Look at the pretty crib.

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while, it's been a bit hectic here with classes at the college beginning soon.

A few weekends ago my mother and I went to some great estate sales a ways out from where we live. We found plenty of fun things including a nice free pile and a table that has come in quite handy.

At the first sale we got these cool aluminum lawn chairs and a game called Score Four. I'm always on the lookout for good aluminum chairs with webbing in nice condition and good metal arm rests. These are wider than most and such a fun color! I love them.


At another sale we found a lot of things for quite cheap including some Tupperware, Barbie dolls and clothes (including actual PAIRS of shoes), fun books, and this cute little puppy dog planter.

Mom and I had a slight difference of opinion. It went something like this:

Me: Look Mom, a cute puppy planter!
Mom: That's not cute.
Me: What is wrong with you?
Mom: You seriously think that's cute?
Me: I think it's adorable. And I don't even like dogs much.
Mom: How much?
Me: 75c
Mom: Okay, for 75c, it might be cute.

The yellow rake is from the same sale. My mother saw one like it a while back, and was disappointed to find it was not for sale. It's for my father so that he can rake in between his irises.

This is a child's ironing board that we got with the Barbies. It had a cover on it when we bought it so imagine our delight when we took the cover off and found this:


A family tree of the world's cutest owls! Isn't it just the most darling little thing?

While I was looking at childrens books, Mom noticed a Cosco cart full of cleaning supplies.

Mom: Look!
Me: We don't need anybody's nasty old chemicals or used soap.
Mom: Well, actually, I'm out of baby powder, but...
Me: (eyeroll) Mom!!!
Mom: The cart. Look at the pretty cart.
Me: We already have one of those we want to fix up and paint.
Mom: Looook at the pretty cart. I think this one's bigger.
Me: I don't think so... but probably won't fit in the car. (Thinking: I ain't cramming that big thing into the back seat of the car)
Mom: But look at the pretty cart.
Me: Is it even for sale?
Mom: (to seller) Is the cart for sale?
Seller: $5.00
Mom: (To me) Not a bad price, but you're probably right. We already have one and it might not fit in the car. ...But I can always use another Cosco rolling cart.
Me: eyeroll
Seller comes over: Do you want me to take the stuff off the cart?
Mom: I don't think so. I really like it, but I'm not sure it will fit in the car.
Me: (Thinking) Yay! I don't have to stuff it in the car.
Seller: If you want it, it's $3.00, and I have a screwdriver if you want to take it apart.
Me: (muttering to myself) Crap! I'm gonna have to fit that thing in the car.

(And it wasn't bigger than the other one anyone)

The third sale we went to was in a lovely Victorian house in an older neighborhood. The woman running the sale said her parents had bought the house in the 1950's and she and her sisters had grown up in it together. She had a large pile of free things at the curb that we picked through before even getting up to the house and finding the front porch full of free things including this:


Look at the pretty crib. Yes, that is the cutest freaking crib of all time. And it was FREE. We wanted desperately to take it home with us but had only taken our small Kia out and couldn't get the truck out there to be able to take it home. Later that day we went to IKEA for the first time and I was shocked and a little bit disgusted to find that their cribs look more like animal cages than something I'd want to put a baby in.

From the free pile we got a few things for use in gardening, a cup from a boy scout camp set, a plastic dinosaur (my favorite), some oven mitts for my brother's new place, a large wire laundry basket with liner, and my mother's favorite: a roll of chicken wire! When we went to pay for our things the woman running the sale told us we had to take a clock as her mother had collected them and there were far too many to dispose of otherwise. We carefully chose this tacky little beauty:


At the top of the hour it plays the sound of the animal it is pointing to. It battles with the Rugrats clock I got for my 10th birthday as to which is tackier. I just can't decide.

As we were leaving the sale I saw this outside:

That is a Handy Table and Chair Set made by the Milwaukee Stamping Co. It's a picnic table that folds down into the size of a slim suitcase but is very heavy. There was also a yellow one but it was in much sadder condition.

Deja Vu conversation:

Me: Look at the pretty table.
Mom: It won't fit in the car.
Me: Look at the pretty table.
Mom: eyeroll
Me: But it folds...
You get the drift.

So for only $5.00 we brought home the green one. My father, upon seeing it, told us that in the late 50's his Mother owned one and used it to take dinner to his father out in the fields (they worked a farm). He believes she got it with green stamps.


And this box of jars was also $5.00. It contains mostly short pints with glass lids but also a few blue jars and one half gallon size clear mason. I used my mad packing skills and got everything into the car, but we were pretty much out of money and out of space. Time to head home.

On our way home we hit one more sale and found a fun souvenir apron (I have always had a love of vintage aprons) from Reno, Nevada.

Here is the table with a few of the best things we got:


The Score Four, Scrabble, and apron pattern are all from the first sale. The box of card stock "Christmas leaves" came from the second sale, and the circus pillowcase is from the third sale (the dinosaur is from the free pile). Isn't the Reno apron just so fun?

I'm linking this post to:
Thrifty Thursdays at Bloggeritaville
Garage Salen Party at DebbieDoos
Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday
Thrify Treasures at Southern Hospitality Blog
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm