Saturday I headed off to run my errands, taking the back road to avoid traffic. I love this time of year, cooler temps, bright blue skies and the anticipation of the coming holidays. Along the back roads I saw a sign for an estate sale.
Now don't get me wrong, I love a good garage sale or thrift store romp, but I can't even recall the last time I stopped for a garage or estate sale. Unfortunately, the ones in my area tend to be pretty pathetic with used baby clothing, light fixtures and sad cheap furniture from one of those rental stores. But for some reason, I decided to follow the signs and check this one out.
What a surprise! The home had belonged to a woman who was a hoarder. The estate sale company person told me they had already spent a month sorting the things for this sale and they had not finished. At this point they were hoping to sell enough stuff to make room for more stuff!
It was like a Disneyland for treasure hunters combined with the chaos of an after Christmas sale. Imagine every surface and any space under a table or piece of furniture filled with boxes and boxes of things. I saw an old rotary dial phone, then a bit further down a table, 2 more old phones, then under a table at least 10 more phones in a box. Phones? I have no idea, but multiply that times dishes, silver, clothing, linens, etc. Then multiply that times 13 different areas: garage, shed, backyard, patio area, and rooms in house.
It took me almost an hour, just to look through each room and I am sure I missed all sorts of things, but I found some wonderful treasures.
I found several wonderful vintage greeting cards. This one had not even been used yet!
A plate made in the 40's by the same company that makes Fiesta-ware dishes. This pattern is called Colonial Kitchen.
A vintage 40's cookbook, well thumbed and used, with recipes from everything from making toast to beef Wellington. When you have this many recipes, there isn't room for silly picture, except for the end papers with all sorts of tempting goodies like gelatin salad with carrots and celery!
Oh and how about these clips a lady would use to keep her wrap or stole on, while going out for the evening? I believe the hedgehog fur is mink.
And my favorite, found deep in a giant ziplock bag full of junk jewelry, these wonderful buttons!
Now I just have to figure out how to use them! So many possibilities!
What a fun and unexpected treasure hunt I had!
