Only at Tiffany's

 Friday...clear all day    Garage Sale Begins 

Who needs 44 little pots?  

A very nice lady was happy to purchase all of them 

Saturday:  weather report was not good,, but when we opened the doors, it was clear.

Soon a gentleman arrived with his sister,  and told us it was pouring up north when he picked up his sister, in Bellingham
he was from Kirkland,   ..
well, I said, I am from Bellevue
He said  " where in Bellevue, I know Bellevue"
I said  " Cherry Crest,  Bridle Trails"
He said "  I have been there"
I said  " Who are you?" ( he was looking familiar, but I could not think of his name)
He said  " I am Louis"
I said  " I know you, you were our UPS driver"
He said  " I know you, and I just talked to Darrell yesterday...
         small world, but not the end of the story

Tiffany came outside and I introduced her to Louis.
They greet each other ...then
Louis said:  What do you do for your job?"
She said:  " I am a personal manager for a gentleman on Mercer Island
He said:  " I was given a tip to do some work for a man on Mercer Island who needed
                  someone who could work on cars"
She said  " that could have been me, who was your contact "
He said: "My friend Alex, he said that guy had a lot of sports cars"
She said:  " that was me, I was looking for some help a couple years ago. and Alex works
              on my cars. So I asked him if he knew anyone who could help with car maintenance"
He said:  " what a coincidence "

                 It is a small world after all

Louis still gets around  

Another gentleman came with his little kids.  They were looking at the bug collection

The daddy took a picture and said his wife might like it. She like all of nature.
A little later a pretty green Rivian stopped at the driveway. I was admiring the vehicle and did not recognize that it was the daddy coming back.  I commented on the Rivian and he smiled, I like it too. That is the company I work for.  And, my wife would like the bug collection.
Feels good to have our collection in good hands.  We enjoyed Uncle Clarence's handwork for many years and it was time to pass it on.

There is a lady who comes every year.  She is very chatty and my daughter says, " she is a little high"
She always buys something.  
We love having regulars who come every year, same time, same station. 

Always something or someone to make each year a memory. 

Last year it was the fire.

I live an exciting life  

A brief encounter ( it happens )

 While I wish I could have taken a picture, I don't think I will ever forget or lose the mental picture..

At a favorite place, The British Pantry
I could hear the waitress and the family needing a table for four

And in they came, Mama dressed in a Play Boy shirt that barely came to her waist and a hot pink skirt that was a little shy of 12 inches.  
                              Dad was carrying his phone and an infant seat.  Oh that makes five
                              Little fellow, age 7 ( he was surprised I guessed his age  )
                              Little gal, maybe 4, pink fluffy sundress, her name is Kelly
A random conversation with the little fellow.  Wondering  if we were from England.
He and his family are all from England.   He does not like it here. 
He asked about the photos on the wall.. Queen Elizabeth,  Princess Diana 

Kelly is busy having a tea party with her water and the tea cup at her place
She is not happy about something.  She wanders off. She cries out.  

Dad is still on his phone, but wait, there are two infants.. yes twins about 9 months old.

Our food arrives and we bow our heads and give thanks

I hear a little boys voice  " God save the Queen"

Mom and the older kids disappear and the food comes and Dad is still on his phone
It must be a video, I hear voices 
The family is now around the table and starting to eat their dinner
Dad is still on his  phone

Kelly was eating her broccoli trees, little fellow had a huge order of fish and chips, and.. well, then we had to say  " Cheerio "

 Just  a few days later we were eating at the Black Diamond Bakery  and  a little family of four was nearby.   They were quiet, I was impressed how the dad was helping his daughter do some drawing, and mother was turned toward the other daughter... they were obviously having sweet family time. No cell phone in view 
Worth a little praise from a Grammy  ♥  

I live an exciting life 

I live an exciting life 

 

                              

Welcome to West Port

A community of special homes 

 

OK, not a home for you or me, but many a bird or two 

We spent a week in West Port and one night, we took a ride just to capture the feel of a city beyond fishing and shopping and feasting

I live an exciting life 

A brief encounter

 a little lady came into the waiting room, and I was standing at the counter checking in.

