale afterall!), but there were many who threw in a few extra dollars beyond what they were being charged just to help contribute to the cause.
The yard sale only brought in a few hundred dollars. I was hoping for more, but it just wasn't a great weekend for a yard sale. The important thing is that we managed to reach our goal to raise $1000 total, and the Abbotts were extremely grateful for what they were given.
I just wanted to thank everyone who has been involved in this whole process from donating items to donating money, and for all the concern that has been shown on behalf of the Abbotts. May you be blessed for your generosity!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Yard Sale on the 26th and 27th of June
We've got more and more things being donated all the time for the yard sale. Someone donated a dishwasher and we've also collected a recliner as well as some useful electronics. We've got bikes and scooters and kids clothes too. There should be something for everyone at this yard sale!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The Collecting Continues!
Oh my what a day! I've been on my feet all day long today, and I'm so happy to have an excuse to post so I can sit down!
Leah and I went yard-saling, or more accurately yard-dregging, where we picked up all of the remains of some local yard sales. (Leah did this all while suffering with an abscessed tooth. She's one tough cookie!) We were asking for the dregs, the leftovers, the discarded, bound-for-DI items that nobody else wanted. Lest you think that means you shouldn't come to my yard sale in a few weeks, let me assure you we found some decent stuff.
Some of the dregs were about what you'd expect; cassette tapes and their accumulated dust from the last 20 years, books that everyone already owns, small appliances that I couldn't identify because I don't think they've been used since my Grandma's time. You know what I'm talking about.
But we also found some stuff that I was pretty pleased with. Three sets of golf clubs, tvs, computer monitors, and furniture like shelves, tables, and a bed frame. There were also the fun rare finds like some cute unused designer decor--complete with matching paint, some fun copper cookware, and some really unique children's books of rhymes and fairy tales. Now those were just the things I thought were fun and interesting. If you ask my husband I'm sure he'd give you a whole different list of what was worthwhile in the loads we brought in!
It was a lot of work and it took us all day long to get that much. So seriously, anything anyone wants to contribute to the cause would be wonderful. My feet will thank you! (Unless feet gross you out. Then we'll just leave them out of it.)
Leah and I went yard-saling, or more accurately yard-dregging, where we picked up all of the remains of some local yard sales. (Leah did this all while suffering with an abscessed tooth. She's one tough cookie!) We were asking for the dregs, the leftovers, the discarded, bound-for-DI items that nobody else wanted. Lest you think that means you shouldn't come to my yard sale in a few weeks, let me assure you we found some decent stuff.
Some of the dregs were about what you'd expect; cassette tapes and their accumulated dust from the last 20 years, books that everyone already owns, small appliances that I couldn't identify because I don't think they've been used since my Grandma's time. You know what I'm talking about.
But we also found some stuff that I was pretty pleased with. Three sets of golf clubs, tvs, computer monitors, and furniture like shelves, tables, and a bed frame. There were also the fun rare finds like some cute unused designer decor--complete with matching paint, some fun copper cookware, and some really unique children's books of rhymes and fairy tales. Now those were just the things I thought were fun and interesting. If you ask my husband I'm sure he'd give you a whole different list of what was worthwhile in the loads we brought in!
It was a lot of work and it took us all day long to get that much. So seriously, anything anyone wants to contribute to the cause would be wonderful. My feet will thank you! (Unless feet gross you out. Then we'll just leave them out of it.)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Donations Donations!
Today was an extremely generous day from friends and neighbors. Even those of you who are strangers get to be classified as friends now! :)
The donations are coming in, both for the yard sale and through the blog. Today brought us $200 closer to our goal!
I'm still looking for anything that people might be getting rid of that I could sell. All proceeds will go to the Abbotts. You can contribute in a few different ways:
1) If you hold your own yard sale donate whatever you don't sell to me for my own yard sale.
2) Clean out those closets, garages, etc. Bring any and all unwanted items you have to me. Please leave information regarding what kind of shape appliances, electronics, etc are in. When people ask me questions about how something works I want to have something to tell them before they buy it.
