Luckily, early birds had picked things over, and had picked over even more by the time I got my "have to do it before noon" errands run. However, I did scored some fun and useful things:
I've resolved only to buy things I need,already use, or had planned to buy, when I stop at sales. I don't need more "stuff." Amazingly, I found quite a few things I already had on my list to buy. Of course, if I find brand new, quality pillar candles (5 for $2), I always buy them, because they are so expensive at stores and I am a candle junkie. I have also been keeping my eyes open for purple Christmas lights since the strand on my ficus in the great room died, and I refuse to pay $20 now for what I could purchase for five dollars at Halloween. I found a working purple strand at one sale for $1 in a pile of Christmas and Halloween decorations ("Dad! She would have paid $2!" the son protested). A hammer ($1). You can never have too many hammers. An almost new Weber grill ($1), which I had already decided to buy at a store since now, with bears in the yard, buying a new $100 gas grill to replace my old one (given away for scrap metal) doesn't make sense. It would just get tipped over by hungry bruins.
I also found a nearly new blanket (that sort of plushy creepy hotel type) to cut up for the cats since I'm sure cat fur will wash off easily ($2). There was a brand new window screen to replace the smaller, rusty one in the cat facility ($2). An alarm clock (25 cents -- tested, works!) which was on my list to buy this weekend because the one I bought from Walmart a few months ago is so obnoxious and loud that I turn it off rather than hit snooze, and then I oversleep. And there was a new package of candle lantern bags for a quarter--one of those things I always want to buy to line the walk up to the house for my yearly holiday party, then put right back when I see the price tag for them.I found a new, soft seat for my Schwinn bike ($1). The women who were set up at the Grange, and myself, had a good laugh about fat butts. That purchase took me quite awhile to decide on, since my bike still sits unused this year because the gears need adjusting.
I did break my standard rule, however, and bought three silly things.
There was a bead window decoration that clearly was a waste of money as packaged ($1, bargained down from $3). The thing would have been tangled up before it was even unwrapped. And indeed, since I ultimately unwrapped it, I can attest to this. However I did not use it as intended. I cut it apart and added the beaded strings to the ugly apple tree which is adorned with beads and chimes that come my way.
I also found two little cast iron owl brackets that matched the one I already have in the bathroom (50 cents for both).
Finally, at the last place I stopped, there was this ivory or bone (far more likely) rose for $1:
Since I have no plans to sell it, it doesn't matter how much it's worth, but as soon as I saw it, I knew it was worth more than a buck, and would be fun to wear on a neck ribbon this summer. It also matches the earrings from my family that my mother recently gave me.
Then it was time to stop. That was my enjoyable drive through Spencer this morning. I also got to enjoy the warm day stringing my beads up on the tree. I can grill some of my local pork for dinner on the new grill (hmmm...I'll have to get charcoal). This afternoon I'll replace the screen in the cat room, and this evening I can replace the purple lights on my ficus tree.
All for less than $13 bucks. I've so glad all the antiques, etc. were gone, and there was nothing pricey to tempt me!
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