" I love your shoes"  I told her

she smiled

" but they would not look cute on me"

she smiled

( Next time I will keep the conversation going....she could not stop smiling at me ♥ )

I live an exciting life 

garage sale P.S.

 How could I forget the coin/jewelry collector who came bounding down the driveway about 1/2 hour  before closing the door on Saturday.   He was all business and checked out my jewelry collection and realized very soon that I did not have anything of value

" Do you have any silver or old jewelry? "   he asked.    I told him I use all my silverware and don't have much jewelry 
" Do you have any broken bracelets or earrings?  Go inside and check "       I quickly assured him I did not have what he was looking for

I was pretty glad to see him turn and head back up the driveway

That was about as exciting as I can handle 

He did leave a flyer is anyone is interested 

,

a garage sale or two

We do this every year

We start pricing things during the year so when the time comes, we are almost ready

Two people come every year, we send a reminder..
. Our neighbor Sharye who collects cookbooks.  
  This year she wants all of them,  a check for $62 upon delivery.
  Ofra loves vintage items and she always brings us a gift
      ( She came in 2015 and has come every year since  except Covid)

On Monday I make my lists and pull the boxes into
  our "organizing station" ( guest bedroom)
Tuesday I collect small bills, from the bank,  to be ready for making
  change for our customers ( $100 ) Cash fits into my pink fanny pack      Done

By Wednesday & Thursday the tables are up and
      we cover all items that are not for sale ( tools, goods, etc ) 
Friday we need to take pictures for the Craigs list ad              Done  

All set.  Final items for the cash table
             Note pad
             Calculator
             Fanny pack ( Cash )
   Wait...where is the fanny pack ?
    I had gathered the note pad and fanny pack and
    set them aside. Now, where is the fanny pack ? 

I looked for over an hour.  in every room, every closet, every space up and down.  

Hard to go to sleep, because  having cash for customer's is so important.  I know the $$ will show up.

Doors to open, sign out at 9:00 

Up by 6:00.    
Turns out hubby has $50 in change.  I feel better all ready.

8:15 we open the door, set up the coffee top, pulling stuff here and there
Soon a gentleman parks and asks if it is ok to look around.
Chatted ( you can do that when the customer is not in a hurry)
He lives hereby, his wife is French, they own a bakery in Seattle, his son is practicing soccer every Saturday up at Cherry Crest.  They speak Italian at home. 
He was our first customer, a buying customer !

It might have been 10:00 before the next face came down our driveway.

Ofra,  She brought a sweet Mother's Day treat.   She chatted for about a half hour, mostly about her relatives in Israel and how life has changed.
She found a few things to send to family and we said our goodbyes. 

Another neighbor passed through and then
Janet N, our neighbor came, looking so cute. She is modeling vintage clothes at a retirement home this afternoon. She has a second cup of coffee. Though  I have known her for a long time, I did not know that she never makes coffee at home.  Her husband likes instant, and she does not. She got tired of local hair cuts that are not worth the $$, so she makes an appointment with an "artist" that flies into town and gives her a beautiful styling  ( the things you learn when you are not in a hurry )  She looks around carefully, but does not find anything that she needs. 

A father and son look very carefully, up and own both isles. The jacket that folds right into it's own pocket and is waterproof, two shirts and a little tech gizmo.  Very kind, polite and friendly.  Dad is from Florida. Son does not like that humidity.  They work together here training new drivers. They are not in a hurry  ( hubby had a little story to tell, but I will not repeat it )

Neighbor Pie lady came down the driveway with her little boy.  She did not need anything, but she was very cheerful. She always is. 

At one point, neighbor Shannan comes down and tells me.... West Seattle is having their annual garage sale event. 300 garage sales...Today !

That could be one reason why it looks like only neighbors seeing the signs have showed up.