3) You can also donate freshly baked goods (to be dropped off the night before)
4) I'm going to be holding a silent auction at the yard sale for services or skills. I've already got a few people willing to donate their skills that people can then bid on. The highest bid wins! If you have a special talent or skill that you'd be willing to donate to the cause just let me know.
5) Too many pennies? Bring them to my yard sale and unload them on the Abbotts! There will be a donation money jar out for whatever loose change you might need to get rid of.
6) And of course it will be a yard sale with great deals so feel free to come and check out whatever treasures you might find!
As of now I'm looking at doing the yard sale June 26th and 27th. As the date gets closer I'll be able to say for sure how firm that is. But for now it gives us something to shoot for.
Thanks so much for all of the generosity and support you've all given. It's been a huge help for Tom and Leah and Chad, and it's super exciting to be a part of!
The donations are coming in, both for the yard sale and through the blog. Today brought us $200 closer to our goal!
I'm still looking for anything that people might be getting rid of that I could sell. All proceeds will go to the Abbotts. You can contribute in a few different ways:
1) If you hold your own yard sale donate whatever you don't sell to me for my own yard sale.
2) Clean out those closets, garages, etc. Bring any and all unwanted items you have to me. Please leave information regarding what kind of shape appliances, electronics, etc are in. When people ask me questions about how something works I want to have something to tell them before they buy it.
3) You can also donate freshly baked goods (to be dropped off the night before)
4) I'm going to be holding a silent auction at the yard sale for services or skills. I've already got a few people willing to donate their skills that people can then bid on. The highest bid wins! If you have a special talent or skill that you'd be willing to donate to the cause just let me know.
5) Too many pennies? Bring them to my yard sale and unload them on the Abbotts! There will be a donation money jar out for whatever loose change you might need to get rid of.
6) And of course it will be a yard sale with great deals so feel free to come and check out whatever treasures you might find!
As of now I'm looking at doing the yard sale June 26th and 27th. As the date gets closer I'll be able to say for sure how firm that is. But for now it gives us something to shoot for.
Thanks so much for all of the generosity and support you've all given. It's been a huge help for Tom and Leah and Chad, and it's super exciting to be a part of!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Break of DAWN!!
Leah was telling me the other day that they've run into a few items like dishes and silverware that are completely black. Her hope was to scrub at them until they were clean again and could be used. They tried using oxiclean. They tried using baking soda. They tried laundry detergent. Nothing seemed to be working until they broke out the Dawn dish soap. When I asked Leah how it worked for them her response was, "I have to write the company, Crystal! It's literally eating off the soot and fire marks!"
The Abbotts are taking numerous lessons from this experience, not the least of which is that Dawn is a handy thing to have around!
The Abbotts are taking numerous lessons from this experience, not the least of which is that Dawn is a handy thing to have around!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Buried Treasure
Over the years Leah has collected special mementos in a blue suitcase. Her baton twirling outfit from when she was ten, an autograph from Liberace, newspaper clippings from the moon landing, and other such treasured items. When the suitcase was found in the rubble the top had bowed and curled, and it was pretty certain there was damage. It took Leah a few days before she was brave enough to open the case to determine what had survived and what was lost forever. Not surprisingly most of the paper materials were destroyed. However, there was one cherished item that survived.
When Leah was young her family did a lot of moving around. After one particular move Leah found herself living near horse stables. Many of her new friends had horses, so naturally Leah quickly decided that more than anything in the world she wanted a horse for her birthday. She did all of the appropriate priming a child does in such situations. She made it clear to her Dad that her heart had no other desire in the world than to have a horse.
As her birthday approached she didn't waver. Her heart was set on a horse.
The big day arrived, and to Leah's great surprise her father had indeed gotten her a horse of her very own. It was white. It was a stallion. It was beautiful. It was everything Leah could have wished for. Except that it wasn't breathing, she couldn't ride it, and it was ceramic!
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