As spring inches closer, I get more excited about the annual neighborhood yard sale. Every year it reminds me of my love for buying cheap things, with the hope that it’ll be worth lots of money someday.
My love for buying other peoples stuff, started at a young age. Every Saturday, Mom would put my little yellow rocking chair in the front seat of her white Ford Pinto. I’d proudly sit in the rocking chair & hold the classified ads. If there was any sudden stop, Mom’s right arm would shoot out at lightning speed & prevent me from taking a nose dive through the windshield. Who needs seatbelts when you have a quick thinking mom? Anyways, we’d travel the foot hills of western PA looking for ashtrays, toys, clothes, dishes, or any kind of Steelers knickknack. Talk about fun, my mom knew how to spend a Saturday.
When we moved to the DC area, Mom found a little gem of a place called Laws Auction. Every Friday we’d head to Laws. At Laws, we’d usually end up bidding on & winning a box of junk. The boxes contained random things that someone threw in while packing up an estate. They’re sort of like lottery scratchers; don’t know if you’re a winner till you scratch.
Brace yourselves, I’m about to tell you about the BOX. After a night of heated bidding, heated bidding for Mom was bidding in 25 cent increments; she was the proud owner of a $2.00 box of other peoples crap. She loaded the BOX into the car & I hopped into my rocking chair. Just kidding about the rocking chair, at the tender age of 8, I was sitting on the arm rest in the front seat of the car. It’s a way better view from the hump in the middle of the car. After heading home, we brought the BOX into the house. My sixth sense told me that this BOX would change our lives.
Mom ripped off the top of the BOX. We started pulling out old books, pens, & some tea cups. Then I eyed something special at the bottom. What was it? It was a picture of some bird or was it a landscape? I can’t really remember. The important thing is that we had a signed Wallace Nutting. I know, Wallace Nutting, CRAZY! How many times have you said, “I wish I had a Nutting!”
Back in the old days, AKA the 1980’s, Mom had to call around to find the value of her Nutting. After some research, she got an estimate of $75.00. She sure knows a great box of crap when she sees it. I bet the 400 people in that Wallace Nutting Collectors Club would be so jealous of my mom. She may want to join the club & attend the next Nutting convention. Follow the link, if you want to be a cool cat & join the Wallace Nutting Collectors Club. http://wallacenutting.com/index.html
All this talk of Wallace Nutting, got me thinking about what I’m looking for at the neighborhood yard sale. I’ve compiled a list of things I would like to find during this yard sale season. Since I watch a lot of Antique Road Show, Cash in the Attic, Pawn Stars, & Storage Wars, I know exactly what I’m looking for.
THINGS I WANT TO FIND AT A YARD SALE
1) A cheap framed portrait, one with a Picasso hidden behind the outside picture. Willing to pay up to $10.00.
2) An old coat, with some valuable diamonds sewn into the inseam. Willing to pay up to $5.00.
3) Pajama Jeans, willing to pay $2.00. What can I say I like hanging out in my pajamas. I think it will be a way cooler look, than when I take the kids to school in my current pajamas.
4) Another Cuisinart ice cream maker. If I can collect 3, I can make 3 different flavors all at once. Endless possibilities! Willing to Pay up to $10.00.
5) A rare ancient Vikings helmet. Saw one on Antique Road Show, talk about valuable. I’d pay at least $5.00, maybe $10.00 for one of those.
6) A $2.00 Wallace Nutting to add to Mom’s collection. If I pay more than $2.00, I’ll never hear the end of it.
If I can cross everything on my spring yard sale list, I’ll be happy camper. I also think Mom would be real proud if I could find her another Nutting.
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