Two young men are excited to find a cast iron Skillet.  One is hungry for some breakfast cakes that are not part of his "culture" but he wants to make them.  They have been to an estate sale and the lady in charge was Kathy.  Also, his sister's name is Kathy.  She was still in bed.  So that makes 3 of us Kathy's. They are not in a hurry.  Getting ready to leave and it was about 80°, so one  fellow decided to buy a soda pop. He did not have change. I said, just take one.  Then his friend slipped $.50 on the tray.     We liked chatting with them 

For at least 1 1/2 maybe two hours no one came.  I decided to be productive and started writing letters on my ipad.   I also noticed how beautiful, and colorful  the trees are right now.  The things you notice when you are not in a hurry.

The signs said closes at 4:00   About 3:30 I unplugged the coffee and move a few things back into the garage.  The door is closed.
I needed a little rest, Darrell went out to take the signs down.  Here comes one more customer.  He wanted a $1.50 tool, but all he had was $1.10

Done.

But wait.... the doorbell rings.   There is a young lady who tells me she has come back to buy something.  We go into the garage and she picks out this and that and her total is $60.
Now this a big sale... Just like the first one $62. for cookbooks.

Might just call this garage sale 

                 " Not in a hurry"
usually we say 

           " Garage sale of the century"

Since the tables look just about the same as they did in the morning, we decide to try again next Saturday.

I told myself that if the report on Wednesday said no rain on Saturday, I would go for it.  

The $100 showed up !

Week Two.. 
The report said..yes a little rain. 
I said oh well, let's do it
They were wrong. It rained and rained.

So this time I decided to keep track of our "visitors"

Friday I called the gentleman who owns a bakery, if he would be willing to bring a selection of his goods on his way again.
He said yes.

So again, he was almost the first face to arrive.
( the first face smiled and said hello and goodbye and off he went )

The bakery was so good.  I am glad I saved room in my tummy because it was worth every calorie.
So that was MY first purchase.  

oh wait.... at 7:55 our newspaper man stopped to deliver the "news".   The front end of his car was smashed pretty bad.  His news was " I was a little distracted and ran into a house, glad it was not yours"      We are glad too.

9:00  gentleman saw signs. smiled, no purchases
9:20 Baker
10:01  Neighbor Benjamin, needs some help with their furnace , no purchases
10:45 couple saw ad, no purchase 
10:58  Robin arrived. She was going to come at 9:00 to keep me company.    She slept in.   Forgot. Ate breakfast and came with treats.
10:59  Darrell returned from a delivery 

the drizzle became a little heavier
11:05  lady just passing through
11:55  A real customer, saw the ad
12:00 two came through, saw the sign
12:15  Customer number two. $8.00
12:20 gentleman , no sale
12:21 family of four, $3. purchase
1:00  customer number 5, $8 purchase
     The sun was shining 
2:00  Lady who needs nothing
2:10  gentleman saw the sign $2.
3:00  friendly couple saw the sign, no sale
 

3:15  Father and son, no sale ( neighbors?)
3:30  unplugged the coffee, pulled in a little of this and that...

Might just call this garage sale 

    "  When it rains, it pours"

I live an exciting life 
              

.

Mother's Day

                Mostly Pictures 

When your secret encourager gifts you, you get movin on a gift for your's

She knows me very well and is so generous 

When your hubby lets you pick out a planter, you get it in the garden right away

Saturday was garage sale day and our favorite returning friend from Mercer Island came, she always has gifts 

Breakfast is even prettier with a huge and beautiful bouquet from our yard

A sweet young Mama brought a nosegay for me at Sunday School

A phone call from across the country and her bouquet is now out my kitchen window

Off to family gathering where my daughter hosts and her hubby always has a bouquet for his Mom and me  

Youngest daughter and family bring smiles in our dining area 

One and only favorite son always finds a wonderful hanging basket,,, outside my laundry room window this year 

I am blessed  ♥

Photos from my window because...look what is at my front door

One egg at last peek, but keeping my distance now

I live an exciting life

.