Flea Markets and Barn Sales...Oh, and an Upcoming Sale!

One thing I just love about the warmer weather is getting out to sales...yard sales, garage sales, flea markets, and barn sales. 

Thanks to CTheWritingOnTheWall  for their fabulous "Flea Market" sign.  Check out their Esty shop HERE. 

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This past weekend Mom and I went to two flea markets and three barn sales.  *whew*  We were really tired out, and, yes, I spent all of my money I had to spend (and then a little bit more).  Some of the sales were pathetic or too expensive, but a few (especially one) were fantastic.  I could have spent hundreds of dollars.  At one barn sale there was a lady taking pictures on her I-phone...sending them to a friend...and getting answers back from the friend to buy things for her.  The lady had a huge pile of stuff she was buying (and this was on the second day of the sale!).  It was all great fun. 

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I'm eager to take pictures and list the many goodies that were found.  First of all, the weather needs to cooperate so that my pictures will come out looking nice, AND I need to list things that I've already taken pictures of and just haven't gotten listed yet.  I'm in the process of doing that now.  I'm going to have a big, big sale on July 4th...okay, since you've read down this far I'll tell you what the sale will be.  It is going to be 40%...yes, that's 40% off everything in my Etsy store on July 4th.  This sale will be for one day only.  Come back at the end of the week for a blog post on the specs and for the discount coupon code. 

Yard Sale Tresures and Still Hopping

First of all, I'm still working my way through the "Where Bloggers Create 2012" list.  Wow!  What a list!  It is huge.  I decided to start at the bottom of the list and work my way up.  There are still many more blogs to visit, so it will take me awhile to get to them all.  I'm amazed at the beautiful, inspiring places people have to create in.  Just lovely!  I've enjoyed hopping through the party...and am still going at it.

Mom and I decided to go to yard sales today.  I got the kids up earlier than usual, and off we went.  We couldn't find one in town...not one!  Since it was still too early to do much shopping (like at the local thrift store), we just decided to go home.  Mom decided to go the "back way" through the country to get home...and wallah!...a garage sale.  It was amazing.  Unfortunately they had started on Monday (we're trying not to think of what was there on Monday), but they were selling 25 years worth of things and were moving....and selling everything by the box full....*cheap*. 

I was able to snag a beautiful mirror for $4 and a few box fulls of things spending only about $15 total.  There is some nice new material to redo a chair and stool that need to be redone.

One box I saw two things on top I wanted...not knowing exactly what was in there until I got home and unwrapped everything.  There were many pieces of beautiful cut glass.

 How exciting!  I don't have a picture, but Mom found two big sections of an antique, hand-made crazy quilt with all of this beautiful hand embroidery on it.  One section had been stitched onto an old feed sack.  It was amazing.

What a blessing to find some great things at reasonable prices.  I guess...who needs many garage sales to go to if you can find some treasures at only one? 

Strawberries and a Gold Picture Frame

Seems that since we got done with school we have been "running" nonstop!  Yesterday we went to some of the yard sales that were in town for this weekend's "city wide" yard sale event.  Do you remember when most yard sales were just on Saturdays?  Then there were those who started up on Fridays.  You really had to go to those on Friday, because by Saturday those good ones would be well picked over.  Now...Thursday is the day to go.  I honestly can't imagine having a yard sale for three whole days.  I couldn't believe how many there were yesterday.  Anyway...at the last yard sale we went to I was able to snag this gorgeous wood picture frame.  I love the gold on it, and the heart design around the edge is beautiful.  It is roughly 22" x 26".  It was only $1.  Hooray! 

Then...when it was the hottest time of the day it seemed...we went off to the strawberry farm to pick strawberries.  It sure was hot!  But with the help of the kids we did it in good time then came home for a big dish of yummy berries--our reward for all our hard work. 

I've made two batches of strawberry jam and a two-crust pie so far.  The pie turned out well.  Would you like the recipe?  Here it is:

 2-9" unbaked pie crusts

3/4 cups white sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 TBSP corn starch
4+ cups sliced fresh strawberries

Cook in 425 degree oven for about 35-40 minutes.